Black Forest by Shane Lee

Author:Shane Lee [Lee, Shane]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-03-29T22:00:00+00:00

25

Monty opened his eyes to see weak morning light. Terra hadn’t moved and was still sleeping like a stone. There was an instant where, upon waking, his mind was empty, before the weight of the world came back on him with crushing force.

He closed his eyes, chewing the insides of his lips. If nothing else, he had to stay strong for Terra.

“Hey,” he said, nudging her. “Wake up, Terra.”

She did, slowly, raising her head and blinking. She looked around. “Where...”

“The Gartens.”

It was all Monty had to say. He could practically see reality returning to her, and it tugged at his heart. He put a hand on her head, losing the tips of his fingers in her hair.

“We’re gonna go home,” he told her. “We’re gonna...get through this.”

He hoped she believed him. He didn’t know if he believed himself.

The smell of cooking was in the air, scents he knew but couldn’t place. They were just different enough, and they didn’t stir his appetite. His stomach didn’t feel full; it felt like it wasn’t there at all.

“Stay here for a minute,” he told Terra, getting up. But she clutched at him, grabbing two tiny fistfuls of his shirt.

“Where are you going?”

“It’s okay.” He didn’t push her away, just waited for her to relax enough to let him go. “I’m just going to talk to Mrs. Garten. I’ll be right back. You can come if you want.”

She considered it, then shook her head.

Monty left the room, taking a moment to remember which way to turn, trying to follow the sounds of cooking. When he came into the kitchen and saw Mrs. Garten there, working on breakfast, pain swept over him so suddenly and with such power that he couldn’t speak.

“I’m cooking,” Mrs. Garten said with some uncertainty when she saw him. “Usually Nathan does, he’s better...”

“Um,” Monty said, trying to find himself. “Did he...did Mr. Garten get to town?”

“Oh.” Mrs. Garten nodded. “Yes. And back. He’s fixing the shed now, with the boys. They should be doing most of the work.”

“And...” Monty hesitated, but Mrs. Garten didn’t seem to have any inclination to finish his thought. “Did he, you know...bring someone? For—for my mother?”

“He did, yes. They took her to town. To prepare for, ah—” Now Mrs. Garten hesitated, perhaps realizing the pain Monty was in. “Her sending. Tomorrow. The Judge said...well, to Nathan, he said that you don’t have to work, until after the sending. You’re welcome to stay here until then.”

“I...” Monty thought, I need to go home and open the windows. “That’s very kind. I’d like to take Terra home, though.”

“I understand.” Mrs. Garten shook the pan over the stove, a burning smell emerging in the kitchen. “Will you eat? It’s just a little burnt. Nathan usually does the cooking. He’s better.”

After letting her know that neither he nor Terra were hungry, Monty got his sister from the bedroom and the pair of them left the house. Talking with Mrs. Garten always made him feel odd.

The walk back home was long and quiet.

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