True Heart

Jo was happy to have found a voice teacher in River Town. Of course, Mrs. Rainbird had insisted that he begin with breathing exercises which involved his diaphragm. He knew all that, nevertheless training had to begin with the basics he supposed. Since the big singers did it everyday who was he to say no. This has been his sixth lesson and it was mostly scale work, though they had begun working on a song. It amazed Joe how much training and preparation went into perfectly singing a song. Needless to say he loved it, even the tedious repetitive parts.

He was walking down to the corner stone where he was to meet Mike and Hannah. It was 5:30 and dark now that winter had arrived. It had gotten colder after sundown and snow was falling steadily. As Joe walked through it he stuck his tongue out to catch the icy flakes. He turned around and walked backward looking at his footprints that marred the otherwise pristine white snow covering the sidewalk. Pretty neat, seeing where he had been and all.

Joe turned back around and looked ahead at the undisturbed snow and thought how like life it was. The future was a white blank without any marks on it and those marks would have to be made by him. Who know what turnings he would make in the future? He’d only know after it happened and he could look back to see where he had been and what he had done.

He laughed at his funny thoughts and pulled the ear flaps down over his cold ears. Just for fun he puffed his breath out in short bursts just like the old steam engines used to do. He walked on down the deserted, well-lit street toward the grocery store where he was to meet Hannah and Mike.

Thanksgiving vacation was also coming in two weeks and school would be out for four days, then he and Hannah would be finishing up on hi roundup story. They had completed selecting the pictures to go with it. Man that had been so hard because there were so many more pictures he’d want to use but he had to stay within the space the magazine had given him. He prayed each night that all this work would be accepted by the magazine; “Roundup through the Eyes of a Child” by Joseph Kelly as Told to Hannah Truelove Strongbow with Photographs by Joseph Kelly. Joe giggled, man that was so cool just to see that written out on paper.

Everyone in the family had read it and made suggestions and corrections. Well, after all it was a family thing at least it was to Joe. Oh wow, to see it actually published would be absolutely super. The excitement of that thought had Joe running a few steps and skipping along through the snow making long dragging marks.

Mike was taking lessons with Mr. Freedo in music theory and composition and it was handy that they could have their lessons on the same night in River Town. Joe skipped along for a few steps just to enjoy it. Golly, they were both so lucky with the way their lives had changed from one of despair and grief to one of great contentment. No one could ever replace their parents in their hearts, for that special place was reserved just for Mom and Dad, but that didn’t stop the heart from loving others or putting other inside it. Joe figured love made the heart keep expanding as one got older, just like his gift had to grow. It was jus the way things were.

Blackhawk told stories about the Thunder Gods and the times before. Joe wondered how much of those stories were really true. Well, he loved the stories anyway.

”I guess id doesn’t really matter. After all it’s not hard to imagine that Gods could have been here for thousands of years. And Ben had spoken to the God of Wind and Storm. Man, that was a shocker” Joe spoke out in a really loud voice, ”Hello Guardians, I’m Joe Kelly and I believe in You too.” Then laughed, a little embarrassed that he was shouting. Gee, people would think he was crazy or something.

Maybe someday maybe he’d get to meet the Thunder Gods and sing for them. That would be a grand way to say “thank you” for bringing them to the Valleys. Joe walked along and snickered, yeah, he’d tell everyone he’d sung for the Gods and they’d lock him up in a padded cell. Crazy Joe they’d call him.

Joe didn’t notice the pickup following him until it pulled in ahead of him. Joe walked on by and didn’t pay any attention as pickups were common in a ranching community. He heard the guy get out and slam the truck door. Joe kept walking with his mind on so much more important things. Suddenly he was grabbed from behind and before he could shout something hard struck his head an awful blow.

He was in the dark when he awoke with some light coming in over a wall. He could hear a rumbling noise against one ear felt himself being tossed about a little now and then. His head hurt something fierce and he felt sick to his stomach too. Joe faded in and out of consciousness. He came wide awake and realized he was jammed down in the small space behind a pickup’s front bench seat. His wrists and ankles were bound tight. He looked up and saw the back of a man’s head and hat. Fear ran through him like ice cold water.

”Mike,” he screamed, ”Mike, where are you? Help me!”

He heard a harsh laugh from the front seat, “You wish, kid, no one’s going to help you now.”

The truck rumbled on and Joe was alone in the dark with a stranger. It had to be Elroy thought Joe and he was going to hurt him to get money.

Joe shivered with fear and tears ran down his face, chilling his cheeks. “No one will know where to find me. I’m lost” he whispered. “Please help me Guardians, please help me.”

His silent plea went out into the night before he passed out again.