Part 2:
The witch who'd plagued us?
Dresda Kul-Vayn?
She was gone.
And we ... we still existed.
No matter how agitated, unwell and irked we all may be.
The time had come to take action.
To put our feelings of failure to rest.
We reconvened with the rest our heroic posse.
Gen and Colin graciously joining us for dinner.
A winter storm was imminent, but none of us cared.
We were heading downtown.
Heading downtown for a meal at Samsam Korean Chicken.
Dresda Kul-Vayn?
She was gone.
And we ... we still existed.
No matter how agitated, unwell and irked we all may be.
The time had come to take action.
To put our feelings of failure to rest.
We reconvened with the rest our heroic posse.
Gen and Colin graciously joining us for dinner.
A winter storm was imminent, but none of us cared.
We were heading downtown.
Heading downtown for a meal at Samsam Korean Chicken.
It was a semi-regular hangout for Rick and I.
Rick and I, plus our lion companion.
They knew Dale there, he'd visited many times and had (silently) made friends with the staff.
A place of relaxation and happiness.
Food at Samsam rated excellent for every dish, every meal.
The only worry?
The impending snowstorm!
Forecasts all over town were dire.
Flakes had already started to fall as we departed.
But we needed a night out.
Needed to heal.
And so we defied the weather gods (my number one sin!) and went to Samsam for food and fellowship.
Even with flurries mounting.
Rick and I, plus our lion companion.
They knew Dale there, he'd visited many times and had (silently) made friends with the staff.
A place of relaxation and happiness.
Food at Samsam rated excellent for every dish, every meal.
The only worry?
The impending snowstorm!
Forecasts all over town were dire.
Flakes had already started to fall as we departed.
But we needed a night out.
Needed to heal.
And so we defied the weather gods (my number one sin!) and went to Samsam for food and fellowship.
Even with flurries mounting.
We were led to our table, scanned the menus and placed orders.
The waitress soon walked away with our selections.
And now ... we all wondered.
Who would go first?
Who would give voice to the angst the hung heavy in the air.
Dale pursed his lips and frowned.
“It’s funny,” he announced. “It’s funny, because ... I keep thinking about Nizzik.”
The table sat at attention.
“He scared you that badly?” Rick asked.
“No. Something different. It’s the easy way Elena turned him to a bird.”
“What do you mean?”
“When she changed him? She took his voice. Took away his voice, just like that!"
“So?" Colin asked. "So what?"
“Now he can’t even talk. Can't communicate! She could leave him in the cold or let him starve and he couldn’t tell anyone.”
“Elena wouldn’t do that. She’s trying to rehabilitate him.”
“Sure. And I know he was awful, he deserves it. But still, no voice? I can’t imagine anything worse.”
“Really?”
“If that ever happened to me, you’d get it back, right? My voice?”
He was starting to look a little desperate.
The waitress soon walked away with our selections.
And now ... we all wondered.
Who would go first?
Who would give voice to the angst the hung heavy in the air.
Dale pursed his lips and frowned.
“It’s funny,” he announced. “It’s funny, because ... I keep thinking about Nizzik.”
The table sat at attention.
“He scared you that badly?” Rick asked.
“No. Something different. It’s the easy way Elena turned him to a bird.”
“What do you mean?”
“When she changed him? She took his voice. Took away his voice, just like that!"
“So?" Colin asked. "So what?"
“Now he can’t even talk. Can't communicate! She could leave him in the cold or let him starve and he couldn’t tell anyone.”
“Elena wouldn’t do that. She’s trying to rehabilitate him.”
“Sure. And I know he was awful, he deserves it. But still, no voice? I can’t imagine anything worse.”
“Really?”
“If that ever happened to me, you’d get it back, right? My voice?”
He was starting to look a little desperate.
“Count on it,” Rick told him. “If someone takes your voice, I’ll get it back for you. I’ll get it back, or give you my own.”
“Me too," I said.
The others nodded in agreement.
His furry head smiled in appreciation.
“Thanks," Dale said. “I need my voice."
“You three haven’t been the same in weeks. Colin said. “What’s wrong, my friends? We won!”
“Wasn’t really our finest moment. Candace DeMize? So stupid. I fell for that like a dog. You know? On a fake-the-throw.”
“There’s no way you could have known,” I said.
And I meant it.
“Josephine’s right. Errors happen. You made up for it. You joined the fight and we triumphed.”
“Triumphed? Colin, you were there. I screamed! C’s jaws were on me … and I screamed in fear.”
“That was the prefect strategy. You played your part well. Made it easier for me to blindside him.”
My brother seemed to shrink.
When he next spoke, it was in a tone I’d never heard.
Flat.
Broken.
“It wasn’t a strategy. I screamed. I’m a coward.”
“You’re not a coward,” Dale roared. “You’re my best friend.”
“You are never a coward, Hatcher."
“You’re my brother,” I said. “And you are amazing.”
Rick was so upset he stood up, almost pacing upon the floor.
“I’m done with starting my own business. Giving up that dream. I’m not strong enough. Not now.”
“Me too," I said.
The others nodded in agreement.
His furry head smiled in appreciation.
“Thanks," Dale said. “I need my voice."
“You three haven’t been the same in weeks. Colin said. “What’s wrong, my friends? We won!”
“Wasn’t really our finest moment. Candace DeMize? So stupid. I fell for that like a dog. You know? On a fake-the-throw.”
“There’s no way you could have known,” I said.
And I meant it.
“Josephine’s right. Errors happen. You made up for it. You joined the fight and we triumphed.”
“Triumphed? Colin, you were there. I screamed! C’s jaws were on me … and I screamed in fear.”
“That was the prefect strategy. You played your part well. Made it easier for me to blindside him.”
My brother seemed to shrink.
When he next spoke, it was in a tone I’d never heard.
Flat.
Broken.
“It wasn’t a strategy. I screamed. I’m a coward.”
“You’re not a coward,” Dale roared. “You’re my best friend.”
“You are never a coward, Hatcher."
“You’re my brother,” I said. “And you are amazing.”
Rick was so upset he stood up, almost pacing upon the floor.
“I’m done with starting my own business. Giving up that dream. I’m not strong enough. Not now.”
“You just need to learn from it, bro. Sit back down."
“Yeah, right," he said, slumping into his seat.
“Well, that’s what I’ve done.”
“How so?” Gen asked.
“My parents will never let me go to weather college. Never. They will win."
“I don’t follow,” Dale said.
“They won’t let me pursue my dream. So why fight them? Why fight a losing battle?”
“And?" Colin wondered.
“I’ll just play the good daughter. And all the while, I’ll be working behind the scenes. Like the witch did to us.”
“You're taking the wrong lessons from all of this,” Rick told me.
“Not at all. I’ve learned. I’ll win.”
“Trickery isn't the answer. Family deserves more."
“I thought my life was unlimited. A blank canvas."
“It is," Rick answered.
“You are awesome," Gen added.
“Blank canvas? Maybe a bland canvas. One with nothing to say."
“Josephine. You beat that witch the first time. I was there. You saved my life."
“Did I, Dale? Or did I just got lucky?"
“I don't care. You saved both our lives. And your canvas is bold and unlimited."
“You ... you mean it?"
“We all do," Rick said. “Embrace your canvas. The one you were born to paint."
“Yeah, right," he said, slumping into his seat.
“Well, that’s what I’ve done.”
“How so?” Gen asked.
“My parents will never let me go to weather college. Never. They will win."
“I don’t follow,” Dale said.
“They won’t let me pursue my dream. So why fight them? Why fight a losing battle?”
“And?" Colin wondered.
“I’ll just play the good daughter. And all the while, I’ll be working behind the scenes. Like the witch did to us.”
“You're taking the wrong lessons from all of this,” Rick told me.
“Not at all. I’ve learned. I’ll win.”
“Trickery isn't the answer. Family deserves more."
“I thought my life was unlimited. A blank canvas."
“It is," Rick answered.
“You are awesome," Gen added.
“Blank canvas? Maybe a bland canvas. One with nothing to say."
“Josephine. You beat that witch the first time. I was there. You saved my life."
“Did I, Dale? Or did I just got lucky?"
“I don't care. You saved both our lives. And your canvas is bold and unlimited."
“You ... you mean it?"
“We all do," Rick said. “Embrace your canvas. The one you were born to paint."
