July (The Year of The Change Book 1) (44 page)

Cy rushed to help control his brother while Emma held me tight. Cy and Richard got Zach up and dragged him to the door. The whole way Zach confessed his love for me and struggled to free himself. Deja`vu, it was Calvin all over again, as well as dozens of others.

This year would never end. With my luck, I’ll reach my seventeenth birthday and the year will reset. Like that movie ‘Groundhog Day’. Then I’d have to endure it all over again like a merry-go-round from hell that never stops.

Cy and Richard wrangled Zach out the door and down the stairs. Bumping and thumping echoed through the house. At the front door Zach screamed my name as though he were being tortured. His anguish twisted a knife in my gut.

Emma and I went to the bathroom window and watched as they dragged him to a red truck. Cy pinned him against the side while Richard went and got their garden hose. Just before Richard returned with running water Zach squirmed free and ran to the scaffolding. He leapt for it. Cy caught him and yanked him down. Richard helped drag Zach across our yards. Once on the Peterson’s side Richard turned the hose on the miserable guy. Unfortunately, Cy had a strangle hold on Zach and also got soaked.

It didn’t take long before the cold water calmed Cy’s little brother and diluted the effects of The Change. I felt so bad for the young man. He was going to be in big trouble and it wasn’t even his fault.

Half drowned, he finally lay still and Richard turned off the nozzle. Zach shook his head trying to clear it as Cy got to his feet. By the expression on his face, I knew the young man was very confused. There was no way he was ever going to understand why he behaved the way he did. He just never would. Poor Zach.

Emma pulled me away from the window and closed and locked it before she led me back to my bedroom.

Sue burst into the attic. “Sylvia, are you alright? Did he hurt you?”

The walk across the attic was over before I’d realized it had begun. Emma helped me into my rocker. “No, he didn’t hurt me. I’m okay now.” I still shook, as my heart found its rhythm again, albeit a little fast.

When Emma brought a glass of water, I drank it all. My mouth was parched. Richard ambled in and told us the coast was clear, Cy had taken Zach home. I looked at Sue and she, no doubt, understood my guilt.

Emma stroked my hair. “I would suggest Sylvia’s windows be closed and locked while the painters are here.”

Sue and I nodded.

“Also, perhaps, Sylvia would like to come to our house while they are here since her room will be too stuffy with the windows closed.”

I looked up at her. “You know when I called earlier it was to see if Destiny wanted to do something.” I looked at Richard. “Thank you so much for coming to my rescue, both of you.” I squeezed Emma’s hand.

“Well then, how would you like to help Destiny and me can peas?”

Richard brightened. “Yeah, you can take my place.”

I looked intently at Richard. “Gladly.”

Sue decided it would be best if we took Emma up on her offer. As I crossed our yards it felt like Richard and his grandmother were my bodyguards, the way they kept me between them and at a clipped pace.

Weird event number four! Would four be the charm and Destiny would now look at me funny? That is, if she looked at me at all.

Inside their house, I felt safe. It was easy to settle into being taught how to shell and can peas. Destiny acted as though nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The others asked questions as we retold the event. My friend and her mother were disappointed they missed it. I would gladly change places. Destiny not being ruffled by what happened was a welcome change. She didn’t look like she might run away. Not yet, anyway.

How was I going to survive the rest of this year? Perhaps I should seriously rethink the idea of being home schooled. If I had enough books to read, maybe being a hermit for five more months wouldn’t be too bad.

Or would it?

Calvin, the Kansas track team, the Beck boys, Rob, all the guys from the baseball game. Not to mention Tony's diner and our new neighborhood boys. The Change was getting too out of control.

If July was this bad what would August bring?

The End

Character List, Alphabetical

*= affected

*Aaron
– (July 16
th
) Sheila’s ex-boyfriend after the baseball game in Oregon. He thought he was in love with the most beautiful girl in school … until he got a whiff of Sylvia. Known as a ladies man he’s used to the attention of whomever he sets his eyes on. He’s a closet mime and longs for an invisible box.

*Adam
– (July 16
th
) One of Cameron’s friends. His true passion is baseball, but that has been overshadowed by Jimmy’s cute cousin.

*Alan
– (July 19
th
) Sylvia meets him in line to get off the ship to Alaska. He didn’t think it was right Sylvia was married. He went to the wilds of Alaska in hopes of forgetting the blue eyed beauty he could never have.

*Alex
– (July 24
th
) One of the construction crew who came in to watch Sylvia. He gave Sylvia a mincemeat pie. Mincemeat reminded him of his mother and how much she would like Sylvia.

*Andy
– (July 24
th
) A red headed fifteen year old who happened to be at Tony’s diner the night of the great dessert giveaway. He gave Sylvia chocolate pie. He ordered the dessert before his father could nix the idea. Until school starts he’ll be confused about why he did what he did. After that he’ll know for sure.

*Bahr
– (July 11
th
) He is one of the Kansas track team. At fourteen he wasn’t into girls all that much so he didn’t understand why the leggy blonde had him agitated.

Bandit
– (July 15
th
) Aunt Betty’s Dog. As a young stray Aunt Betty’s husband took him in and taught him to be a good sheep dog. Aunt Betty would spoil him with treats. When he smelled Sylvia he knew she was special and he should guard her. Now he longs to trot at her side.

Barbara Beck
– (July 12
th
) She is wife to Jim Beck and mother to Kevin, Mark and Randy. She knows how much Kevin likes Sylvia and truly likes the girl herself. She’d make a very good daughter-in-law after Kevin returns from his mission. She tries to find ways for them to do things together so Sylvia can get to know Kevin and give him a chance.

Betty Stuart
– (July 11
th
) Len Kennin’s aunt who lives in Oregon. She regrets not building her relationship with her sister. She sees in Sylvia all the things her sister Anne didn’t have. She feels helping Sylvia is a way to pay for all the bad will she had towards her sister.

*Brandon
– (July 16
th
) He came and sat next to Julie Stuart at the baseball game in Oregon. There’s bad blood between him and Jon Stuart because he tried to date Sheila even though he’s twenty-one. He likes them younger.

BreeAnn
– (January) Sylvia’s former best friend in Oklahoma. She couldn’t handle the weirdness and turned to the dark side.

*Bvelka Boy
– (July 16
th
) He pulled Sylvia off her seat in the bleachers because he just had to hold her in his arms. No one would let him on the bleachers to go to the angel. So, he went under to get to her side.

*Calvin Thompson
– (July 11
th
) Next door neighbor who is into acting big time. He always thought of Sylvia as beneath him. It stunned him to find out she was everything he’d always wanted. Well, except for the bigger chest, no glasses and red hair. Not to mention social status and money.

*Cameron
– (July 16
th
) Arch enemy of Rob and Jimmy. His big mouth has gotten him beat up more than once. Rob has had his fair share of closing Cameron’s mouth.

Cara Peterson
– (July 26
th
) Next door neighbor. She is the mother to Richard, Destiny and Eddy. Granddaughter to Emma. After her husband died Emma contacted her and invited her family to come live with her in Alaska. She was reluctant to uproot her family after all they’d gone through, but there were too many memories to fight off so she went north from New Swanzy, Michigan.

*Officer Chuck Darling
– (July 16
th
) He helped round up the boys trying to climb ladders at Aunt Betty’s house. He became affected and now is doing everything he can think of to win Aunt Betty over so she’ll talk Sylvia into marrying him. He even volunteered to head up the committee to make the boys paint Aunt Bettys house where they scraped it all up.

Coach Blake
– (July 11
th
) He has the slowest track team in Kansas. If his son wasn’t on the team he wouldn’t bother coaching.

*Cory
– (July 27
th
) He lives near Sylvia in Talkeetna, Alaska. He will be a freshman this coming school year and is best friends with Danny. He thinks its true love with Sylvia because all his other crushes were just that, crushes.

Cyrus ‘Cy’
– (July 31
st
) He’s a painter for Paulson house painting in Talkeetna, Alaska. He’s madly in love with his wife and he doesn’t know it, but they are expecting their first child.

*Daegan
– (July 21
st
) Stock boy at grocery store in Talkeetna, Alaska. He’s into martial arts and competes in state competitions.

*Danny
– (July 27
th
) He lives nearby Sylvia in Talkeetna, Alaska. He will be a freshman this coming school year. Best friends with Cory. He’s never really liked a particular girl before so his feelings are a bit bewildering. If Cory would get out of the way he thinks he has a chance with Sylvia.

*Dave
– (July 19
th
) Worked on the Ship that took Sylvia and her family to Alaska. He, now, spends every night on Facebook looking for Sylvia. He’s unaware that Sue doesn’t allow the kids to have a Facebook page.

Debra
– (July 20
th
) Morning waitress at Tony’s diner near Talkeetna, Alaska. She has two kids and her husband left her high and dry with nothing but their suitcases. She has built a home and they may not be rich, but there’s love at home.

Destiny Peterson
– (July 26
th
) Sylvia’s next door neighbor and Cara’s daughter. She will become one of Sylvia’s best friends. A sophomore this coming school year she can’t wait until next year when she can date. She figures out Sylvia is special and she’s fascinated by what happens around and to her friend, all the while wishing it were her.

*Donny
– (January) He’s Sylvia’s best buddy and is now seventeen years old. He spent time homeless. Sylvia was an enigma to him from the day he met her. He liked her long before he became affected.

*Andrew ‘Drew’ LaMarr
– (July 18
th
) He is a Phase Walker. At 21 years old he has wandered all over North America, mostly the United States. Though he wouldn’t admit it he was lonely and Alaska called to him. He hoped to find acceptance and a place to call home. He found Sylvia and now wants more.

Eddy Peterson
– (July26th) He’s a next door neighbor to Sylvia and Cara’s youngest child. He immediately likes the Kennin twins. He’s into scouts, camping, building forts and gardening. Although, he’d never admit the gardening part to his older brother, Richard.

*Emel
– (July 11
th
) He is one of the Kansas track team. Having just broke up with his girlfriend he was finding it hard to be motivated to do anything. Now he plans on winning every race so Sylvia will be proud of him.

Emma Schnauffer
– (July 21
st
) Sylvia’s next door neighbor in Talkeetna, Alaska. She knows Sylvia is special. She wants to help wherever she can.

Freddie
– (July 21
st
) Works at water plant. Wife is cashier at the grocery store in Talkeetna, Alaska. Freddie is impressed with the new plant manager, but fears local politics might drive him away.

Fredo Marin
– (July 12
th
) He is Shalem’s uncle. He finds his oldest nephew’s behavior amusing, the fight, not so much.

Galen ‘Len’ Kennin
– (July 11
th
) He is Sylvia’s father. Overwhelmed from the sheer magnitude of what Sylvia is going through he worries all the time that he’s not up to the task. Nonetheless, he’s very proud of his daughter.

*Gary
– (July 30
th
) He is a team captain of a tag football game in Talkeetna, Alaska. All he wants is to play football with his friends … until Sylvia rides up. Now, all he wants is to hold her in his arms.

Gram
– (January) Sylvia’s grandmother who died in May of this year. They were close and Gram knew all of Sylvia’s secrets.

Gramps
– (January) Sylvia’s grandfather. He was more of a father to Sylvia than Len was. His death was a big blow to Sylvia.

Detective Hernandez
-  (January) He is the detective in charge of the murder investigation that Sylvia was involved in, in Midwest City, Oklahoma. There is one picture that Sylvia drew that would impact his personal life.

Sheriff Arnold Jardine
– (July 16
th
) He was the police officer at the baseball game in Oregon. Also, he was on duty and responded when Aunt Betty called to report the boys invading her side yard. He still scratches his head when he thinks about the cute teenage girl who visited Ms. Stuart.

*Jeff
– (July 12
th
) Kevin Beck’s best friend. He loves Paula, whom he’s known since they were in diapers together. As he finishes his first year at Tech school he’s worried he hasn’t looked around enough to know for sure if he’s choosing the right woman.

Jessica Marin
– (July 12
th
) Kitchen Help at Mexican restaurant. Youngest sister to Shalem. She is flabbergasted at the way her brother is acting toward the blonde gringo.

Jim Beck
– (July 11
th
) Len Kennin’s army buddy who lives near Crete, Nebraska. He’s worried his oldest son will get side tracked with the pretty Kennin girl. It was a very important time for Kevin and he should have his eye single to the goal of a mission. Even so, Len’s daughter would make a very good wife for Kevin.

Jimmy Stuart
– (July 15
th
) He is Aunt Betty’s grandson who lives near her in New Bridge, Oregon. He likes his cousin, Sylvia, even though she acts a bit standoffish. He didn’t believe his grandmother when she said Sylvia would need protecting. He’s a believer, now. He just wished Sylvia wouldn’t run from his best friend, Rob. Rob could use someone like her.

*John
– (July 11
th
) He is one of the Kansas track team. He still doesn’t understand why Sylvia can’t move to Kansas. His family has an extra bedroom she could stay in. Well … after he kicked his older sister out of it.

*Johnny Herring
– (July 22
nd
) He’s from the Village and witnessed Sylvia eat a Klondike Meal. He’s 15 years old and thinks it’s cool he looks 18. He’s affected, but, like the other big guys from the Village, he’s learning to control it.

Jon Stuart
– (July 16
th
) He’s Aunt Betty’s son. When they were young he and Len lived closer together and were buddies at all the family get-togethers. Len is a year older and Jon looked up to him.

*Josh
– (July 23
rd
) He was returning from riding dirt bikes when he and his friends crashed in front of Sylvia’s house. No matter what Matt said, he just knew he’d get caught.

Juan Marin
– (July 12
th
) Head cook at Los Marin in Crete, Nebraska and father to Shalem. He wanted his son to find a nice girl and settle down, but not if that girl is the target of Manuel. Was his son crazy?

Julie Stuart
– (July 16
th
) She is Jon Stuart’s wife and mother to Jimmy and Sheila. She, too, would like to see Rob happy again. Sylvia seems nice enough.

Kevin Beck
– (July 11
th
) He’s the oldest son of Jim and Barbara. He’s nineteen years old and in college.  He has liked Sylvia since they met five years ago. He doesn’t understand why she seems so afraid of him. He’s worried someone has hurt her and he wants to protect her. He has two years of a mission to serve first before he can even express to her his feelings. The visit this month was a very hard test for him, but he refused to be side tracked, even if it was Sylvia.

*Larry
– (July 11
th
) He’s one of the Kansas track team. He’s not completely sure why he chased the cute blonde, but that’s never stopped him before.

Larry Paulson
– (July 28
th
) Owns house painting company and father of Steve Paulson. If it hadn’t been for Emma Schnauffer he never would have bid on the huge house. But she’s right. If he turns this eyesore around he’ll have people flocking to his door. On the other hand, if he goofed it up he could lose customers.