Snipet #13

Evelyn had not intended on leaving the house on the day of her 13th birthday, but that's just what ended up happening. She had intended on staying home, enjoying the sponge cake her mother had painstakingly made for her. While Evelyn had been cleaning her room, she pretended not to hear her mother in the kitchen, she acted as if the scent of vanilla wasn't wafting up the stairs to her bedroom. She liked to give that to her mother, the belief that she had surprised her daughter and done something unexpected, even though there was nothing more expected that could occur on her birthday. It was the same every year. This time, however, Evelyn wanted to do something different. Of course she would act surprised when she returned, because her mother was very special to her and she wanted to give her the pleasure and satisfaction of the yearly sponge cake presentation.

After finishing her chores, she snuck out the back door and ran down to the creek to pick some flowers as it was such a lovely day. She wanted to feel the earth beneath her feet, she wanted to roll in the herbs growing by the creek side. Evelyn longed to be free and there was nothing that felt more like freedom to her than the air, and earth and sky. She took deep breaths of it all, and closed her eyes as if enraptured. She felt a part of it, deeply, in her soul. The smooth, rounded stones in the water, the new green leaves fluttering, the sound of the birds call. It was all a part of Evelyn, and she knew this, even if she knew not how that could be possible. She always had a way of sensing things, even as a very young child, and she rarely questioned that. It was just the way she was, and as she had accepted the mystery of Evelyn from a very early age, she showed a confidence beyond her years. Evelyn's demeanor had flustered more than one of her neighbors, but for the most part, that was no concern to her. She felt that she was used to their stares and the way they would tilt their heads, furrow their brows and shake their heads. She didn't believe that she needed nor desired their approval, so she found it rather comical when they showed their obvious dismay. Most of the time, however, as was a Willow Falls tradition, they kept their heads down and went about their lives, seemingly oblivious of her willful streak and her hunger for more.

As she dangled her feet in the cool creek water, she noticed the breeze begin to pick up. At first the leaves in the trees were dancing lightly, now they were beginning to be tossed around and the wind could be heard swirling and smashing it's way through the new greenery. Evelyn leaned her head back and took a deep breath. This wind smelled different, of exotic spices and burning wood and Evelyn was intrigued. She knew she should run home before it got worse. That's what any sensible person would do, however, Evelyn wasn't feeling practical on her 13th birthday. This day was special and smelled of far off places. Something was coming, she could feel it deep inside, down in the center of herself. It was an ache and a longing she had never experienced. So, when Evelyn noticed the boy on the porch of the Red Button General Store for the very first time, she wasn't surprised in the least.

He was part of what was coming.