Back at the House

We were already pretty-well winded by the time we broke the woodline west of the house, and I’ve never been more relieved at any sight in my life.

Bright flood lights lit up the back yard like broad daylight as Uncle Phil and Aunt Susan were rushing out of the house. Uncle Phil came bounding down the back steps and running toward us, armed with his twelve-gauge shotgun. Meanwhile Aunt Susan braced her hand against one of the beams supporting the roof of the back deck. The rifle she rested on her outstretched thumb wasn’t the sort you got at SportsMart for hunting. It was long, slim, and black…like we saw army guys carrying on the news. “I don’t see anything,” Susan called down from her perch.

I finally realized that I no longer heard those running footsteps behind us, but I wasn’t about to stop running. My legs were burning and getting heavy when Uncle Phil reached us. He slung his shotgun across his back and helped get the twins off our shoulders before he started back to the house. Even a jog was becoming painful as we climbed the back steps and up onto the deck. The rest of the kids all went running to Aunt Susan, and even Ruth threw her arms around her. Uncle Phil stayed outside with us while Aunt Susan rushed the rest of the kids inside.

As much as I wanted to join in that relief, I just couldn’t. Robert and I were gasping for air by the time we got to the deck and clear of the stairs. My legs finally buckled, and I dropped to my knees. Robert, meanwhile, barely made it to the railing before leaning over and heaving the contents of his stomach out into the yard.

Uncle Phil just looked at us, shaking his head. “None of ya’ll looked at it, did you’,” he asked us.

Robert and I shook our heads. We still couldn’t talk.

Uncle Phil nodded and sat down next to us. “I know you know better than to let it get so late, Robert,” he told my cousin.

I couldn’t help but notice that Uncle Phil didn’t sound angry so much as disappointed.

“I know, dad,” Robert replied, finally able to speak as he rolled to sit down and lean against the railing. “Sorry.”

Uncle Phil nodded and looked at me. “An’, I expect a little more out of you while you’re here, too, Bill,” he told me before looking between me and Robert. “Hopefully, this li’l experience is enough to keep the twins inside after dark, but there’s some chores as can’t be helped. Both of you, be more careful in the future. Don’t be out in the woods after dark, and for Pete’s sake don’t let the rest of the kids be out there, either.”

I nodded. “I understand, Uncle Phil,” I replied, still half-breathless.

Uncle Phil then stood and began helping me and Robert to our feet. “On the other hand, you did good,” he told us.

“Huh?”

Uncle Phil shrugged. “You dealt with a bad situation and got everyone out,” he explained. “Doesn’t change the fact that it was a stupid situation you never should’ve gotten y’selves into, of course.”

Robert grinned weakly. “Yeah, it was pretty stupid,” he admitted.

“Let’s get ya’ll settled a bit and we’ll see about dinner.”

Dinner started quiet. None of us kids really wanted to talk about what had happened in the woods. It was already late enough when we got back, and getting the kids calmed down enough to eat took time, especially Ruth and the twins. Aunt Susan had intended that the pulled pork in the slow cooker would be a welcome dinner for me and Ruth, but it didn’t quite work out that way. Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that such a meal, along with a nice, homemade cake will still put a smile on your face and make you forget about a lot of things. By the time we’d finished dessert, I was almost wondering if we were all just jumping at shadows. That is, until Uncle Phil tapped me and Robert on the shoulder and motioned for us to follow him.

Robert and I followed Uncle Phil out to the front porch. I’ll admit that I was quietly relieved that we weren’t headed for the back porch. “You sure that thing isn’t still out there somewhere,” I asked quietly as he closed the front door.

Uncle Phil nodded. “It can’t go past the woods if nobody’s lookin’ at it,” he said in a quiet, reassuring voice.

“What is it?”

“We call it the pale man,” Robert supplied.

Uncle Phil nodded. “We don’t really know what it is, and we didn’ know about it until we were already moved in,” he admitted. “It’s something that haunts the woods out there.”

I shook my head. “What do we do about it,” I asked.

Uncle Phil sat in a chair. “We don’t look at it,” he replied. “That’s all we can do.”

“There has to be something,” I insisted.

Uncle Phil shook his head. “I hit that thing in the face with a twelve gauge slug, and it got back up,” he told me.

“Guns’ll buy you some time to get away but not much else,” Robert added.

I must’ve had an odd look on my face, because my uncle put a hand on my shoulder. “Bill, there’s things out there as I can’t explain,” he told me calmly. “Whatever this thing is, it’s a part of nature, same as us or a mountain lion. Jus’ treat it like anythin’ else in the woods best avoided, understand?”

I looked at Uncle Phil and grimaced. “I understand,” I sighed after a moment.

A faint smile crossed Uncle Phil’s face. “Now, there’s plenty to do you don’t get to do out at Oak Ridge, so why don’t you and Robert head for bed an’ try’n get some sleep,” he suggested. “We’ll see how you and Ruth do in the saddle after breakfast. If you two can handle it well ‘nuf we’ll go for a li’l ride. Might help you’n Ruth settle in a bit better.”

I nodded and trooped back inside with Robert. We all started for bed once Ruth and I were unpacked. I found that I was exhausted, despite the terror in the woods. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.