Orchard of Mines: Backwards to the Fore
Chapter 3
Lyle suddenly felt like he stepped off the edge of the cliff and fell…into his own body. His body jerked of its own accord as he was suddenly brought into the world of the conscious. His eyes popped open.
Everything was eerie and quiet, as it always was when he first awakens. Lyle had never needed the use of an alarm clock. It was almost as if his body was attuned to sixth hour. How this worked was beyond everyone, including himself.
He sat up on his bed and quickly glanced his surroundings. The only source of light was the sunrise in the window of his own room and what little light emanated from the bottom of the bedroom door. With that, he could see his nightstand, walk-in closet, bookshelf, and dresser. He claimed his room was always clean, but if anyone looked too closely, they would notice a good mess here and there.
Lyle, who just now consciously registered he was wearing pajamas, which consists of whatever tee shirt he wore the previous day and pajama shorts, swung his legs over the edge and sat on the bed for a bit. At that moment, all he wanted was to lie back down and sleep some more, but he reminded himself that it was the last day of junior year. One more early wake-up call and then he can sleep all he likes for the next two months.
With that in mind, Lyle got up and flipped the switch, flooding the room with light. "Argh, bright!" he said, shielding his eyes. Once his eyes adjusted enough, he began pulling out the clothes he would need: a grey tee shirt, a black sweatshirt, and…
His body seemed to stop moving on its own as he laid eyes on what sat on a stand on top of his dresser: a sword; to be more specific, a katana.
Lyle picked up his blade and pulled it out of its scabbard. As he looked upon the burnished steel, questions that he has asked himself for as long as he can remember came to mind. Why is this sword so precious to me, I can't let it go? There's no use I could have for it, so why keep it?
Lyle had occasionally taken this sword to the nearby dumpster with the full intent of throwing it away, but every time, he would end up taking it back. He even practiced with it…even though he had no idea if he was doing it right or not. He just did what felt right to him.
Lyle shook his head and put the sword back. He can space out at any time. Right now, he has to focus on getting ready. He pulled the last of his needed clothes, black jeans, and changed. He always saved the shower for the evening instead of the morning. It saved time. Once he was fully dressed, he opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Right in front of him was the hallway closet, the first to greet him every morning. His mother's bedroom, along with his own, occupied one side of the hallway while his brother's room and the bathroom occupied the other.
The first thing Lyle heard was the television in the family room. It was the Channel Six news with the volume lowered significantly. It was always quiet in the mornings, he wasn't sure why. He didn't really question it, though. That was just the way things were.
Lyle walked out into the family room where he saw his older brother, sitting on the couch behind the black coffee table. His eyes darted away from the television and laid eyes on his younger brother. "Morning, Lyle."
"Morning, Martin." The red-haired 19-year-old already had his carpenter outfit on. The only thing lacking were his hard hat and tool belt, both of which were on the counter.
"Good morning, Lyle!" he heard his mother's, Jane's, voice come from the kitchen. The kitchen was in a bit of an alcove, with the counter partially separating it from the family room. Lyle glanced around the corner and saw her, pouring coffee in a traveler's mug. She was already ready to go: her purse was on her shoulder, her black coat was on, and her brown hair was brushed neatly. He must've slept in a little. This thought was confirmed to be the truth when she said, "I was almost afraid I was going to miss you this morning."
Lyle glanced at the clock hanging over the kitchen table, which was on the opposite side of the kitchen as the counter. It read 6:28. He slept in almost a half hour past his usual wake up time. And yet, he still felt tired. But, like a lot of things, Lyle did not question why that was. He just accepted that that was the way things were.
With her travel mug filled, Jane walked around the counter and made her way to Martin. He just sat there and took the kiss he got on the top of his head. "Don't step on a nail, okay, Martin?"
"Are you kidding?" he chuckled, "I'm the safest guy I know! I'll be fine."
"I'll still worry about you, you know. It's my job as a parent to worry about you."
Martin stood up. "Look, mom, I'll be fine. I've been a carpenter for over a year now and I haven't had a single accident!"
"Make sure it stays that way, son."
"I will. Now, run along or you're going to be late."
"Yes, sir," she said while laughing. Then she walked over to Lyle, who stood close to the front door. "You have fun at school, alright?"
"I probably won't, but I'll make it through the day. Only two class periods, remember?"
"That's right. What are you going to do after school?"
"I'm not sure. I'll let you know what I plan when the time comes."
"Sounds like a plan!" she smiled. "Alrighty, I'll see you tonight."
Jane kissed Lyle on the cheek. Lyle did the same and hugged her tightly. "Be safe, mom."
"You, too." With that, she stepped out and closed the door behind her.
Lyle then walked into the kitchen and poured himself a bowl of cinnamon toasters. "How you feeling, Lyle?" Martin asked.
"Exhausted, as usual."
"Well, don't worry, you'll get used to it."
"Used to it? What do you…? Oh, right." He suddenly remembered that his mother was going to have him work with her at Jim's Market throughout the summer. She worked there long enough to gain the ear of James Alamein, the owner. It didn't take much to convince him to hire Lyle for the summer, since the last employee, Alan Mirain, moved away three months ago. This meant that there was no way he could sleep in. Lyle was disheartened at first, but he shrugged it off. Could be worse, he thought.
"Yes, it could be. You could be working for my employers."
Lyle wasn't as surprised as he was in the past. "I said my thoughts out loud again, didn't I?" Martin nodded. "Are they that bad?"
"Well, actually, I meant that at least you're not a carpenter. If you became one, I'd have to keep a very close eye on you."
"I'm pretty sure I'd do just fine if I became one."
"Perhaps, but face it, Lyle, sometimes you can be a real klutz."
"…Yeah, can't argue with that."
Martin glanced at the television and suddenly snatched up the remote, which was on the coffee table, and turned up the volume. Lyle immediately understood why.
The reporter, a young man who wore a tuxedo with a dark blue shirt, grey jacket, and a blue and white striped tie took up the screen. With him, there was a picture in the upper right corner of circles moving outward from a focal point and question marks directly above it. It was labeled, "Earthquake Mystery."
"Whoever comes up with the-"
"Shhh!" Martin said. Lyle stopped short and listened to the story.
"…baffled by the earthquake that occurred four days ago. They have yet to determine where the epicenter is, but they are sure they're coming close to an answer."
It was then cut to an interview with that same reporter talking with a geologist named Dr. Tanner Spalding. "Our findings thus far are very inconclusive, but given time, I'm sure science will prevail and give us the answers we seek. We will uncover the truth behind this earthquake no matter the time, no matter the cost." Lyle laughed out loud. He sounded more like a politician than a scientist. There was something familiar about his name, though. Where did he hear it before?
"What do you think, Lyle?" Martin asked.
"It sounds to me like they're hiding something."
"Surprisingly perceptive."
"Who, me?"
"Good question."
"Ah, shut it."
Martin chuckled as he stood up. "You should probably finish getting ready. It'll be time to leave soon."
"Oh! I forgot about coffee!" Lyle was on his feet in an instant and hurriedly walked to the kitchen.
"Well, hurry up, you're running out of time." Martin usually leaves earlier, but because the construction site was literally across the street from their house, he could leave five minutes before his shift starts. However, he decided to walk with Lyle on his way to school and part ways at the end of the driveway, which is a good fifty feet long.
Lyle quickly mixed in the creamer with the coffee (he wasn't used to it yet) and quickly guzzled it down. He felt his throat burn from the hot coffee, but that slowed him down only a little. Finished with the cup, he slammed it down sort of like a boozer at a bar after drinking hard liquor.
"Careful, there! You don't want to break it!" Martin said.
"I've got it," Lyle said as he rinsed out the mug. "Relax."
"I'm relaxing just fine. It's you that needs to calm down. Move quickly, but calm down."
"I said I got it." Lyle was growing a little irritated.
He held up his hands in surrender. "Alright, fine, don't kill me. You know it's only because I'm used to watching out for you, right?"
Lyle nodded. "Yeah, I know. Sorry."
"Don't worry about it. Stay focused, Lyle, finish getting ready!"
"Right." Leaving the mug in the sink, Lyle made his way to the bathroom. He was pulling out the toothbrush and toothpaste when he saw himself in the mirror. A very average-looking 17-year-old stared back from the mirror. Well, he considered himself average-looking, despite what Rena says. His red hair was almost hilariously messy. He was surprised that Jane and Martin didn't burst out laughing at him. Jane once said that Lyle got his red hair from his father. "Dad…" he found himself muttering. What a mystery that surrounded that man.
Lyle hurriedly finished getting ready and met Martin at the door. "You're cutting it close, Lyle. We need to leave right away."
"I know, I kno—Oh! Hang on a second!" Lyle dashed to the basket that sat on the counter in the kitchen before Martin could say anything. He pulled out a pencil out and stuck it in his pocket, along with his cell phone, wallet, and keys. He then almost ran to the closet and pulled out his white overcoat. It was always much colder at dawn than it was during the day. This fact never changes throughout the year.
Martin held the door open while Lyle stepped through it, onto the welcome mat. While Martin locked the door, Lyle enjoyed the view. Their house was at the top of a slight hill covered in wild grass and tumbleweeds, except for their well-maintained lawn and a few flowers right beside the porch. The road was in between the Connaways' and the neighboring hills. Traffic rarely went by, but when it did, it always seemed very loud. Well, it used to, before the construction projects began.
Lyle didn't know if it was the mayor of Midvale, Goslow Reprimand, or someone else important, but somebody ordered a series of construction projects in this town. As to why this was going on, Lyle didn't know or cared. Martin saw this opportunity and landed a job fairly easily as a carpenter. Their current project was one of the first things Lyle saw…and it was questionable, to say the least.
The house was so small, it was almost comical. It looked more like a small tower than a residential home. Construction workers were already moving about the premises, their muscle-bound bodies now squashed inside. And Martin had to work in there. A couple days ago, Rena nicknamed it the Mouse House.
"How long is it going to take to finish that off?" Lyle asked.
"We should be finished by tonight," Martin replied.
"Tonight? That's seriously all we're going to get?"
"Yeah. That's because it's half the size of what it ought to be. Well, in terms of width, not height. It's growing more and more surreal the nearer it gets to completion."
"Why didn't you simply make it bigger?"
"Mayor Reprimand specifically told our manager he wanted this thing built small. I guess it's supposed to be a tourist attraction or something. I can't imagine anyone wanting to live in a place like that."
"It's not much of an attraction."
"I agree with you, but ours is not to question why. As long as I'm paid, I'll build whatever they tell me to." Lyle just realized that Martin had the same attitude as he did: don't question why, just go with the flow.
The brothers reached the street, both still staring at the odd sight. "I swear, it's almost as if it's gotten smaller."
"I suppose that's the point. Okay, Lyle, I'm off."
"I know that," Lyle said grinning.
"Hey, didn't you say you were sick and tired of that joke yesterday?"
Lyle shrugged. "Well, you opened the door for me, I couldn't resist."
"I thought you couldn't. I'll see you tonight, Lyle!" Martin went straight to the trailer parked just outside of the construction zone and disappeared inside to clock in.
Lyle was left standing there, wondering what he meant. Then he figured it out and let out a good chuckle. "Well played, brother."
"POUNCE!" a female voice shouted behind Lyle. He was suddenly almost tackled from behind as a pair of arms wrapped around his stomach and squeezed him hard.
He acted like it didn't hurt, though it did cause a substantial amount of pain. Without turning around he said, "Hello, Rena."
"Awww, no squeal?" she asked.
"You've 'pounced' me almost every morning. I'm used to it."
"Well, I'll have to come up with something fresh, then!"
"You do that."
Rena Largo let go and stepped within Lyle's viewpoint. She was the same age as him, but nowhere near the same height. She only came to his chest. Physically, she was very well-endowed, but she acts as if she hasn't hit puberty yet. Jonas once said that she "acts as if she stopped maturing at 3rd grade." While he didn't think that quite described her, it was pretty close. She had dyed her hair a couple months ago, so now all of it was dark purple. In Lyle's opinion, it suits her very well.
The two started making their way down the road, towards the town of Midvale.
Lyle turned to her and… Uh-oh. Lyle recognized that look on her face. Gears were turning in her head. She was already hatching a way to make him squeal. Or she already has something.
"Alright, I'll bite. What are you thinking about?"
A great big smile spread across her lips and she said, "You forgot something, Lyle."
"What? What did I forget?"
"A little something that happened last night."
Dread poured across his face as a thousand unsavory ideas poured into his mind. "What did I do? It was nothing bad, was it?"
"The worst, Lyle."
He gulped. "Do I want to know?"
"Yes, your eyes are just begging to find out."
"No, are you kidding? I'm almost terrified to find out."
"Exactly! The little something you forgot is…" She motioned for Lyle to stop and lean down. He did, nervously, and she whispered in his ear, "…the prom."
Lyle straightened his back and…stopped to process what he heard. "The prom?"
"Yep!" she grinned.
Lyle furrowed his brow, unsure of how he should react. He kept opening his mouth and it would keep forming words. Rena just stared at him and tried to mimic his mouth movements with her own. Finally, he settled with, "How very…anticlimactic."
"You have no idea, do you?"
Lyle resumed his trek to the school, with Rena slightly behind him. "Should I?"
"Oh, boy. Okay, I'll tell you. Mia thinks you ditched her at the prom."
"What?!" Lyle shouted, his voice cracking slowly.
At that, Mia leapt in the air with her fist raised, "Yay, I made you squeal!"
Lyle quickly grabbed her shoulders to calm her down. "Rena, please tell me you didn't say what I thought you said!
She acted serious, but there was a slight twitch at the corner of her mouth, which meant that she was dying of laughter on the inside. "You ditched Mia. You never showed up."
Lyle let go and started walking in circles as he realized what could happen today. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no…" He then caught up to Resa who had walked ahead and waited for him. "This is a misunderstanding! I was never Mia's date!"
"She thought you were. Everybody thought you were."
"Everyone as in…?"
"Me, Mia, and Jonas."
"Oh, thank goodness! This could've been bad."
"Oh, absitively."
Rena suddenly wrapped her arm around Lyle's and rested her head against it. "I'll help you out, Lyle. Consider yourself lucky."
"Why is your arm locked with mine?"
"You dodo head, that's what best friends do."
"Since when?"
"Since five seconds ago."
Lyle sighed. He kept silent about it for the next minute and finally said, "Okay, that's enough, you can let go now."
Rena looked at him with big puppy dog eyes. "Do I have to?"
"Well…"
Her expression instantly lit up when she noticed the condition of Lyle's face. She reached up with her other arm and pinched his cheeks shouting, "Oooh, oooh, blushy cheeks, blushy cheeks!"
"Ow! Stop that!"
"Stop what?"
"What you're doing to my face!"
"What am I doing to your face?"
"Okay, seriously, that hurts! Let go!"
"Should I leave you two alone?" a male voice came from beside them. At that, Rena finally let go of Lyle. He rubbed his cheek, glad to see his friend of three years. Jonas Bailey moved to Midvale from Coeur D'Alene in the northern region of Idaho. Lyle was the first friend he made and consequently, made friends with Rena and Mia as well. He cracks off a good joke (half the time it's just sarcasm) whenever he sees the opportunity as much as he enjoys cracking eggs. Every so often, he would have a cooking show where he would make a complicated dish in a dramatic, over-the-top way. It would end with both the cook and the audience gorging themselves on the result. Once as he was making cake, he managed to crack an egg in one hand without letting a single shell fragment fall in. When Lyle asked him how he did it, he replied, "All you do is put the right amount of pressure in the right spot and it'll happen naturally."
"Uh, no, that's fine," Lyle replied. "I was trying to shake off the little monkey here."
"Yeah, you were working real hard on that. Piece of advice, Lyle, next time you have a cling-on like her, get physical."
Lyle completely missed it. "Are you kidding? There's no way I could hurt her!"
Rena gasped and hugged Lyle as tightly as she could. "You're the bestest!" she yelled.
"Rena, you're crushing my spine!"
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" she shouted as she hugged tighter. Lyle swore his back was about to fold in half when she finally let go.
"Oh, the dangers of being a gentleman," Jonas remarked.
"Thanks, Rena. You almost gave me a legitimate excuse for missing school."
"Anytime, friend!" Her goofy grin was probably the largest he's ever seen it.
"Speaking of which, we don't want to be late, do we?" Jonas said. "Let's get a move on." The trio then made the last bend and headed straight for the heart of the town. "By the way, are you aware of how much danger you're in right now?"
"Oh, Rena was kind enough to fill me in."
"Stole my thunder, eh?" Rena stuck her tongue out playfully at Jonas. "Charming."
"I hope she goes easy on him," Rena said, her tongue now retracted. "I don't want this to last too long."
"Don't worry," Jonas said. "It will all blow over soon, once she kills him."
"You know I can hear you, right?" Lyle asked.
"Oh, yeah."