By LD Steen
Oct 20-
Daniel looked small, almost swallowed up in the gown
clothing his thin body. He shivered as he sat on the
cold exam table.
"I'm sorry Daniel" Dr. Conner was saying as he patted
the boy's shoulder. "I don't think it's a good idea
for you to go out trick or treating with the weather
like it's been. Your lungs haven't gotten over your
bullet wound and I don't want you to get sick again."
George and Kat exchanged looks over the despondent
boy's head. Daniel sat in silence with his head hung.
"Hey" Kat grinned with forced joviality, "How about we
have a party at home instead." Daniel's head shot up,
hope flaring briefly in his eyes. "I think with all
this snow we've had already this year, that most of
the kids would prefer a costume party inside instead
of going door to door. Don't you?"
"That's a great idea." George enthused.
The doctor smiled and nodded. "I believe I could clear
you for something like that. Just don't over do
things."
************************************************
Oct 25-
Jason tossed his backpack on the floor of the living
room. Kat glanced up from the papers she had scattered
across her desk.
"Put it in your room please." Kat directed, pointedly
eying the pack. Jason hefted it over his shoulder with
a sigh. She smiled as he started towards his room.
"Did
you hand out the invitations?"
"Yeah, everyone got one."
"And?"
"Most of them said they'd come."
***************************************8
Jason knocked on Daniel's door, then opened it
hesitantly when he didn't get an answer. He saw
Daniel sitting on his window bench staring pensively
outside.
"Hey Danny, why so quiet?"
"Just thinking." Daniel answered without looking away
from the window. Jason frowned, a quiet Daniel was
never a good thing.
"Well, you got lucky today." he attempted to draw his
brother out some, "Mrs. Davis handed out a surprise
test. Man, it's a good thing you helped me out with my
history yesterday." Misery was etched on Daniel's
face. "You feeling ok Danny? You look kinda sick."
Daniel shrugged, "Just a bad day I guess. I'm bored
here. I wish I could go back to school with you."
Jason looked aghast, "You WANT to go to school? Why?
I'd rather be home with Kat."
"Me too, but she had meetings all day. I was stuck
watching tv all day."
"What kind of meetings?"
Daniel sighed, "All kinds. Mostly about the party. She
had caterers and some party planner lady over. You
know what a perfectionist she can be."
"But I thought this was just something for our class."
Daniel shook his head sadly. "Not anymore. There's
gonna be a costume contest, games and a haunted house
out back. They even plan on a big bonfire out front
for roasting hot dogs."
"Wow, sounds great. So why the long face? I thought
you'd be happy."
"I can't think of a costume. Everything I come up with
is stupid."
"You? Stupid? You've gotta be kidding. So tell me some
of your ideas."
Daniel handed him a sketchbook with several designs
drawn in it. Jason studied them seriously.
"Well, the Egyptian thing is out Danny. you don't need
to be seen wearing a dress."
"It isn't a dress."
"Danny, I don't care what they call it over in Egypt,
here it's a dress. You don't want to give Robert a new
reason to pick on you do ya?"
Daniel seemed to draw more into himself. Oblivious,
Jason continued to flip through the notebook. Finally
a huge grin lit his face.
"This one is perfect Danny. We could both do this."
Daniel glanced over at the drawing.
"Both of us? Are you sure?"
"Yeah, sure. You can be black and I'll be white.
Besides just think, we get to carry swords."
Deep blond brows drew together. "Swords? But there's
no..."
Jason nudged him and nodded his head excitedly. "Yeah
Danny, swords. You'll see, it'll be great. Trust me."
"You know those are the two most dreaded words in the
English language don't you?"
"Yep, I know it. But ya love me anyhow, right?"
***************************************************
Oct31-
Daniel gaped at the room in amazement. Cobwebs hung
down in every direction. Huge spiders suspended in the
webbing and small animals seemed to be cocooned within
their depths. Ghosts were projected on darkened walls
and skeletons and bats flew around the room in a
frenzy. In the far corner a body swayed in a frazzled
noose and rats fed on the dripping blood below the
body.
A sign led guests to a haunted house located in a
temporary structure outside. In the kitchen, huge
platters held all manner of treats from candy for the
kids to pies, cakes, cookies and other desserts. An
entire table seemed devoted to snacks like hot dogs
hamburgers and other quick meals along with everything
needed to top them.
The study was sectioned off by long black veils and a
table complete with a crystal ball proclaimed to
herald the upcoming arrival of a great fortune teller.
The doorbell rand, drawing his attention. He returned
to the main party room just as Kat escorted in Dr.
Conner and his little girl, both dressed in full
surgeons uniforms. Tufts of the girl's reddish brown
hair stuck out and her warm brown eyes twinkled at
Daniel.
"Well, hello Daniel" Dr. Conner greeted. "I love the
costume. It's very...you somehow."
Daniel grinned as he looked down at his black ninja
outfit. Jason entered in a white replica of the same
costume.
Within minutes the rooms began filling. George,
dressed as a civil war general, greeted everyone at
the door. Kat stood beside him, lovely in a Cleopatra
gown.
Jason pulled Daniel into the kitchen.
"Come on, let's go get some marshmallows and go out to
the bonfire."
Daniel shook his head slightly.
"Nah, I'm not really hungry yet. Why don't we play
some games first" Jason looked disappointed, but only
for a moment.
"Hey look" he whispered "There's Aunt Trina."
Daniel smiled, knowing full well of Jason's crush on
their sometimes flamboyant aunt. He was dragged along
by an exuberant Jason.
"Well, hello boys." Trina greeted with a twinkle in
her emerald eyes. "Ninjas huh? Can't say I expected
that one, but it's...right I suppose."
Jason proceeded to regale Trina with the tale of their
earlier "Battle between good and evil" which had
basically come down to an admittedly fun sword fight
between the two boys. For a few exciting moments,
Daniel's large bedroom had been charged with the
sounds of clanging...plastic. Jason's superior
fighting skills, which consisted of tripping Daniel
into the bed, had finally won him the hard earned
title of best swordsman. Daniel grinned, remembering
how Jason had tickled a gasping "uncle" from him.
His attention was drawn to the fortune teller's room.
There was no one in the line. The dark billowing
curtains seemed to have a life of their own as they
beckoned to him. He entered the room silently.
The hoot of a large owl startled him. the bird turned
it's head at a seemingly impossible angle and it
blinked slowly at the boy. A black light illuminated
the room mysteriously and the crystal ball seemed to
glow faintly.
"Hello young Daniel."
He turned, frightened at the sudden intrusion. A woman
entered in long flowing skirts, her face partially
hidden by a veil. Daniel could see her gray eyes
twinkling in amusement. He heard the swish of the
heavy skirts as she seated herself behind the crystal
ball.
"How...how did you know my name?"
"I know many things. Now, would you like me to tell
you of your future young one?"
Daniel nodded mutely, his fear subsiding slightly. She
gestured to he empty seat and he lowered himself into
it slowly.
"Give me your hand child" Her voice was oddly muffled
by the veil, but Daniel thought it had changed.
Perhaps grown rougher, deeper. He held out his hand
hesitantly. She took it, her sharp red nails
whispering gently over the lines of his palm.Daniel
felt his hand growing uncomfortably warm, but he found
himself unable to pull away.
"You are a gentle soul Daniel. One suited more for the
halls of academia than the warrior's life you will
lead. Yet without the knowledge you possess even now,
you would be unable to open new worlds to your people.
You will rise to become the guardian of worlds, yet
you pull away from those who would become your family.
You must open yourself young one or you will find
yourself alone forever."
Daniel's eyes were locked with hers. He swallowed a
frightened whimper as she continued to hold and stroke
his hand.
"Do not forget yourself young one. Do not forget all
you have learned. The legends, the stories...one day
they will become important. One day your knowledge
will save your own life and the lives of all those
around you. There is often but a fine line between
good and evil and things are not always as they seem.
You must look inside yourself for answers."
She stroked his palm once again before releasing it.
He wanted to leave, to get away, but her eyes held him
firmly in place.
"I will never harm you Daniel. I have always respected
intelligence and wisdom. My warriors always enjoy my
protection as they go forth into battle. Remember my
Daniel, that not all deities mean you harm. Go now,
enjoy you youth for it will shape the man you are to
become. Go with the oath of protection from Athena."
He was released suddenly from his cataplexic trance
and he backed away, his chair skittering across the
floor. He practically ran to the safety on the other
side of the veiled barrier, but he turned back for one
last look. the fortune teller bowed slightly, her eyes
glowing briefly. She grasped a small crystal in her
hand as she disappeared suddenly. Daniel struggled for
each terrified breath.
He jumped as a small hand touched his arm. He turned
to see the girl who had come in with Dr. Conner.
"Are you ok? You want me to go get my Daddy?"
No words seemed able to force their way past Daniel's
lips. Suddenly he found Kat and George at his side.
"Are you alright son?" George questioned, concerned.
He felt Daniel's forehead, hissing as he pulled his
hand back. "You're like ice. Where have you been?
We've been Looking all over for you."
Dr. Conner pushed past him and checked Daniel's pulse.
He noted anxiously the faint blue of Daniel's lips.
"He's a bit shocky. Lets get him to bed."
A warm blanket was wrapped around his shoulders and he
was ushered to his bedroom. It took several moments
before the icy chill that had taken over his body
finally began to dissipate. his body shivered
uncontrollably as he remembered the uncomfortable
warmth of the fortune teller's hands. he barely
acknowledged the bustle going on around him.
"Mom" he finally croaked out of his dry throat, "Mom,
where did the fortune teller go?"
"Fortune teller?" Kat questioned, confused, "Oh Danny,
she never showed up. She called right before the party
to tell me her car wouldn't start."
"No...no. She was here. She really was. Her name was
Athena. She had an owl and she had gray eyes, and her
eyes...they glowed Mama. She said I was her warrior
and she would protect me."
George locked eyes with Kat, concerned by the odd
ramblings of their son.
"You caught a chill son" George soothed, rubbing his
shoulders through the blanket. "the windows were left
open in the study and you apparently fell asleep in
there."
"No! No, I didn't fall asleep. It was real. I remember
all of it."
Kat smiled condescendingly.
"I think it was probably some weird dream Danny. When
Janet found you it was almost like you were
sleepwalking. She called us immediately."
"Janet? who's Janet?"
"Dr. Conner's daughter. You remember her?"
"Short girl...dressed like a surgeon?"
The relief was evident in Kat's smile. "Yes, that's
her. She's been following you around most of the
evening." there was a teasing tone in her voice "I
think you have a groupie Danny."
George patted his arm. "Are you feeling better now
Son?"
Daniel nodded, still shaken. He clenched his teeth to
keep them from chattering.
Jason appeared in the doorway, his eyes huge."Are you
ok Danny? Janet told me you were sick. what happened."
Daniel looked hesitatingly at George and Kat. He
didn't want to worry them anymore. "I...I'. fine.
Just...just had a bad dream." He shrugged off the
blanket, instantly missing it's safe confines, but
determined not to show anyone how much he needed it.
He turned to his parents. "I feel better now. Can I go
back to the party?"
Confusion was written all over their faces, but Kat
nodded.
"Are you sure Son?" George questioned. Daniel squared
his shoulders and offered a tentative smile.
"I'm fine" He affirmed, his voice regaining some of
it's strength. "You were right, it was just a dream, a
really bad dream."
The End.
