The P is Silent

Jenny Cornhusker ran down the road toward Wallace’s barn. She knew he’d be there and Jenny needed to talk with someone about what she’d seen. After several minutes, she finally stopped outside Wallace’s barn entrance. She doubled over to catch her breath and push the sweaty, blonde hair away from her face.

Wallace, apparently having heard her pounding steps, met her at the entrance. A head taller than her, she noticed his lower lip jutted out further than normal, indicating he’d just placed some chewing tobacco in his mouth. “Whatcha runnin’ from, Cornhumper?”

She hated that nickname. Wallace made it up back in elementary school and he’d religiously used it every chance he got, even well into their teens.

Choosing to ignore the nickname, she said, “You gotta come see what I saw, Wally!”

“It’s Wallace. You know that. Now whadja see?”

“I saw a pterodactyl!”

Wallace didn’t say anything, just spit once.

Jenny continued. “I watched it fly low, land, and lie down in Green Pastures, or Green Acres. Whatever the farm up the road is. Go get your camera!”

“You mean Green Valley? Green Acres is a TV show, goober.”

“Yeah, Valley. I don’t know where it came from or why it’s here, but I saw it!”

Wallace stood still, blinking and turning his head to casually look all around him. When he finally seemed to find his words, he said, “What is this, some kind of trick?”

Annoyed, Jenny said, “What? No, I saw it!”

He leaned against the doorframe, knocking one booted foot against the molding. “I’m not sure I’m liking the implications of such a lie, Cornhumper.”

“What? I’m not lying. What’re you talking about?”

“I see it as several roads here, Jenny. You got your paths of righteousness and those of wrongedness.”

She squinted at him. “Is that even a word?”

“Yeah. Read it in the Good Book. God said Eve made Adam’s wrongedness grow up inside him, and that’s why you won’t see me eat an apple. Ever!” Wallace spit, the fluid just making it into a nearby can with an accuracy that impressed Jenny on any other day.

“It’s weird you reference the Bible, a book which demands you believe on faith alone, and you won’t even believe me about seeing a damn pterodactyl!”

“You know why it’s different? Because no dinosaurs even existed! All those bones people been findin’ were put there a hundred years ago!”

“Are you serious? For what?”

Sanding straight, he snorted. “To make fools out of the wicked! To separate the good, faithful souls from those destined for the shadow of death and brimstone and whatnot.”

“Oh, sweet Jesus…”

“Get his name out of your mouth!”

“I just did,” she hissed. “ And I think you need to see a psychiatrist.”

“You’re the one who says she saw a pteradon!”

“Pterodactyl!” she screamed.

“What’s the damn difference?!”

“For starters… Never mind, you psycho.” Jenny took a breath and glanced up the road toward Green Valley before continuing with Wallace. “I can’t believe I’m even wasting my breath trying to convince you of anything contrary to what you already believe. You’re just like those kids back in Sunset. You’re never going to change.”

Wallace settled back against the doorframe, his arms crossed. After spitting perfectly again, he nodded and said, “And what’s wrong with ‘at?”

With a silent huff, Jenny walked away.

“Thank goodness and mercy me!” he called after her. “I’m glad I know what it takes to get Jenny Cornhumper to walk away finally!”

* * *

Arriving at her own home further down the road, Jenny found her brother, Cooper. After trying to convince him that he needed to bring his camera and come up to Green Valley to see a pterodactyl, she asked their father if they could borrow his truck to make the trip quicker.

Their dad was adamant about not letting them take it. A woodworker by trade, he already had a small dining set tied down to the truck bed and prepped for delivery.

“I can’t believe you’re going to put a table before me,” she told her dad with as much teen persuasion as she could muster.

Her dad was quick with a follow up: “And some chairs, too, dumplin’! Run along!”

Hours later, Jenny was running back up the road with Cooper in tow. As they passed Wallace’s barn, the moron yelled out, “Whoa, is that Cup with you Cornhumper? Glad you’re not in your daddy’s truck, since everyone knows Cup runs over kids! Ha!”

Choosing to ignore Wallace, Jenny couldn’t help feeling bad for Cooper. As far as she knew, the story behind why the boys called him Cup was a mystery to her, although she had the suspicion it was an embarrassing story. But with Wallace teasing him about how he’d accidentally hit the kid during a driver’s education class, that was something she knew he still felt bad about.

Jenny had been prepared to drive their dad’s truck up to Green Valley had they been given the chance since she knew Cooper didn’t trust himself behind the wheel.

Finally, the pair arrived at the edge of the field which made up part of Green Valley. She couldn’t see the creature currently, but Jenny knew where she saw it land and figured it was laying on the ground.

After motioning for Cooper to look around for ornery Mr. Green, Jenny climbed over the short roadside fence and motioned her brother to pass over the camera and follow. Within minutes, they were where Jenny had seen the pterosaur land.

The spot was barren.

The grass looked like something might have been there, but there was nothing else.

Cooper stood beside her and suddenly threw his arm around her shoulder. “I don’t see anything, sis. But I believe ya.”

Looking at him with her mouth agape, she asked, "You do?”

“Yup. You’re my sister. I’ll always have faith in you.”



Word Count: 987