Anger: The Road Back

by Christine Cochrane

The canoe drifted toward a sandy beach on the right bank. MC² got out first and helped the others to the soft land. They turned toward the forest. Something looked different. Almost eerie. Suddenly they started to sink into the sand. It wanted to swallow them. MC² moved quickly holding the 3 year old and tugged the other two with her free arm. They stayed ahead of the hungry sand just long enough to reach the forest floor. They collapsed with hearts racing and relief. As soon as they recovered they stood and looked into the forest. The trees were charred, fire had consumed them. The sun bombed the earth with searing light. There were no pine needles softening the ground. MC²’s heart sunk. This was supposed to be her safe place. The place where she felt no anxiety, no fear. The place where she felt most connected to something bigger than her. And it was destroyed. The kids looked to her. She once again realized that she had to be the grown-up. She had to lead. She was their safe place. Looking around for some idea of where to go, she notices hoof prints in the dirt, and every so often, the prints of large talons. The Ox and the Owl had been here. All she needed to do is follow in their footsteps and they would lead her to safety.

The trail was flat but long and with no end in sight. The sun shot angry rays through the blackened branches. The fair skin of the tribe was growing pink with sunburns. They stopped to rest in a small spot of shade that a large tree trunk provided. They were tired. They were thirsty. They were hungry. The sun had started to set, so there was a little relief from that attacker. From behind them they heard a crack, followed by a loud boom. They turned to see that one by one the trees they had passed were falling, and the trail they had walked was disappearing. The crashes were coming closer and closer. The tribe began to run, trying to outpace the disappearing forest.

Finally a clearing appeared before them. It was soft, lush green grass. They fell to it and began to laugh. Rolling around in the carpet nature had provided them. As the tired laughter subsided, MC² spotted a group of cabins at the far end of the grassy area. Finally! Shelter, food, and a place to rest. They approached the cabins and saw that there were 3 of them. Nearly identical. There would be no sound from this area if not for the remaining trees falling. They knocked on the first one. No one answered. They looked in the window. They went back to the doorstep and noticed the doormat. It said, “You Are NOT Welcome.” A twinge in MC²’s heart let her know that that was a familiar message. They approached the second one. An older man answered quickly and sized up the group. Then he spoke. “I’ve got other things to care for and you are too much to handle.” Then he shut the door with purpose. MC²’s heart hurt again, but even more deeply when he said that because she had felt that way before-like she was just too much. Finally, they approached the third cabin. They knocked. No one was there. She tried the knob and it opened. As they peeked their heads inside the one room cabin they saw a beautiful kitchen with canned goods lined on shelves. Glimmering pots and pans hung from the ceiling. A shiny tea kettle and a stainless steel popcorn maker sat on the gas stove. Just outside the kitchen was a table set for 4. One of the chairs had a booster seat on it.

To the left there were three beds and one convertible crib. All lined with luxuriously soft bedding. All of them had stuffed animals on them. One each of an Ox and an Owl. They all had large drinks of water and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches accompanied by apple slices and corn chips. In the bathroom there was aloe vera gel for their sunburns. MC² gently rubbed it on each of their tender skin. Then they went to bed. The 3 year old, 7 year old, and 15 year old passed out within a minute. MC² went to each of them and kissed their foreheads. With tears running down her face in relief and fatigue, she went to the window that faced the back of the cabin. It was snow. They were at the top of a very long, steep slope.