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Authors: Tess Oliver
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my cheeks.
“He saved me from tripping in the cafeteria.” I took hold of her hand to stop her ministrations. “Just like you figured, Nana, Zedekiah won’t hurt me. If anything he seems determined to protect me. It’s the citizens of Bitterroot who may be in danger.”
Nana waved her hand and several crumbs of pie dough fell to the floor. “Hang them all. As long as he doesn’t harm you, they can deal with that demon themselves.” She walked to the cupboard and pulled out the berry picking basket. “Summer’s been gone for a few weeks, but I’ll bet there’s still enough late growing blackberries for a decent pie. And take the dog with you. He’s been under my feet all day.”
The sun was still brilliant and warm. I wore my slip-on shoes with every intention of taking them off and going barefoot once I’d reached my destination. I’d realized something after these two days at school in my clunky, lace-up boots; I walked much better when I wasn’t thinking about how I was walking. And I walked much better without cumbersome shoes on my feet.
Jasper had busied himself with a cornered lizard so I went to work searching the long row of blackberry bushes for untouched fruit. I happened upon a small gold mine, or black mine as it were, of plump berries hidden deep enough in the bush that birds and animals had not yet discovered them. I plucked the berries off and dropped them into the basket on my arm, stopping occasionally to pop one into my mouth. They weren’t as sweet as the midsummer berries, but they still exploded with juice in my mouth.
The dog growled behind me and I turned to scold him for scaring the wits out of a helpless lizard. Instead, I came face to face with Zedekiah. “You certainly appear in the strangest places,” I said. Jasper growled again then wagged his tail and ran off to chase some more helpless critters.
“You’re a sight to behold with that soft green dress, naked feet, and berry stained mouth.” Zedekiah’s brazen gaze surveyed me from head to foot. His blue eyes may have been dead for over a century but standing here in front of me he seemed anything but a ghost.
“You’re causing Nana and I a lot of trouble. The town isn’t happy about your return.”
Ignoring what I said, he lifted a berry and held it up to inspect it. Then he handed it to me. “Do me a favor, love, eat this berry and tell me how it tastes. Exactly. Don’t leave out anything. It’s been so long since I’ve tasted anything.”
There was a sadness now in his expression that made me comply. I pushed the berry between my lips, bit down on it, and swallowed. His gaze did not leave my mouth, and I felt a blush rise in my cheeks.
I closed my eyes to remember what I’d tasted. “First there is that anticipation of the burst of juice as you bite down on it. It starts sour and flows into a rich, fruity sweetness as it slides down your throat. Like a misty, warm summer afternoon settling in your mouth.”
When I opened my eyes, Zedekiah’s image had become blurry as if he was sinking back into a memory, a memory of enjoying the taste of summer fruit. Then his image sharpened again. “Tasting, touching, all things I miss.” His long icy fingers trailed down my forearm sending a shiver up my skin. I stepped back out of his reach. He looked hurt by it.
“Zedekiah, I’m not sure what it is you’re looking for, but I don’t have it. I know you don’t intend to harm me, but you are definitely making my life more difficult.”
I returned to my task of picking berries. After picking clean the berry trove I’d found, I walked further down the line of bushes. Some of the canes and branches had grown long and unruly during the long summer light. Soon they would shrink away and go dormant for the winter.
My ghostly companion followed. “It is lovely watching you walk barefoot. Those boots don’t suit
“He saved me from tripping in the cafeteria.” I took hold of her hand to stop her ministrations. “Just like you figured, Nana, Zedekiah won’t hurt me. If anything he seems determined to protect me. It’s the citizens of Bitterroot who may be in danger.”
Nana waved her hand and several crumbs of pie dough fell to the floor. “Hang them all. As long as he doesn’t harm you, they can deal with that demon themselves.” She walked to the cupboard and pulled out the berry picking basket. “Summer’s been gone for a few weeks, but I’ll bet there’s still enough late growing blackberries for a decent pie. And take the dog with you. He’s been under my feet all day.”
The sun was still brilliant and warm. I wore my slip-on shoes with every intention of taking them off and going barefoot once I’d reached my destination. I’d realized something after these two days at school in my clunky, lace-up boots; I walked much better when I wasn’t thinking about how I was walking. And I walked much better without cumbersome shoes on my feet.
Jasper had busied himself with a cornered lizard so I went to work searching the long row of blackberry bushes for untouched fruit. I happened upon a small gold mine, or black mine as it were, of plump berries hidden deep enough in the bush that birds and animals had not yet discovered them. I plucked the berries off and dropped them into the basket on my arm, stopping occasionally to pop one into my mouth. They weren’t as sweet as the midsummer berries, but they still exploded with juice in my mouth.
The dog growled behind me and I turned to scold him for scaring the wits out of a helpless lizard. Instead, I came face to face with Zedekiah. “You certainly appear in the strangest places,” I said. Jasper growled again then wagged his tail and ran off to chase some more helpless critters.
“You’re a sight to behold with that soft green dress, naked feet, and berry stained mouth.” Zedekiah’s brazen gaze surveyed me from head to foot. His blue eyes may have been dead for over a century but standing here in front of me he seemed anything but a ghost.
“You’re causing Nana and I a lot of trouble. The town isn’t happy about your return.”
Ignoring what I said, he lifted a berry and held it up to inspect it. Then he handed it to me. “Do me a favor, love, eat this berry and tell me how it tastes. Exactly. Don’t leave out anything. It’s been so long since I’ve tasted anything.”
There was a sadness now in his expression that made me comply. I pushed the berry between my lips, bit down on it, and swallowed. His gaze did not leave my mouth, and I felt a blush rise in my cheeks.
I closed my eyes to remember what I’d tasted. “First there is that anticipation of the burst of juice as you bite down on it. It starts sour and flows into a rich, fruity sweetness as it slides down your throat. Like a misty, warm summer afternoon settling in your mouth.”
When I opened my eyes, Zedekiah’s image had become blurry as if he was sinking back into a memory, a memory of enjoying the taste of summer fruit. Then his image sharpened again. “Tasting, touching, all things I miss.” His long icy fingers trailed down my forearm sending a shiver up my skin. I stepped back out of his reach. He looked hurt by it.
“Zedekiah, I’m not sure what it is you’re looking for, but I don’t have it. I know you don’t intend to harm me, but you are definitely making my life more difficult.”
I returned to my task of picking berries. After picking clean the berry trove I’d found, I walked further down the line of bushes. Some of the canes and branches had grown long and unruly during the long summer light. Soon they would shrink away and go dormant for the winter.
My ghostly companion followed. “It is lovely watching you walk barefoot. Those boots don’t suit
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