Tire Swing

“Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five, one hundred. Ready or not here I come.” The boy’s voice echoed in through the back screen door. Elizabeth listened as it mixed with the sounds of the deep summer evening; a dog barked across the road and cicadas sang in the trees.

Betsy finished scrubbing the plate she had in her hand gave it a quick dip in the rinse water and sat it in the dish rack. She walked to the back door feeling frustration and excitement all mixed together. Her chore of washing the dinner dishes was almost done and then she would be able to run out the back door, across the yard to the big oak tree and join in the game of kick the can.
“Michael Spencer you can’t wait five minutes for me to finish my chores?” she yelled into the night.

“Mom, who are you talking to?”
The question jarred Elizabeth back to the present. She looked down at the dish towel she clutched. Deep blue veins laced her age-spotted hands. Her knuckles were swollen and bent with arthritis.
“The warm evening breeze coming through that back door must have made me think of Michael Spencer.”
“Who’s Michael Spencer?”
“A neighbor boy.Every night after supper chores were done we’d all meet by the tire swing hanging from the oak tree in the Spencer’s yard and play games till our parents called us in. I thought I heard them playing out there.”
“Are you all right, mom?”
“Yes, Janey dear. Those old memories just swirl around me so thick sometimes that I get lost in them.”
“I’m going home now. Are you sure you will be alright?”
“I’ll just have a cup of tea and then go to bed don’t worry about me.”
Elizabeth waved her daughter off before she turned back to the kitchen to start the water for her tea. The black of night beckoned her through her back screen door.

Betsy heard the screen door slam behind her as she hurled herself down the back porch steps. Her breath came in ragged gasps and her chest felt a pain that was both sharp and burning. She stumbled through the night. She slipped her lithe body through the hole of the tire swing. She wrapped her arms around the rope and dug her toe into the grass. She slowly spun the tire until her toe could barely reach the grass as the rope twisted. She gave a push off and then felt herself start to spin, slowly at first and then faster and faster. She tipped her head back to feel the full effect. Her tears scattered to the wind.
The swing came to a jerking halt.
“Betsy what are you doing out here?”
“Go away, Michael Spencer, can’t you see I’m invisible.” She pushed against his chest and slid out of the swing.
“What are you talking about? I can see you clear as day.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to sit against the roots of the old oak tree.
“I know I’m invisible, so leave me alone.”
“What makes you think you’re invisible?” He draped his arm across her shoulders.
“I stood in front of my mom for over five minutes and she never heard or saw me. She hasn’t been seeing me at all lately. I must be invisible.”
“Are you daft? Your sister’s getting married in a few weeks and your brother just got out of the hospital looking like a prize fighter. My mom said he almost died because of his head injuries from that bike wreck.You’re the only thing your mom doesn’t have to worry about right now. I’d keep it that way if I were you.”
She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head against her knees.
“You make me sound little and selfish.” Her voice was muffled as she talked down into her lap.
“If the shoe fits. Come on I’ll walk you home.” He got to his feet and stretched out his hand to help her up. He walked with his arm across her shoulders bumping his hip into hers and trying to trip her till she laughed. “That’s better.”

Elizabeth stood against the back fence feeling confused. When did they fence off these yards? This used to be one big playground for the neighborhood kids. Now chain link separated all the houses. She realized she was thirsty. Hadn’t she been making a cup of tea? She turned back toward the house and the hedge brushed against her legs.

“Ready or not here I come.”
Betsy crouched down behind the hedge holding her breath. She could just see the tire swing which was home base through the gaps between the leaves. A dark shape passed in front of her on the other side of the bushes. Someone plopped down beside her.
“This is my spot Michael Spencer.”
“Sh! I know I saw you come hide here,” he whispered.
“Then get out,” she said through gritted teeth.”
“Not yet.”
The surprised washed through her as Michael moved his hand to the back of her head and his soft lips came down on hers. He pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. She had never felt anything like that in all her fourteen years. She lost her balance and her hand landed firmly in dog pooh. She felt the cool mass ooze through her fingers.
“Oh gross!”
“What?” The hurt look in Michael’s eyes was quickly replaced by laughter as she shoved her hand toward his face. He jumped up and ran toward base. Betsy got up slowly and walked back to her house wondering what that kiss could possibly mean and if she would ever get this smell off her hand.

Elizabeth fumbled with the spigot on the back side of the house. The water gushed out and wet her slippers. She needed a cup from the kitchen if she was to get a drink. No, she wanted tea. She turned off the spigot and looked up to see the hole in the screen on her bedroom window.

Half asleep Betsy heard the scratching on her bedroom screen.
“Betsy,” a whispered voice spoke outside her window.
“Michael Spencer what are you doing here in the middle of the night? You’ll wake my family.”
“Come out side.”
“No.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Betsy pulled on her slacks and exchanged her nightgown for a sweater. She tiptoed through the house to the back door and held her breath as she eased the screen door open just enough to let her through.
Michael grabbed her hand and the two of them ran to the old oak tree. He let go of her hand and took a running leap to grab the tire swing rope. Hand over hand he climbed until he swung himself up on the branch.
“I’m not following you up there,” Betsy whispered.
He swung off the branch and landed beside her. She was grudgingly impressed until he tackled her to the ground. The playful wrestling turned into embracing and kissing.
They lay under the tire swing. Betsy rested her head on his shoulder with her arm stretched across his chest. His arm was under her neck; his one hand played with her hair while the other kept the swing in gentle motion.
“Why must you go?” she asked.
“It’s my duty.”
“You’re only eighteen.”
“You’re seventeen, what does age have to do with anything."
“It’s so far away. What does it have to do with you and me?”
“The fighting is over there so you can be safe here.”
“But what about you?”
“I’ll keep myself safe so I can come back to you.” He rolled over and smoothered her doubts with kisses.

The phone was ringing. Elizabeth stood on the back porch looking into the kitchen through the screen. She fumbled with the door handle, shuffled into the kitchen, and caught up the phone on the last ring. She listened to the dial tone for a minute and then replaced it on it’s charger. She put the kettle on the stove and picked out the flavor of tea she wanted for tonight.
The phone rang again.
“Mom?”
“Yes, Janey.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, dear I’m just getting myself a cup of tea before bed.”
“Mrs. Larson called. She said she saw you wandering around in the backyard in the dark.”
“I thought I heard a noise.”
“Do you want me to come over, mom?”
“Janey, I’ll be in bed by the time you’d get over here.”
“I love you, mom. You know that don’t you.”
“I love you too, Janey dear.”
“Night, mom.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
The kettle whistled. Elizabeth poured the hot water into her cup and pushed the tea bag down to the bottom of the mug with her spoon. She closed her eyes while she waited for the tea to steep.

The ache was too much. Betsy pressed the pillow against her middle to try to ease the pain that ate a hole through her. She rose from her sweat drenched sheets and with her pillow clutched to her she stole into the night. She placed the pillow through the hole in the tire, eased herself across it and lay with her face looking at the grass beneath the swing. She pushed with her feet and felt the gentle sway while her weight pressed against the pain. “Missing in action, presumed dead.” Six weeks of basic training and at his first battle he had not survived the first day. Not positively dead, missing.

Elizabeth felt the tears cool on her cheeks.
“Olly, Olly, ox in free.”
The children were playing in the backyard again. Elizabeth walked to the back screen door.
She blinked her eyes in disbelief. He stood on the back porch washed in moon light. She watched that mischievous smile spread across his face.
“Michael Spencer where have you been hiding?” she asked.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Elizabeth.”

Janey found her mother the following morning. She was sitting at the kitchen table her head resting on her arm. Her tea was cool and untouched. A smile graced her cold lips.



(1680 words)

Temporary Crown

Dust glittered and sparkled like tiny fairies in the slim beam of light from the solar window. Mary Agnes Yvette Pritchard, lady-in-waiting, bathed her work in that sliver of light as she pushed the needle through the rolled hem of the napkin she was mending. No one sewed with tinier or more even stitches than Mary Agnes Yvette. Everyone called her May, a very simple plain name. Everyone except the Princess. She called her Mary Agnes which made it sound like she was angry with her all the time. Which she was, angry with Mary Agnes all the time. Of course to be fair the Princess was angry or irritated with everyone most of the time.
May felt a sigh well up in her chest and pushed it down till it only came out as a little bit of a heavy breath. Being a lady-in-waiting meant a lot of waiting. May waited in the solar as the Princess had a nice little coze with her mother and two aunts. The incompetence of servants, fashion faux pas of people of the court and any malicious gossip were always the favorite topics. There was never any talk of favorite poems, good books, classical music or anything elevating.

May waited behind a screen while the Princess bathed. She waited on a footstool as the Princess dressed. Because the Princess never seemed to stop talking or complaining May waited at the dinner table long after her own meal was consumed. She had once tried to secretly read a book while she waited only to hear, “Mary Agnes, are you saying prayers down there with you head bowed for so long.”

The Princess was round in places due to an excess of pastries and confections but it didn’t detract from her cherubic beauty. Golden hair, cornflower eyes and dimpled cheeks all combined to give the outward appearance of angelic sweetness. May practically disappeared in the Princess’ wake with her willowy shape, brown hair and eyes.

Strolling in the garden in the early morning, May walked with her arm linked with the Princess. May only half listened as the Princess complained about another fitting she had for a gown for an upcoming ball. The Princess was sixteen and would soon be married. May was one year older and expected never to marry. She had fallen in love once but the boy was only visiting a neighboring farm during the summer; he was several years older than her and hadn’t really noticed her mooning after him. Thirteen is not a very lovely age for young girls.

“There is something going on over that wall.” The Princess announced. “Give me a boost Mary Agnes.”

“Wizard Fitzwhiz is practicing with his new apprentice, your majesty.” May informed the Princess. May recognized the deep musical voice of Wizard Fitzwhiz and the less settled voice of his apprentice.

“I want to see.”

The Princess stomped her foot and so May laced her fingers together. The Princess stepped into her hands and grasped May’s shoulder and then the top of the stone fence. May straightened as best she could and leaned her shoulder against the wall to keep steady. Her face turned bright red, her breaths came in little gasps as she felt the shoe dig into her hands and her muscles strained to hold up the Princess’s considerable weight. The Princess swayed as she gathered berries off the vines climbing the wall. She almost pitched backwards as she flung berries over the fence.

A prepubescent voice squeaked. “Oh! You vixen!”

May’s hands flew into the air as the weight of the Princess suddenly vanished. May toppled over backwards. She looked up to see red fur and a white tipped fluffy tail disappear over the fence.

“Catch her you fool!”

“I’ve got her cornered.”

May listened to the scrambling on the other side of the wall.

“Oh she bit me.”

“The bag, the bag, get it over her.”

Then there was silence.

“Princess?” she whimpered.

May couldn’t believe what her senses told her. She searched the garden for the Princess to no avail. She checked the royal bedroom and the solar with no luck. She explored the dining hall and throne room without success.

She paced in front of the winding staircase that lead up to the Royal Wizard’s chambers. The stories of the horrors that went on in the Wizard’s tower sent shudders through May. Her heart drummed in her ears and thumped in her constricted chest. Courage enough to skitter up the stairs finally came as she heard the guards begin the searching cries for the Princess. A large oak door carved with constellations and demon faces filled the space at the top of the stairs. Her arm shook as she tentatively tapped on the door. The door swung open and Wizard Fitzwhiz dressed in his star speckled wizard’s cape and cap scowled down at her.

“You’ve come.” He said his face brightening with a smile at the same time as she said. “I’ve lost the Princess.”

“Well it’s very unfortunate.” He murmured ushering her into his chambers.

Books lay in heaps around the room and baskets filled with scrolls. Tables and chairs, two desks; one large and ornate and the other spindly and small, shelves and drawers, bottles and boxes of all shapes and sizes filled the room. The apprentice stood in a corner by a wire cage. A growl and yip drew her attention to the two black sparkling eyes staring at her through the bars.

“Accidental magic can often be the trickiest, you see.” The Wizard said moving over to the large desk where an ancient book lay open. “There are several complications.”

May walked across the room toward the apprentice and knelt beside the cage. The fox gave a soft whimper.

The Wizard picked up an ornately carved circlet off the desk and sprinkled a fine white powder over it. He pulled out his wand and spoke an incantation as he waved the wand over the crown.

“Give her the drink, Ustes.”

The apprentice handed May a goblet.

“Thank you, you are very kind.” May cradled the cup in her hands and took a sip of the sweet wine.

“Drink it all, my dear.” The Wizard invited.

May thought she had never tasted anything so delicious and easily finished the beverage. She looked down at the dregs in the cup and then back at the Wizard.

He placed the circlet on May’s head and pressed his thumb to the center of her forehead.

“Only you will remember a time when you were not the Princess.”

“What have you done?” May wailed.

“Just until we can reverse my foolish apprentice’s accident.”

The fox howled in the cage.



“This fabric is all wrong for your complexion, majesty. I don’t know how we could have thought it would suit.” The royal dressmaker put aside the fabric she had draped over May’s shoulder.

May’s head was spinning. The guards had run to her in relief as she descended the stairs from the Wizard’s chamber. The mistress of the day had informed her of the changes to her schedule since she had taken an unexpected leave of absence. They all treated her as if she was the Princess.

“A pale blue will look lovely with your russet hair.”

She tried not to get used to having things just as she wished. She had requested a musician in the solar as the women embroidered and chatted. She talked of books with the Royal Librarian. She rode everyday on the beautiful white mare the Princess had feared. In the beginning she checked with the wizard everyday. Then the guests began arriving for the Betrothal Ball. The Princess’ marriage had been arranged by court councilors, diplomats and of course the King. This would join two kingdoms and help insure peace.

The night before the Princes’ arrival May snuck away to find the Wizard.

“Soon,” he kept repeating.

The bleak look on the face of the apprentice did not bode well.

“It must be before the wedding.” She reminded him.

“Yes, yes. Soon I promise.”



The fan fair sounded. May took a quick breath and held it without realizing it. She watched the door of the throne room as the visiting Royal family stepped across the threshold. King, Queen and Prince looked up at the throne dais to see King, Queen and Princess. But May wasn’t the Princess and she feared the Prince would somehow realize it. His family stepped forward as she rose with the Princess’ parents.

The Prince was about the same height as his father, his hair was brown with flashes of gold through it framing a very pleasant face. May was almost as tall as the King and towered over the pleasingly plump, platinum headed Queen. No one seeing the three of them together would have naturally assumed they were family. Now they were all bowing and shaking hands. May once again held her breath as the Prince taking her offered hand bowed over it and pressed a gentle kiss to her knuckle. He tipped his head up to look into her eyes with his lips still on her hand and he winked. May gasped.

It was him. The boy from four summers ago. The one she had followed relentlessly, baiting his hook while he fished in the stream, galloping their horses across the meadow and watching him swim in the pond while she made flower chains. The boy she had given her heart to.

She lived in a daze as he whispered shared memories in her ear at dinner. She felt her heart soar as he danced her around the ballroom remembering the gangly youth and marveling at the radiant beauty she had become. She sighed when he stole a kiss from her as they walked under the stars in the garden. She fell asleep smiling as the day replayed itself.

May woke. Tears lept to her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. He was not her Prince. Today or tomorrow the spell would be broken and she would return to being Mary Agnes Yvette Pritchard lady-in-waiting. The Princess would not require her to go with her to her new home,surely. May could become lady-in-waiting to the Queen or she could go home. Perhaps the Wizard could provide her with a potion.

She threw her robe around her shoulders and ran from her room. Down the hall past startled servants and up the winding stairs. She beat her fists against the great oak door. The demon faces mocked her. When there was no answer she pushed with all her might against the door and felt it slowly give way. She stepped into an empty room.

Gone were the stacks of books, baskets of scrolls,bottles, boxes desks and chairs. Not a stray slip of paper or dust mite remained. Gone were the Wizard and his apprentice. Gone was the wire cage with the dark eyed vixen.

May fell to her knees and pressed her hands to her lips. She let out a hiccuped sob that quickly turned into a strangled laugh.

(1850 words)