By the Meramec

Intro

Dear Journal,

Another day goes by. I can’t get any sleep. Since the death of my Angel, my Soul, my World, and my Life, I can’t seem to concentrate. I can’t think straight. The last three days with her were my three days of grace. Three single days of true life living in me. When I met her, the whole in my heart was sewed up and the empty seams were filled with love. Ah...Love. Love is such a powerful feeling. They say your heart feels no feelings. It’s all mental in the head. Well, they are wrong. Because if it is true love you will feel it in your heart. And you will feel refreshed. As if your life has a new beginning. Like you’re starting over. It’s been years since I’ve felt that way. But she lives on in me everyday day. I may not see her, or be able to hold her precious hands. But I feel our love in my heart beating like drums. They pound day and night letting me know that she’s always there. I will never forget my past. It is apart of me. Times Beach, my hometown. Where I grew up and met her. And spent every day by the Meramec.

~Chapter One~

“Aurora, come now. Look at our new home,” her mother replied with a British accent. Aurora stepped out of the horse drawn carriage. The neighborhood was wealthy and full of big houses but a few small poor ones. She was only eleven years of age and spent most of her life in London, England. She wore a black lace dress with a black hat. The black hat had lace hanging down in the front so you could not see Aurora’s face. Her long straight brown hair came down to her elbows and glistened in the sunlight.

“It’s good,” Aurora replied. She was taught to always be polite, show manners, and respects elders. Aurora looked down at the green grass. “May I be escorted inside? It is very hot out here.” Her mother nodded her head.

***

A young boy threw on a scarf and grabbed a hat, “Mum, I’m leaving now. I’ll bring home money for dinner. He opened the door and took one step out. He was about the age of eleven and had asthma. He got asthma attacks rarely since he never panicked that much. He was mostly relaxed and got asthma attacks once a year. His birthday was in a few weeks. His poor family didn’t have enough money to pay for his birthday or education unfortunately.

“Now Joshua don’t you leave without your older brother Reese. Reese, don’t you leave your poor brother out on the streets all alone,” Their mother said. A teenage boy about the age of fourteen wrapped a scarf around his neck.

“Don’t worry mother. We’ll be back soon. Love you. Good bye,” He said. He pecked his mother on the cheek and left with Joshua. “All right hot shot. You make the money, I’ll get the food. Don’t tell mom I’m leavin you. Got it? Let’s go now.”

“Reese, you shouldn’t. Don’t upset mum again. You know she’ll get mad at you,” Joshua replied. Reese smiled at him. He began walking into town. “Wait up Reese!” He caught up.

Reese rubbed Joshua’s head, “Lightin up Josh. It won’t be long.” The two boys picked a corner. Joshua set up. He put his hat down. Joshua began to sing. This was his only way of making money. “Alright, I’ll meet you back here. Stay right here. Don’t move till I get back. Ok? Alright bye.” Reese jogged slowly out of sight. He turned to face Joshua, saluted him, and smiled. Soon he was out of sight. Joshua continued to sing loud.

***

“Sir James, please lead my dear Aurora inside,” her mother said. She dropped the key into his white gloved hand. He turned to Aurora. She curtsied and followed him in into the house.

The house was one and a half stories, had an elegant taste to it, and was decorated with a Victorian touch. A huge diamond chandelier hung from the vaulted ceiling. Aurora took of her hat slowly and gazed at the house in astonishment. When you walked in to the main entrance you saw the living room with two couches, a reclining chair, and an enormous fireplace. The floor was marbled white and shined. Two spiral cases, one on the right, the other on the left, were a few feet from Aurora and Sir James. The wood was a cherry colored. Aurora touched the stair railing with her silk black gloves. She turned to Sir James and slowly took off her gloves.

“Feels like home,” Aurora lied. Back in London she lived in a huge castle. She felt this was too small. Yet she also felt like it was too big. It seemed wherever Aurora went she never felt like she was at home. Her heart was almost like coal. She never got the attention she wished for or anything. Her parents seemed too concerned with money and their jobs. No matter how wealthy Aurora was, it didn’t change one thing how she felt. Money was not an answer for her. Aurora headed up the pure white carpet on the stairs. When she reached the top her parents walked in to the house. “My isn’t this wonderful. Now it’s quite small from our old home, but I guess it will do. If this is the best they could do. Maybe I can buy some land and build this house bigger,” Her mother replied. She looked at the marbled floor. Her father looked at Aurora who was standing at the top of the stairs with a frown on her face, and her hat and gloves in her hands.

“Aurora dear, come down here so we can see you. What do you think of your new home?” Her father questioned. Aurora slowly stepped down the stairs. About halfway she stopped in her tracks. Her father crossed his arms.

“I think it’s...different,” Aurora replied choosing her words carefully. “May I be excused to my room now?” Her father nodded his head.

“I’ll get someone to bring your luggage up. Don’t worry about that. Pick a room, any room dear. Except for the largest one. That will be your mother’s and mine. Thank you. Now you may go,” Her father replied.

Aurora turned on her heel, walked up the stairs, and made a right turn. She walked down the hall. She saw a door leading to a room. She tried turning the knob but the door was locked. Now why would they people living here before lock this door so no one could get in? Aurora ran to the other side of the house. She opened the door. And she opened the rest except for that one door that was locked. Aurora looked around for a hidden key. She found nothing at all. Her mother came up the stairs, “Aurora, what are you doing?”

***

Reese looked at a market selling bread of all kinds. He reached for one. His hand was immediately slapped by a bat. “Get away from my food! I don’t tolerate beggars on the streets! Get out of here!” A fat man yelled. Reese looked at him.

“Aw man. Your telling me no money no food? Well how do you know I’m a beggar? You wanna know who I really am?” Reese asked. The fat man relaxed his fist and dropped the bat.

“Where you goin with this kid?” he asked. Reese shrugged. He slowly reached for a bread roll.

“Wanna know a secret?” Reese asked. He had a strategy for steeling food. It always seemed to work. The fat man looked around.

“Wha?” He asked. He leaned closer to Reese. Reese grabbed more and more bread rolls while he was distracting the man.

“I ain’t a beggar,” Reese pulled away, turned around, and started walking. The fat man started laughing.

“Hey! Your right! You’re a thief! You stole from me! Come back here!” Reese started to run. “Stop him!” A police man on a horse ran after Reese. Reese ran faster and faster.

The police man kicked the side of his horse. “Somebody stop him!” People from the street stepped aside. They were afraid to get involved in the situation. Reese saw a friend of his.

“Man you gotta help me. Hurry. Please,” Reese said gasping for breath. The police man was catching up.

“You stole. You said you’d stop,” his friend replied.

“Man I had to. My family is starving. Help me,” Reese begged. He turned around. The police man was coming closer and closer.

His friend crossed his arms. “No.” Reese’s mouth dropped. “No you can’t do this to me! Come on man!” The police officer was right behind him. He jumped off his horse.

“Here is your criminal,” his friend replied . He grabbed Reese’s arm. “Take em. He has a record of steeling.” Reese dropped the bread rolls onto the ground.

The officer arrested him, “Looks like your gonna be in jail for a while.”

“No! You can’t do this to me! No. JOSH! Josh! Anybody...” Reese gasped for breath. He was giving up.

“Kid, no one can here you. Face it,” The officer replied. Reese got on the horse. He was tied to the horse. The officer hopped on. He tipped his hat. “Thank you young man,” The horse galloped off. They slowly passed by Joshua who was singing. Joshua recognized it was Reese at once. Tears formed in his eyes. He didn’t cry he just kept singing.

***

Aurora shot around and dropped her hat and gloves, “Uh, this door is locked. I can’t get in. And there is no key.” Her mother came over to her. She jiggled the knob on the door.

“Odd. Hm, pick another room,” Her mother replied and left Aurora standing there.

“Honey, come here quick! Look at the view from the balcony. It’s amazing!” Aurora’s dad exclaimed. Her mother rushed downstairs and stood next to her husband. She held his arm.

Her mouth dropped, but no words came out. “Despicable! I can’t see sunset or sunrise. There are too many trees in the way. How am I supposed to enjoy the view if I can’t see anything? Aurora dear, come down here quick!” Aurora ran down stairs and ran over to her mother.

“Yes mother?” Aurora replied breathing slightly harder than before.

“Tell me now. Don’t lie. What do you think of this view?” Her mother crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. Aurora didn’t want to upset her mother with her own opinion.

“It’s quite a view. Well, it’s not terrible. And yet it’s not perfect...but if you don’t like it I guess I don’t like it that much either now that realize it,” Aurora said. This time she had to choose her words as if her life depended on it. One of the last things she wanted was her mother yelling at her.

“See. Even Aurora hates the view. Sir James!” Sir James ran into the room. He shivered by Aurora’s mother’s scream. “The view is horrible. Fix it some how. I want to see sunset and sunrise. Thank you. You are dismissed.” Aurora crept out of her mother’s sight and left the house.

She was curious of the outside world. Aurora wanted to meet people. She saw a young boy her age outside singing. For some odd reason he had tears in his eyes. A few people dropped coins into his hat. His voice was high and pure. Aurora walked over to him. She had no change on her. All she had were a few American dollar bills. She didn’t know how much they were worth. Aurora dropped three five dollar bills into the boy’s hat. He stopped singing and gazed at her. She was like an angel in his eyes.

“Bless you. Thank you so much,” He replied. Aurora smiled. Something about him sparked an interest for Aurora. She didn’t know if it was his sweet smile, his deep eyes, or this charm he seemed to set off.

“Your welcome,” Aurora said and curtsied. Aurora skipped off into town exploring it. Small shops were on the sides selling whatever they had. The street was quiet. Everyone stared at her and her unique way of dressing. The sun was setting and temperatures were dropping slowly. It was about time she had to go home. On her way back she saw the boy kneeled down on his knee, taking money and putting it into his pocket. He put on his hat. Aurora stared at him. Tears were still in his eyes.

She walked over to him and kneeled down by his side. He stood up so Aurora stood up with him. “Why do you cry?” She asked.

Joshua looked over at her. “Do you see tears coming down? No. Therefore I am not crying. Leave me alone.”

Aurora smiled, “No, I don’t see tears coming down. But I see you holding them in. I see you bottling up your feelings.”

“So. Don’t you have some place to be going?” Joshua asked. Aurora shook her head.

“My parents don’t care for me. I avoid my feelings. And I’ve turned into this. Don’t do the same. Your heart may turn cold and hard like coal. Please. You told me ‘God bless you’. I’ve never had anyone tell me that. What’s your name?”

One tear ran down Joshua’s soft cheek. “Joshua. Why do you ask?”

“Joshua, I will help you be strong. But you must help me, friend,” Aurora replied. Joshua looked at her. He smiled.

“Deal,” he said. Joshua walked home. Aurora ran home. What a day! Aurora opened the door to her house. It was nearly ten-o-clock. Aurora went upstairs. A room was picked out for her. All her stuff was unpacked. Her bed was set up. Everything was set up just like her old room. She fell onto her bed. Slowly she fell asleep. Aurora entered dream land.

***

Joshua opened the door to his small house. His mother ran over to him. She hugged him. “Where’s Reese?” she asked. Joshua looked down. His mother shook Joshua. “Where is he?” Joshua looked up to her. He stared her right in the eyes.

“I saw him with an officer. He looked at me with his eyes. He said nothing. But told me to help him,” Joshua replied. His mother was confused. “He told me this by his expression.” Joshua added. His mother put her hands on her mouth. She was speechless.

“Alright. Go-go to b-b-ed...” she said. Joshua walked to his room shared by his oldest brother, sixteen, and his youngest sister, one.

Before he closed the door he whispered, “Mum, we can help him. We’ll get em out. I promise. We’ll be strong. We won’t give up.” Joshua closed the door and went to bed. The mystery girl he met today lifted his spirit and made him strong.