Chapter Three

Veins of Life

        The doctor clutched Temple's hand hard as the two motored their way in the doctor's big black Cadillac to Mrs. Veins. Temple had no clue who Mrs. Veins was; he'd never heard the name before.

  Immediately, Temple disliked the doctor. Not only were his hands calloused and rough, but he glared at Temple, thru his thick glasses in an awkward way making Temple feel quite uncomfortable and small. Only once he spoke to Temple on the long drive. And, additionally, beyond his standoffish demeanor, the doctor seemed to be frustrated, as if forced, with the task of delivering Temple to his new destination.

   Trying to ignore the uncomfortable grip the doctor had on him, Temple turned his attention out the window. Mountain ranges bordered the dirt road they traveled, making Temple wondered what lay in store for him when they finally reached their destination. The mountains boasted long faces of sheared gray stone to their peaks. A glimpse brought Temple flashbacks of the accident. He watched himself fishing around in his jacket pocket for his baseball. Had he only waited for his father it would have never happened? Then another flash of memory ran through his mind; A blinding explosion, the ball tore into pieces between him and his mother blowing them both backward. Then his mind crashed back to his hand still stuck in the firm clasp of the doctor as he tightened his grip. Temple could feel the heat building up in his hand.

   “Hot! Don't you even try it boy,” The doctor said, as he yanked his hand back, shook it and blew it cool.

  “Damn if that was hot. You almost got me. Ya, little freak.”

  And the doctor laughed as he wrapped a bandage around his hand.

  Temple looked at his hand.  It glowed barely yellow like an angel's halo. He forced it to cool with his mind. The golden light faded and disappeared.

  “I'm sorry, Sir,” Temple said and stared back out the window.  

Corn fields and forests passed for hours. Then the doctor pointed straight out the center of the windshield. “Look up there, that’s your new home, far away from everyone.”

  The old crooked structure clung the top of a steep mountain. At the base of the steep descent on its side, the road narrowed. As the car climbed the road below them, the warn dirt and exposed roots wound back and forth, like a mule trail up a steep hillside. The doctor drove fast. Treetops and blackness blurred together. Then suddenly the doctor locked the brakes. The car skidded to a stop. Temple’s head bounced off the dashboard.

  “Get out on my side.” Ordered the doctor.  His bandaged grip increased on Temple's hand and pulled his little body across the driver's seat and out of the car. Then with two hands the doctor stood him up and brushed him off.

  “There we go,” The doctor rubbed his head hard leaving his hair knotted and tight pulling on his skin.

  They walked at a fast pace, Temple, barely keeping up to the old wooden door of 119 Saturday Drive. The doctor, again, further tightened his grip but this time he glared at Temple.

The old house stood barely tall enough for a short man.  Vegetation grew over half of it so dense it seemed to have collapsed part of the roof. Making the house look as though it were being pushed from or maybe even eaten by the peak of the mountain which it perched.  

  Temple gulped as the wooden planks of siding on the house pulsed with the rhythm of a heartbeat as if they were alive. He could swear the house watched his every move, but he couldn't quite make out why he thought it. 

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  Upon closer inspection, Temple could see that the vegetation grew over and into the house was an actual lush garden full of unusual, colorful fruits and vegetables. The front door to the house opened slowly before the doctor could knock. A shadowy glimpse of a hooded figure, not much taller than Temple himself became half visible.

  "Hello, hurry, come inside," the hooded figure said in an old woman's raspy voice.

   Temple stepped a foot in the doorway. As his eyes caught the light and the hooded figure’s face revealed itself.  She wore no protective layer of skin. There were only throbbing veins shaped like a woman's face.

  Temple averted his gaze in order not to be rude, but as soon he couldn't resist. His young eyes stared.

  "Yes,” she said in a soft voice, noticing his preoccupation with her appearance. “It's okay to look child. I was in a terrible accident when I was very young. Please don't be scared.” She smiled kindly.

  As Temple opened his mouth to reply, the doctor interrupted, "Can we come in?"

  "Of course, of course, come in,” she said graciously. “I said come in didn't I?” she shook her head. “Silly me, I can't remember anything these days. Anyway, I am Mrs. Veins- you two are hungry."

  "There's no time for that,” the doctor said. “There's been another accident." He shut the door behind him and secured the heavy lock.

  "Another accident, already?” Mrs. Veins replied. “That's impossible! Do the others know?"

"Of course, they sent me,"

  Mrs. Veins turned her gaze to Temple. What did she want, Temple wondered. Temple could feel his palms growing warm. He knew that she knew it was him the doctor spoke about.

  "Then, the child?” She asked. “How could it be so soon? How could they be so close together?" She shook her head.  

  "Nobody knows,” The doctor replied with a shrug. “The boy is yours now. You can teach him or put him to work, but you cannot show him."

  "I know my choices," she snapped.

  "Then,” the doctor began a condescending smile gracing his lips, “You know, I must go," he began to make his way back to the front door. "His name is Temple Road, son of Master Road," he called out over his shoulder.  

  “No, not Master Road.” she turned to Temple.

  Once the doctor left, Temple felt as though he wanted to talk to Mrs. Veins. Though he knew others might have been frightened by her appearance and maybe he was supposed to be too, Mrs. Veins' face didn't scare Temple one bit. To the contrary, he found her presence comforting. She was kind to Temple and exuded a sense of safety that he so desperately needed.  

       Looking over to her, Temple couldn't help but let out a loud yawn, which he quickly tried to cover up with his hand.

       "I have a wonderful bed for you, Temple,” she informed him. “It's late, and you must rest. Follow me."

       They both grabbed for each other's hand at the same time. As they did, a tiny spark flew from each of their palms, joined in a swirl, then disappeared into thin air.

       With a small smile, Mrs. Veins hesitated for a second.“You're a special boy. I'm glad you're here.”

       Temple followed her to his new room off the side of the house. As soon as he walked through the door, he looked straight through the glass ceiling. A yellow moon shone bright and full, as stars sparked in the dark sky surrounding it. On the bed sat a silver tray and on it waited, a warm glass of milk with honey in it. Temple sipped the milk. Mrs. Veins hummed to him and helped him to bed. She then left closing the door silently behind her.

  “Can you leave it open just a crack please?”

  The knob turned, and the door opened just a crack. Just enough to cut a line of light straight to Temple settled into his new, soft as a cloud, bed. In no time, Temple fell fast asleep.

The next day, he made his way to the kitchen where he found Mrs. Veins.

  "Good morning Mrs.Veins,” Temple said.

  "Good morning to you. You must be starving," she remarked and grabbed a large blue banana covered in small red bumps from a branch hanging over her head. She laid it on the counter, pulled out a chair at the small round wooden table constructed of branches and tree bark, and gestured for Temple to have a seat.