Sanguine Tenacious Tidings

Monday, Monday

For Hi from Apondia

Monday, Monday, A Story

Revalee tore the page off the sticky note pad with zest. She slid her finger across the sticky part two or three times to make sure it stayed stuck to the frig.

There, she thought, this week's chores are listed. I’m out of here.

She closed the door, turned the key in the lock then pocketed the key. There was a snap in her step as she walked around the house and across the lawn. It was Monday morning close enough to dawn to hear the birds calling and cooing to awaken the world for another day.

Today was her first day to try out a new daily scheduled run. Wow. The woods are cool this time of morning. As she entered the narrow path she planned to run down today. She picked up a slow jog. Glancing from side to side as she ran, she wondered at the silence of the area. No birds seemed to be calling to the ones she heard in her back yard. No animals seemed to be skittering away as she passed along the trees and bushes that lined the edges of the trail she was using.

Her plan was to run to the bench she had placed as a half mile marker last week. It was one of the things she was eager to get started, running a mile a day. A half a mile out and a half a mile back. If I could stick to the plan for one week maybe it would be worth it to move the bench to the 3/4 mark for next week.

Revalee ran and ran and ran some more. Finally, she slowed to a walk. Could I have miscalculated how far a half mile is? She leaned up against a tree and took several deep breathes..It was darker in the woods now. Looking up she could see sky beyond the tops of the trees. Deep dark clouds were gathering up there. Where there was blue sky and white fluffy cirrus clouds before now the part of the sky she could see was grey and heavy with darkening cloud cover. I’m not going to let a few dark clouds stop me. I’m going to find that bench.

She started off at a jog then picked her speed up to a faster pace. On and on she ran. She checked her watch. It had been another 10 minutes of running and jogging still no sign of the bench ahead of her. I really did not think it would take more than a half hour to run a half mile, she thought.

She checked her watch. "Sure enough, I’ve been on the trail 40 minutes, I’ll just run out another 5 minutes and see if the bench is close," she muttered.

Jogging slower now; forward down the trail she came to a curve which she continued to follow, then she came to a large clearing. "Nope, I’ve never seen this part of the trail before. I’m sure I’ve never been this far out before. Anyway, I need to get back this run is taking longer than I planned on for my first Monday of running exercise," she exclaimed.

Revalee turned around and started walking back the way she came. She continued to walk back along the trail listening to the sounds of silence in the cool green woods. Among the trees to her right she noticed a large shadow which seemed to be passing from tree to tree, traveling in the same direction she was going. Must be a deer, too big for a dog. She called out, “Well just put up with me cause I’m on my way home.”

Seeing the possible animal still moving parallel made her feel as if maybe she should pick up the pace. She started jogging faster. The object also moved out faster still staying parallel, now she was sure she was getting closer to home and then she saw it, the bench. It was right in the familiar spot where she knew it should be. She slowly walked up to the bench. Putting her hand on the back of the bench she turned and slid down into the seat. It felt good to just sit here for a minute.

Two chattering squirrels came down onto a high tree limb that was growing out over head. They sat and chattered at her in an angry way. “Don’t get so excited,” exclaimed Revalee. “I just bought the property and moved into the cottage. You are going to see a lot of me so get used to it.” At the sound of her voice the two furry red creatures scrambled down one tree, up another, then leaped to a third tree and disappeared into the woods.

Revalee stood up and jogged on down the trail. The shadow moved as if to intercept her. Standing directly in the trail ahead of her was a doe. It stood still, staring directly into Revalee's eyes. The woman stopped and starred back. “We can be friends, I guess?” At the sound of her voice the deer gracefully left the trail and melted back into the trees.

When Revalee reached the place where the trail intercepted the yard, she realized she was tired. There was a car she did not recognize sitting in her driveway. And there was a 4-wheeler sitting behind the car. A woman and a boy were sitting on her front steps. “We wondered where you were? said the woman.

Hi. I’m Muriel and this is Brett my son. We own the property down the road adjacent to yours.

I thought we should stop and say welcome since you just moved in. Also, sometimes Brett uses your trails, and we would like to know if he can continue to do so?

Without appearing to take a breathe she continued. You might have missed your bench on the way out. Brett accidentally picked it up and took it home like he thought it was lost so I made him put it back. We really are sorry and want to be friends.

Revalee replied, I need a cup of tea, do you drink tea? Come on in and we will get to know each other. I was wondering who lived in that house down the road. You too Brett, you don’t have to drink tea. I have some snacks around. As she talked, she was opening the door the three of them entered the house.

The End

1072 Word count by The Journal 7