Laughter Under The Moon

The silent summer night was almost too warm for the thin leather jacket I had put on. I thought about taking it off but didn't feel like toting it around so left it on. Man, I had forgotten how this town could make you feel like you were stuck in time, and separate from the rest of the world! I made my way over to lean against the large oak in the middle of the park just out of the glare of the closest lamp. There was no one here yet, I must be early. As I waited in the shadows of the tree branches, I could feel Man With Long Shadow stalking the perimeter of the park, ready to push out any large potential threats, there had been a bear in town wandering the streets last week. I thumbed the small mischievous bit of green goldstone in the pocket of my jacket, and I closed my eyes to get a better sense of where he was. He was scouting some distance behind me. Feeling my inquiry, he was suddenly standing before me. He was so close, I would have felt his breath on my skin if he were corporeal. I could clearly see his intense black almond eyes staring out at me from the black and red painted mask he always wore. I had only seen his unpainted face once since he had made his presence known to me. Hmm, he didn’t have his wolf pelt tonight. Long Shadow took his work very seriously, if he didn’t feel he needed his pelt it meant he was relaxed and confident there was no immediate threat. I took this as a good omen. Silently, I thanked him for his help and protection and opened my eyes.

As the minutes slowly ticked by, I tried to remember what the note had said. “Meet in the center of the park when the full moon reaches its zenith”. I think, or something suspiciously vague like that... My mind jumped to worrying. Shit. Had I gotten the timing wrong? Was I actually too late and missed whatever this was? Was it really this full moon I was supposed to go by or the next? Why had I not brought the note with me?!

I tried to take a calming breath and closed my eyes again, ugh. Don’t do this! Everything has been telling you all is well, remember? With my eyes still closed, I tried stilling my thoughts to remember what Everette said that afternoon in the café. Handing me the folded paper he’d said, “Make sure no one sees you.” Then, grinning, “This is going to be fun! Trust me.” I opened my eyes and rolled them at the memory. It is so like Ev to keep things mysterious! Still, it was silly of me to not try squeezing him for more information about tonight. Sure, I trusted him. I mean, I’ve known Ev practically my whole life, we spent every waking moment together when we were kids. But that doesn’t mean I know what the hell he’s been getting up to these days! This could be some sort of fucked up backwoods small town gang initiation for all I knew! It has, after all, been four years since we last saw each other and I knew a lot could change in that time. I sighed. Falling into old forms of thinking and being paranoid would not make the wait easier. Knowing what I did about Ev, he probably wouldn't have said shit about tonight if I had asked anyways.

I was still contemplating this life decision when I heard footsteps coming down the path to my left. I turned my head to see the figures of a man and woman heading towards me, they looked to both be dressed in black. I shifted my feet in the grass, cleared my throat and stepped out from the tree so they knew I was there. I nodded, “Hey.”

“Hey.” they replied in unison as they walked over to where I was standing. It was Hanna and Abe. I leaned back into the tree again crossing my arms. Abe wrapped his arms around Hanna and she leaned into his chest. We stood there in silence.

Eventually we heard hushed male voices heading our way, “Finally.” Hanna breathed.

I recognized twoof the men as they walked towards us but couldn't quite make out who was with them. “Who are the other two with Zeek and Ev?” I asked.

Abe squinted in the moonlight, “Logan and... Tristan I think.”

The sudden twisting of my solar plexus took me by surprise.

When they got to the tree Zeek broke off their conversation, smiling at us he said “Good, you all made it. Everyone knows each other so there’s no introduction needed. Let's get started.”

I watched confusion flashed across Tristan's face momentarily as his eyes flipped between the three of us standing by the tree. Then his eyes widened with recognition as they came back to me. I stood calmly and tried my best to neutrally stare back at him. My Mother always said she knew what I was thinking because my face gave it away. I really hoped this wasn’t the case now. Without taking my eyes from his, I let myself take in his features. The same bright blue eyes I remembered so clearly stared back at me from under those almost perfect dark eyebrows I used to tease him about. Mmm, his 5’8 build was lean and perfectly proportioned with broad shoulders and a slim narrow waist. His arms were well toned and I could just make out the outline of his pecs under the blue t- shirt he wore. He had let his hair grow out and it fell in thick dark curls past his shoulders. Still breath takingly handsome. Tristan dropped his eyes from mine to turn and stare at Zeek and my breath came a little easier. I turned my gaze to Zeek and asked “What now?”

Eyes burning with the thrill of a hunt Zeek replied, “Now we have to find Java Jeans.”

“Whaaat the fuck?” Hanna said.

Ev caught my eye and grinned at me as the guys were turning to walk off in the direction they had come before more questions could be put to them. Abe caught up with them. Tristan glanced back towards Hanna and I as Abe's arm fell over his shoulders turning him back around. I heard Abe say “Hey buddy…” as they walked away.

What the hell had I gotten myself into? A hunt for a pair of jeans in the middle of a Tuesday night? Hanna gave me a look, hands raised in question, well? Are we going to do this or not? Curiosity getting the best of me, I pulled myself off the tree sighing and we followed after the guys.

The townsite sat in a scenic river valley at the base of a long mountain range following a wide river, the park sat on the southeast edge of the downtown core banking it. The town itself looked like it was straight out of a movie and stuck in the early 19th century.

My stomach still fluttered at the unexpected appearance of Tristan tonight. I could feel the desire to be close to him again stirring in me. The more I tried to focus on the butterflies in my stomach the fainter and further away they flew. The guys began to casually cut west across the grass of the park, talking and laughing quietly amongst themselves. Tristan glanced back in our direction and I just knew he wanted to be closer to me, to touch me. The butterflies jumped a little. Hanna seeing this, blurted out “Ok. What the hell is with Tristan and you? There is history here I don’t know about.”

Damn. She is too perceptive. Laughing, I respond “There is no history.”

“His eyes just about popped out of his head when he recognized you! If you grew up with those boys you know Tristan. So, yeah, I would say there’s history! Come on spill bitch!”

That seemed like a bit of an elaboration. “Just about popped out of his head” Geez Hanna. With all the aloof energy I could muster, I said, “There really isn’t much to say. We were together briefly during his final year of school. Then he moved to the other side of the country.”

Hanna didn’t push and said. “By the way he looked at you, I would say you were the last person he expected to see tonight.”

“It’s the first time we've seen each other in 15 years.” I said.

Hanna raised her eyebrows “Really? That is kinda crazy. A person would think it would have happened sooner and often, with both your families still being here.”

“Yeah." Changing the subject, I asked Hanna, “How is that new batch of wine coming along?”

“Alright, I’ll leave it alone. For now.” She pointed a finger at me, “But, eventually I will need you to tell the whole story. The wine is coming along pretty good I think. We have another two weeks to go before we sample it. I’ll make sure to let you know when we do! I have high hopes for this one.” She replied excitedly.

“Oh yes please! The last bottle you gave me was amazing!” I didn’t drink much anymore, and wine was generally the least of my favorites now, but Abe and Hanna's wine was something else!

Coming to the end of the park, the guys crossed the road and started to head up a sloped street, towards the oldest section of houses in town. I groaned internally. This part of town had always sent my Spidey senses to a tingling. The area was so old, there was only a single street light on each end of the block, which made the old streets feel dark and ominous. Since moving home I had not had a reason to come this way and was glad for it.

Hanna had grown quiet as we walked up the street. And when we neared the first house on the block, I could feel the energy of this place start to crawl up my spine. Just observe it. I told myself and shivered anyway. Hanna asked, “You ok?”

“Yeah.” I responded. “I’m fine. Just the Spidey senses waking up.”

“Ahhh.” She replied a little uncomfortably.

“Can you feel it?” I asked, looking at her.

Hanna stared off into the distance as we walked, not looking with her eyes but feeling with her senses like I had explained. “Uhhhh I do!” she said, shuddering.

“There is deep history in this part of town.” I said, more to myself than to Hanna.

“Mmmmm.” she replied and went quiet again.

Ev turned then looking back, his voice coming to us clearly in the silence of the night. “You guys coming?”

“We are coming.” I said in mock annoyance. Ev grinned and turned back around. I couldn’t help but smile to myself when he did.

The energy became heavier, and my vision started to blur. I could feel it trying to twist its way into the base of my skull. I took a deep breath thought, No, and focused my energy on that space, pushing out the attempts of the unwanted intruder. Imagining myself and Hanna bathed in light, the feeling faded and my head began to clear as it backed out of my personal space. Thank you I thought to it, I’m not here for you tonight.

The guys turned right up another street, taking us deeper into this section of town and the forest. I could feel the presence following Hanna and I at I’m sure what it thought a respectful distance was. I called on Lion to help keep the heaviness at bay and he appeared to dash off towards the invasive presence. “If I remember correctly this street ends in a crescent.” I said.

“Yep.” She responded “Fuck this street is giving me the creaps!”

Winking at her I said “They will only hurt you if you let them.”

“Oh come on!!” She said in horror and punched me in the arm. I touched my arm where she hit me and laughed. She scared so easily for such a feisty girl. The mere mention of spooks got her all worked up sometimes.

“Here” I said, pulling a chunk of tourmaline out of my left pants pocket and handing it to her. “If it is freaking you out that much, take this and hold it in your hand, it will help.”

Hanna reached out and took the stone with her left hand. “Thanks. What is it?”

“Tourmaline.” I smiled.

We had come to the end of the crescent and the guys didn’t stop. They cut across the front yard of a house I did not recognize and ascended the front steps. All conversation stopped as Logan reached for the handle and opened the unlocked door not once hesitating to step over the threshold. The other four followed right behind him. Where did this house come from? It was beautifully preserved. My foot hit the first step and the heaviness following us since turning up to climb the hill fell away. And so did Lion. Oh interesting! As we climbed the steps I thought, suppose I can scratch break and entering off the bucket list. Though, is it really a B&E if the front door is open? I mentally shrugged and followed Hanna into the house. I’d come this far.

A methodical sweep of the main floor was being done by the guys when we entered. Hum, Almost makes one think they’ve all done this before. They had broken up into small groups and spread out into the darkened rooms. There was enough moonlight spilling in through the large curtained windows to see clearly without the need of flashlights. Hanna and I moved further into the house and I tried to take in the abundance of visual information being thrown at me. The interior of the old Victorian was nicely furnished with what looked to be historically accurate pieces of furniture and décor. It was well kept despite the large quantity of nick knack's, photos and mementos decorating every inch of the house. Old photographs and antiques littered the rooms, bookcases and mantles. It looked like a museum dedicated to the generations of lives lived here going back a few hundred years. Zeek and Abe were combing through the living room as Hanna and I passed down the hall into the kitchen. It was newer, clean yet still dated. As we poked around, I made a mental note of the door heading out into the backyard then, I opened myself up to the room to see if there was anything to feel and I came up empty, there was nothing in this room to feel. It was like the place had been sterilized.

Not finding what we were looking for, we turned back up the hall to the front of the house. I looked at the pictures hanging on the wall trying to find a familiar face to identify the family living here. Hanna had stopped a few feet away across from the living room and was admiring a case of painted glass animals. Zeek looked up from a heavy looking book and locked eyes with me as we passed, he motioned with a finger for us to go up stairs. Acknowledging this I gave him a thumbs up and turned to head up the stairs. It was so quiet in the house! There is something not right with the sound in here. I looked back at Zeek, he closed the book hard enough that it should have made a thud but didn’t. Gods! Even our feet hitting the floor has no sound. Hanna was in front leading the way as we walked up to the second floor. I looked down and noticed the well worn red carpet on the stairs. This could explain why I’m not hearing our footsteps. I paused for half a second. A house this old should be creaking and groaning with every other step we take up these stairs despite the carpet... I filed this insight away. Focus on the task at hand.

At the top of the stairs we both stopped to look around. The landing was sparsely decorated compared to the main living space. Aging photos lined the hall walls and an old walnut console table sat up against the wall across from where we stood, a vase of fake roses sat in the center of eight tarnished picture frames placed on top of an old crocheted table runner. To the left, a long hallway stretched out towards the back of the house, we turned and slowly made our way down the hall. Immediately to our right a door lay open, we looked in to find Tristan, Logan and Ev sifting through dresser drawers in a darkened bedroom. EV and Tristan both looked up. Tristan met my eyes for a moment then, I turned from the door and we moved on further down the hall. There were three more bedrooms almost identical to the first. Nobody’s home. The tension in my stomach eased some at the thought. Hanna and I looked at each other, I motioned silently asking, do we go in the bedrooms? or continue to the end of the hall? Hanna shrugged and pointed to the closed door at the end of the hall. Bowing, I gestured to her to please lead the way. She grinned and bowed back in a why yes of course way, and boldly continued.

The hallway ended with this last door. When we moved closer to what I thought was the end of the hall, I realized it didn't end there but turned off to the left. Okay. The house is bigger than it looks from the outside. I reached for the door knob in front of us, turned it and pushed, the door swung silently open. Welp, we found the bathroom. The space was desolate in relation to the rest of the house but looked to be in immaculate condition. The only thing decorating the wallpapered walls was a large oval mirror above the vanity. A large white clawfoot tub and toilet stood at the back wall of the room and a small rug lay in the middle of the white tiled floor. I made a, oh nice! face, and Hanna agreed. We moved out, closing the door behind us. Not even a click from the door latching. I took a moment and looked at the closed door. It’s like I’ve gone def… I tried listening for the resonance of the house and came up empty. Am I in some sort of sound vacuum?

Hanna tapped my arm then with the back of her hand, popping me out of my thoughts. She’d noticed a back lit half opened door at the end of this leg of hall. Maybe there is someone home after all! We slowed our pace even more both watching how our feet hit the floor trying to ensure there were no accidental noises. This was a bit silly to me considering my earlier observations but I couldn't help myself. Listening for movement and hearing nothing, we stopped just outside the half open door.

In the light of the room we could see a young thinly built, stringy haired blond kid between 17 and 19 years old sitting on a mattress. He had pillows propped up against the wall behind him and was reading a paperback novel. The room was a disaster. It looked like a teenage bomb had gone off. There were posters spackling the patchy walls and magazines, records, clothing and garbage thrown all over the desk and floor. The mattress he sat on was stained and had been placed on the floor in the left hand corner of the room with a couple old blankets thrown over top of it for bedding. This one room looked its age! The carpet had been ripped up in spots exposing the old dulled hardwood flooring underneath, the wallpaper was peeling off the walls and you could see where some of it had been picked at and pulled off presumably by this kid. Observing him, I thought he looks like one of those greasy guys who always looks like they are in desperate need of a shower but are actually clean. Almost like they are wearing a skin that doesn't quite fit. Is he squatting here?

Hanna and I notice at the same time that he has jeans on! We looked at each other with wide eyes. This was it wasn’t it? Could these be the jeans we are looking for?? Hanna squinted, trying to get a closer look at them. Tapping me excitedly, she bounced up and down in place. Ok! Yes, these are the jeans. With no hesitation or action plan, we pushed the door open and went dashing into the room. The kid jumped dropping his book and sat up surprised by our sudden appearance. The sound came rushing back into my ears all at once, I could hear the rustle of our clothing, our feet hitting the floor, air rushing through the air vents and music coming from the radio on his desk. Hanna jumped behind him and grabbed the kid by the shoulders to restrain him. I jump on top of him. Hanna yelled “Don’t resist! We are here for your jeans!” I started fumbling at the button.

The kid started to get up with an excited look in his eyes. “No!” He said “You can’t have my jeans! But you can have my cock!” The look on his face was that of a teenage boy who believed one of his wet dreams was about to come true.

As he stood I fell off him landing with a little thump on the floor, Hanna being shorter than the kid let go of his shoulders and quickly moved to place herself between him and the door. He wasn’t getting away if she could help it. I pulled myself up off the floor, keeping my back to the door. “I dreamed this day would come!” He was saying while undoing his pants. “This is a dream come true! What are you nasty ladies going to do to me? I’ve been a bad boy. Will you spank me?” He stuck his hand inside his pants and pulled his erect penis out, it was disturbingly pink and pasty with an ugly red head. Oh my Gods! Hanna’s eyes bulged slightly out of her head and her mouth dropped open in shock. The look on the kids face was anticipation and pure ecstasy. “Ooo yeah. That’s it baby!” he said, his face pinching with pleasurer as he started rubbing himself “Open wide for Daddy! I want you to suck my dick till my head pops! I’m gonna come in that mouth so hard!”

My Cheeks puffed with healed laughter. That was it! I couldn’t take anymore! The whole situation was suddenly the most hilarious and ridiculous thing I have ever been a part of! I was going to burst with laughter in this house if I didn't get my ass out of here quickly! I turned pushing past Hanna and ran as fast as I could back down the hall, blowing past Ev I flew down the carpeted stairs, trying my hardest to not laugh in the house. I could hear Hanna calling behind me “Wait! Stop! Hey, are you ok? Stop!” I hit the front door and flung myself down the front steps, using the railing as support so I didn't fall flat on my face. I collapsed on my hands and knees in the green grass of the front lawn and howled with laughter. By the time Hanna reached me I was in tears, the laughter still rolling out of me like water from a burst dam. I just couldn’t stop! She put a hand on my back leaning over me with a look of great concern on her face. “Are you ok!?”

Catching my breath, The laughter eased and I managed to reassure her. I breathed “ Yes! I am fine!” I fell to my side and rolled onto my back.

Sighing with relief, she sat down beside me “Well. I think the boys can handle the rest of... that!”. We looked at each other and both burst into laughter. After a time, our laughter faded and I pulled myself up to sit with her as we fell into silence. I cocked my head to the side and gazed down the street. It felt lighter out here now. Like the release of joy had pushed the heavy energy further away. I looked up into the bright moon lit sky, and I caught a glimpse of a bluebird flying by singing the celebration of my vocal release. She settled herself in the nearest tree and continued to sing for me. Hanna piped up drawing my attention away from the bird. “Why did you come running outside?”

Not pulling my eyes from the tree where the bird had been I calmly replied, “It was important I release my laughter under the full moon.” This felt like a logical and rational explanation. Probably sounded like a crazy person babble to Hanna. Meh. When my body spoke I tried to listen. And something inside told me, the house would have eaten my laughter and turned it into silence if I had let it go in there.

Accepting my explanation, Hanna flopped back onto the lawn, “Oumph.” I looked down at her. She had her hands raised above her head and was picking at her fingernails. Smiling I turned my gaze back to look at the moon.