What They Do Not Tell Us

Now this is exactly why I cannot tolerate people and their shit! I mean have you ever just met someone, and they have the shittiest of luck? No, well neither did I. That was until I came to realization that, I was that guy. In fact, I am so much of that guy a fortune cookie is unable to bring me any good luck. Other than…, “get a clue”, like seriously come on how unlucky of a fortune is that? For once in this lifetime of mine I just want to be the lucky one or the chosen one, whatever they call it the divine time, right? Okay universe you hear me… well hello there I have waited long enough. UGH!! I have done it again, okay I know I must not be unappreciative of where the universe currently has placed me, instead… let me do the honors. Umm hey, yeah universe I am so very much sorry…for my rudeness back there, you know a couple, a few, a moment some time ago? You do not have to take away any cool stuff you do…. cool, great thanks.

See you must excuse me; I did say I was very unfortunate. Sitting here arguing with the only other source who can save my tail. The freaking universe. Anyways today, both my foster mom and the other children are heading to the ravine. For the little spoiled brat out of us all, sadly I am being forced to go there and have what they considered to be fun. The crap is a waste of time, I rather be off somewhere with my three good old buddies Marjorie, Steve, and Beck. Now I know from what I said earlier about fortune and all, but they are as close to having luck that I had. Other than the fact they had real families and knew what it is like to call someone mom and dad, experience actual love. Whereas for myself, the only love I experienced is from the stories I get told. By old man Creek from down the bay side, one thing I can assure you about old man Creek. He did not just have that name for any reason, he has been around long enough to know all secretes that lie within the darkest parts of your mind.

Old man Creek was very strange and by far the one man you would want to cross. Let me begin by telling you this. I grew up in the South in a small abandon country town, right off the road In Alabama. You can almost miss it if you are going fast enough and do not plan on using the park and ride stops along the way. That is how I ended up here. Mama Judy, my foster mother told me she found me in the bathroom trashcan at one of the pits stops. She had been coming back to this crusty town to tend to some business, matters with her in-laws. Involving the death of her late husband Mr. Proctor, if you ask me it must have not been that well settled. Only because she never left and all that was left was the house, we live in. Which is run down and full of leaks when it rains, and I believe we have a mold problem around the boarder of the house. Now I would suggest she get it fixed, but every time you mention something about her home. Mama Judy reminds us all how unlucky we are but are lucky we had her to take us in. Overall, you could say she has a point, only if she took care of us properly and not spend all our earnings on that stupid nose and boob job, she got last year.

I mean who does she think she is? If she believes fixing that witchy pooh of a nose and sandbag of breast will bring her a man. Then hate to break it her but the only man heads she is turning are the cow manure scoopers who cannot bare the smell of their jobs, rather look at the awful sight of her then to smell poop all day. If I had my way, I would rather deal with the poop then mama Judy’s mug. In fact, I will be meeting with the gang later tonight, we are going to old man Creek’s to help with his well and make some extra cash. We are saving up to leave this town and since I am almost 18 in 60 days, I have been preparing for this day to come.

‘NOAH!!! Get over here and play with your little brother, it is his birthday stop having your head in the clouds”. Oh, mama Judy, if only you knew how much I wish my head were indeed in the clouds, but yes ma’am I am coming. See this is exactly what I am talking about, she is sitting over there admiring her breast and expects me to entertain these children. Guess I will make a run for it with this game of hide and go seek. Come on kids!! I yell to my siblings, let us play hide and go seek. “YAY Noah wants to play with us”. “I want to be the seeker Noah, you and everyone else go hide I am good at this game”. My little brother believes he is the best at any and everything, when really, he is. Just not at finding me or figuring out what I am up to. Whatever so the game begins and right when It is time to hide, I am far enough out of sight I make my run for it. Now mama will have to worry about them and not me, so long witchy face, and hello gang.

Soon as I arrived at my friends, I could hear Marjorie’s big mouth “What took you so long Noah? ….. We have been waiting at the spot for about two hours, I could have been relaxing instead”. Sorry guys I was at the ravine with my little brother, you know it is his birthday today. “Oh, that’s right witchy had you on lockdown again”. Yeah, thanks for reminding me again Marj. “hey, no problem, that’s what I am here for”. Anyways are we going to old man creek’s place or what? “Now? I thought you wanted to go trail hunting.” I did not think you were serious about the whole cleaning out the well thing”. Yes, Marjorie I am so serious, like it is extra cash in hand…who would not want that? “It’s not extra cash when you already have all the money in the world”. Oh, please Marj. We all know you do not have all the money in the world, but wishful thinking.

Beck, Steve you all still want to go right? “yeah man we’re down, let Marjorie leave is she wants to we can split her portion”. See Beck knows how to get under Marj’s skin, the one thing she hates about not being loud enough, is being left out of festivities. “Hold on a minute, I never said I wanted to leave Beck, I was just asking Noah a question.” Besides, I just so happen to be in the mood for one of Old Creek’s stories”. We start heading in the direction of old man creek’s home, we must go now since it will be dark soon and he is a nice distance away to the bayside. We arrive after 20 minutes of walking from the spot, it is still somewhat light out. Old man Creek you home? No answer so I try again much louder. OLD MAN CREEK YOU HOME? Finally, I get a response. “You four are annoying, as an old man I mean that with all the air left in my lungs”. “But what the hey, glad you made it just in time I have a story to share with you”. “Great” Steve said, but first where is the well you needed us to work on, it will be getting dark soon and we would like to have enough done for the day. “Follow me, grab those cleaning tools over there along your way”. Looking at the tools, following behind Old Creek I can see why his well never gets cleaned. For starters, these tools are as heavy as me, the well is as big as a mountain. Old man Creek, you do not have any step stools or ladders to climb inside? “Of course not, your young use each other to make a ladder, make sure to have that well looking licking clean.”

He was serious, I would not think Creek would want us to stand on one another’s back for support. Instead of having my friends press down into this wet disgusting mud, we looked for the largest logs to stack. Once we found a decent amount of them, we made our ladder and climb into the well. By the way, the well was completely creepy and old just like old man Creek. Only difference was the well was full of stuff he stored here; Creek was full of stories.

“Now let’s start moving this junk around” Steve said as he began to pull and throw stuff out the well. “Be careful with my things you idiots” Creek mumbles as he heads back for his home. The best thing about It being four of us here, we will have this done in no time. At least that is what I thought until my unlucky fortune kicked in. Right when I thought things in my life could not get any worse, Steve has a seizure, Beck and I went to grab him and do our normal procedure on him. But Marjorie cannot stand to watch, so she goes to run towards old man’s Creek home, and she trips on one of the logs. Causing the log to slide through the mud, hitting me and knocking me into a very deep ditch Creek had dug. Yelling to Beck, tend to Steve do not worry about me! I can hear Marj. Assisting Beck after realizing what she had done. When he finally comes back around, he does not remember what happened while seizing, but he remembered he had a job to do and wanted some extra cash. That was Steve for you, he may have a condition, but it never stopped him from trying to keep up with everyday life. “why don’t you have a seat for a while Steve? Marj. And I will get Noah out the ditch”. Glad that my buddy is alright and stable, I look around me seeing if I could stack some items and try to climb up.

Nope, no use, this suck and has all to do with my misfortunes. Oh well I figured, there is nothing left to do besides wait here, while they seek help. I notice this ditch is not just filled with useless items but instead a bunch of old worn-out, torn-up books. After waiting a while, I decide to open one of the books of course there was no title (the books were very dusty and worn-out). Hold on I recognize this story. So, I opened another. I recognized this one as well, in fact not only did recognize the story because old man Creek told them to us. But the names he used where different than the ones I am reading. Wonder why he did that; it is not like I am going to know who these people are…Wait a minute! This is about lady churl from across town and yes, her name is Churl. She has been a grouch since a young girl from what I am reading. Which is why her parents named her that name, only they named her when she turned seven. Woah I was not expecting to find that one out. Still why did Old man Creek have all these stories on people he knew? And why were they here in this big ditch?

I continued to start searching for answers, then I could hear old man Creek yelling again and Steve trying to talk to him. “Okay that’s enough slacking out here, why aren’t you kids cleaning out my well?”. “Old man Creek you see we were, then I had a seizure, Marjorie knocked Noah into that ditch, and he cannot get out”. Old man Creek looking confused and irritated, he turned to me in the ditch and spoke. “why you no good use of a boy, get out of my ditch now and stop rambling through my books there”. Wanting to question him but did not want him to know I have already read a few stories. I told him soon as Beck and Marj. Got back I would. Creek walked away and started for his house once more, right when he did Steve looked down in the ditch. He asked me what that was sticking out from under the big dusty book I had just finished reading. I turned and looked down not too sure, I reached down and pulled out a little black book sticking out from the side of other books. I felt this strange feeling come over me and chills run down my spine as I stared at it.

Though soon as I went to read it Beck and Marjorie were back, sending a ladder down for me. So, I climbed up the ladder book in hand, but before I got out, I made the choice to take the book with me. “Umm you better put that back Noah; you know Old man Creek doesn’t like thieves” Marjorie reminded me. I know but it is not like he will even notice It is missing, let us just head to old man and tell him we will finish his well another day. We all walked to old man’s front porch where he had been meditating and smoking his pipe. “Far enough” he said. Before any of us even reached the first step, mind you his eyes never opened. So, his ears must be magic or something I guessed because for an old guy he was very much on point. “Leaving so soon children I see” said Creek. “Yeah, it’s dark out and we all have certain times to be home” I reminded him.

Old man Creek stopped meditating, looked up and said, “Not before hearing my story”. Eager to leave, I did not want to be rude, so we stayed. “Okay Creek but not long, you know curfew”. He just looked at me and said, “If I were worried about curfew I would have not stayed in the ditch for so long”. As if I had another alternative route to get out. Marjorie on the other hand was not in the mood to stay longer than her money needed her to. “Where’s part of our payment old man, so I can be on my way?” demanded Marj. I must constantly remind her how not to be rude to our elders. Especially someone as old as old man Creek, I kid you not he has to be as old as 100 years and if not older. He pays Marj, she and beck head out to their homes. Beck is the gentlemen of us all, he walks her home anywhere we go. Personally, I just think he has a thing for her because my adopted sister and Marj. were out one day and he walked Marj. Back home but refused to do the same for my sister.

Once they left it was down to Steve and me to hear Old man Creeks story. They are quiet entertaining, I just hoped it was not one I had read down in that ditch. As he began the story a heavy wind came out of nowhere, powerful enough it was too much for his fragile bones to bare. Old man Creek invited us in, hesitant because none of us have ever been inside Old man Creek’s home. Steve and I went on in anyways, it was a gloomy senary and I kept getting this feeling that I should not be in here. I figured what the heck, my luck was never good anyways so how bad could it be entering his home? He said have a seat over in this room with such a dem light. “Old man Creek, why don’t you brighten this place up some?” Steve implied.

“Steven it is right? well you see if you live to be as old as me you too will see light only exists in the mind and not reality”. “uhm huh…. right” Steve replied. Confusing as that left Steve for some reason, I understood it so well. “Now boys if you are done asking me questions, I like to begin my story”.

“It was year 1867 and I had just finished giving my father a hand in the yard loading the wheel barrels. I had to deliver the crops into the small town a few miles away from where we had lived. We grew up poor me and my four brothers and one sister on large plantation farm abandoned by the owner who once lived here. Anyways I had to take the back trails into town, that makes for a quicker, straight forward route. At least I thought, so along the way I seen this shadow figure far in the distance of the trail, yet still standing in plain sight for my eyes. looking back just hoping someone else was on the trail, for this figure did not seem human like at first. Cautiously I continued with my travels, passing by the shadow and further down the trail when a heavy wind came in and flew a tree branch my direction. Hitting me so hard I fell into the woods, landed in what I believed to be an oversize ditch. Dazed and injured I tried to yell for help, but there was no one. Except that very same shadow figure standing above the ditch, even though my vision had been fading in and out, my breathing rapidly increasing. All that had been going through my head was “I needed to get out of here” and “I am I dead? if not I hope it doesn’t kill me”. At that very moment, I could feel the compression of cold wet, heavy dirt piles being thrown and compacted on my face.

This was a nightmare I would not wish on my worst enemy. I was being buried alive but, by who? I had not seen the face of the figure. Just a long black cloak that smelled like moth balls, I was able to get a quick whiff as I stumbled into this ditch. The person seemed to be gone, and now I just lay here waiting to die. Nobody even knows what has happened, nighttime would be setting in soon. By now I would have been halfway done with work in town, making my way back. But I was too small to push through the compacted dirt. Laying there I felt my breathing decreasing, I just knew for sure I was dying. “HELP”, “HELP ME…. Anyone”. I gave it one last shot, and no one heard me, so I figured I would save my

last breath. Start digging my way out instead, I grab and pulled, grab, and pulled until I felt a hole of air. My fingernails breaking as the rubbles from the dirt clench under them. Before I knew it, I was free, though it was dark out and I could not see the paths around me. Instead, I just ran because I was unsure when, where or how that shadow of a person would return. However, I knew It would and when it did, so I did not want to be around for it. That is when I took the closes trail to me leading into town, only thing is I ended up further from both my home and the town.

Nonetheless I bypassed a small village along the way, I seen people covered from head to toe. Right then and there I just knew this is where that strange shadow of a person had come from. Praying to god that I am not recognized, I feel a tap on my shoulder and look up only to see the most welcoming face ever. “Hi, I am Zelda, your name?” but instead of me giving her my name I took off like a scared toddler trying to hide from his mama from getting a whopping. Once I felt I was further enough, I stood tall at the top of the mountain and continue staring down at the village. Observing how they moved, what they did and even listened to how they spoke.

This was not at all how I imagined getting back home. Then I had to realize the good in all of this, I had just gone from being buried alive in a dirt ditch. To being miles away from home seeing the world and what is different from mine. To being up in beautiful mountains seeing the lives of others who were strange to me at first. But I felt I had observed them enough to make my presence more known, besides, I was starting to feel drained and dehydrated. That is when I walked back down the mountains, to back of the tent areas where they slept. Grabbed myself some garments to disguise myself as one of them, went looking for the girl. The one who calls herself Zelda, I have watched her and from the looks of it she is the most respected, valuable person there.

I started out from behind the tents, walked around and kept my head down as I passed the others. “Do you know where I could find miss Zelda?” I would ask those who gave off a welcoming feeling to me. Finally, after searching I seen her, next to this big buff guy with a beard as long and gray as the night sky. He did not look kind one bit, so I waited to make my move. When he left back into the biggest tent there, I quickly made my way over to her. “Miss Zelda, may I have a word please?” as I did that these four armored guards blocked my path closer to her. “And who might you be, that wishes to speak to Miss Zelda?”. Never really thought of what I would call myself I said “me, my name? as if I did not hear them the first time.” Yes, your name boy, what is it?” well you see my name is O’me C.

The guard repeated me “O’me hm” as if it were too good to be true, I mean I did not believe it could be a name myself when I said it. He continued to question me, where I came from, what I wanted, most important why did I wish to speak to miss Zelda? Truth be told I come along way from my home I am lost and in need of shelter, food, and water. “I see, you believe miss Zelda can offer you that huh?” I responded “yes, she spotted me days ago right along the outside of the village, I ran off when she told me her name, offered me to come in”. Great I should not have said that but only it was the truth, it is just the guard had a look like I had been in the wrong. “Were you sent here to spy on us by any chance?”.

“Of course not, I am simply lost from my own home, I told you sir.” That is when Zelda’s father came back from out the tent and said “I am the only one, allowed to give you blessings to approach my daughter for any matter. “If shelter, food, and water is all you need then, you may have that, but my daughter is to be left alone.” Grateful to hear they would allow me to stay I immediately gave then huge thanks, as they showered me with canteens of fresh water. Then escorted me to a tent in which would

be my new home for the time being. Later that day Zelda’s father visited my tent and told me I must earn my keep for the shelter, food, and water they give me. Since I did not have anything else to offer that is the least, I could do. Zelda’s father, Alfonso had me working their crop field and taming the horses. Which since back at home I was familiar with growing crops and selling them but taming an actual animal to obey was new to me. I mean I could not even get a person to listen to me, but hey there’s always time for something new. “So, it’s settled then, you will begin you work tomorrow, until then rest up child.” He wrote down something in this little book, I assume that is where he keeps all his inventory, chores of who is who and their job of the land. I paid it no mind and continue to lie down and rest my head a bit.

That following morning Alfonso had one of the guards fetch me bright and early to head to the fields. My work began, I have never seen so much fresh and well cared for crops in my life, other than the ones my family grew back home. Alfonso gave me a time limit of four hours in the field helping. Though my past experienced allowed me to finish within two hours, so I headed over to the horse stables. Now from what I had seen the tamers doing, I prayed that I would become just as equipped to do the same and if not better. So, I enter the gate and stood firm in front the horses track and mimicked the tamers orders to the horse. Except they forgot to mention to me, the horse only responds to those it is familiar with. Oh, how I wished they said that before that 200 lbs. horse came tumbling towards me, knocking me to the dirt before stopping.

Eventually as time went on and I kept practicing, I became better and better, until I had everything down packed. By this time, I have already been living with Zelda and her father’s tribe for such sometime about 9 years now. After multiple attempts to reach out and find my own family and let them know what had happened to me, there was no luck. Soon I just told myself to give up and that my family has presumed me dead and forgot about my existence all in one. Being I was almost 24 I was ready to take all that I have learned here with Alfonso and move on to find myself. Only Alfonso disagreed when I told him the idea, maybe because he needed someone with my handy experience to stay around. Though that was not the case at all, in fact Alfonso told me Zelda has become woman. She soon would need a healthy strong husband, someone like myself he stated. Looking shocked and amazed all at once, I said but I thought you told me to stay clear of her when we met. In which I had but he went on about how she never stayed cleared of me and would always watch me working.

Alfonso even mentioned how he knew of me since the day I arrived because Zelda had told him, about the strange boy she had found in the mountains. Who looked familiar in the town we used to go to buy our crops. How handsome he was, and she wanted to groom him and feed him well to become her husband later, that is if her father approved. Which is why all along the giving me shelter, food and water was just a test. To see how I would show and honor them for providing me with such necessitates and not knowing me at all. He even told me how he had been watching me since a young boy walking the trails, he would send someone to keep a close eye on me until the time was right.

My mind is putting together the pieces that the shadow figure was a guard of Alfonso. Sent to monitor me and eventually take me away from my own family for his daughter’s selfish needs. Angry when hearing the news, I turned to Alfonso and said, “SO YOU KNEW, YOU KNEW ME THIS WHOLE TIME”. “YOU TOOK ME FROM MY FAMILY, MY CHILDHOOD, MY SENSES FOR NINE YEARS!!!”. Alfonso looking displeased by my reaction he stated, “calm down now child, do not ruin yourself now”, “You have become a good strong man, knowledgeable to am I right?”. Just because he had a point there still

did not matter. Or erased the fact my family has not seen me in years and could be still worried sick about my whereabouts. Alfonso placed his arm on my shoulders, “Now calm down son, when you have, I will tell you about your family”. You will not believe what I found out next, Alfonso had me followed home in the past to learn where my family resided. The day I was buried alive and left for dead, my family never bothered to look for me, because they had already arranged my disappearance with Alfonzo’s and his tribe. In exchange they were rewarded a large sum of money and had left the following week. I could not fathom how my parents would just forget about their child for money. Eventually I learned to except the truth about why they did so, with all of us myself and four brothers and sister as children. Considering my family had been poor and we sold our farming to earn income to survive, I guess one less mouth to feed meant better for them. Alfonso being who he was did keep his honor to my father by keeping me feed, sheltered and well clothed. I figured let me go on with this marriage and honor who has looked over me by looking over his daughter.

Without even seconding guessing things, I fixed my posture, looked Alfonso in the eyes and asked his permission of marrying his daughter. Though it was already arranged, I was taught that is the way to do it. In fact, I told Alfonso marrying Zelda would be such of an honor to allow me to prove his overlooking of me for 9 years have not gone to waste. But I reminded him I still did not have the wealth his daughter had been used to receiving and how would I take care of her on a poor budget?

Alfonso said “son someone of your brilliance will not live in lack” reminding me what I was taught. “Besides that, will be taken care of so no worries, a man family will not suffer” Alfonso mentioned. He just does not understand I shall not see a family of my own living in a condition I use to before arriving here. He just walked away without saying anything else, just writing in that little black book. Zelda walks over by that time and says, “So I hope you have come to agreeance with everything, are not to upset with my doings?”

At first, I was, not going to lie I told her, but soon understood this was the right thing to do. She smiled as if this was the best news she has received ever in her life. “Good, then it is settled we’ll discuss our ceremony details later on tomorrow”. Then Zelda walked away to go share the news of our engagement with the other girls of the village, while the men looked at me in despair. Well that just means with my own family I make the decisions and could follow my dream of getting away from here. Hopefully, Zelda would be prepared to do the same and travel the world with me.

With so much going on the days go by fast and before I knew it the village I ‘d grown up in was being forced to vacate the land. Unsure how could we be forced off land, founded by our people had me wondering what really might be going on. Wanting to ask Alfonso but I thought to myself, I should sit back allow things to die down and observe. As usual matters going on Alfonso is writing in his little black book. Before getting up and announcing where we are going to start our new lives, he then lets us know. We are moving towards the south where there’s much more open space and opportunities for us to grow our customs.

That sounded amazing to me being able to move sooner then I wanted, but to a place I have never been. That was one move to cross off my list, but I still could not help wanting to go away on my own terms. When I find the right time, I wanted to discuss things with Zelda more in depth. I needed to know what it was she had been looking for in a man as myself, other than what her father told me. It is just every time I wanted to it never seemed like the right time for anything around here lately.

A year goes by and we have settled into our new land, made out well with sharecropping. Zelda and my ceremony are in a couple weeks from today. This has all come so fast and does not feel real at all. Alfonso has left town to handle some business involving a house being built somewhere closer to the town we sell in. Thing is he was supposed to have been back days ago, but no one has heard from in since he left. We assumed business is going on longer than expected, considering he took most of his belonging with him. Including the little black book, he is always carrying around. Zelda looks worried some days; she just wants her father to be back in time to hand her over to the arms of me. As her fiancé it is my job to offer her the support she needs until her father returns. Besides this gives me much needed practice to show her I can be all she needs. Also practice without Alfonso breathing down my neck and watching my every move. Zelda dear why do not you come rest a while allows me to handle the duties of the guard’s assignments today. Your father will return soon, and he would not want you to have been so worried over him. Afterall he is the one who taught us everything we all know.

The week of the ceremony has arrived and in just a couple more days Zelda will become my beautiful wife. Though that was the best of this week’s news, sad thing is still no word on Alfonso’s whereabouts. We even sent messages to the town he had been visiting but the letters always returned the same way we sent them. Unread and still stamped and sealed with my fiancé’s favorite lipstick stamps. I know by now something had to be going on, so I gathered the men and guards and Zelda. Told them the strongest men, guards and myself would set out to find him. But not to worry the rest of the village, just make them aware we will be pushing the wedding back a few days or so until our return. If they ask to tell them Alfonso needed to bring a few people as witness to the new deal he was trying to establish.

This journey to the town Alfonso went is only about three days to reach, when we arrived finally. No word or sight of Alfonso we even talked to the mayor of the town, who made us aware Alfonso stopped in briefly and left early, said he was pleased with settling our deal but had to get back for his daughter’s wedding. Sounded good but I knew Alfonso enough to know, he would not have left without his little black book. I see it sticking out on the floor from under the mayor’s desk, the mayor knows for sure where Alfonso is. I tell the mayor very well; guess we will be on our way then in a day or two after my men had time to rest. Afterall it is a three-day travel back to our village, “Very well I’ll arrange for you and your men to stay in our finest hotel until your departure day” the mayor said.

While the men settle into their rooms, I go do some digging and snooping around for myself. I invite the mayor to have dinner with me in discussion of Alfonso whereabouts and the deal at hand. He takes me up on my offer and he tells me he knows of the perfect place we could eat. We ended up at this seafood garden restaurant, a place I have heard Zelda mention her and her father always wanted to visit. Thing is why did the mayor pick this place of all restaurants in his town? So, we have dinner anyways and talk. While having an open conversation, he asks about Zelda and me, regarding if we wanted to have children by any chance? This sure was not the topic I intended to discuss at all, but I told him “No sir that has not crossed our minds, but someday I am sure we will”. He laughs in as if he knew something I did not know. Ending our dinner, I told him thanks for the info. Regarding Alfonso when he stood to shake my hand and leave. That is when I noticed not only the little black book in his coat pocket, but Alfonso’s wristwatch given to his late grandfather a former tribe leader.

Heading back to the hotel I pulled one of the guards aside who I told about what I seen. He too had mentioned seeing the black book and wanted to investigate, so we sat down and started coming up

with a game plan. Right in the middle of planning we are interrupted by another guard informing me that my fiancé had arrived. Stunned that she was alone and why she came here; I could see the look on her face that she is beyond concerned. Zelda what on earth are you doing `here, without escort? “Well, O’me my father means the world to me, without knowing rather he is safe or not I will be right here”.

I understood her well how she felt, I could only imagine what she thought she find herself. I guess the same thing I felt when trying to find my own family. She just wants to be close enough in case she sees him dead or alive to allow her heart and soul to be at peace of seeing him again. But that was not the case just yet, we still have not found out any information. Other than the mayor having parts in whatever may be going on, I turn to Zelda and tell her what it is I know. Her face turned pale for just a second, then hot red and she said, “The day a man crosses my father, is the day he enters hell”.

Still learning a lot about my Zelda, one thing I was sure enough of was she is very unpredictable. Anything involving her father meant business to her. I could not fathom what she could be planning right now in her head. As if I did not already have enough on my plate, now having to watch out for Zelda not to do anything she will later regret. Most importantly her father would have me by my legs, if I even allowed the simplest of trouble to swing her way.

My dear Zelda, you must not worry too much as the guards and myself already have a plan. You must be patient and have faith that all will be well very soon. Hopefully, Zelda took hied to what I was saying and stays patient. “Now you said the mayor had his little black book, right?”. Yes Zelda, I seen him with it twice, but I am sure you are thinking the same as myself. Why would he have the book and not turn it over if he knew it was Alfonso’s? “My father would never let anyone have that book, not even myself, so I wonder what the deal could be?”

That is, its Zelda! What was the deal he came here for again? “I am not sure, he just told me it had to do with property and building”. Are you sure my love? Just property and building? “Yes, I mean why would my father say one thing but mean another?” …. I mean darling your father is a strong will and private, sort of strange man. You just never can be too sure of something or someone you know?

Zelda gave me this unrealistic glair; I could almost feel her eyes burning through my soul. Then out of nowhere she said in a frantic way. “You don’t think my father lied to me, do you O’me?”. As much as I wanted to tell her I did, I wanted to fuel her with comfort for the time being. That was until I found out more about the situation at hand. Instead, I told her “No dear, I do not believe your father lied to you, But I need you to just go tour around the town and clear your mind.”

“Alright O’me I’ll go for some fresh air, but I am telling you my intuition is never wrong.” Honestly, if you ask me, I do not understand women and their intuition. Though she was not wrong about hers, it was as if anything Zelda thought or said always come to pass. Anyways she asked the guard to see her out, take her items for her. Now that she is finally out of here, I can sit down and finish putting all the pieces together. Now Where was I again? … Oh! That is right I left this out I was meaning to share with you, I had a few guys capture images of the mayor’s where abouts while we head into town. They shall be meeting up with us later this evening at the town country center. Where the mayor is known to spend his down time.

The guards and I head out and over to the mayor’s office to have a better look around. When we arrived, we saw the office door was already pushed halfway open. Someone must have already been here, by the looks of the scattered paperwork. What I came looking for was not here, I kept searching and still nothing. Where could it be, I am sure he leaves that book here sometimes. At least locked away or something. Still no luck and I just do not understand if I had a special book where would I keep it. Trying to imagine how the mayor might think, considering he is a man of power…well portrays to be. If you ask me, I feel he is just a con- artist and knows more than what he said earlier.

Right when I was about to step out and leave for the country club. That is when I saw it, there in the creases of a folder. On the bottom shelf, pushed back in the corner behind the closet door. It was the mayor’s blueprint books of all his important decisions on this town. I told the guard to go wait outside and make me aware of anyone’s presence. Opening the folder, skimming through looking for any proposal between Alfonso and the mayor. Left me finding something far from what any of us would be thinking.

Turns out it says here that Alfonso was not here on a business deal at all. Instead, it shows Alfonso was wanted for treason and much worst. Apparently, the mayor has been tracking Alfonso’s whereabouts for quite some time. From the island where Alfonso lived with his father, all the way to the town I originally came from. Leading up to when Alfonso founded me, technically where he almost left me for dead. Luckily, I managed to escape when I did, I just can not think straight now. Zelda is going to be disbelief to find out the ways of her father. She might not even listen to me and assume I am just defending the mayor to protect him. When really, I want to protect her but how?

I have never been faced with something as deep as this, by the looks of it this was not the first time. Alfonso has done what he is done to me, far as the stalking and nearly traumatizing young boys. But I could not help to think why? Was this all for Zelda to one day find a husband? What was Alfonso not telling us? Now the treason part really has me stunned, what crime could Alfonso possibly have made against the government? And maybe that is why he has been living off the gride and only travels to local towns like this one.

They have their own form of government down here and there is certain rules and regulations they do not have to obey by. Yet how does the mayor tie into all of this? Where could Alfonso be? Oh my! There are so many questions and parts to connect. I inform the guard we must leave and leave now, I told him we now needed to locate the mayor. Get to the country club, find that little black book and see what is so secret about it. As we head towards the country club, we pass this strange group of armed soldiers. Looking as if they where here on strict business, I just knew something strange was going on here.

It was best to carry on as usual with our normal plans, so we made it to the country club. There like the other guard said was the mayor. Sitting at the bar, enjoying the live band having a drink of cold beer. We sat in the back unnoticed and just observed him from out seats. A man walks in, you can tell he had come from a far, because he does not seem to recognize the place. He scans the audience and lock eyes with the mayor; the mayor signals for him to come over. So, I move a little closer, to hear their conversation and see what I could find out.

“Afternoon mayor, great place you picked out for us to meet”. I could hear the strange guy saying. “Why thank you, yes indeed this place is something it has been here for a few years now”, “I usually come here for peace in my leisure time”. The mayor glances down at the papers in his hands, then back up at the man. He says, “listen now I have gone over the paperwork you sent me, have come to a conclusion for settlement”. Wondering what he meant, I needed to get even closer, so I gave the

guards a signal to go buy a drink. They heard the mayor telling the man, that if he was willing to split the money a third of the way. That the prisoner could be let go into the hands of the armed soldiers or even released on his own free will. I thought who might that prisoner be? I just knew they had been talking about Alfonso. That is when I could hear the man saying “yes, that sounded fair to him but let’s assure the money is there first”.

Wait what money are they discussing? Did Alfonso have money somewhere and they kidnapped him in hopes to find the money before the soldiers. I had to find Zelda at this point, let her know what I have found out. Maybe she could provide a bit more clarity to what might be going on. Only problem is, she is not going to sit well with still not knowing her father’s whereabouts. The mayor reached for his pocket and pulls out Alfonso’s little black book. He kind of smiles as he shows the gentleman a particular page. By the looks of his finger motion, he was following some chart or diagram of some sort. Then the gentleman and the mayor both rose to their feet, with a nice firm handshake walked their separate ways. I threw my head down as fast as I could when the mayor approached my direction to leave.

Quickly I stumbled to the guards and tell them lets move fast, lets find Zelda. I sent a guard to the beach for Zelda and the other guard. I told a few to keep their eyes on the new gentlemen in town, find out his game and about the money they were talking about. In the meantime, Zelda is coming up the walkway to the room, I could tell by the way she enters the room she is calm. But still preparing herself for the worst news, so I began telling her. She did not say a word, just pasted back and forth for a moment. Then said, “I know my fathered moved around a lot, told me he would one day show me everywhere he had once lived”.

Zelda my love, did your father ever write down or tell you where these areas might have been? “I’m afraid not O’me, he only told me of them and the stories about him as a little boy with my papa”. That is alright my dear, surely you remember the stories though am I right? She stopped pasting and looked at me. “Yes, but only a few, the ones I found most interest in because of the adventure in them”. “But what might this have to do with treason and kidnapping?” You see Zelda the stories that stuck out most to you held adventure, what type of adventure was this?

“MY father and papa would ride into towns and play these hand handling games; you must think clever and fast”. “These games always ended in a chase out of their territories, the last one lead to my papa’s death”. This started to make sense in my head now, Zelda’s father might have been stealing money and it led to a highest that soon lead to his own father’s death. Not so sure if these hand handling games, where games in the eyes of fun. More like to gain wealth and riches. If not, Alfonso would not have been so determined to ride int this town to settle a deal. Only to end up missing and on flyers being wanted for treason.

My love, your father is in deep and I do not yet think we know as to how deep this runs. Seconds later we hear a knock on our door, it is one of the guards out of breath and sweating. Well? … what is it sir, spit it out? He catches a nice wind and says, “you have to see what I found, I followed the gentlemen like you asked.” He told me the man went to this open land field, with this abandon looking building. Rubble, junk pieces everywhere but he kept a low profile and just followed behind. “You won’t believe what I found as I did so!”.

By the way he worded his words, I knew this had to be the news I have been looking for all along. He must have found out about the money, so I tell him well come on let us hurry. But before Zelda or myself could take another step he paused us and spoke. “First, let me just make you aware of what It is I seen exactly; Ms. Zelda may want to stand back while we look”. Right at that moment Zelda dropped down to her knees and let out the most terrifying scream and cry. She shouted loudly “NOOO!!, NOOO!!, NOO!! You did not, you did not”. “Please tell me you did not find my father dead, OH MY GOD! Just please say he is alright.” My heart ached for her as I leaned down to pick her back up for support. I thanked the guard for his news, I asked how bad of a condition Alfonso was in?

The guard turned to me with a slightly teary eye look, said. “He was hand cuffed in this cellar room, looked as if they gave him the worst interrogation beat down of his life O’me”. “But I do believe he is still alive just badly injured and a bit dehydrated by the looks of his peakish coloring”. Zelda stopped the sobbing into my arms, toughen her face. She stood up, whipped away the tears from her face and very boldly demanded he take her to him at once. Her decision was final and that is where we headed too.

Now once we arrive there everything around us is covered in old, rusted paint, and oil. Junk everywhere abandoned cars, damaged tore down shacks and buildings. Pretty much the same as the guard described, so I tell everyone to spread out and locate the cellar that held Alfonso. A loud noise came from across the backside of one of the broken-down shacks. We could hear voices among the crashing of objects being moved. “Not right there, lets just move this here and see if that slick bastard was telling the truth”. Unsure exactly who was back there, I felt as if I recognized that voice before.

Zelda and the guards took their routes in search for Alfonso, while I moved in on the voices behind the shack. Peaking around the corner I could see the gentleman and the mayor. They had huge shovels, ropes, and wheel barrels. Must be looking for the money from earlier discussion apparently it was not easily accessible as I thought. Alfonso’s little black book was in the mayor’s hand and he was saying “take a look at this marking here on this page, that must mean it’s around here somewhere”.

I now knew for sure Alfonso barriered money within this here property. Though how much and where? For the number of tools being used. Suddenly, I hear moving and the sound of chains hitting against a gate. Then a shattered voice came out of nowhere “Let me go you bastards, you’ll never find what you’re looking for”. It was Alfonso and he was very much alive, I cannot believe they have him in such filthy conditions. I stayed down as they continue to search for the money, but the mayor walks over to Alfonso. He tells him to shut up before the gentlemen comes in the gate and make him regret his choice of words.

He had a point about Alfonso remaining quiet to avoid worst punishment. However, he chooses the wrong time and wrong person to mess with. At that moment I saw Zelda coming up on the mayor from behind, she was someone I said could be unpredictable and you would not want to cross. Well, she came down hard on the mayor, knocking him unconscious. The gentlemen saw what had just happened to the mayor, grab the little black book that flung up in the air. He took off running towards higher grounds, the guards followed him.

“Father are you alright? what have they done to you?”. Poor Alfonso was wounded he could barely stand to his feet. “Listen to me Zelda, O’me you have to get out of here, retrieve the little black book ASAP…please”. Alfonso was not worried about his condition, all he cared for was that book.

Now I am even more confused than when we first got into this whole thing. Why is Alfonso so fixated on that book and some buried money? instead of his daughter’s and his own well-being? He looked up at me and said, “I told you to protect my daughter by any means, I see you done so by bringing her here”. Typical Alfonso even while being injured that sarcasm never leaves his side, the two are glued to the hip if you ask me. But seriously I knew Alfonso had a reason behind all of this and that is when he asked us to get him and his daughter to safety first.

The guards and I did as Alfonso asked, took Zelda and him to safety. While back at the hotel medical treatment came to assist Alfonso. Meanwhile I told my Zelda we would go after the gentleman and for her to stay by her father’s side. I needed Zelda to talk with her father about everything that has been going on. Why was that book so important? Why is he wanted for treason? You know the main questions we all wanted to know since we arrived.

Thankfully, she listened to me this one time, considering how stubborn Zelda can be. I guess since she sees Alfonso that is her only concern. Not making the gentlemen or the mayor pay now for crossing her father. The guards and myself head out a few head back with me to get the mayor, while the others seek the gentleman. As we approached the cellar where Alfonso was held captive, the mayor is no laying where we left him. By now they have met up and are searching for the money elsewhere, that puts us off track since we have no clue where they could be. I tell the guards lets head back to the town and scope things out there. Luckily, Zelda is conversing with her father and this madness will end.

“Father?” … “yes, Zelda what is it?”. Zelda’s never been the type to question her father’s doings… well at least no to his face. “Father I wanted to know about the flyers found in the mayor’s office of you being wanted for treason and other crimes”. Alfonso eyes could not believe what he was hearing but a part of him knew it was time to confess. “My beautiful Zelda all I ever wanted to do was protect you, I promised that to your mother”.

“I refuse to break that promise, I’ll give my life if it means leaving you well off”. Zelda was confused about what her father was talking about. “Now listen to me Zelda that book contains important information the mayor and a bunch of government officials wish to seek”. “Which is why it is important once O’me and yourself obtain it, you must leave from here as far as you can never to look back”. As if Zelda would want to leave her father for any reason. “Father where would we go? And what will happen to you?”

While intown I seen the soldiers from earlier suiting up and gathering gear used for an attack. The mayor was with them so Immediately I knew they were going for Alfonso; I ran to the hotel to warn them. When I got to the hotel, they had been standing out front as if Alfonso were expecting them to come for him. Whatever it was he told to Zelda the look on her face seemed so sure this was the right move to make. “O’me, we must go my father has a plan, but we just have to wait a little longer”. All I could say was “Zelda what is the plan?”.

Alfonso spoke “O’me I know they are coming for me; you see in my past I have done a few wrongs and I knew this day would come, which is why I choose you to protect my Zelda”. He apologized for separating me from my own family and explained to me again how my family made out in the end. He started to explain to me what was in the little black book all these years but in the process of him beginning the trucks were coming.

We could hear the loud armor trucks coming closer, they surrounded the building. Then a man gets out of the car tailing behind the armor trucks, it was a tall slender man. He slowly approached Alfonso and the rest of us at a steady paste. “Ah old friend, Alfonso; Alfonso; Alfonso did you think we would never meet again?”. I could not believe that Alfonso knew this ruthless man, he stopped and looked around. He told two of soldiers to drop Alfonso to his knees, then he approached my Zelda. It was like a bomb went off in my head because I rushed right over to protect her. Of course, the stopped me and dropped me to my knees.

Before I knew it the gentlemen, we had ben after all day arrived and the mayor as well. They pulled out the little black book and placed it before Alfonso. The slender man said “Now Alfonso are you going to make this easy or difficult? Tell us how to read the markings in this book and lead us to the stolen money”. Knowing who Alfonso is I know he is not the one to give in so easily or could I have been wrong? Alfonso said “alright; alright the markings are better understood with the map in the hotel room”.

Four soldiers headed into the hotel room and tore it apart until they find the map. We are all still being held outside that’s when Alfonso told the slender man. “If you think for one minute, I am going to give you a dime of what I always promised my wife, then old friend you do not know me very well”. He shouted, “Zelda Now!” and Zelda flung into the air, flipping from the man’s arms and behind him. Shoving him to the ground she ran past her father and I towards the mayor and the gentlemen. The man told his soldiers take their positions and grab Zelda. He even ordered for the mayor and the gentlemen to get that book out of here.

But before they could back track into the car, Zelda had slid over to the mayor and took him from his feet. She grabbed the book and took off down the hill, the soldiers left outside followed behind her. My Zelda was smart and thought fast on her feet, I attempted to break loose from the hold I was in on my knees. Though that was no use on the bright side, our guards have gone the opposite direction of Zelda, so I knew this plan Alfonso and Zelda had put together was going to pay off.

By the time I was able to get to my feet Zelda was long gone and out of our sights. Concerned that I would never see my Zelda again, Alfonso looked at me. “Son it’ll be alright, trust I have trained my daughter very well she too will be alright”. The slender man had us taken away in his armor truck and he followed in the vehicle behind us, along with the mayor and gentlemen. We must have gone some miles out of town. Since I did not recognize the area when they took us from the trucks and removed our blind folds.

Where are we? I demanded the man to tell us. Instead, he just looked and laughed “Do not worry your soft heart about it, you will see shortly”. Alfonso did not seem to be alert as to what was about to happen, then we were taken into a company cooperation building. Thrown into this room I am assuming used for interrogations. They questioned me first and asked what did I know about the stolen money? Where it was? How long have I worked for Alfonso? I was confused as usual about this entire thing. But I refused to speak on the one man I knew as my only family, even if he took me from my original family (I mean they got paid in the end, so loosing me was not that bad to them I guess).

I lifted my head to the tall slender man and told him I knew nothing; I was only raised by Alfonso when my parents abandoned me as a child. I told them my family used to sell crops in our old town and that is how they met Alfonso and asked if he would look out for me as they could not. They must know I was not telling the truth. Until they asked what town did, I come from? Remembering Alfonso was wanted for kidnapping once before, so I told them another town. Incase I was not the first child taken by Alfonso from my old town. They shook their heads and smirked, “Alfonso raising a child not his own (they laughed) a guy like him… no way”.

But I told them it was true I had only lived with him and raised like a son. Though I fell in love with his daughter and he told me that I must go on my way. That his daughter’s hand in marriage was not an offer on the table, someone else was already partaking in that area. So, you see I know nothing I was leaving the week of Zelda’s wedding, but Alfonso did not return home, so I came here to look for him. As a promise to Zelda considering, I loved her that much, even if it meant I could not have her.

They seemed to believe my story, because they took me back to the room where Alfonso was. Pushing me in the room they dragged Alfonso out, as he passed me by, he gave me this head nod. I just had this crazy feeling, but I could not focus on it now. All that kept crossing my mind was Zelda, where could she be? Was she alright? What has she discovered in the book? By now hours have went by and they still had Alfonso.

I could hear the mayor down the hall. It sounded like the gentlemen and him were arguing over their agreement. “What happened to splitting things three ways?” The mayor said. “Well, you see that was until you let that woman take my black book like an idiot, so the deal is off, and Alfonso remains ours”. You see the mayor already had a plan to double cross these guys split the money three ways, then hand Alfonso over to the government officials and claim the reward money. In the end he would make out better then both the gentlemen and the tall slender man, but now that that book is gone thank god. They will have to come up with something else, keeping Alfonso was on the table but what did that mean for me?

I pasted back and forth how Zelda would when she is thinking of a master plan. Suddenly the door eventually swung open and in came Alfonso. What happened back there? He ordered me with a hand signal to remain silent. “They are releasing you in trades to keep me, whatever you do please do not go near Zelda for some time”. What I could not believe what I was hearing, I told him, but you asked me to keep her safe. You know I love her, and I would never let harm come her way. Alfonso looked at me “I know son, but if you love her really you leave her be for a while let things die down”.

You see they would be watching me hoping I cross paths with Zelda for that book. So, I understood Alfonso and even though it would hurt me, just like her father I would give my life to keep her safe. I gave Alfonso my word, he knew I meant it because moments later he called for the men “come take him, he’s ready”. Wait …. what! is all I was able to get out before my eyesight became blurry and me faint.

Later, I woke up along side of a road that led to the mayor’s town, I had no clue where anyone was. Not Alfonso, not our guards, the armed soldiers, the mayor, or the gentleman, but most importantly my Zelda. I decided not to look back at that moment and went the opposite direction of the town. After all I did say I wanted to get away and now I could once and for all, besides, I am used to restarting my life. I just never imaged it would be like this without my one and only love.

Eventually I restarted my life and moved closer to the south where I got me a decent job to make ends meet. I worked until I established myself built my own house, started farming, but I never married. Never even gave love another chance because when I did, everyone reminded me of how much I was still madly in love with Zelda. Not a day went by that I did not think of her, searched for her, and prayed for her return. It has been 20 years since Zelda, and I had seen one another.

I even took a trip back to the town I last seen her, and rumor has it she was married, had four children, and followed in the footsteps Alfonso expected her too. Someone told me she was traveling the world, last they heard she owned a business out North somewhere. I figured I would write her a letter, maybe two or three if only I had her address. Soon enough I came across someone she had acquainted herself with in this town. The person told me if I wrote Zelda, she would deliver the letter personally, but to assure the letter was friend like material. As they did not want to cause trouble between her husband and her, see he was a well-known businessman himself. Not exactly sure in what line of work but I hear he is a big deal around his parts.

The friend of Zelda asked me how long have I known Zelda? All my life I responded…. why? “Well, you look a bit like her oldest son”. For a moment I paused and thought there is no way…no there could not be. What is the son’s name and age? I asked, “His name is O’Melveny, and he is 20 years old”. My heart was pounding, and I asked her if she knew his whereabouts? She told me “O’Melveny was a lot like his mother, but only he was much more curious”. That O’Melveny had married at an early age and moved out from his mother and father. I heard it was because he but heads with his old man often and wanted to prove he was a man of his own.

They moved towards the south and might still live there, O’Melveny’s wife was with child. Her family was not to pleased with the idea of their daughter marrying O’Melveny. So, they told her to leave and never return to their home. Alabama was where they last resided and was raising their little boy there. Right then and there I started doing some digging myself, and once I got the information I needed. I moved to Alabama, I had to find out if O’Melveny had been my child, I forgot about ever writing Zelda. I figured if I found her son, then I could always find her, but that was not how it turned out at all.

When I moved to Alabama and searched for O’Melveny and his wife, I checked records that could possibly tell me where they are. Eventually is lead me to this small abandon town, where I settled in and worked again until I knew the area very well. One day I decided try this address that said O’Melveny and his wife lived there. I left out early afternoon and went to their home, I knocked on the door of their home.

Open the door, this soft-spoken woman “May I help you?” she replied. Almost forgetting why, I had come there I said, “Hello I was looking for a man by the name of O’Melveny”. She said “Yes, my husband, wait just one moment”. She gently closed the door behind her, as she went to get O’Melveny, he reopened the door. “Yes, I heard you are looking for me, who might you be?” I stared at him for a good minute or so. He looked just like me same built, eyes, and even facial features, this was my son. But I was unsure of how to tell him Oh hey I might or might not be your father, so I told him I was a good friend of your mother’s a long time ago. He said “Yes, so why would that matter to me?

Already I could see my personality in him, so I quickly thought of something. I told O’Melveny that I lived not to far from here. That when I heard he was the son of an old friend of mine and had a family of his own I wanted to meet him. He invited me in, and we talked awhile, though I saw no sight of a child whatsoever. I could not help to think to myself was this the right person, or did they really have a child. I kept fishing and told him how I knew his mother and grandfather, they were like family to me. He told me he knew nothing about his grandfather only stories. That Alfonso was his name, and he was an extraordinarily strong smart man. Though was serving a life sentenced over past mistakes he had made to protect Zelda. I told him that part was true, how his grandfather would go more then the extra mile for Zelda.

Then I asked him and his wife if I could meet the little one. That is when the O’Melveny’s wife face turned flushed like and she left the room damping her eyes. I did not mean to offend anyone I told O’Melveny, but he said, “It was alright”. “My wife and I gave our son up for adoption when he was born, we are young and still trying to figure out life”. I apologized and told him if he would like that I left so he could comfort his wife?

Before I left, I glanced at their bookshelf and asked what that tiny book was sticking out next to Zelda’s picture. He said this was all he had of his grandfather and his mother told him to always guard it with his life. Wait she never told you what was in the book? “No” he replied. “All she told me was the book was the reason behind her success, that it also was the cause of her heart break”. I knew that was indeed Alfonso’s little black book, but still was not clear what was in it. Zelda had told him one day when he wanted great success to use that book.

He told me him and his wife were moving very soon, she did not want to live so close to the orphanage where their son was at. That it was too much on his wife’s mind, she needed a fresh start. I understood him, then he asked if I would want the little black book as memory of his grandfather and mother? He told me that is only if I guarded it with my life. Then laughed and said I am kidding just put it somewhere safe, right before he gave me his information to contact him sometime. He said for some reason he felt as if he knew me before today but could not quite put his finger on it.

After I left, I went to the orphanage where they gave their son. A lady greeted me at the front desk. “Can I help you sir?” I told her I had been looking for a child left by O’Melveny and his wife. The lady said, “are you a relative of the boy?” I told her yes, I was… But before I could finish, she told if I had come to adopt him, that he had already been given to a family. She could not give the family’s name out but could arrange for them to meet me here, that way the child could meet his relative.

I told her that sounded great, but I did not want to disrupt anyone’s life. If she could just tell me the name of the young boy. “Well sir his name is Norharman” and gave me a picture of him. He was handsome just like his father and resembled his great Grandfather somewhat. I thanked the lady as I turned to leave and told her she was a big help. If for any reason the family who had Norharman comes back here, would she give them my address, let them know I have a gift for the young one.

I returned home and sat down on my porch and smiled, I had family all around me. But I knew what it was like when I separated from my actual family. So, I told myself I would not leave this town until I had made a well enough relationship with my grandson, pass on this little black book. Once I was able to tell him the story behind the book. First, I had to find out what was inside the book, so I pulled it out my pocket and began to read what was inside.

OH MY GOD! Do my eyes deceive me? This book contained every area in which Alfonso lived before Zelda was even born. It traced all the way back to Alfonso’s father young days and his family. Along with the organization he was developing through finding open land fields, building on them to claim as his own property. You see there is this law where you find land, live on it for a certain amount of time and build a foundation for living, the property is yours by law. You see the areas in which Alfonso’s father kept finding and building on were in open dessert like areas, only he discovered a mine on one of the land fields. Before deciding to make the government aware of it, he let years go by and built around it to see whom it may have belonged to. No one ever claimed it, nor made use of it, so Alfonso’s father taught him and his brothers to dig and how to weld. He created his very own welding machine and that is how they moved about throughout the mine, along with their physical body work to help where the machine could not reach.

Alfonso’s father started finding lots of diamonds and gold you know things of that nature. With the welding skills he taught his boys they would make expensive pieces and travel into town to sell them. One day Alfonso’s father met a man by the name of Elevado, a well-groomed fine gentleman, who seemed very sophisticated. He asked Alfonso’s father where he had been finding the pieces he had been selling. Of course, he told the man he makes them himself, with the help of his boys and his wife being the brains. She finds the right towns to sell and make profit, that was joyed to hear in the man’s ears.

He offered Alfonso’s father a business proposal, one that any man be a fool to resist. However, Alfonso’s father was not like most people, he knew his worth and what his private property meant for his family. He was uninterested in the idea of partnership, so he kindly and respectfully turned down the offer to the gentleman. Continuing with his family business for some time everything was going great. He told Alfonso he would set out to locate more land and areas to sell their pieces and for him to look over his mother and brothers while away.

Alfonso knew how big of a responsibility it was to watch over their property and run the business while his father left town. He could see how much faith and trust his father had put in him; he did not want to let him down. Alfonso accepted and within a week his father had left in search for a new location. While gone his mother handled the selling intown, while Alfonso and his brother tended to the mine and the welding of the pieces. The next day that same gentleman came back to buy more pieces, he told the wife they looked stunning in his office. Also, how he had a lot of powerful people backing his business right before handing her an envelope. Which she slowly opened and inside was documents, a letter for a cease and desist on Alfonso’s father’s land. That is if they did not agree to partner with him and his business.

Alfonso being the man in charge while his father was away looked over the documents. He told his mother that what they were doing could not be illegal so why did he serve this to them. But he did not want their family to be in any trouble or loose out on their family busines all together. With doubt in his heart, he went ahead and agreed with the man for a partnership. Though Alfonso was smart, he told the man in exchange for the business he would fund all the necessary funding needed for digging further into the mine. Then whatever they discover and make from their findings would be split equally, half sold at the man’s business, while the other sold in town.

Alfonso knew that the man’s well-known business would make a better profit then what selling in local towns made. Once they marketed everything and customers went there, his idea was to reach a certain percentage and once his father had found the new land they leave and restart elsewhere. But not without destroying the mine completely. Time had gone by and Alfonso father never returned, they searched and searched for weeks for him, but it was no use. They believed in their hearts he must have gotten sick in his travels or found a reason to not come back. Many scenarios were a factor in their minds. Alfonso always believed in his heart that something much more tragic happened for his father to never return. This made Alfonso grow bitter and angry at the world, that is when he told his mother and brothers of his plan to take their wealth and leave town.

He had already mapped out the places they would go and some of the places they had already been where he stored their profits. All they had to do was wait for the right day and time to make their move. Blow the mine up while all were on break and be prepared to move that very same day. Now I understood why so many people have been after Alfonso and his family. This explains why he choose to live off the gride and only travel intown for business purposes only. Here states that Alfonso’s father was indeed into criminal activities at some point and brough Alfonso into the business at a young age. You could not fault Alfonso for only doing what was expected of him and taught to him by his old man.

He just was not expecting to end up never seeing his father again, what they were doing to be illegal. Therefore, Alfonso was so protected over Zelda he did not want the same faith for her. He was careful who he allowed near her and who he allowed her to do busines with. He made sure she was highly trained to protect herself in case any harm came her way. He wrote a letter in the back of this book days before he left out of town himself. It reads,

Dear Zelda,

My precious beloved daughter I know this is going to be hard on you, for it is hard on me. I am leaving town for the protection of your life. Please whatever you do; do not come looking for me go with O’me. Marry him my darling he is a great man and full of wisdom, I know so I raised him myself, he is educated and strong. Without a doubt in my heart, he is loyal and loves you dearly so I know he will do what it takes to keep you happy and safe. There is no easy way to say this, but I always knew this day would come. Years ago, when I was a young teen my brothers and myself, along with your grandmother partaken in disposing of a mine. That contained nothing but riches for as many family’s miles and miles out. My point is dear there is a man by the name of El Vasco who I made a deal with back then to partnership in the mine. He wanted to take away our family’s wealth so I could not allow that to happen, not after all the hard work your papa had done for our family to live how we did. El Vasco was a businessman but very crocket he served us fake documents that looked real at the time to forcibly take away the land. I made the worst decision to give him half of our family’s profits and when he gained a certain amount, we took It all and left town. Your grandfather never came back the week he left I figured he did not want his family anymore. That he found happiness elsewhere and did not want us to be a burden to him any longer. Though now that I am older and wiser my child, the same reason my father left us is the same reason I must leave you. This book has every area where I buried our family’s legacy and riches. O’me and you have both learned these markings in the book and know them well, just follow the ways of the wind. The brushed of the trees and the flow of the waters and you will forever be taken care of. I love you Zelda and take great care of that baby you did not think I knew about O’me and you will make excellent parents. I know this is a lot, but I promised your mother the same promise my father made to your grandmother before he left. I would protect your life with my life before I allow harm to fall in the hands of the ones I loved most. Make it to California and you will see why it is best I left, take care Zelda and O’me.

Sincerely

Alfonso S.D

Well kids’ thanks for listening to my story, I did not mean to keep you all for so long. Perhaps you have your parents give me a ring and I will let them know I am the reason behind your lateness. Steve looked at Old man creek “but wait you never told us what happened to O’Melveny’s son, did he ever meet his grandfather? Or get the little black book? Old man Creek just smiled and said now go on home you two I will tell you the rest someday. Old man Creek got up and walked in the room next to us, he came back and handed us our portion for cleaning the well.

“That’s just great, you tell us this amazing story then throw us out right at the good part, with so many questions left to be answered”. Steve really took these stories seriously; it just gave me an escape from the life I live now. But this one story just stuck out to me and gave me the chills but why? Steve had started walking out the house and off the porch before yelling for me to come on. “Let’s go Noah, it is late enough come on before I leave you” I just was stuck on a few details Old man Creek did not mention but why. So, I told Steve to go ahead without me, I would catch up after all it was a 20–30-minute walk back home.

I looked at Old man Creek and asked him, so what really happened to O’me and his grandson? Did he ever meet him? Was he able to give him the little black book? Old man Creek just smiled. Then he said, “Well I’ll tell you this Alfonso’s biggest fear was abandonment, so was O’me’s” “both had been forgotten by their families for major reasons that were similar but complicated”. I knew all of that feeling to well, being abandoned by my parents at birth and never being able to meet my actual family. Just to know my own mother disposed of me at a rest stop, just to land in the hands of Judy, the worlds worst foster mother. Who only cares for herself and the money from her late husband’s family, to bad for her she was left with nothing just that moldy house, so this story related to my life entirely.

That was besides the point I wanted to know so much more so I asked again. Did O’me ever meet his grandson and give him the little black book? What was in California and how old was the grandson when he finally gave him the book? Old man Creek still staring at me with this sensitive smirk on his fragile face. He said, “Just protect that little black book you took with your life and remember how much you are loved, even when you do not understand things”. That is when he came towards me and placed his hand on my shoulders and said, “I have been sick for some time, but I refused to leave this earth without assuring my grandson had the little black book in his possession”. Tears started going down my face as I realized that I was the grandson of O’me and Zelda, the orphan in the story.

So many emotions started going through my body at once, my entire life had been a lie. Judy my wicked selfish foster mother had hid my identify from me, she told me my family hated me. That they left me with nothing and was never coming back, all along I had family right here. Old man Creek why didn’t you tell me sooner? Why didn’t you take me and raise me? He said, “I am sorry child but sometimes the best way to protect someone is to leave them be” “but I could not, I knew abandonment to well, though I tried your foster mother wanted money in exchange for you”. He told me that he could not allow that to happen and waited patiently for me to be of age to go out on my own. When I was good and ready, he even told me that Judy’s late husband. Had left her no wealth because the will stated his remaining earning when he passes goes to his eldest son. In this case that would be me I am the eldest of my siblings.

But the little black book that was now in my possession left me with more than riches. I would be Wealthy and set for the rest of my life, to pass this on to my children’s, children. There was even a house built by the hands of my grandfather Alfonso out in California, where he brought enough property for me to build my own town. My heart was overwhelmed with joy and blessings, so I knew I should let my siblings come with me and take our foster father’s earnings and put it away for them. After all this little black book needed to have the legacy continued. Just wait until I return home to share the news with everyone and really stick it to Judy and her implants. I guess after all I truly did have luck and that fortune was right. I needed to get a clue, because now I have more than a clue to get so thank you universe.