Chapter 2.
Feeling more human, Sarah took a second cup of coffee and wandered out to the back of the yard. Behind the old oak the ground was hilly and nothing ever seemed to grow. There was a stone back here; on it was one word, Merlin. Sarah crouched down, placing her free hand on the stone. "Hello boy, I'm back." She said quietly. "I'm sorry I've been gone so long."
The wind picked up, and Sarah's hair whipped about freely. She could hear movement behind her and stood up. Robert placed a hand on her shoulder and together they stood quietly for a few moments. "He was a good dog," mused the father.
"He was more than just a good dog," Sarah sighed bracing her head on her father's strong shoulder. "He was my best friend, my stage partner, my confidant, and my best audience." She turned and saw that Toby was observing them from the back of the house. "You should have gotten Toby a dog when Merlin died," she admonished.
"We did," her father lamented. "We actually got him two or three," Robert frowned. "The first one ran off, the second one tired to bite poor Toby… and the third one we returned a week later. It cowered in a corner and would not come out."
Sarah looked back at the marker. "Merlin loved Toby."
"He passed quietly," her father assured her. "So are you still planning on escaping?"
"No," Sarah reached out once more for the marker. "I made a commitment, and I'll keep it… even if Toby does not like it."
"I wish I could tell you what was going on in his head," Robert gritted his teeth. "Sometimes I just don't understand that boy."
Sarah laughed at his dilemma, "Oh daddy, you didn't understand teenagers when you were one."
--
Toby resentfully watched his father and his sister; his hair blew about his face softly on the morning breeze. Karen stood behind him and commented quietly. "She misses Merlin."
"She wasn't here when he… died," Toby didn't even try to hide the bitter bite in his voice. "She was too busy to be here."
"She was in university," Karen groaned at the end of her wits. "And she was six hundred miles away Toby. Did you expect her to just drop everything for a sick dog?"
Turning to face his mother, the stoic boy answered. "Yes."
Exasperated beyond her limit, Karen shook her head. "Really," she uttered turning her back on the boy and missing the glare of hate aimed at her. "Sarah came all the way back here to see you graduate, and you're treating her like a leaper." She picked up the dishes from the table. "You should be ashamed of yourself." Behind the turned back, Toby made a twisted face and mocked her words. Karen washed her hands and looked over at where he was standing. "Grow up, Tobias Sebastian."
Toby only rolled his eyes at her and turned back to watch the pair by the marker.
Karen looked at the clock. "You have two hours before you have to be at the park. Go out there and tell your sister you're glad she's going to be one of the speakers." His mother ordered.
"Fine," he muttered shoving the back door open and not caring that it made a clatter. He walked to the back of the yard. "Mom says there's two hours before graduation," he announced. "And we all have to get ready." He looked at Sarah. "So what are you going to talk about?"
Sarah looked at her little brother and wondered if she had been this uncivil toward poor Karen. "Following one's dreams…" she said taking another sip of the now cold coffee in her mug. Robert excused himself, leaving brother and sister alone for the first time in hours. Sarah looked at Toby, "I'll go if you really want me to go," she added softly, in a plaintive tone. "I'd really like to stay though Toby."
"Stay," he sighed, "I don't really care." Once more he turned his back on her and stalked off toward the house.
"Oh Merlin," Sarah lamented. "How did I go so wrong with him… after everything… how did it turn out like this?" The wind in the trees howled and for a moment the young woman thought she'd heard the familiar and long silent howl of her beloved dog.
--
Sarah placed her mug in the sink after having rinsed it out. Karen and her father were upstairs dressing and only the Gods knew what Toby was up to. She wanted a few moments to just soak up the ambiance of the home. It was quiet in the house, almost too quiet, and Sarah suddenly found herself feeling apprehensive. She dreaded speaking to the crowd at the high school, truth be told. Too many of the parents were related to her own graduating classmates. Her own school days were not so far behind her that they could have been forgotten. Facing those people was not something she looked forward to. Sarah had not been popular, and she knew now that it had been mostly her own fault.
She remembered those days with a mixture of regret and bitterness. She had gone through a very awkward stage, more awkward than most of her peers. While most of the other girls had their mothers to guide them through the passage of childhood into those devastating teen years, Sarah had only her father, and Merlin. And then along came Karen… the interloper, as Sarah had pegged her. She didn't remember just when she'd become aware of Karen, but it was right around puberty. Sarah had fought off its intrusion and advancement as hard as she could, and yet it had ridden roughshod over her. To hide the burgeoning figure that she could not stop from developing, she'd taken to wearing long lose poet shirts. She wore jeans for every occasion that she could, or costumes that had been gifts from her mother the Actress. She shunned the companionship of classmates. Some only wanted to hang out with her because she was the daughter of a famous stage actress and they wanted to be touched by fame. She stayed only to herself, clinging to her childhood with a tenacity that was eerily unearthly.
Then came the days before her sophomore year of high school, the days that changed everything. She had just turned fifteen, and her mother and Jeremy had played such a large part of her life. She'd spent every spare moment in their company. Her mother had praised her telling her she was a natural and would do so well following in her footsteps on stage. Already a bit spoiled, and far to self centered, Sarah had believed every word her mother uttered. And without meaning to she'd developed a heady crush on the handsome Jeremy. Thrilling when a photographer had taken their picture together. Her resentment toward Karen had come to a head, and now included Toby. Poor, sweet, innocent Toby.
Outside the kitchen the wind picked up and howled and Sarah shivered. It was nearly sixteen years since that fateful day when her life had changed. When her world had been turned upside down by a thoughtless misspoken wish. So much had changed because of that night, and now she wondered if things had changed that she was not aware of. The sound of the wind unsettled her and she looked out at the sky. Not a cloud or a wisp, the sun was bright and the day looked to be beautiful. Sarah dismissed the thoughts that were plaguing her, and took her time going up to her room.
She had placed her professors' robes in the shower to steam, and was sure they were now smooth as silk. Because Karen had an aversion to women in pantsuits or slacks, Sarah had chosen a dress for today's occasion. Not a fancy dress, but a nicely tailored dress in a rich tone of sage green. It was something that could be worn under the robe and hood and remain comfortable.
Entering her bedroom, she immediately noticed some things were out of place. What had caught her attention, in spite of the other items, was a small thread worn and much loved teddy bear that now sat smack dab in the middle of the bed. Sarah walked over to the bed and stared, could it actually be Lancelot? She lifted him off the bed, wondering if it were a peace offering from Toby. She looked at the bear for a moment before clutching it to her heart. In that moment she decided she would not inquire if Toby had snuck into her room and disturbed her belongings. She would quietly accept the peace offering and hope for the best.
--
Karen had driven Toby over as the students had to be in the park early to get robed up and lineup. Robert waited for Sarah and rode over to the park with her in her car. She was directed to a reserved parking slot, and she told her father she'd see him when the ceremony was over, and begged him to take decent shots of her brother with the little camera in his hands. Reaching into the back seat of her sedan she took out the robe and shrugged into it. She was well practiced at robbing up and placing the hood. The little college she taught at had a rule about professors wearing robes every Friday. Now after three years she was more than adept at dressing in the robe quickly and efficiently.
Sarah joined the academic staff on the makeshift stage. She took her seat beside the other speaker and looked out at the gathered crowd. It was strange seeing seats set up in the grassy meadow. Stranger still to see the obelisks decorated with her old schools colors. Even the swans seemed to be impressed as they meandered on the pond. On stage with Sarah were the ten teachers who were heads of departments, and the Principal and School Superintendant. The music department was supplying the live music for the ceremony. When the head of the music department raised his baton, the schools orchestra began to play the first strains of 'Pomp and Circumstance.'
Like everyone else on the stage Sarah turned her head, looking toward the little stone foot bridge. It was here that the graduating class of twenty six students would process. The girls were dressed in long dresses, in pastel colors. The young men, and at this moment that's what they looked like, young men, were dressed in dark suits. The boys all wore a white rose boutonniere, and the girls carried a single long stem white rose. In two neat rows, side by side, one boy one girl, they marched into the clearing. Sarah looked at the young man toward the back of the crowd that was entering in alphabetical order. Toby stood out from the crowd, but Sarah wondered if she were being prejudice. He looked almost regal in the beautifully cut suit of royal blue. His shirt was not white, but ice white Irish linen, with just a touch of blue in the threads. His face looked as if it had been sculpted and his pale blond hair seemed to shine like slivery threads. He took Sarah's breath away as he moved with an unearthly grace toward his seat.
The Superintendant of the district greeted the parents the teachers, the speakers and then the graduating class. Sarah tried to listen, to show interest, but time and again her eyes rested on the young man in the second row of graduating boys. She wondered when it was he'd learned to looks ~ haughty. The first speaker was just finishing up when the young man turned his haughty gaze toward his sister. Something in his gaze froze her and she could have sworn the stormy eyes were challenging her.
The Superintendent introduced her, and hesitantly Sarah stepped forward. "Good Afternoon," she greeted the crowd politely. "I'm Professor Sarah Williams, and I'm so very pleased to be here with you." Sarah paused before going on. "As some of you know, I too graduated from this school. And I have other ties here as well." She looked at Toby and smiled wistfully. "I was asked to speak to you students about following your dreams…" A sound in the trees caught her attention and she let her eyes sweep that way, but there was nothing there. "What I'd really like to talk to you about, is knowing when your dreams change, and not being afraid to travel down new and untried paths." She set her notes aside and stepped away from the podium, coming toward the end of the stage. "I look at you wonderful, talented and oh so gifted young people and I envy you. You are on the brink of life, on the very doorsteps of your adult life." Sarah smiled at the graduates. "And how many times life has taken you for a new turn…"
Toby's haughty look faded as he listened to her speak.
"Once some of you boys wanted to be firemen, or astronauts… you girls wanted to be movie stars and singers…" Sarah blushed slightly. "I know because I too had wonderful dreams as a little girl." She looked at the meadow, "This was my stage, and I played to an audience of swans and robins and red winged black birds…This place was my palace full of beautiful dreams and plans and hopes… and my testing ground." She took a deep breath, "But dreams, as beautiful as they are, and as important can change…. Things in our life are not stagnate; they are flexible and moving… fluid as... as the waters that feed that pond there. That which does not grow, dies… and dreams grow, they change and fill us with the need to do more to explore…and for me the dreams that had once led me to play the heroine here in this park, lead me to teaching."
Sarah took a deep breath, "The changing of a dream does not mean that your old dreams were wrong, it just means you've grown. The boy who once wanted to be a fireman may end up being not only a fireman but a paramedic. The girl who once dreamed of being a singer may end up being a coral director, or a lab tech who sings while doing her job…." She looked at the faces looking up at her. "I have such deep hope for all of you. Don't abandon your dreams, but don't prevent the new ones from forming." She quietly returned to her assigned seat.
Robert looked at Karen and winked. Karen dabbed a tear from her eye. Toby seemed to be thinking over her words. The Superintendent once more took center stage and began to read off the student's names. Each stepped forward, came up on stage and after shaking hands with the principal received his or her diploma.
--
He sat at the very back of the seating area with family and friends of the students. His mismatched stormy eyes watching everything with amusement during the proceedings. Dressed like the rest of the guests he didn't attract the kind of attention his normal mode of garment would have. He rested his chin on the silver and crystal ornament of his walking stick. He too had been impressed by the words of the young woman. His gloved hand had skimmed over the crystal that sat regally in the silver claw that held it to the peach-wood shaft. No one saw the orb fog, no one witnessed it fill with images of a crystal ballroom. He smiled wistfully, and placed his hand over the orb, obscuring its images. When the students were called he waited, and watched, counting off the graduates until the name he'd come to hear was spoken.
"Tobias Sebastian Williams," the Superintendent read.
Sarah's eyes filled with happy tears, and the man in the last row of seats could clearly see her. He watched as the boy moved with fluid movements across the stage as if he were floating, or skating on ice. The lad glided to the principal, shook hands and accepted his diploma. The man in the last row wondered if the surge of pride he felt were similar to the pride parents felt. He breathed deeply and tapped his cane to the ground to refocus. This was Toby's day, and he would not think of other matters. However he could not help but see the look of pride and satisfaction on a certain female face. He leaned on the walking stick once more and looked down at the dream that still played out, interrupted and unfinished. He chuckled softly to himself as he rose from his seat when the rest of the audience stood to applauded. The mortals didn't even notice his hasty retreat.
--
Robert and Karen moved toward their son with broad smiles. Sarah came down from the stage to join her family. Karen was bragging to the boy about putting the diploma on the mantel for the world to see.
"She will too," Sarah said coming toward them.
Toby looked over at her, his smile faded slightly. "Not a bad speech," said coolly.
"Thank you," Sarah answered.
"Hey, I would love a shot of the two of you," Robert said holding up the camera that had been getting a workout.
Toby gripped his sister's wrist and smiling toward his father agreed to be photographed. "Here, next to this obelisk," he insisted.
"No," Sarah protested weakly. "By the pond is better."
"I like it here," Toby held her fast, "Smile, Sarah."
Unnoticed the barn owl landed on the tip of the obelisk and looked down at the pair below him with feral eyes. The girl seemed to be aware of his presence although unable to do anything about it. Stubbornly she refused to look upward, even though she could feel him there.
Robert looked at his children and smiling took several shots. "This is the kind of day that does a father proud," he stated lowering the camera after the last shot. "What say we put on the dog and do dinner at the country club?"
Karen sighed, "Robert, we've guests coming, or have you forgotten?"
Toby snickered, "The old man's losing it."
Sarah glared at her brother, "Don't say that."
Toby looked at her with cold blue eyes. "Truth hurts," he hissed.
"Toby, come along," his mother commanded. "Sarah, we'll see you at home."
Robert followed along and Sarah was left alone standing beside the obelisk. She knew the owl was still seated at the top of the stone monument. "Go away," she said in what she hoped was a commanding tone; "Before I vanquish you again." Hearing no flap of wings she turned her gaze up and met the feral gaze with one of her own. "Don't think that I can't." she glowered.
The owl blinked but made no effort to move.
--
Robert shook hands with Karen's Uncle Max, and greeted her Aunt Rose. The house was filling with relations and a few odd friends. Toby was being fawned over by Aunts and cousins and hating every moment of it. Sarah sat in her car in the driveway of the Victorian still glowering over the confrontation in the park. "It was just an owl," she told herself. "The woods there are full of them!" She put a hand to her forehead. "And the reason it didn't fly off is they are use to being around people. For God's sake Sarah, don't make it into more than it was." She moaned gently. "It wasn't him, it couldn't be him." She could hear the party in the house and knew she should go in.
Toby came out on the front porch and looked at her as she came up the walk way. He placed a hand on her elbow. "Don't go in there," he said warningly. "Save yourself the trouble."
She stood beside him, "Is it that bad?"
"Worse," he groaned. "Uncle Max is telling his universities stories, and Cousin Paul is hitting on Cousin David's wife again." He shook his head. "This is the pits…"
Sarah bit at her lower lip than quietly offered, "Want to escape?" she dangled the keys to her car at him.
Toby looked at the offered keys and placed his hand over them. "Let's." he nodded.
--
Sarah allowed him to drive; it was after all his day. He pulled the car out onto the open road and headed out of town toward the hills that ringed the valley. She was not surprised at the expertise with which he drove. Nor with the speed, she too liked the feeling of flying down the road. She smiled as he took the old road that would put them in the hills at the abandoned coal mines. "They still haven't sold this land,eh?"
"No one wants it," Toby said snickering, "No one but the dregs of the town and a bunch of delinquents."
"You being one of them?" Sarah ventured.
"I'm the king of delinquents," he informed her darkly. He pulled off the road onto a trail that if you didn't know about it would be missed. "I want to show you something." He said mysteriously almost threateningly.
Sarah's instincts told her to draw back, but she fought them and giving him a sympathetic gaze nodded her agreement.
Toby looked away from her and kept his eyes on the road his speed was still faster than what the road really should have taken. He let one eye sweep ferally toward her, and then back at the road. "Are you afraid?"
"Not of you," she said quietly.
"That's too bad," he gunned the engine pushing it for more speed. Sarah braced herself, and held her breath as he drove wildly in the untamed hillside. "Scared yet?"
"No," she said in a voice that was calmer than she really felt.
He laughed as he pulled the wheel and put the car into a spin on gravel. It turned three hundred and sixty degrees before it came to a halt. He looked at her, and gave her a hunting haughty smile. "How'd you like that?"
"Is that all you've got?" she taunted in as dark a tone as her brother was using. "That little boy was a piece of cake."
Toby leaned back in the seat and laughed. Sarah shivered, that laugh sounded too much like someone else for her comfort. Unexpectedly he opened his door and stepped out of the car, the keys in his hands. Sarah unfastened her seat belt and followed him. He was standing on an outcropping of rock, looking down on the town. He looked at her as she came to his side. "What do you see when you look down there?"
"The town," she answered. "What do you see?"
"Things beneath me," he answered haughtily.
Sarah looked where he was looking, the direction of the old Victorian that stood out like a beacon from this height. "Don't say that."
"It's true," he seethed.
"Toby," she reasoned softly.
"And it's your fault," he accused as his eyes met hers. For one moment, he didn't look human, and Sarah gasped; "Afraid yet?"
"No," she turned her back and returned to the car, hearing the cold laughter behind her.
--
Karen sighed heavily as the last visitor departed, "That's over," she said sinking into the chair at the door.
Robert chuckled as he picked up the last paper plate with food in the parlor. "Not a moment too soon."
Toby was still eating cake, and looking pleased about something. "I thought it was a very nice party." He smiled wickedly at his mother. "Good cake."
Sarah sat on the stairs, where she'd been sitting from the moment they'd returned. She'd watched him, and he'd behaved fairly normally with the rest of the family. Perhaps he was just being the rotten kid brother, she told herself. "I'm going to change," she said. "I just want to get into grubbies and vegg out in front of the television. Anyone know what's on tonight?"
Sheepishly Toby called out as he watched her go up staris, "Some film by an unknown, it's called 'The Princess and the Goblin'.
Sarah stopped but didn't look at him, "Very funny." She muttered going up the stairs. A moment later she came out to the landing growling. "Who's been in my room?"
Karen shuddered, remembering that voice and that question from sixteen years before.