“Larissa! Get back from there.” The voice cut into Lacey’s musings like a knife, ripping her daydream and dumping her back in the present. To be precise, 1912. “I won’t have you standing that close to the edge of the deck,” Lacey’s governess, Mrs. Etchman, said apprehensively “What would your mother think?” “She’d probably be standing there with me,” Lacey muttered. Mother had taken a ship to New York three months ago, saying that Lacey should come when she had set up a home there. Now five-year-old Lacey and her slightly overprotective governess were over halfway there. Despite the fact that this was one of the safest ships in the world, Mrs. Etchman still harbored doubts. “I hate these engines! In my day, ships had sails or, at the very least, oars. Not these big clunky hunks of metal pumping out smoke. Why, I remember…” “Mrs. Etchman!” Lacey interrupted. She knew these one-sided conversations could go on forever. “Can I go to our cabin?” “Yes, you may. I’ll come with you, of course.” When they got to their first-class rooms, Lacey belly-flopped onto the bed. Despite the ship’s restaurant, lounge, reading room, gymnasium, swimming bath, and squash court, Lacey was bored. She let the gently rocking ship roll her around the bed, wishing that she didn’t have to have a guardian all the time. Suddenly, she sat up. “Oh, don’t worry about that. This ship surpasses all others before it. It won’t be a problem” “Mrs. Etchman, may I go to the bathroom?” “Yes, you may” Mrs. Etchman approved. Once out of sight, Lacey headed for the main hall, away from the bathrooms. She wandered up corridors and down stairs, not sure where she was going. Presently, she came upon two women talking to an officer. Lacey heard one of the women address him as chairman. He was reading a telegram, trying to sound important. “‘Icebergs and large quantity of field ice 41.59 N 49.9 W’ Oh, don’t worry about that. This ship surpasses all others before it. It won’t be a problem.” Lacey passed them without noticing. She was thinking about her governess. Her spiteful, rude, malicious governess. Lacey had thought that her first trip overseas would be enjoyable. But not with Medusa’s mother-in-law watching her like a vulture. The voyage had got off to a bad start in Queenstown, anyway. She’d been seasick the first few days, while Mrs. Etchman, perfectly well, watched disapprovingly As if it was her fault she was sick! Mrs. Etchman was always pointing out problems and correcting manners. Larissa, tuck in your shirt. Larissa, don’t bolt your food. Larissa… Suddenly, Lacey’s thoughts were scattered when the floor beneath her changed from lush, dark red carpet to gray, metallic steel. The cold sheet metal sent shivers up her bare feet and rang faintly when she stepped on it. She jumped up and down on it. Booum! B000um! This was fun. She walked farther down the corridor to see whether it sounded louder over there. * * * Eventually, she got tired and decided to go back. But wait. Was that dead-end there last time? And that door wasn’t locked. Lacey was suddenly aware that the engine sounded much louder than it always did. In fact, she could feel the vibrations through the walls. It was coming from a door ahead. The opening door ahead. Out of the door stepped a young man in grimy coveralls. He was a rangy six- or seventeen-year-old; easily recognized as a mechanic because of the trademark oily rag in his back pocket. “Hey” he said, surprised. Then, more gently and with a grin, “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” The young mechanic radiated goodwill and, against Mrs. Etchman’s command to not talk to strangers, Lacey soon found herself telling him everything. “Well, it seems like this governess of yours is really mean,” the greaser theorized. “Or, so you seems to think. But didja consider that maybe she’s just being too possessive? She is suppos’d to take care of ya, after all. I’m sure she doesn’t do all those things to you to be cruel, just to help your welfare,” he went on. But Lacey wasn’t to be moved so quickly. She was five years old, after all. The mechanic talked to her longer, telling her his name (Axel) and his occupation (greaser). “Ya know,” Axel remarked, “people can be very prejudiced. Why, there’s a couple in second class who were frightened just last night because it was the thirteenth. They were prejudiced against a number, but you’re prejudiced against a person.” Lacey was having trouble following the conversation, perhaps because she didn’t know what “prejudiced” meant. “See if you can find something nice about her. Try asking where she grew up. That usually works.” Axel winked and got up from the pipe they’d been sitting on. “I’ve got to get back to work. You head in that direction and stay to the right, and you should get back to the deck.” Lacey watched Axel walk back to the engine room. Then she turned and walked back, thinking about what he’d said. By the time she reached her room, she had decided that Axel was right. Maybe she had been too hard on Mrs. Etchman. But when she opened the door, her resolve dissolved. “Where have you been?” Mrs. Etchman shrieked. “I’ve looked all over the first-class area. I was getting ready to call on the captain. If you’ve been…” Lacey tuned her out. Maybe Axel was wrong. Mrs. Etchman seemed plenty mean to her. She decided to try one last time. “Mrs. Etchman, where did you grow up?” Mrs. Etchman stopped her tirade and stared at Lacey “Where did I- now, don’t try to change the subject. We were discussing your shameful behavior.” “Yeah, just answer this an’ I won’t interrupt or disagree or anything,” Lacey pleaded. “Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease?” “Oh… very well. But don’t think you’ll get away with this, because you won’t.
November/December 2006
Puppy
The little brown dog huddled up against me breathes deeply knowing he is safe. Crickets chirp outside an owl hoots frogs croak but he sleeps through this snoring on my lap. His body is so warm with each slow breath he heaves his body pushes against mine and he knows that I am still with him. But as my body stays with the dog reassuring him that all is well, my thoughts travel and I think back to our first day together. He barked at every neighbor jumped on the table ate all our good food chewed up the couch. No one understood why we kept him. But I do now. His paws are tucked in his snores are little whistles he is deep in sleep. He is completely at ease peaceful because he knows I am with him holding him keeping him safe and warm. Where would this little brown dog be without me? And where would I be without him? He stirs sleepily and I hug him close his head drops down resting in my lap. And our breathing is now synchronized. Like the chirping of the crickets Emina S. Sonnad, 12Snohomish, Washington
Secrets in the Forest
Casping peered out of the curtains hiding her in the carriage speeding down a gravel road. A guard on the seat beside her grunted and reached over to pull her back inside. With a sigh of grief and understanding, Casping sat back against the silk-covered seat. She hung her head and let the burning sensation behind her eyes ascend. She let her soft blond hair cover her pale, angelic face as she wept. The carriage took a sharp turn, stopping her in the middle of a sob. She quickly reminded herself this was all for the best. She needed to stay hidden, and stay safe. Death was not an option; she needed to survive long enough to rule her parents’ kingdom. If she did not hide, then surely her family’s enemy, the powerful Rasha, would find and kill her. Casping knew she must accept her fate. Besides, her family must really love her to go to these measures of safety. Casping shivered as the cold winter wind blew open the curtains. She caught a glimpse of frost-covered trees and bushes and wondered what it would be like living in the middle of a deserted forest. At least she would have a cabin to live in and the two guards riding beside her to protect her. Sighing, now out of boredom and impatience, Casping turned to ask the guard on her right how much longer it would be. Suddenly an arrow came flying through the curtains as they burst into flames. The arrow was on fire! It struck the guard in the chest and he immediately fell. Casping let out a terrified scream, jumping up in panic. She turned to find her left guard was already dead as well. She turned her wide silver eyes to the man who was leading the horses. He was slumped over in the seat, bleeding from a very recent wound. Casping shivered as the cold winter wind blew open the curtains Casping’s heart seemed to stop, but her mind didn’t. She jumped into the front seat and pushed the body out of the way with a muttered “sorry.” She urged the horses into a full gallop. Racing down a slope, she could hear more arrows being shot towards her, and the orange flames just missing her. As the carriage suddenly erupted into flames, Casping knew she was done for. She saw her only chance of escape to her left. It was a forest, dark and mysterious. Everything seemed to slow down as she jumped out of the carriage. She rapidly undid the leather straps connecting the horses to the carriage and jumped atop the one who was the fastest, Kundra. The other horse ran in the opposite direction, towards the enemy. Casping cringed as she heard it let out a last whinny, but she didn’t stop. She coaxed Kundra into a blinding run towards any ounce of safety the forest held and prayed they’d make it. The moon was already up by the time Casping was sure she and Kundra were alone. The over-exercised horse’s sides were heaving as he wheezed. Casping staggered off the sweaty black horse. Tying up Kundra by his bridle, she murmured soft words, “There, there, good boy It’ll be all right.” Her once melodic voice was now oozing with mental pain and emptiness. Kundra whinnied hoarsely in reply. A strong wind began to blow, sending shivers to caress Casping. Clouds overhead were as dark and as thick smoke, and full of threatening snow. Only moments later, the promised snow began to glide down to earth. In an attempt to shield herself from winter’s unforgiving embrace, Casping pulled her soft robe over her head. Kundra was sleeping by the time Casping had created a reasonably warm fire. She knew she could not cry, for the water might freeze her face even more. Instead, she lay down beside the fire and gratefully gave herself up to her dreams. It must have been in the wee hours of the morning when Casping woke up. Something was wrong. She never woke up this early without a reason. Then the sound that had awakened her repeated. It was howling. The howl sounded like it was coming from one lonely wolf. “Calm down, Kundra. I won’t let it hurt you,” Casping whispered, trying to soothe the panicking horse. He bucked, then froze with wide, rolling eyes. “What is…” Casping began to ask, but a growl interrupted her from a few yards at least behind her. Kundra yanked on his bridle, cutting his mouth on the bit. Casping untied the reins, about to ride him out of the forest. But, with other intentions, Kundra sped off into the woods. Casping heard the trample of hooves on the undergrowth and howling that was moving towards the trampling. Suddenly, a sickening whinny sounded across the forest to Casping, making her cringe. She wanted to run after Kundra, bring him back to safety, but feared what she would see. Fearful of the wolf’s return, she built up another fire and fell into a freezing sleep. Movement woke Casping. She opened her eyes in a confused daze. She couldn’t feel her face! What was going on? Her fingers were stiff and felt frozen. Casping finally realized someone was carrying her. She looked into an unfamiliar face. He was handsome and young, only a few years older-looking than her. He looked down at her, concern in his sharp eyes. His eyes were odd. They were golden brown colors, but that wasn’t the odd part. They didn’t look… very human. After a few minutes, or so it seemed, Casping realized she was in a hut, and a very warm and cozy hut at that. She was placed on a soft blanket, one made of brown fur. The stranger had his back turned to her. She watched him weakly, feeling some warmth creeping around in her body. He turned around, watching her intently, almost studying her. She looked away and felt her eyes
