That's Write, I Right!

Or I use to, at least!

I was digging through my closet at my mom's house and came across one of my many long forgotten notebooks. Inside contained a few pages of story I had completely forgotten I'd even written. Actually, I barely remember writing it at all! I wonder how old it is?

Here we go!

I rolled over in my bed, waking slowly and blinking the sleep away from my blurry eyes. Sitting up, I groaned as a pain stabbed somewhere in my lower back.

I'm getting old, I thought, smiling humorously, swinging my legs over the side of my bed so that I was sitting, facing the stone wall of my little home. This was ridiculous of course- I was barely twenty years old. An adult yes, but not old enough to be aching. Or to be complaining about aching, I suppose.

The braid I had woven my hair into the previous night had come undone while I slept; the honey colored waves stuck up in various places, and I flinched as I ran a hand through it, my fingers catching on the wily tangles.

Sighing, I stood glancing behind me at the small, lone window that adored the back wall of my house. The sky was just starting to brighten- I could see the sun's yellow merging with the fading turquoise of the night. A rooster called then from the farm down the road. I smiled, content that I was the early bird this morning. 

I got dressed, choosing a long, charcoal colored dress and a thick shawl a shade of gray only slightly lighter. I frowned, looking into the old wardrobe that towered above everything else in the tiny box that was my house. The few articles of clothing that hung there were all considerably dull. Surely I had some colored thing? One sock that wasn't black or gray? I opened a drawer and dug in. A musty, stale sent rose up, the skirts and dresses I found had not belonged to me, but my late mother. These of course were all lovely shades; powdered blues and deep maroons, whites that had somehow managed to stay fairly pure even through years of sitting idle in the dark.

But I would never wear them. I couldn't. Nor could I sell them, though since my parents had passed, one and then the other shortly after, I was in poor shape when it came to money.

I saw sliver of familiarity in the bottom of the drawer. I reached down and pulled out a dress of forest green. It was small, for I wore it as a child. I stared at it, my frown deepening, and I decided that, yes, it was best that I didn't wear colors.

Standing, I twisted my hair into a bun, not wanting to deal with the tangles, washed my face hurriedly in the bowl on the counter, and pushed through the heavy door at the front of the house, seeking relief from a place now too full of memories.

The crisp breeze was a lovely, as was the Orkney sea, gray and tumbling over the rocky shore of the Island. I set a slow pace, taking my time deciding what to do as I walked along the road away from town. Most of my days were filled with wandering. Most of the time alone. I had made myself into a bit of a hermit, I mused. I was pondering this when I heard a shrill scream. 

I lifted my head in alarm and turned, trying to spot the trouble. Another scream sounded, clearly coming from the beach below the road. I ran down the grassy trail, my boots getting damp with dew, and as my feet clacked against the stony beach I frantically searched the jagged rocks and swirling force of the waves.

"Ms. Conley! Ms. Conley!" 

I spun towards the voice that called to me, spotting a small group of children huddled in fear by a grouping of large boulders.

"Laney? What's wrong?" I asked as I loped over, scrutinizing their scared but otherwise unharmed faces.

"Tommy found a seal skin and started playing with it and I told him not to but he did-"

"Did not! You tried to take it!" Tommy, a chubby, curly hair lad no older than six objected.

I waved for him to be silent, eyes set on the girl. "A seal pelt, you say?" I tried with all my might but a swell of hope filled my chest none the less.

"Yeah, and a seal came out of the water and almost bit Tommy!" She wailed, pushing her dark hair out of her eyes.

"And then what happened, Laney?"

The girl looked down, away from the intensity of my gaze. "It took the skin into the water. Do you... think it was one of Theirs?"

I stood from my kneeling position and scanned the sea, searching for the familiar dark, round shapes until my eyes began to sting from the chilled breeze. I blinked and shook my head. If they had been there, they were gone now. Disappointment took hope's place in my heart for a fleeting moment, then my eyes widened.

"You said it took the pelt?" I looked around eagerly, "was there only one seal?"

"At first, but then one just appeared." Laney answered, watching my face with eyes too observant for an eight year old.

Another wave of devastating disappointment hit me then, and I sat down on a one of the rocks.

"It was one of them, wasn't it?" an older boy asked.

I shrugged, "Maybe, Sam."

A dozen wide eyes stared at me and Sam said "My ma says you knew one."

All of the younger kids gasped and Laney asked, "Reeally?"

I sighed and eyed them warily. "Yes."

"What are you guys talking about?" Tommy asked, obviously clueless.

"Aww, Tommy, don't your parents tell you nothin?"

"No," Tommy mumbled. stuffing his hand into the pockets of his trousers. "Can you tell me Ms. Conley?"

"Call me Shaleigh, honey," I smiled thinly, thinking that I wasn't old enough to be called 'Ms.' or at least didn't want to be. I continued. "Most of you have heard of the Selkie Folk, right?"

Most of them nodded; Tommy looked down, embarrassed.

"Well, a selkie is a special thing. It lives it's life as a seal but can shed it's pelt and be a human."

"Tell us about your selkie, Ms. Shaleigh." Laney piped, eyes wide with curiosity. The others chimed in with pleas for me to continue.

My selkie, I thought with a hint of bitter sweetness.

"Well, I met my selkie when I was about your age," I nodded at Laney, "and he was about your age, Sam."

The memories were clear as day. As they always would be.

I was nine years old and tall for my age. My mother had recently grown tired of adding fabric to the ends of my skirt, and she found it repulsive when I tried to wear my brother Galvin's clothes, so she made me a new dress; it was a beautiful forest green.

"That dress fits you better than Galvin's shirts!" My da laughed one morning as I stuffed a fist full of biscuits into rag and tied the ends.

"Yeah, but it doesn't have pockets." I grumbled, though I really couldn't complain- I loved the dress, especially how it made my grayish eyes seem almost green.  

"Where'yah going?" my mama asked trying too hard to be nonchalant. I saw right through her scheme and made a dash for the door.

"Not so fast you!" She grabbed me into a bear hug, and proceeded to run a brush through the gnarly mess that was my hair. I squirmed and squealed but she didn't let go until she was satisfied; my hair soft and wavy down my back.

"Stop!" I pushed away from her only to be pulled back into a real hug.

"Have fun! Don't forget your coat!" she laughed, letting me go.

I stuck my tongue out at her and bolted, only to run back and kiss her on the cheek.

"Bye, Da!" I called over my shoulder and sprinted out the door, clearing the yard in seconds flat. The day was warm and sweet.

The smell of summer filled the air; late blooming flowers, fresh bread from town, and of course the cool, salty breeze from the sea.

I ran down the winding roads that lay parallel to the beach, stopping ever hundred or so feet to peek into old logs or thick patches of grass, leaving crumpled biscuits behind for the fairies that I was sure lived there.

A warm breeze ruffled my hair and with it came a soft sobbing. I turned towards the rocks. The beach had gradually changed into cliffs above the waves. I approached the ledge and peered down seeing nothing but still hearing the cries, I descended the rise. It grew noticeably colder as the rock walls blocked out the sun's warming rays.

Following the sorrow-filled sounds I rounded a particularly large rock to see a small, pale, dark haired boy curled into a pitiful ball.

"Hey! Are you okay?"

The boy jumped and turned, a fearful expression coated his face until he saw my obvious lack of strength.

"Go away." he murmured into his crossed arms. It was then that I realized he was naked.

"Eww!" I squealed, shielding my eyes, "where are your clothes?!"

"I don't have any." He muttered.

I dropped my hands, suddenly over his nudity, and made a face. "Why?"

He glared at me now and sneered, "because I don't, stupid."

I felt my face go pale, then red hot. "You're so mean!" I cried, "I came down here 'cause you were crying! I'm not stupid!" I could feel my lower lip begin to tremble and I turned away, sitting at the opposite side of the large rock.

" I wasn't- hey, are you crying?" 

I sniffled and ignored him. 

There was an explosive sigh from behind me. "I'm sorry I called you stupid." There were a few soft steps and a then a hand on my shoulder.

"Ew, you're naked." I shrugged his hand away.

Neither of us said anything for a few minutes. I stopped crying. Peeking over my shoulder I saw that he was sitting again, staring miserably into the water.

"What's your name?" I asked.

He looked up, surprised. "I thought you hate me."

Standing, I walked to him and sat, "I can't hate everyone who calls me names," I grinned at him and his dark eyes widened.  "Plus, you said sorry."

He gazed at me for a few more seconds, then looked away.

"So," I asked the water, "why are you sad?"

He frowned, brow furrowing. "I'm not suppose to tell."

"That's okay, I know what that's like," I went on, kicking at the water. "One time my da forgot my mama's birthday and he wrote a song real quick as a gift and she loved it even thought it was silly but my da made me promise not to tell-" my eyes widened, "Oh! But I just did!" I exclaimed, burying my face into the palm of my little hand.

I heard snickering from beside me and I lifted my head blinking.

"That is not a secret." He shook his head, smile fading as he continued, "not a good one at least."

"Secrets aren't good at all!" I defended, scowling.

"You know what I mean." He shivered, wrapping thin pale arms around his equally thin, pale legs.

"Well," I huffed, "You don't have to tell me your secret. I understand."

"Well," He mimicked and then snarled, "It doesn't matter if you understand, and I know I don't have to tell you because I can't! I cant..." he dropped his head.

I watched him a moment as he took a few deep breaths and wiped at yet-fallen tears. With an ungraceful shrug I took off my coat, placing it over his shoulders.

"I'm sorry I can't help." I whispered, turning to go.

"Would you?"

I turned back to look at him.

His eyes were wide, a mix of sad and hopefulness pooled inside the darks of his irises. "Would you help me if you could?"

"Of course!" I frowned, "but I can't if you don't tell me what's the matter."

Nodding he ran a hand through his mass of hair. Black, loose curls grazed his bony shoulders.

"Right. Well, if you'll help me I guess it's okay."

"Some secret." I muttered but sat by him again, eager to hear his story.

"Where do I start?" He asked.

"What's your name?" I supplied.

"I am Ronan," He sat up now, proudly and with his chin high he continued, "and yours?"

"Shaleigh," I matched his posture.

"Shaleigh," he repeated, smiling, and then continued, "I am not like you."




BAM! That's where it left off. Lame right? My present self is very upset with my past self for not writing more. I don't think I could write this well again if I tried.

I don't even remember the rest of the plot....

Anyway, sorry it's so long! I'm sure it's faster to read than it is to type, though.

Thanks for reading!

Maddy

Rattlesnake Ridge

“I felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, "This is what it is to be happy.”
― Sylvia Plath

 

Five friends, a dog, a pleasant hike and a lovely day- no complaints!

This was my fifth time hiking up to the ridge above Rattlesnake Lake, the last time I was there was more than three years ago!

I went with some friends from the trip; Harpreet, Kat, JD and Emily had never been before.

Neither had my dog, Moge!

It's safe to say everyone had fun. We had a late lunch at the nearby Riverbend Cafe, and then said our tired goodbyes and went home.  

Day well spent!

Thanks for reading!

Maddy