This is a FanFic, a reimagined sequel of the the well-loved classic tale---The Bridge To Terabithia. It's going to be a part of my NaNoWriMo for this year.
CHAPTER 1
NIGHTMARE
Saturday
Jesse was jolted awake in the wee hours, his skin damp, a trickle of cold sweat running down his temples. His heart was pounding like it did when he ran the marathon on the stadium track.
With a sharp exhale and sigh of relief, he propped himself against the pillows and turned his gaze towards the window. The sky was cloudless after a long day of relentless rain. The bright full moon cast the pine woods across the house in a violet glow, the tree tops shimmering in a pale silver.
He remembered another night like this many seasons ago when he and Leslie ran playfully in the farm, through the cow fields and towards their secret pathway leading to…Terabithia!
The fog in his mind partially lifted as a tinkling laughter like Christmas bells haunted him as a distant echo. In an instant it was overshadowed by a shrill echo sending goosebumps down his back.
An anguished scream for help, calling out, gurgling in a panic…fighting for life…
Leslie! Where on earth are you? Les..lieee….
*****
A faraway hoot of an owl broke his reverie. Miss Bessie was lowing in the farm shed, her cry a call of unbearable agony. Is that why he woke up with a start? Was Bessie moaning for a long time whilst he was in the deepest of sleep?
The night was still cold and icy as he threw back the quilt and bundled himself in a hooded jacket with shaky hands. He padded across the room on unsteady legs, trying to get a grip over himself. With a deep breath, Jesse let himself quietly out the front door. The air was crisp with the aroma of the recent fresh rain and damp, earthy mud.
He strode over to the shed to check on Miss Bessie. The sight that greeted him calmed his frayed nerves. He was pleasantly surprised to see his adorable cow sprawled out on the warm hay with a snow white calf huddled against her side. The only other colour on it were its caramel brown ears twitching and flopping.
Miss Bessie had a baby! Leslie would have wanted it to be named Moo-Babe if Miss Bessie ever had a calf.
One day as she had wished with an endearing look in her eyes, a prayer in her heart.
Moo-Babe it would be named. For Leslie.
Moo-Babe was a handsome young boy who looked at him with a curious wonder and innocence in his doe-like eyes. He gazed all around the shed in his new surroundings.
Jesse was completely awestruck at this newcomer into their farm family and the vague, disturbing nightmare was temporarily cast aside.
The night sky was slowly turning into a pale grey and the creatures of the night were either roosting or had gone silent—making way for a new dawn and a bright morning.
Jesse had a sudden burst of energy. With newfound excitement, he raced towards the main house.
Flinging the door open, he barged into the kitchen to find the family gathered around the table for breakfast. “May Belle, mother, father! The babe is here! Moo-Babe has arrived sooner ! My, it's a beauty! Come to the shed, quick!
****
May Belle dropped the fork she was holding halfway to her mouth. It clunked noisily onto the plate full of steaming hot pancakes. She pushed the plate away with both her hands and it slid forward right to the centre hitting the crystal vase which held a bouquet of fresh daffodils.
“May Belle! Watch it”, her mother said firmly, raising a finger at her. May Belle glared at Jesse whose wide toothed smile drooped as he looked around, puzzled at her reaction.
Before he could ask her what was wrong, May Belle stood, pushing her chair out of the way and angrily walked towards him in measured steps. Her eyes narrowed at him.
“ You know what, Jesse ? That Leslie has been gone a good goddamn ten years. And you call our pet calf with the name she decided?? What the heck! Why don't I get a chance to do that? Get over her already !” May Belle was hissing every word and shocking every other person present there. Jesse looked on, speechless and stunned. A sudden wave of sorrow washed over him. He walked away in dejection into the farm again and barely heard his mother turn on May Belle.
“How dare you spew such nasty words, May Belle Aarons! Leslie was a dear sweet child, a friend of the family and I will have no one, not even my daughter to talk ill of her. If anyone has a right to name the new born calf as Moo-Babe it's Jesse ”. Elaine’s eyes welled with unspent tears. Biting her quivering lips, she threw down the kitchen towel she was holding in her trembling hands. Disappointment coursed through her as she dashed out the door after Jesse .
Father gave May Belle a stern look and chose not to speak to her about it at the moment. The morning had started awkwardly and May Belle’s words had cut deep into all of them. When the heated situation cooled down amply, he would have a word with her. Meanwhile, the breakfast plates on the kitchen table had remained untouched and the pancakes had gone terribly cold by now. He carefully transferred everything into boxes and stacked them into the refrigerator.
Drinking the lukewarm coffee in one big gulp, he left for work without a backward glance at May Belle. Poor Jesse ! Hadn't he suffered enough through the years and especially on that miserable, ill-fated day that May Belle had to be so ruthless to him and the dear child next door who was no more…
*****
Jesse was a sprinter! He ran, his feet pounding the earth. His mother couldn't catch up with him as he ran uphill and wouldn't stop even as her pleas trailed after him. He felt numb inside!
Leslie, how I wish you were here. You would know what to say, what to do or rather what not to. It's all my fault, Leslie. If only I had asked you to come along with us to the National Gallery on that day….My fault…my fau…lt…myyy….faulttt..
He dropped to his knees and lay down on the damp, sweet grass, staring at the sky. It reminded him of the colour of Leslie's eyes.
His heart was heavy with grief. He felt numb inside, the pain of Leslie's loss still raw after all these years. Jesse felt a surge of bitterness when he recalled the sneer on May Belle's face. Why couldn't May Belle understand? Why couldn't she see how much Leslie meant to him?
As he lay there limply, Jesse knew he had to hold on to the memories of Leslie, to keep her spirit alive. The memory of Leslie's scream, the sound of her calling out to him, echoed in his mind. He sat up, his eyes snapping open. He looked around, taking in the familiar sights and sounds of the farm.
The sky was a deep shade of blue, with a few wispy clouds scattered across it. The sun was slowly rising, casting a warm glow over the farm. The cows were lowing, the birds were singing, and the trees were swaying gently in the breeze.
He stood up determinedly. He would make sure Moo-Babe thrived, would become a symbol of the friendship they shared. And maybe, just maybe, it would help him heal, help him find a way to move forward.
Jesse walked back to the house, his eyes fixed on the ground. His mother was out in the backyard tending to the vegetable patch and herb garden. He walked past the kitchen and headed straight for his room. There was an unusual stillness in the house.
As he slumped on the bed, he felt a sense of sadness wash over him, but it was different this time. It was a tender sadness, a bittersweet reminder of the happy memories they had shared. Jesse closed his eyes, letting the good old times flood his mind. He knew he would always carry Leslie with him, and that she would always be a part of him.
TO BE CONTINUED....
https://www.theblogchatter.com/blogrolls/bridging-memories-terabithia-reclaimed
Comments
Post a Comment