Legend of the Wren

Next Installment

Thanks for reading! Welcome to all the wonderful people who already enjoy this Journal and all that have recently subscribed. You are the reason I write this. You are my inspiration.

This Journal contains your next installment of Legend of the Wren. I hope you have a good time reading it during the holiday season. It covers more about Liv, Ben and Joseph’s independent living.

Oh! If you would like to read the whole thing thus far from the beginning just go here.

(earlier)

Liv’s Story (Olivia Cord)

Liv had been upset that Joseph was nowhere to be found. She searched the potting shed but realized he had already gone. He took the backpack that had food and dry clothes, so that was a good thing.

Since she had skipped school the day before, she knew she had to catch the bus into school today.

“If only this was Saturday,” she said out loud, “then I could track him down. I’m sure I could follow his trail.”

But there were projects at school that had to be done and the news article she was putting together for the junior high newspaper she was working with. That was important. The article had a lot to do with genealogy. Liv was excited to be in the writer’s club. But how was she going to research this topic?

She quickly checked over the shed, making sure it looked like it did before she brought Joseph there the day before. She did not like leaving things undone and did not want her mother to notice anything out of place. Playing hooky from school needed to be kept a secret. Yep, everything looked fine.

Running to the house and grabbing her schoolbooks, Liv had some thoughts rolling around in her head: Why didn’t that boy wait for her before he left? What was he doing all by himself out by the stream? And most of all, why didn’t he talk?

The school bus was screeching as it stopped at the end of her lane, and she was running to catch it. One arm was in the sleeve of her heavy cable sweater, her hair was flying around, and the books were falling out of her arms. But the bus driver waited patiently. He knew she was an impulsive girl and was fine with waiting.

On board and in her seat, her thoughts shifted to school, article, and her friends. The young boy that did not talk drifted to the back of her mind. Some of her friends were on the bus and they caught up on what they were doing the day before and all the busdriver could hear were giggles.

Classes went by quickly and after school, Liv ran into the liberal arts room to meet with the other newspaper kids. Each student had a different news topic to research and prepare for the paper. It would be published in May, before the big dance. They had been studying articles that had already been published by professional writers and journalists in the local area.

Some of the journalists from the town’s paper and even a couple of television reporters came that year to speak with the school’s newspaper club. One time, there was a dinner with guest speakers from the state capital, Columbus. Liv loved that night and talked for weeks about it. Her desire to be a journalist was a strong one. There was a special drive to report on current events and local happenings. She just knew her future had a lot to do with this.

But this topic she had on genealogy kind of tripped her up. Couldn’t she just interview someone about local farming, artwork, or the football hero instead? Ancestral information just seemed too dry for much interest. She went up to the counselor and asked if she could change her topic.

Mr. Haimer took her aside and sat her down. “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about this, Liv,” he said privately. “The others in this club are rather new and inexperienced on reporting and writing. But you have shown a special aptitude in this area. I believe you will follow this line of interest for years to come. That is why I have given you this extended assignment. I know it is harder, but I want you to be challenged. I have faith in you. But if you need anything, just let me know.”

Liv was a little bewildered and proud at the same time. She furrowed her brows, which was a normal facial expression for her. While looking up at Mr. Haimer, she bit her lower lip.

“Mr. Haimer, I’m not sure how to start. Who do I interview?”

Her counselor looked at her for a moment. He didn’t want to lead her through this but wanted her to explore new avenues.

“Liv, your first action is to go to the library and talk to the research department. Tell them what you are planning. See where it goes. You will be impressed to follow a certain direction,” and he walked away.

She took a deep breath. Sighing was a normal thing for Liv. Every time she was frustrated, disappointed, or frightened, she sighed.

As Liv placed the dishes and silverware on the table for dinner that night, her mother was busy bringing in the food. She kept going back and forth after more serving dishes, and finally a plate of bread.

“Mom, can I ask you something?” Liv stopped in her chore before it was complete. “I’ve got something really important to ask you.”

Her mother pulled out a dining room chair and sat down. “What’s so important?”

“I’m not real sure how to go about this topic I am supposed to write about for the newspaper. I need to go to the library for research. Do you think you could take me into town tomorrow?” Liv was asking for the ride, but at the same time hoping her mother would give her a little insight about her topic.

“Well, I do have to stop into the shoe repair and fabric store, so I guess we could do that tomorrow since it is Saturday,” her mom said as she got up to finalize the dinner. “Oh, what is the topic?”

“Genealogy.”

Her mother stopped in her tracks for a second. She paused. “Umm, well, I don’t really know much about those things, but I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” And she quickly went back into the kitchen hoping Liv did not see her hesitate.

What Liv did not know was that she had been adopted as a baby. They never felt like they needed to tell her about it, hoping it never would come up.

The birth parents died in a tragic car accident. It seemed too difficult to talk to her about. Perhaps after Liv gets older…

Independent Living

Over the next few years, Joseph worked for Ben Garran, on occasion. It was a great way to make extra money and learn to take care of himself, not having to accept handouts. Sometimes he’d take on odd jobs on his own, especially if Ben had to go out of town for a few days.

People called Ben a crazy gypsy. But Joseph found a friend in him and a teacher of humankind. He learned so much about living in harmony with Nature and understanding about how humans act too.

He started to consider why Donavon always bullied him or chased him. Why was he so angry with him? He knew there must be a reason and hoped he could make sense of it.

It seemed that every time Joseph was in town, Donavon knew it and was waiting for him. But as time went on, Donavon sometimes just stopped and looked at Joseph. Like he was sizing him up. And just ran down the street with his dog.

Over the next few years, Joseph found himself spending time between Ben’s camp, the library and sometimes the store. The library was a great place to sleep especially when the weather was too cold or storming.

He enjoyed learning from Mrs. Gardner and talking to her about people and life. Every time she told him about something it seems that it happened shortly after. It was like she was guiding him in his life. She always knew about him and what was going on. She was a blessing to him.

(Joseph is around 14-15 years of age)

Mrs. Gardner had searched for several weeks for a special book for Joseph. Finally, she found it through an old acquaintance from years earlier. One day, a delivery came to the library while Joseph was there. She knew immediately what it was.

“Here Joseph, I want you to open this box for me,” she told him placing the heavy package on a back table in the storeroom.

Joseph went to work, opening the box as she asked him to do, which was not an unusual request since he helped around the library often.

It was a very old and worn book. Looked like it was written in 1940-1950 or so. And many people must have used it since it had tattered edges and dog-eared pages.

He threw away the wrapping and let her know he had finished. Mrs. Gardner looked at him. She gently pushed the book to him.

He looked puzzled. “Did I forget something?” What else was he supposed to do?

“I’ve been looking for this book for a long time. I especially want you to have it.” Mrs. Gardner smiled, “I want you to have this for your own. It is a very special book that you will need as you grow older.”

Joseph put his hand on the cover of the book. It felt of soft, dilapidated leather. There was a strange feeling that shot through his hand – a vibration of some kind. Quickly, he drew his hand away and looked up at her.

“It’s alright. This book tells of many unworldly energies and unusual things. It was written by a special teacher I had when I was young. Her name is Magna Christophers. Read only a few paragraphs or pages at a time. It is not meant for you to speed read, but slowly indulge in the depth of the information.”

Joseph tilted his head with so many questions he could not filter one to ask. He placed his hand on the cover again and read the title to himself, “All About Life and the Nature of Living, by Magna Christophers. What a strange title, I wonder what it is all about.” (More is revealed later in the story.)

==

Ben owned over 100 acres of mountainous woods. Most of it was sloped so steeply that no one wanted to use it for lodging or planting. So, the acreage was fairly virgin, without any pathways or clearings. But he offered Joseph the opportunity to camp there when he wanted to be alone.

Joseph had been interested in finding out as much as could about Laurel Run. He listened to many people, including Mrs. Gardner and Ben about the history of the land. He found out that the town was situated right on top of the coal mine that caught fire. For some reason, he always thought it was somewhere nearby, but realized that the cave was directly beneath the town.

A fire started when a miner’s lamp accidently ignited some timbers that supported a tunnel in the mine. This happened perhaps 60-70 years earlier. The fire could not be extinguished in all that time. Now, it was only smoldering, but once in a while the folks in town could smell the smoke. Because it was a mine of anthracite coal, and there was plenty of oxygen available, it probably will never go completely out.

The fishing in local streams was the best in that area of the state. Trout was the main catch and Joseph went fishing, especially with Ben whenever he could. It was the best way he had to connect with the memories of his dad.

=-=-

Joseph stayed on this land sometimes weeks and then even months at a time.

This is where Joseph spent time meditating, learning about the plants and wildlife. There was a special tree that marked an energetic space on the property. He was not sure if anyone knew about it, but the sensation there was very strange.

The tree was probably 70-80 years old. But the strange thing about it was that it grew in a spiral. Almost a mangled growth of timber and continued to reach to the sky.

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Melissa Leath writes A Mystics Journal on Substack. She supplies outrageous metaphysical babble/rant from a modern-day mystic's viewpoint and provides workshops about empowerment and psychic/metaphysical development. Her books Psychic Integrity, The Respected Practice of Modern-Day Mystics (Balboa Press, division of Hay House Publishing) and Does Your Child See Sparkles? are available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Melissa’s long-term study includes years of group development, platform mediumship, meditation, becoming a spiritual medium and minister and a BA in Metaphysical Counseling. She has worked with 10s of thousands of clients in USA and other countries, taught development classes for 12 years and settled into online workshops.

Please contact Melissa at melisssaleath@gmail.com.