Jolly, Jolly Sixpence

(8) — Originally published in Pangolin Papers, Fall, 2003

Continued from page (7)

     He pushed the chainsaw’s sprocketed blade against the cut. He’d wasted time. Should have cut with the chainsaw in the first place. He dragged the teeth and chain against the wound in the tree and grasped the pull-cord.
     A shaft of light from the porch fell across the lawn. The front door was open. A small figure stood inside the storm door. Joey in his pajamas, peering into the darkness. Doris came into the doorway behind him. They opened the storm door.
     “See?” Doris said. “There’s no one out here.”
     The tall man stood beside Doris. “What’s the matter?”
    “Joey thought he saw something.”
     Riley crouched beneath the blossom-covered tentacles and held his breath.
    “Okay, sweetie?” Doris said to Joey.
     She let the storm door close, took the man’s hand, and disappeared. Joey frowned into the night.
    Riley kept his eyes on his son. The image of the boy in the doorway went blurry. Riley was crying. With as little motion as possible, he slid his free hand into the knapsack and felt for Joey’s flashlight. His finger snagged on the bow saw. He felt blood and pitch on the ribbon and flashlight’s slick plastic casing as he pulled it from the knapsack. He dropped it silently to the ground and put his finger in his mouth. The metallic taste of blood dulled the flavor of tree sap.
     Still watching the tear-smudged figure in the lighted doorway, Riley yanked the chainsaw pull-cord. The saw roared to life and shattered the silence. He trained the blade against the cut in the trunk. The chain sliced instantly through it. Riley switched the saw off. The Milligan’s dog was yelping hysterically. The tree trembled, leaned, and began a graceful descent. It gained speed as it fell and bounced when it hit the lawn, its arms fluttering.
     Joey screamed.
     Riley locked his throat and held the hurt in. He felt for the bandana with his free hand and mopped his eyes until he could see. With the knapsack over his shoulder, he picked up the chainsaw, and walked across the sidewalk. The dog was going crazy.

Continued ...

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