When I first caught sight of Matthew, I knew he would be the one, even though he was a stranger here. He was but a lad with fiery red hair and bright eyes. He had the look of a lost kitten, but he had the makings of a finer helmsman then Jerrold, may he rest in peace.
----Inzl Kett
Matthew Ketchings found himself gazing into an enormous eye with moss green lashes. The eye itself was the same shade of green as a traffic light. It was so big it was like gazing into a window. The eye blinked. He standing in some kind of basket suspended under a creaking wood deck before that eye. The eye was surrounded by bark. Below him was foliage. The mat of foliage was sitting on water. Where was he? The whinny of a horse jerked him from the strange dream. He stood up from the Black Oak where he had propped himself to nap. The smell of drying horse dung and dust bit at his nose. Matt dusted off his jeans. This was the third dream he had about the strange half tree half ship thing. Was it a tree with a ship's deck or a ship that grew into a tree again? Matthew picked up his shovel and walked back to the barn.
The July afternoon was its usual hot and very dry. Matthew scooped a pile of horse dung outside the barn and dropped it in a wheel barrow when he heard the sound of a cow bell tinkling. His nose was dry and felt like it was full of the Sierra Foot Hills dust. The cow bell dinged again. Matthew turned his strawberry blond head, cropped to an even inch long. He scanned the grove of California black Oaks with his bright blue eyes. He could not see the legs or body of a cow. Just the trunks of Oaks.
Jeb Smithsen stepped out of the barn. He was an older man with his face covered in stubble. “Harvey's cow must be out again”.
“Let Harvey chase her down,” Matthew retorted as he worked his way around to the north side of the stables. He stopped at the out house. The floor and the stool were littered with elongated acorns. “Who's been tossing acorns in the outhouse?” Jeb rasped. “Is this your idea of a joke?”
Matthew looked up from his work “Ask Dolly. She's been the one talking about walking trees”.
Matthew was hot, sweaty and smelly by the time he went to his cabin. He was glad it had a full bathroom and a kitchen. He peeled off his filthy dusty clothes and dove into the shower. He thought he heard the sound of a bell while he was in there. Just his imagination. He soaped up, rinsed then turned the showered off. He toweled dry, scrubbing his thick short cropped hair. He donned some fresh jeans and a T shirt afterward. There was that bell dinging outside the cabin. Matthew opened the door. The cabin was facing North. There were odd tracks in the dusty dirt like none he had seen before. He could not make out what kind of foot/leg made them. They looked more like they were made by sticks. There was the bell dinging in the line of black Oaks . One of them was red—Odd.
Matthew stepped back inside to make himself a dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Over the counter was a window where the wind blew in and stirred the red gingham drapes. The late afternoon sun shone in on the green tile counter. Matthew suddenly heard the sound of rustling leaves and the cow bell as red Oak leaves blocked out the sun turning the kitchen red. Matthew looked out the window to see the largest pair of amber 'deer' eyes gazing back at him—only they were staring out of barklike hide. The jar of strawberry jam slipped out of his hand and cracked on the counter top.
Matthew ran and grabbed his 30-06 off the wall and shoved the muzzle out the window. The eyes were gone. The sun beamed in on the counter as before. He could still hear the cow bell. Matthew set the gun down and tried to still his pounding heart. “I've been reading too many fairy tales”. Matthew picked up the cracked jar and tossed it in the waste basket. He pulled a grape jam jar out of the cup board and finished slathering on jam. He assembled his routine two sandwiches and poured himself a glass of milk. He settled down to finish dinner before hunting down that 'cow'.
He decided he would take the rifle. If it was indeed just a cow, he would return it to Harvey. If it was something else, he would shoot it and stuff it. Maybe it was just an elk? But those tracks? Matthew stewed as he ate his sandwiches and drank his milk.
The year was 1966. Even then the turquoise Chevrolet Impala parked outside the cabin was getting old. Matthew could not afford a new car. Shoveling dung and brushing horses just didn't pay that well. Matthew didn't have high enough grades in high school to get a scholarship. What school looked at a country bumpkin from Posey California anyways? He even looked the part with his short cropped hair, innocent face and freckles. He was a clean cut boy who read the Bible before he started his day. Still Matthew had his inventive streak. He wanted to be an engineer. He figured if he shoveled enough dung, he could save money to go to college and get an engineering degree.
Matthew set his glass in the sink and grabbed his rifle. He made sure it was loaded. He stepped out the door and listened for the cow bell. Whatever it was it was wearing a bell. Why a bell? Sure enough he heard the dinging of the bell to the south in the Black Oak. He spotted some red through the trees. He looked to the North. That red 'tree' was gone.
Matthew started to track the dinging sound, not taking his eyes off the red foliage. It didn't seem to be moving as he drew closer. He finally burst out into a clearing in the grove of black Oak. There stood the very red Oak. Oddly there was a saddle strapped to a thick limb that came out at a right angle to its trunk. The canopy was very dense as if it came from a moist clime. The top of the canopy was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It appeared to be solid and round. It was covered in even fibers rather than leaves. The effect was very shiny and bright in the sun. It had a shine ring around the top of its crown. There was a gap between the canopy and another band of foliage that clothed its upper trunk. This was where the creature's large golden eye was. It turned slowly to face Matthew who jammed his 30-06 in its face. All he could see were eyes, leaf brows and part of a nose. A barky hand reached up to pull the foliage down revealing a nose, mouth and chin that were quite human looking. The face was expressive. It gave a puppy dog look. Matthew lowered his rifle. “I can't shoot you. I also can't let Jeb see you either. First things first. We have to get that bell off of you”.
Matthew reached up to touch where the cow bell hung. The creature didn't protest as Matthew unhooked the cowbell. “Now we have to hide you. That red fuzz ball crown makes you shine like a beacon. Can you just hide in the woods until I figure out what to do with you?” Matthew turn to go back to his cabin, the odd tree-creature started to follow him like a puppy. Matthew clutched his head. “Argh! You must be lost. He grabbed a branch and guided it to the barn a few yards from his cabin. There he kept his shovels and wheel barrows. There was one empty stall. “You can sleep there until we figure out how to get you back to your owner. Obviously somebody owns you. You have a saddle and a bell”. Matthew started to remove the saddle. He noticed the sweet cinnamon smell of the creature. “I have come up with a name for you if I am going to keep you for a while. I don't even know if you are male or female?”
A head of blonde curly hair popped up from behind the stall wall. It was Dolly Smithsen. “It's female for sure. I saw her go ...”
“Let's leave that one alone,” Mathew said in disgust. “You're not supposed to be here. And don't breathe a word about her to your Grandpa”.
“Well we should name her. I was thinking something along the lines of Fuzz Ball because her crown is a fuzzy ball. Or how about Barky. Her hide is awfully rough. Or maybe Rooty. She doesn't have legs”.
Both looked down at the creature's flare of roots. It indeed was the 'foot' of a tree with roots going off in different directions. Matthew understood the snaky stick tracks.
“Oh I got it- Limbsie after that fat limb she has in the back!” Dolly said enthusiastically.
The creature did not look very pleased with any of Dolly's suggestions. It was as if she understood the discussion.
“What if she has her own name?” Matthew asked.
“Until she starts talking or a master walks out of the woodwork we have to call her something other than just Hey Tree”.
Matthew studied her for a moment. “How about Bambi—after the deer in the movie we saw at the drive in last week? She does have big beautiful eyes and she is rather regal looking. Just look at the limbs above her brow. Don't they remind you of antlers?”
“What kind of name is Bambi? She's a tree for crying out loud!” Dolly protested.
“She may not be a tree,” Matthew replied. "Trees don't run, have eyes or eat. She has a mouth. She probably eats and you started to mention she does others things. You have to eat and drink to do that too”.
As if to drive home Matthew's point the Tree creature grabbed a clump of alfalfa and shoved it in her mouth. She started to chew. A branch on her back limb swatted away a fly. Matthew watched her branch ears flick.
“Bambi it is,” Matthew said resolutely.
Bambi settled down into her stall picking clumps of alfalfa out of the bale with her hand and shoving them into her mouth. He could hear her large molars grinding it down.
Probably not as nice as what you are used to eating?” Matthew asked as Dolly started to leave the barn. Matthew turned to her. “Remember, not a word to your Grandpa about Bambi”.
Matthew walked back to his cabin with his rifle to listen to the radio. It was the evening Bible hour. He would have a chance to collect his thoughts as to what to do about Bambi. How would he get her back to her owner? Obviously somebody owned her. She had a bell and a saddle.
When Matthew entered the cabin, Dolly was there sitting at the table. Matthew set the 30-06 back on it wall rack. “What are you doing in here?”
“Why don't you just shoot it?” Dolly said bluntly.
“Shoot what?” Matthew queried.
“Bambi—You would be quite famous for landing a trophy like that. You would be famous in Boone and Crockett for shooting the first What's It's. I mean look at it. It looks like it has a big rack under those leaves. Why not shoot it?”
“Because I am not even sure it's an animal. It seems too human. Have you seen how expressive that face is? Its hands are just like ours. Those acorns in the outhouse probably came from it. It used the outhouse. Beside, she might belong to somebody or work for somebody. It would be wrong to shoot her”.
“She might be an alien trying to steal something,” Dolly said. “I say shoot her”.
“If she's an alien, shooting her would get others mad at us. Let try to get her back home. Remember keep your mouth shut about this”.
Sleep that night was fitful. Matthew didn't trust Dolly. Telling her three times probably didn't sink in. She was only 15—that age where a kid thought she knew it all. To Matthew she was a spoiled brat.
Matthew finally slept to images of Dolly leering in his face saying shoot it. The image changed to the time in Bible class where Dolly flattened her rump against the pew and a vulgar sound ensued. The teacher stopped and all eyes were on Matthew. These distressing images were replaced by a vivid scene. He was again on that half ship half tree thing with the wind in his face. Perched on the railing of the deck was an enormous Barn Owl.
A commotion outside woke Matthew up. He ran to the window. Dolly was arguing with her grandfather. “Matt had a Tree thing in his barn last night – like one of the ones I've seen before,” she insisted.
“This is the latest of your wild stories Dolly,” Jeb said. “I haven't forgotten
the Geyser Monster that comes out of a hole in the ground, Dolly—or how about your Elk people that ride in trees?” Jeb was walking away.
Matthew was sliding into his jeans. He didn't have time to get into his shirt. He could still feel the cold bite of the early morning mountain air. He raced behind the barn and peered into the window. Bambi was gone. Her saddle and bell still hung on the hooks. He heard a rustle. Something tapped him on the back of the head. He turned. It was Bambi. She put a finger to her lips in a gesture of silence. Her golden eyes beamed with intelligence. It was then that Matthew knew she was not an animal. She waited until Jeb and Dolly were gone.
Matthew looked up at her quizzically. “Elk people who ride in trees? Odd coincidence”.
Bambi led Matthew back into the barn. Her voice was low pitched and soft. “Your cousin does not lie. She's has been having visions. My master is what your cousin describes”.
“She is such a brat,” Matthew said. “Why would God entrust her with such visions?”
“She is a child,” The creature said. “Her family around her are not meant to understand what she sees. Just her—and you”.
Matthew gazed at the Oak-thing. “Anyways what is your real name?”
“My real name is Oak Leaf, though I do like the name Bambi—A deer with pretty eyes. Seems more complimentary than just an oak leaf. You can still call me that”.
“So how did you end up here?”
Oak Leaf twirled a branch. “Not sure how God gets me here. I didn't land here in some kind of vessel”, she looked toward the Impala. “He will take me back when my job here is finished. I have a husband and family back home. So tell me a little about yourself and your cousin”.
“I am Matthew Ketchings—an adult on my own. I lost both my folks last year in a plane piloted by Dolly's father. Dolly's mother works in a tavern in Fresno. Jeb gets her in the Summer. Her mother Sybil gets her during the school year. She hates living with her mother. That might explain why she is the way she is”.
----Inzl Kett
Matthew Ketchings found himself gazing into an enormous eye with moss green lashes. The eye itself was the same shade of green as a traffic light. It was so big it was like gazing into a window. The eye blinked. He standing in some kind of basket suspended under a creaking wood deck before that eye. The eye was surrounded by bark. Below him was foliage. The mat of foliage was sitting on water. Where was he? The whinny of a horse jerked him from the strange dream. He stood up from the Black Oak where he had propped himself to nap. The smell of drying horse dung and dust bit at his nose. Matt dusted off his jeans. This was the third dream he had about the strange half tree half ship thing. Was it a tree with a ship's deck or a ship that grew into a tree again? Matthew picked up his shovel and walked back to the barn.
The July afternoon was its usual hot and very dry. Matthew scooped a pile of horse dung outside the barn and dropped it in a wheel barrow when he heard the sound of a cow bell tinkling. His nose was dry and felt like it was full of the Sierra Foot Hills dust. The cow bell dinged again. Matthew turned his strawberry blond head, cropped to an even inch long. He scanned the grove of California black Oaks with his bright blue eyes. He could not see the legs or body of a cow. Just the trunks of Oaks.
Jeb Smithsen stepped out of the barn. He was an older man with his face covered in stubble. “Harvey's cow must be out again”.
“Let Harvey chase her down,” Matthew retorted as he worked his way around to the north side of the stables. He stopped at the out house. The floor and the stool were littered with elongated acorns. “Who's been tossing acorns in the outhouse?” Jeb rasped. “Is this your idea of a joke?”
Matthew looked up from his work “Ask Dolly. She's been the one talking about walking trees”.
Matthew was hot, sweaty and smelly by the time he went to his cabin. He was glad it had a full bathroom and a kitchen. He peeled off his filthy dusty clothes and dove into the shower. He thought he heard the sound of a bell while he was in there. Just his imagination. He soaped up, rinsed then turned the showered off. He toweled dry, scrubbing his thick short cropped hair. He donned some fresh jeans and a T shirt afterward. There was that bell dinging outside the cabin. Matthew opened the door. The cabin was facing North. There were odd tracks in the dusty dirt like none he had seen before. He could not make out what kind of foot/leg made them. They looked more like they were made by sticks. There was the bell dinging in the line of black Oaks . One of them was red—Odd.
Matthew stepped back inside to make himself a dinner of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Over the counter was a window where the wind blew in and stirred the red gingham drapes. The late afternoon sun shone in on the green tile counter. Matthew suddenly heard the sound of rustling leaves and the cow bell as red Oak leaves blocked out the sun turning the kitchen red. Matthew looked out the window to see the largest pair of amber 'deer' eyes gazing back at him—only they were staring out of barklike hide. The jar of strawberry jam slipped out of his hand and cracked on the counter top.
Matthew ran and grabbed his 30-06 off the wall and shoved the muzzle out the window. The eyes were gone. The sun beamed in on the counter as before. He could still hear the cow bell. Matthew set the gun down and tried to still his pounding heart. “I've been reading too many fairy tales”. Matthew picked up the cracked jar and tossed it in the waste basket. He pulled a grape jam jar out of the cup board and finished slathering on jam. He assembled his routine two sandwiches and poured himself a glass of milk. He settled down to finish dinner before hunting down that 'cow'.
He decided he would take the rifle. If it was indeed just a cow, he would return it to Harvey. If it was something else, he would shoot it and stuff it. Maybe it was just an elk? But those tracks? Matthew stewed as he ate his sandwiches and drank his milk.
The year was 1966. Even then the turquoise Chevrolet Impala parked outside the cabin was getting old. Matthew could not afford a new car. Shoveling dung and brushing horses just didn't pay that well. Matthew didn't have high enough grades in high school to get a scholarship. What school looked at a country bumpkin from Posey California anyways? He even looked the part with his short cropped hair, innocent face and freckles. He was a clean cut boy who read the Bible before he started his day. Still Matthew had his inventive streak. He wanted to be an engineer. He figured if he shoveled enough dung, he could save money to go to college and get an engineering degree.
Matthew set his glass in the sink and grabbed his rifle. He made sure it was loaded. He stepped out the door and listened for the cow bell. Whatever it was it was wearing a bell. Why a bell? Sure enough he heard the dinging of the bell to the south in the Black Oak. He spotted some red through the trees. He looked to the North. That red 'tree' was gone.
Matthew started to track the dinging sound, not taking his eyes off the red foliage. It didn't seem to be moving as he drew closer. He finally burst out into a clearing in the grove of black Oak. There stood the very red Oak. Oddly there was a saddle strapped to a thick limb that came out at a right angle to its trunk. The canopy was very dense as if it came from a moist clime. The top of the canopy was unlike anything he had ever seen before. It appeared to be solid and round. It was covered in even fibers rather than leaves. The effect was very shiny and bright in the sun. It had a shine ring around the top of its crown. There was a gap between the canopy and another band of foliage that clothed its upper trunk. This was where the creature's large golden eye was. It turned slowly to face Matthew who jammed his 30-06 in its face. All he could see were eyes, leaf brows and part of a nose. A barky hand reached up to pull the foliage down revealing a nose, mouth and chin that were quite human looking. The face was expressive. It gave a puppy dog look. Matthew lowered his rifle. “I can't shoot you. I also can't let Jeb see you either. First things first. We have to get that bell off of you”.
Matthew reached up to touch where the cow bell hung. The creature didn't protest as Matthew unhooked the cowbell. “Now we have to hide you. That red fuzz ball crown makes you shine like a beacon. Can you just hide in the woods until I figure out what to do with you?” Matthew turn to go back to his cabin, the odd tree-creature started to follow him like a puppy. Matthew clutched his head. “Argh! You must be lost. He grabbed a branch and guided it to the barn a few yards from his cabin. There he kept his shovels and wheel barrows. There was one empty stall. “You can sleep there until we figure out how to get you back to your owner. Obviously somebody owns you. You have a saddle and a bell”. Matthew started to remove the saddle. He noticed the sweet cinnamon smell of the creature. “I have come up with a name for you if I am going to keep you for a while. I don't even know if you are male or female?”
A head of blonde curly hair popped up from behind the stall wall. It was Dolly Smithsen. “It's female for sure. I saw her go ...”
“Let's leave that one alone,” Mathew said in disgust. “You're not supposed to be here. And don't breathe a word about her to your Grandpa”.
“Well we should name her. I was thinking something along the lines of Fuzz Ball because her crown is a fuzzy ball. Or how about Barky. Her hide is awfully rough. Or maybe Rooty. She doesn't have legs”.
Both looked down at the creature's flare of roots. It indeed was the 'foot' of a tree with roots going off in different directions. Matthew understood the snaky stick tracks.
“Oh I got it- Limbsie after that fat limb she has in the back!” Dolly said enthusiastically.
The creature did not look very pleased with any of Dolly's suggestions. It was as if she understood the discussion.
“What if she has her own name?” Matthew asked.
“Until she starts talking or a master walks out of the woodwork we have to call her something other than just Hey Tree”.
Matthew studied her for a moment. “How about Bambi—after the deer in the movie we saw at the drive in last week? She does have big beautiful eyes and she is rather regal looking. Just look at the limbs above her brow. Don't they remind you of antlers?”
“What kind of name is Bambi? She's a tree for crying out loud!” Dolly protested.
“She may not be a tree,” Matthew replied. "Trees don't run, have eyes or eat. She has a mouth. She probably eats and you started to mention she does others things. You have to eat and drink to do that too”.
As if to drive home Matthew's point the Tree creature grabbed a clump of alfalfa and shoved it in her mouth. She started to chew. A branch on her back limb swatted away a fly. Matthew watched her branch ears flick.
“Bambi it is,” Matthew said resolutely.
Bambi settled down into her stall picking clumps of alfalfa out of the bale with her hand and shoving them into her mouth. He could hear her large molars grinding it down.
Probably not as nice as what you are used to eating?” Matthew asked as Dolly started to leave the barn. Matthew turned to her. “Remember, not a word to your Grandpa about Bambi”.
Matthew walked back to his cabin with his rifle to listen to the radio. It was the evening Bible hour. He would have a chance to collect his thoughts as to what to do about Bambi. How would he get her back to her owner? Obviously somebody owned her. She had a bell and a saddle.
When Matthew entered the cabin, Dolly was there sitting at the table. Matthew set the 30-06 back on it wall rack. “What are you doing in here?”
“Why don't you just shoot it?” Dolly said bluntly.
“Shoot what?” Matthew queried.
“Bambi—You would be quite famous for landing a trophy like that. You would be famous in Boone and Crockett for shooting the first What's It's. I mean look at it. It looks like it has a big rack under those leaves. Why not shoot it?”
“Because I am not even sure it's an animal. It seems too human. Have you seen how expressive that face is? Its hands are just like ours. Those acorns in the outhouse probably came from it. It used the outhouse. Beside, she might belong to somebody or work for somebody. It would be wrong to shoot her”.
“She might be an alien trying to steal something,” Dolly said. “I say shoot her”.
“If she's an alien, shooting her would get others mad at us. Let try to get her back home. Remember keep your mouth shut about this”.
Sleep that night was fitful. Matthew didn't trust Dolly. Telling her three times probably didn't sink in. She was only 15—that age where a kid thought she knew it all. To Matthew she was a spoiled brat.
Matthew finally slept to images of Dolly leering in his face saying shoot it. The image changed to the time in Bible class where Dolly flattened her rump against the pew and a vulgar sound ensued. The teacher stopped and all eyes were on Matthew. These distressing images were replaced by a vivid scene. He was again on that half ship half tree thing with the wind in his face. Perched on the railing of the deck was an enormous Barn Owl.
A commotion outside woke Matthew up. He ran to the window. Dolly was arguing with her grandfather. “Matt had a Tree thing in his barn last night – like one of the ones I've seen before,” she insisted.
“This is the latest of your wild stories Dolly,” Jeb said. “I haven't forgotten
the Geyser Monster that comes out of a hole in the ground, Dolly—or how about your Elk people that ride in trees?” Jeb was walking away.
Matthew was sliding into his jeans. He didn't have time to get into his shirt. He could still feel the cold bite of the early morning mountain air. He raced behind the barn and peered into the window. Bambi was gone. Her saddle and bell still hung on the hooks. He heard a rustle. Something tapped him on the back of the head. He turned. It was Bambi. She put a finger to her lips in a gesture of silence. Her golden eyes beamed with intelligence. It was then that Matthew knew she was not an animal. She waited until Jeb and Dolly were gone.
Matthew looked up at her quizzically. “Elk people who ride in trees? Odd coincidence”.
Bambi led Matthew back into the barn. Her voice was low pitched and soft. “Your cousin does not lie. She's has been having visions. My master is what your cousin describes”.
“She is such a brat,” Matthew said. “Why would God entrust her with such visions?”
“She is a child,” The creature said. “Her family around her are not meant to understand what she sees. Just her—and you”.
Matthew gazed at the Oak-thing. “Anyways what is your real name?”
“My real name is Oak Leaf, though I do like the name Bambi—A deer with pretty eyes. Seems more complimentary than just an oak leaf. You can still call me that”.
“So how did you end up here?”
Oak Leaf twirled a branch. “Not sure how God gets me here. I didn't land here in some kind of vessel”, she looked toward the Impala. “He will take me back when my job here is finished. I have a husband and family back home. So tell me a little about yourself and your cousin”.
“I am Matthew Ketchings—an adult on my own. I lost both my folks last year in a plane piloted by Dolly's father. Dolly's mother works in a tavern in Fresno. Jeb gets her in the Summer. Her mother Sybil gets her during the school year. She hates living with her mother. That might explain why she is the way she is”.
