Q: Did you hear the rumor going on lately with peanut butter?
A: Actually, I probably shouldn’t continue to spread it.
For all previous chapters, Please click here for the PDF -> Andy and The Zodiac Crystal (Chapters 1 to 21)
Andy and the Zodiac Crystal – Chapter 22
“What are you thinking!!!” Chris said, as he ran over and pushed the door back shut and then swiftly pointed at my costume.
“Andy, what’s going on in there? Open this door immediately!” My mother said sounding very perturbed.
“Nothing Mom, we’re just rough housing a little.”
I knew it was a lie, but I couldn’t think of anything else to say at that moment. Unfortunately, the look on Chris’s face as I said it was enough to remind me that he really didn’t approve of me continuing to tell lies, even if they felt more than necessary in certain situations. He then took the opportunity to point again at the costume I still had on.
“If you don’t open this door now young man, you’re going to be grounded for the next month! And that means we won’t be going on the camping trip next week with Chris’s family.”
“Endymasia!” I quickly said the strange word again and watched as my normal clothing returned on my body instantly. Chris then promptly moved away from the door as I opened it.
“I hope you have a good explanation as to why the two of you are still up? You know it is way past your bedtime Andy!” My mother said as she walked in my room and observed that everything appeared in order.
“I’m sorry Mrs. Dawson. I kept Andy up because there were some things I was really concerned about in our friendship.” Chris responded sounding super nice.
Man! How come I can never think of responses like that!
“Well I’m sure it can wait till the morning right Chris?” She said with a slight grin, which was one of those where you knew she was saying she was ok with his answer, but we better do as she says.
“You’re absolutely right Mrs. Dawson. I’m sorry if we disturbed you.”
“Oh, it’s ok Chris. I just know how crabby Andy will be tomorrow if he doesn’t get enough sleep.” She said smiling from ear to ear.
Boy she wasn’t kidding. I usually need at least six hours to feel somewhat normal and it was already going on midnight.
“Well goodnight boys. I’ll have breakfast ready for the two of you in the morning around 8am or so…” My mother said as she walked out of the room and closed the door again.
“If you don’t slow down and let me do my Guardian job, this is never going to work!” Chris whispered adamantly as soon as the door was closed.
“I wasn’t thinking. Geez. Sorry.”
“Look, it’s fine. You just need to be more careful. We can’t have anyone else finding out about your abilities.”
“I know…”
Chris then gave me a high five to let me know everything was cool between us and shortly after that I was laying in my bed and out like a light.
The next two weeks flew by rather quickly and soon the camping trip was upon us. Chris had continued to spend all of my free time up till then practicing the powers of the Zodiac signs I already knew. I was definitely getting much better at all of them. I must say though, I still didn’t like using the Leo sign because of the extreme amplification of my senses, although I was learning how to tone it down a little the more I practiced with it.
As for school, Trevor continued to remain my nemesis. I wanted so badly to use my powers on him every time he tripped me, knocked the books out of my hands, or made fun of me in front of his little gang of annoying friends. I knew with the muttering of Libra or Taurus, I could do just about anything to him, but the more Chris helped me with my Zodiac training, the more I found myself just feeling sorry for Trevor. Chris also helped me to see that I truly had no idea what went on in Trevor’s home. He was right, as they say most bullies are usually just people who have been abused themselves. I’ve also heard that can happen in families where the parents are alcoholics or drug addicts. Thinking about these things each time I landed on the floor due to his outstretched foot helped me to never retaliate.
“They’re here!” My mother shouted from downstairs instantly breaking me out of my frustrating thoughts about Trevor.
I looked out my window to see Chris’s family getting out of their fully loaded vehicle. We were all headed to the Adirondack’s for Veterans Day weekend. I was really excited and hadn’t slept much the night before. Chris had told me the home we were staying in had a whirlpool tub, a stone fireplace, and a huge outdoor deck that overlooked a lake and a panoramic view of the mountainside. I guess we were going to be about 25 minutes north of Lake George Village, which was near a place my family used to go to every year for a church retreat.
“Are you ready or what slowpoke?” Chris said bursting into my room.
“Hey, I’ll tell you what. How about I just meet you there. CAPRI-…”
“Wait! Don’t do that!” Chris said rapidly.
“HA HA. I got you!”
“Very funny.” Chris said with a smirk. “Anyway, we’re all waiting on you. It looks like your family’s car is packed and ready to go.”
An hour later we were well on our way there, each budding with excitement. None of my family had ever done a mountain top getaway before, so this was going to be a new experience for all of us. At the moment, my parents were humming along to some 80’s tune on the radio while my sister and I were mostly quiet with each other in the backseat. She had been almost continuously texting with someone on her phone who I could only assume was some boy she liked. While I on the other hand had been spending the majority of the car ride so far reading one of my fantasy books that I had brought along.
“Are you kids hungry? I just received a text from Mrs. Riley letting us know there’s a great place to grab lunch not too far from here.” My mother said, as she looked in the rearview mirror at us.
“I can eat.” I said as my stomach grumbled slightly.
“Me too.” My sister agreed taking a rare breather from texting whoever she had been for the past hour.
It wasn’t long before we were pulling into the parking lot of a cool retro-looking diner in some small town off the highway. Once inside, we all crammed into an oversized booth with a chair added at the end of the table. My father sat there, while Chris and I were all the way on the inside seated across from each other. I quickly started flipping through the titles in the jukebox that was sitting next to me and wasn’t recognizing any of the songs.
“Here let me select a few…” said Mr. Riley who reached over Chris and put a few quarters in the coin slot.
A few minutes later a song started playing on it that felt like it was from the 1960’s. I watched as my parents and the Riley’s all began bopping their head to something about wearing short shorts while my sister and Chris and I all rolled our eyes.
“So what is everyone going to have to drink today?” The waitress said glumly. She appeared to be very sad, almost as if she was about to cry.
“I’ll have a Diet Coke with a lemon.” I immediately blurted out.
“Andrew Arthur, I think I’ve taught you better manners than that. Ladies should always go first…” my mother said rather sternly.
“Yeah, ladies first.” said Chris sarcastically, at which point his own mother lightly smacked him on the back of his head, both of us now turning two sheets of red.
As everyone began to place their drink orders, I decided it was time to have a little fun with Chris.
“Virgo.” I murmured ever so slightly under my breath while Chris ordered a Diet Slice.
Since this was just between the Guardian and Keeper, I figured the Council wouldn’t mind me having a small bit of fun. I then subtly pointed my hand at the salt and peppershakers that were sitting near him and slowly unscrewed their caps by twisting my finger counterclockwise for each. Chris absolutely loved to always put salt and pepper on everything he ate.
As the drinks began to arrive at the table from our waitress, I was brimming with anticipation for my little joke to come to light. But something kept drawing me back to the waitress as she stood there with a very depressed look. I stared at the pretty middle-aged woman intently, pondering what could be going on in her life that would cause her to be so miserable. Suddenly I heard her speak some words I wasn’t prepared to hear.
“I don’t want to live anymore. I hate my life. No one cares about me. Maybe I should just end it all tonight….”
“What? Please don’t do that Ms.!” I shouted out to her.
“Don’t do what? Take our order?” My father said as everyone began to look at me rather strangely.
“Didn’t you hear what she just said?”
“Are you feeling ok Andy?” Chris said, as I looked back at the woman, who now was also staring at me like everyone else with a very puzzled expression…
Peace, love, light, and joy,
Andrew Arthur Dawson