Chapter 2 – Confusion
Viridian's POV
Keaton's house is really rocking today. With me on drums and Keaton on the keyboard, we're giving a great rendition of K.K. Ska. If we had an audience, this would be perfect.
Cherry's told us that we could make a successful band, especially if we could recruit more people, and go around to different cities and put on shows. Neither of us really wanted to, though. Keaton didn't really want to be putting on shows every week or so, and as for me, I don't really want to leave Serenity. I feel like my perfect life is here, just doing what I love, even if I don't get paid. There was a guy who moved away months ago, Colton, and we used to put on mini concerts for the town together on days such as Toy Day and Festivale. Keaton hasn't been in Serenity long, but we're planning to do something for the Fireworks Shows in August, perhaps.
Over the din, I hear a faint noise. I stop my drumming and listen; someone's knocking at the door. As Keaton stops playing as well, I get up and open it. It's Frobert. He's a natural at the saxophone, but he doesn't really get into music that much. He's more of a workout type, but hey, I can fit in there, too.
"Hey, Frobert," I say, grinning. "What's up?"
"Just going out for a run," he says, and I can see a small plastic water bottle sticking out of his pocket. He's wearing the green gym tee that he often wears on his runs. "You going to join me?"
"Yeah, sure," I say. "Hey, Keaton, you want to come with us?" He gives a brief laugh, and I can sense he's a little irritated at our session being cut off prematurely.
"Thanks for the offer, but you know I'm no runner," he says, flipping a couple pages in his music book. "You two have fun. I'll practice my keyboard."
I shrug and say, "Okay, see you. We can continue later."
"Come on, Viridian!" Frobert says, motioning for me to hurry up. I leave everything where it is and follow Frobert out of Keaton's house. He gives me a second water bottle.
"Here," he says. "I came prepared."
"Thanks," I say, putting the bottle in my pocket. "Shame Keaton couldn't join us."
"I wasn't really counting on him coming, anyway," Frobert says, shrugging. "He only slows us down when he comes, you know."
"I know, but still," I say. I kind of like going on a run with my two best Serenity friends.
"Come on, let's not waste time!" Frobert urges. He starts to break into a sprint, and I quickly follow, a little miffed that he started so abruptly.
We follow our usual route: around the perimeter of the town, crossing the bridges at the east and west ends of Serenity, and repeated around five times. By now, after so many times of joining Frobert on his runs, the scenery is so familiar to me that I can look at just a certain cluster of trees or a spot in the river to instantly know where I am.
Everything goes by in a blur, and it's nearly silent except for our breathing. Frobert has a rule about not talking during the runs. It throws off his concentration. We're some of the only ones outside; we pass by Lucy hanging her laundry on a clothesline running from her window to an apple tree to dry, but other than her, we're alone.
We're halfway through our first lap when I notice it. In my peripheral vision, far to my left, which I would never have noticed if I didn't been letting my mind wander slightly.
"Frobert," I say, pointing. "Look."
"Viridian, no talking, remember?" he asks irritably.
"I know, but look!" I say, pointing again. This time, Frobert follows my finger and it's clear he's taken aback.
The town tree, towering magnificently over our town, looked as serene as ever yesterday. But now, the leaves that were bright green have blackened, along with most of the trunk.
Wordlessly, the two of us approach the tree.
"What's happened to it?" Frobert asks. I gingerly touch a blackened part of the massive tree trunk in front of me. The area I felt immediately crumbles into something resembling charcoal and fine grey ash and scatters on my basketball shoes.
"I don't know," I say, running a hand through my dark brown hair, "but this can't be good."
If it was an ordinary tree, I would have said to leave it and continue with our route. But this is a landmark of our town, what makes it Serenity. Something's wrong, and it doesn't feel right to leave it.
-x-
Apparently, things are more serious than I thought. After we talked to Isabelle at the town hall—Kelsea wasn't there, as she left early—I thought she was going to have a heart attack, by the way she repeatedly asked us like a broken record if we were sure of what we saw. When she hustled outside and went up to the town tree, she looked like she was going to faint.
"I…I can't believe this," she says, as the three of us stare up at the blackened tree.
"Is there a way to save it?" Frobert asks.
"I don't know," Isabelle says nervously. "I don't even know what caused it."
"It's a shame to see our landmark like this," I say.
"It's worse than that," Isabelle says gravely, shaking her head. "This is much, much worse."
"Why?" I ask. "What's wrong?"
"We need to have a town meeting," Isabelle says. "Go round everyone up immediately. Make sure to get the people on Main Street, too, especially Leif. I'll explain everything soon."
I shiver. What's going on? I turn to Frobert, who just shrugs in response.
"You get Main Street," he says. "I'll get the others. The sooner we round everyone up, the sooner we can find out what's happening in this crazy place." I can't argue with him on that.
"Sure," I say. We part ways immediately, and I sprint faster than ever as if I'm running for my life. As I cross the railroad tracks, all I can think of is why on earth we need a town meeting for a sick tree.
