The Encounter

The Encounter

I am on my way to my sister’s house, just rounding the curve. I must have taken a wrong turn. I’ve never been on this road before. I am already running late. I can hear Sheila yelling at me now, but that nagging thought of being lost won’t leave me alone. The clock on my dash verifies that I am indeed an hour overdue. My sister has bullied me all my life. How is it that she’s doing the same thing now, and she’s not even in my car?

I had been in an extremely important meeting with a client when the call came through. When my assistant Billy interrupted us, saying I had an urgent call. I was furious but then I saw the look on his face. I knew it was my mother. She’d been ill for several months, I hadn’t been to see her often enough, and now - I’d politely apologized to the client and left the office. I didn’t even go home first to change my clothes.

So here I am, in my 2018 Toyota Corolla, lost on some country road, at midnight. Great. I should have gone home to change my shoes at least. My feet are killing me. There’s a stop sign ahead but there’s no one around, I’ll just blow through it.

WHAT WAS THAT!? It was huge! Those eyes! Did I hit it? Gotta pull over and see.

I can’t believe this. I am sitting on the side of an empty road, with no person, no other cars but mine in sight. All I see is a beautiful Barn Owl. Before I stopped, I was so afraid I had hurt it, but it’s fine. I’m sitting in the front seat of my car, with the door open. The owl is maybe ten feet in front of me, looking at me. It appears to be about a foot tall. I don’t know how long the bird will sit here with me, honoring me with its presence, but I will stay as long as it will. The peace is washing over me.

I am afraid to move. I’m afraid I’ll spook it and it will fly away. On second thought, I want to see it fly, to make sure it can. What if I really did hit it? What if it just appears alright? Sheila is never going to believe this; I’ll take a picture.

Damn! Reaching for my phone scared it and it flew away! At least I know it will be fine. At least I hope it will be fine. It will be fine. I will snap a photo in flight. One day, I will doubt myself. I’ll believe this was a dream but having this picture will be proof.

Back in my car now, still feeling that peace from the Barn Owl. Did my mother send the bird as a gift? She always loved owls. She worried that I didn’t take enough time to enjoy nature, like I did when I was younger. I hadn’t thought about that in years.

At Sheila’s place now. I didn’t know there would be so many people here. Of course, the driveway is overflowing. I’ll park on the street. There is only one light on in the house. No doubt, everyone is asleep except for Sheila, my loving, nagging sister, waiting up to lecture me. I’m not worried. I carry the peace of the Barn Owl with me.

What’s that I see? A bird in flight? Yes! Just barely within my range of vision, pale, broad wings against the night sky, now hidden in the trees. Then there’s a hiss-like sound, something I’ve never heard before. Good night, Owl, I say. I open the door and enter my sister’s house.