Once More Round the Sun by Dave Musson

Author:Dave Musson
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: David Musson
Published: 2024-08-13T00:00:00+00:00

Willow buries the negatives

It had seemed weird at first—really weird, in fact—but Willow soon embraced it. Quicker than she could have ever expected, burying the negatives became addictive and cathartic.

“It’s the closest thing we have to confession,” Bill said, “but doesn’t bring with it any of that general guilt that underpins Catholicism. Or any of that faith’s other problems.”

“Careful now,” Pauline quipped and everyone except Willow laughed.

Willow’s guides had taken her on a spiralled path that first circled the edge of St. John’s Wood, then slowly edged inwards on each lap. It was a long walk, but it was necessary—according to John, at least.

“It gives us time to really think about what we want to bury,” Bill continued. “Unlike a traditional confession, we only do this once a year right before the solstice, so there’s usually plenty to get out.”

For the first lap of the woods, Willow had been told to simply think of anything negative in her life she’d ideally want to be rid of. Once they caught a glimpse of the car park again and started to move a bit further inwards, they stopped, and Pauline took Willow’s hand, gently stroking the back of it from her wrist all the way to her green-and-pink nails.

“You’re ready now, Willow,” she said. “From this point onwards, we will start to bury our negatives.”

Pauline paused for a moment.

“It’s really very simple. You let the negative fill your mind— it could be something you’ve done or something you want to purge. Then you stop, bend down, and dig a small piece of earth out with your hand and hold it. All that remains is to stare at this tiny hole while visualising your negative, before you spit in the opening you’ve made, then replace the earth you borrowed.”

The older woman grinned.

“I’m afraid your lovely nails won’t look so lovely come sunrise, but your soul will feel like a million dollars.”

They set off again. Willow was hesitant at first, instead watching her experienced companions digging and spitting, as well as occasionally glancing back at her in silent encouragement.

Unfortunately, Willow seemed to have stage fright; all of the negatives she’d thought of at the start of the walk had vanished from her mind and with each step, she felt more embarrassed and more self-conscious.

“Do that one first,” John said right into her ear, startling her. “Those nerves you’re feeling and whatever else it is that’s holding you back—bury them now and the rest will come.”

Willow looked at his soft, wrinkled face—his moustache perfectly neat but his eyebrows bushy and wild—and was reassured. He looked like a kind, old teacher who was weeks away from banking his pension but still wanted to ensure every one of his charges made it over the line. Willow dug, thought, spat, and instantly felt better.

John had been right; it had flowed out of her after that, and the night sped by as they went deeper and deeper into the woods. The negatives poured out: that messy relationship with Paulo,

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