Edrin was lost. Again.

It was always slightly humiliating to be lost, but especially to be lost in one’s own forest; that is, the forest that one was king of; the forest that one was supposed to have magically inferred skills and gifts required to navigate said forest as sovereign ruler.

With these irritating musings flitting through his head, Edrin closed his eyes to attempt to orient himself. He could feel that low throb of the forest inside himself, but it was so blasted quiet- how on earth was one supposed to navigate from that?

“Drat,” he muttered, opening his eyes.

“Lost?” inquired a voice.

“Who was that?” Edrin demanded, spinning around.

“Me. Or, I, rather,” said the voice. A thin, tallish boy with vaguely reddish hair walked out from behind a tree into the clearing Edrin had stopped in after his fruitless wanderings.

“Ah.” Rather belatedly, Edrin realized that his twirling around may have seemed, well, rather less-than- kingly. Best to correct that, then. He straightened his shoulders and looked down at the boy (rather difficult, since the boy was only slightly shorter than Edrin himself, but he could manage it with only a slight craning of the neck). He cleared his throat.

“Are you aware of my sovereign status of this forest?”

The boy looked him up and down, assessing him.

“If you mean you’re king, that doesn’t prevent you being lost.”

“As king of this forest, I am equipped with all I need to rule.”

The boy smirked. “Well, then, I supposed I’ll be off. Seems as though you don’t need my help, since you know exactly where you are and all.”

Drat. Of course the boy would know where he was, he probably lived around here. “Wait,” called Edrin. “I, erm, require your assistance. For a royal matter.”

The boy turned around, folding his arms and slouching against a tree.

“I, um, I require- lodging!” Yes, that was it, lodging was a perfectly reasonable request of a king to his subject, and after all he must be some ways from the palace at this point. Surely if the boy brought him to whatever hamlet he resided in, Edrin would be able to find his way from there.

“Lodging,” repeated the boy, eyeing Edrin lazily. “Well then. Seeing as it’s a royal matter and all.”

With that the boy strolled over to Edrin, grasped his hand, and made a vague waving motion, and then- They weren’t in the clearing anymore.

Or rather they were, but it was an entirely different clearing, and the trees were much smaller, and there was a cottage with a garden in the center of it, and a path running through it.

“What’ve you done!?” spluttered Edrin, yanking his hand from the boy’s and twirling around in a unkingly manner again.

“You asked for lodging,” stated the boy. “This is my home, mine and my sister’s. I could hardly give you somebody else’s lodging, could I?”

“But how did you-“ Edrin stopped. The boy was smirking at him again. Blasted little wart, he knows I’m lost. Edrin cleared his throat again.

“Precisely. I thank you for the, um, accommodations.”

“Well, come inside then,” the boy answered, rather ungraciously.

I don't like this.

It looks the same as it's always looked, but hollow. The substance is gone and there's just a shell. The spirit has vanished and there's only a corpse left. How can something I've seen all my life look so unfamiliar?

Out of the deep have I called unto Thee, O Lord.

The light is too bright, but it's dark at the same time. My eyes don't work right, everything's glaring and foggy. This isn't right.

Lord, hear my voice.

Don't talk to me! You puppets, you doll-people with your empty eyes and cacophonous voices.

Let Thine ears be attentive to the voice of of my supplications.

Don't touch me! What if you're not real? You don't look real.

I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait.

I feel hollow too. Am I awake, or has it always been like this, this dread, this shadow?

My soul waiteth for the Lord, more than they that watch for the morning.

Lord, hear my voice.

Do you see me?

Their eyes are empty, their motions are forced, their speech rehearsed. I know this a reflection, but I must go on. I am frightened, but I must go on. But you call my name as I turn away.

Do you see me?

Your eyes are not like theirs. Your voice is not my own. You are real, and you are with me. I am not alone.

Do I see you?

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Dear Genna,

Thank you for the flyer. Are you sure it’s completely clean? I just can’t imagine using paper made out of animal feces. Also maybe send another flyer, because Priya’s new puppy destroyed it. Priya is adjusting well to our home, although we still have the occasional temper tantrum. Please come whenever you can. There’s always room for you in our home! Lizzie is doing well at her piano, although she’s still being a pill about her practice. Every day it’s the same. She’ll practice ten minutes and then she’ll be playing some pop song she heard on the radio. Forget scales. That’s never going to happen. Raven has grown a great deal and is actually taller than Josephine, much to her delight and Josephine’s consternation. I finally convinced Easton to get a haircut, by the way. His appearance is much improved from the last picture you saw of him. Remember that boy in our class in middle school? The one with the red hair who came to school with peanut shells in his hair? I don’t know why I thought of that. I suppose it’s because of Easton. Katie would love to visit you and your girls, but there’s no need for Alan to take her! James is driving up for the spring semester at OSU and will bring her, if that time is convenient for you. I can’t remember the exact date, but you’ll know since Jack goes there too. What’s his major again? I can never remember. James recently changed his major to religious studies. He feels called to ministry. Jesse and I are very proud, but I think that maybe OSU isn’t the best place for James, even though I love having him so close. Sort of close. It’s still several hours away. It’s a nice drive, though, with lots of pleasant places to stop. Anyway, I think maybe James should consider NNU or even George Fox. He could get a scholarship from our church if he chose NNU, which would be a big help. We’ll see what he decides this next semester. I’m grateful that he’ll be so close to Katie while she’s with you. She’s never been gone from home for so long before, and I’m a little worried. I know she’s a smart girl, but she can be a little naive. I think she expects life to be a little too much like the books she reads. She’s currently enthralled with the My Fair Godmother books by Janette Rallison. Have you read them? I haven’t, but they seem an improvement from the Twilight series. Katie is very excited to see Isabella and Mariah again. She’s hoping to visit that coffee shop you mentioned in your last letter as well. She wrote you a note. I’ll stick it in with mine. Is there anything she should bring with her? Besides clothes and books and all that. Has Isabella decided if she’s going to go to college? Maybe she and Katie could go to the same place! Love you dearly!

Your friend,

Minnie

P.S. Sorry about the stain; Priya knocked my coffee mug over and it spilled on everything.

All right, listen up, folks. You want to learn how to appear to be just the right amount of weird? Here’s your guide to the world of the unclinically insane.

1. When taking a walk, and you see that someone approaches, turn your head away and put your hand up to your ear. That way, they’ll think you have a Bluetooth earpiece in, and they won’t know you’re just talking to yourself. (An alternate method is to begin quoting a well-known play. That way they’ll think you’re an actor, rehearsing for a play. Actors can get away with a little more, because people assume they’re talented.)

2. When you cause a loud thump because you’ve been practicing your handstands in the dead of night, blame it on ghosts. Ghosts are fashionable at the moment, and people are more ready to believe in them when it’s dark. You will pass this off more easily if you leave a few windows cracked open and put a radio turned on low volume in one of the vents.

3. Get a job like a nurse or a mortician or a homicide detective, so that when you comment in passing that the cooler on sale in Costco would be the perfect place to stash a body, people just assume it’s something you think about due to your career.

4. Keep fire extinguishers in your house. Accidentally setting things on fire is acceptable, accidentally burning your house down is not.

5. Get some nice throw rugs and pillows. They’re very convenient for when you accidentally dye your floor pink or get blood on the furniture.

6. Know when to bring your interests up. To everything there is a season, even collections of cheap wigs and lists of names with their origin and meaning.

7. Be kind, and be confident. Kindness seasons your personality so that people can see the best parts of you, and after all, more people really should know how fascinating mad cow disease is.

Dear Minnie,

I’m so glad we continue to correspond. Despite this sad influx of technology, which so easily tears families apart and distracts us from the presence of the Now (you know my views on this, and that I would never let my children near technology), we stand steadfast and correspond by pen and paper. However, I noticed that you have been using processed bleached paper. I cannot approve. Minnie, we need to preserve the environment for our children! I’m sending you a flyer about recycled organic paper. It’s made from elephant droppings. But to answer your question: no, I can’t come to Jesse’s birthday party, sadly, but perhaps I can visit around Easter. I would dearly love to see how Josephine and Raven have grown. And how is Lizzie doing on her piano practice? I enjoyed her recital last year so much. Speaking of your children, I was wondering about Katie. She is such a sweet girl and such good company (and so well read! I declare, every time I see her she has a new book in hand), and if I’m not wrong, she’s nearly seventeen now. I was thinking that perhaps she might come to Portland for a visit. Smith River is such a small town, and I do not think that she can have seen much culture there. Portland is simply overflowing with culture! We would, of course, make a trip to the coast sometime during her stay (I know you are quite near the ocean in Smith River, but I find the beaches upper state to be more pleasing), and of course go sightseeing. My girls would so enjoy her company. You remember how well Isabella and Katie got along when we last visited! I know you said she was planning on taking a gap year after high school. Alan is driving down to Medford on business and could bring her to us, if you could take her that far. I do hope she’ll be able to come. Write back soon and tell me all your news. I’m afraid things have been a bit slow here lately. Isabella is hoping to get a job at a new organic coffee shop. I’m quite supportive. They empower impoverished peasants in Peru and don’t use straws or cups.

Much love and peace,

Genna

Genna Thorpe, Freelance Photographer and Organic Entrepreneur