“Please don’t worry. Soon you will forget about the troubles of that other world. Here you can be anything you wish. All we ask is that you love us as your kin had once done.”
“My kin? You mean the Gods? What do you know about them?”
“We were favored by them, above all others. When the Dark One trapped them, we were left all alone. We had you once and should not have let you go. But we were betrayed.”
“You’re not making sense,” said Gewey. “Who betrayed you?”
“Felsafell,” he said bitterly. “He convinced us to let you go. Then he left us too.”
“You’re spirits. That’s what you are. What do you want from me? I have nothing to give you.”
“We only desire your love,” he said. “It is everything to us. We need it. We are so lonely.”
“I cannot stay with you,” said Gewey as he moved to the door. “I don’t belong here.”
“You cannot leave,” cried Harman. “There is nowhere to run. Soon you will forget. Soon you will love us as we love you.”
Gewey couldn’t help but feel pity for the creature, but he knew he had to get away. He opened the door and ran from the house. The figure of his father appeared in front of him.
“Get away from me,” screamed Gewey. “Let me go.” He pushed his way past the spirit and ran in the direction of town.
“You are with us.” The voice of the spirit carried on the wind, following him as he ran.
Gewey ran until his legs burned. When he reached the village all the familiar faces he knew as a child were there to greet him, but Gewey ignored them and made his way toward Lee’s house.
The trees and brush whizzed by as he ran at full speed down one of the many roads Lee had built. Gewey stumbled to a halt. He couldn’t remember why he was running or where he was going.
“Wait up.” His father ran up from behind. “I’m too old to keep up with you anymore.”
Gewey stood there scratching his head. “What happened?” he asked. “Why was I running?”
“We’re going fishing,” Harman replied. “Don’t you remember?”
It was then Gewey realized he was holding a fishing pole in his right hand. Harman carried one as well, along with a bucket of bait in the other.
“Yes,” said Gewey after a long pause. “Of course, I do. I’m sorry, I was just confused.”
Harman smiled warmly and threw his arm around Gewey’s shoulder. “That’s alright, son.” He laughed. “It happens to everybody.”
Gewey and his father walked for about three miles, to a spot along the Goodbranch River where they had fished since he was a small boy. The sun shone brightly, and the birds chirped merrily, as father and son sat on the bank near a large oak and fished throughout the day.
Gewey landed three nice-sized trout and Harman four others. His father always had better luck at fishing. As the sun began to sink closer to the horizon, Gewey lay back on the grass and took a deep breath of the fresh spring air.
“Are you happy, son?” his father asked.
Gewey looked at Harman mildly surprised. “Of course, I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“I’m glad.” He stretched his arms with a satisfied moan. “I think it’s time we go home and eat some fish.”
It was nearly dark when they arrived back at the farm. Gewey cleaned the fish on a wooden table next to the house, while his father prepared the stove and wash water inside. After they had both cleaned up and cooked dinner they sat down to eat. The fish tasted better than any Gewey could remember.
“I have a surprise,” said Harman, as he got up and brought a pitcher down from the cabinet. Gewey could smell orange juice as his father placed it on the table.
“Where did you get that?” asked Gewey.
Harman just smiled and poured Gewey a cup. “My little secret.” He winked and returned to the chair.
There was a knock at the door. Harman sprung up and looked out the window.
“Who is it?” asked Gewey.
“It’s no one. No one at all.”
“No one? Someone knocked.” He got up and started to the door. Harman rushed in front of him, barring Gewey’s way.
“I said it was no one,” said Harman, this time with more force. Again, there was a knock.
“What wrong with you?” said Gewey. “Why won’t you open the door?” Gewey tried to push his way around his father, but Harman shoved him hard, sending him flying across the