The Merry Merry Month of May

  I can't recall a merrier May. It's not just all of my new friends at Crystal Cave. This morning Ron woke me from a dream I have yet to record. I wasn't happy. He said that he was taking me to Indian Echo Caverns. He's been telling me that we've been there all along, but I knew better. Boys have shitty memories. Most girls are far superior. First, I fell in love with Ernie, the beautiful white turkey. I have never been to this magnificent cave! It's huge! Before the tour I had gotten a lovely crystal and history book from the gift shop. Lucky our fab guide, Ethan, told us about the hermit's book found in the cave; I scored that too. Thanks to Jim at Crystal Cave and The National Cave Association, Ron and I both got in for free. I get two free adults, and two kids passes a pop, so I can now get my brother in for free too. Then we stopped at Challenge Family Fun Center down the road. We only stopped for miniature golf and snacks. We were not prepared for the nostalgic eighties arcade that hosts birthdays. It was like a time machine with Aunt Janet and Glennie. Ron and I were watching a woman trying to score a prize from one of those jaws, crane games. Ron was saying that they were fixed and always dropped the prize. I was thinking that I wanted The Man in the Moon who reminded me of BOWIE. Ron bought ten dollars' worth of tokens that we had loads of fun with. Can you believe I captured the moon? I never win with games like this. We also scored lots of fun stuff at cash-out: wind-up jumpy teeth since Ron dropped twelve grand on my root canals last year, a purple paratrooper like Jimi Hendrix, a mermaid, a gnome, and soft peppermint candies. I had a slice of pizza, and Ron had a cheeseburger and fries. I picked up some flyers from The Fulton Theater near the steamboat motel, fifties diner, and Doll Outlet where I want to take my cousin and Susie Blue. It looks off-the-hook with The Wizard of Oz and Beauty and the Beast, so we'll have to plan their trip around a show. I'm glad that I'm off again tomorrow. Arthur is getting a Lyme's Disease vaccination. Shiner had that three times. I need a day to recover from so much fun. Did I mention my hole in one? That's rare for me. 

Ernie, My New Love

 

From Hot Blood

    An unkindness of ravens surrounded me as I left the gate. I reached into my pocket and tossed them some crumbs leftover from breakfast. Like the ravens we wore black cassocks. They were associated with Saint Benedict and the place. Usually they scattered and cawed thankful for the treats, but they hovered above me, their beady eyes on me. “What’s the matter?” I continued on the path alongside the grove in spite of their admonishment. 

  I didn’t know where I was going. The abbot didn’t ask much of me, so I wanted to find Brother Norton for him. If I was him, where would I go? I heard a strange sound coming from the trees and stopped. What was that? A flute? It sounded weird and unfamiliar. I found a deer path and took it into the woods. 

  It was darker, cooler here. The May breeze didn’t stir. It smelled like moss, and the earth was moist beneath my feet. I could still hear the flute, lilting, but it was faint. My heart beat into my ears like a Druidic drum. 

  A young girl, perhaps thirteen, stepped out from the brambles and startled me. She was very pale and thin, wearing nothing but a filthy shift. Her feet were bare, and her arms were scratched. Her matted and tangled hair kept tiny blossoms and blooms as if they had grown there. She was eating something, looked like a ripe sort of fruit that I had never seen around here. It was too early for fruit. She wiped her mouth with her dirty hand and smiled. She offered me the half eaten thing that she held out to me. 

  I shook my head. “No thank you. Have you seen my brother? He’s dressed like me.” I plucked at the skirt of my cassock. 

  She tossed the fruit into a thicket, waking little buntings who rose up like spirits and vanished into the morning shadows. She walked towards me. I noticed her left eye was a bit lazy. As she approached the hair rose up on the back of my neck, and I shivered. Then she laughed and ran off like a doe. “Hey!” She was gone as was the eerie flute. I rubbed my head. What was that? Birds? Insects? I don’t remember hearing it before. Then something stirred in the leaves to my left. I looked back. It was Brother Norton. Thank God.