Chapter 4
I have lost broom.
Not enough am losing self, now I losing other things, too. I look everywhere — not to be found.
This is bad. Almost last day to sweep out bad luck of old year. Tomorrow eve of New Year. No sweeping out then until after Lantern Festival — might sweep good luck of New Year away.
I open door and look on porch — maybe boys use broom to sweep snow away. But no sign. I wait there, looking.
Air very quiet after all the wind. Snow finally stop falling, leave world hushed and bright as diamond. Is beautiful, but I will not be fooled — will not forget the days of storm and cold that beat this land to diamond brightness.
I look at barn. I do not think boys know snow stopped yet. They play in barn all morning. Not too cold there — animals keep warm. Stay inside house much longer, go crazy. Me first, then them.
Jake and Burl come to me, say they try to make their way to town, look for Missa Ben. Roads covered with snow, though — slow travel.
Burl lower voice and look around. "Where-all's Adam?"
"Barn," I answer.
He nod. "Good. Don't tell him yet we're gone or he'll be wantin' ta come. Better if'n he stays here, case we find somethin' he oughtn't oughter see."
I nod, relieved. A good plan. "I will pack food. You wait."
They gone for hour now. Still no sign of boys. Must be very busy in barn - very quiet. This pluck at my stomach, and I frown.
Too quiet, maybe.
Boys never quiet — not for long. I look over shoulder, thinking.
Tiny one asleep. Missy Cartwright, too — little better today, I think — cooler. Make broth for lunch; maybe she eat.
I look back at barn. Wind quiet, boys quiet — just as I have wanted, but I am not happy. This not good — unnatural. I make decision and reach for coat and boots.
Path to barn need fresh shoveling. When I find what mischief boys in now I set Missa Adam to that. Lead rope still up, wrapped in ice. I near barn and still I hear no noise. Is worrying.
I pull hard on door — slow to move against pile of snow blown at foot — and fix on stern look, ready.
Not ready.
Not know what I expect — but not this, not this.
I stop in door and stare and stare …how long? Hours? Minutes? Not know. Maybe I make sound - maybe something else — but suddenly all stop.
Still.
Quiet.
I see little Missa Hoss's head pop out — hair standing every end. Must cut, I think, in daze.
He see me — smile his big, happy smile. "Hop Sing!" he crow like big-small bird. "Look at us! We're doin' a dragon dance fer Ma!"
Missa Adam's face come out now, too — not so fast, not so sure.
He look at me.
I look at him.
I close barn door, very slow, and walk to where they stand, taking thing from Missa Adam's hand.
Well, I think to self, here is my broom.
I turn it round and round, looking.
Red not good Chinese red — more red brown — maybe old paint for barn. Does not look like Chinese dragon — not really. But does not look like old broken well bucket on broom, either — no, not really.
I finger horns made of twisted branches, pieces of broken bottles that are eyes, stroke long pieces of cloth that hang like beard — Missy Cartwright missing some rags for making rugs, I think — and missing quilt from guest room, too.
Quilt not really dragon body, but fine dragon colors — red and yellow and turquoise. Good shapes — spread-out fans, like dragon scales.
No. Not real Chinese dragon, not really … still…
It has good look to me. American Western Chinese dragon, maybe — for American Western Chinese magic. I turn dragon over and over in my hands and I cannot remember now why I thought these things did not go together — why I thought you were one or you were other only.
I feel the quiet — Missa Adam quiet; Missa Hoss now, too, because Missa Adam is.
I feel Missa Adam's eyes and I look at him. See … many things. Heart not so well hidden after all but to see it must have wise, sharp eyes — like dragon.
Later, we will talk about what I see, but now I see his worry — always worry, this one — so I look very stern.
"Worse dragon dance I ever see," I tell them. "You listen to nothing I teach you? Two people is for lion dance. Dragon dance, always more. Here."
I put my head in dragon head. Good fit.
"Missa Adam, you dragon back. Missa Hoss, you make good tail, I think. Now, follow me."
Boys scramble under quilt.
When in place I start dance — slow first, then faster.
Almost I hear the pipes and cymbals as we dance, and through the broken bottles of the dragon eyes I see…oh, many things.
TBC
Thank you, Tauna!
And thank you, pookaire! It will definitely be finished. I'm trying to time it to finish on the day of the Lantern Festival (I know - I'm such a geek!) Thank you for your kind words - I'm so glad you're enjoying it!