The Art of Premonition

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     Mazzie Stonewall was floating along, letting the water take her where it may. The pond was cooler than most would like it, but she preferred it that way. She detested being hot and as irony would have it; mid-June seemed to be the very definition of heat. Summer break was well underway in her small Midwest town and she found herself with little to do. Mazzie didn’t understand why all the excitement over summer vacation was such a big deal.  It wasn’t like her family ever went anywhere. Her parents were always too busy serving the people of the community to do anything as carefree as a family getaway. They had always been champions to the cause of greater good. Because of that fact everyone in town had known them even before they’d become Mr. and Mrs. Stonewall. Mazzie’s parents were the perfect love story. Theirs’ was a tale everyone in Buffalo Springs knew. It was practically legend.

     Marshall Stonewall was the town’s newest firefighter and Emily Passat worked at the hospital as a nurse. Marshall had been admitted with head trauma and third degree burns across a good portion of his lower body. The night had been cold and the road slick with icy moisture. His pick-up truck had caught fire after a semi with a full load had lost control and plowed into it. He’d been trapped in the cab unconscious and bleeding out as the flames ate his clothes and started in on his skin. The doctors had said he was lucky to have lived through the ordeal. He’d lain in the hospital for almost two days before coming to. The first thing he saw was the smiling yet concerned face of a young raven haired beauty. Emily had been his nurse during the day shift and his only visitor outside of his fellow firefighters.  In the almost two weeks he’d been a patient she’d struggled to keep her demeanor as professional as possible. That was no easy task when her patient kept phoning in bouquets of flowers for her every other day. Upon being released from the hospital Marshall had refused to leave until Emily agreed to have dinner with him. Everything that happened after that dinner date was as good as happily ever after. That had been twenty- five years, five kids, and many promotions ago. Marshall became the Fire Chief and Emily had taken over the maternity ward as the charge nurse. Mazzie, being the youngest, had four older brothers who were as much her protectors as they were her tormentors.

She floated on her back in a pond that was forever cool thanks to the underground spring that fed it.  The setting sun was infusing shades of yellow, orange, and pink into the clouds that stretched across the southern Oklahoma sky. She liked this spot because it was a quiet, peaceful place to get away, both literally and mentally. The crickets were starting their evening song but it was interrupted by the sound of a quad trekking through the long grass that surrounded Mazzie’s secret sanctuary.

“Hey Mazzie!” called her oldest brother Matthew, “You in there somewhere?”

She grunted and turned face down in the water, allowing herself to sink. Matthew’s calls still came but they were muffled and distant from under the water’s surface. Mazzie just needed a few more seconds alone before she returned back to reality. She let those solitary moments consume her and then powered her way to the surface and swam to shore. Slipping into her waiting flip flops, she passed through the tall cattails at the pond’s edge and made her way through a tree peppered field of wild grass. Matthew sat patiently on his quad as she approached him at a relaxed amble.

“You sure do like to take your sweet time about everything, don’t ya sis?” Matthew said with a loving chuckle.

“It’s a preference Matt; I’m not in any hurry so why act like I am? The world turns on the preferences and opinions of individuals, it’s what makes mankind so fascinating. Laws don’t govern life, preferences, and beliefs do. It is my opinion that I believe in the preference of taking my time. That way I don’t miss anything.” Mazzie said with a mischievous smirk.

“My baby sister the philosopher.” Matthew said and shook his head with a smile. “I’ve missed you!”

“It’s not philosophy Matt! It’s the plain and simple truth.” She insisted.

“Whatever you say Mazzie. If you ask me, life is ran and dictated by those who have power and those who have power usually have money. Take my word for it, the world is a screwed up place! More screwed up than you can imagine, that I can promise you.  Being in the military I have seen just how messed up some people truly are. I hope you are never exposed to that kind of insanity.” Matthew said with a touch of sorrow in his voice.

Mazzie knew that Matthew had seen more than his fair share of horrific things since he’d joined the military. She was relieved to learn he had recently landed a billet that would keep him state side at least for a little while.

“How long are you home for?” Mazzie asked as she climbed on the quad behind him.

“I only got two weeks of leave then I gotta head back to San Diego. The new recruits aren’t gonna train themselves, gotta turn those boys into Marines!” He said with pride.

Mazzie rolled her eyes and prayed that he wouldn’t go into detail about the recruit training. To her mind it seemed a little excessive. She assumed that some people just enjoyed the rigorous and physically taxing life that they chose to lead, it just wasn’t for her. She was all about going with the flow. Her flow was going to land her on the walls of many art galleries one day. Right after she got her BA. Unlike so many of her fellow seniors to be, she actually had a plan and it didn’t involve staying in a little town. Matthew turned the quad around and headed toward the country road that would lead them home. The house was a good mile down the way from the pond and her parents owned everything in between. Mazzie didn’t see the point in trying to talk over the engine noise so she laid her head on her brother’s back and listened to his heartbeat instead. She never let herself take his being around for granted, but she couldn’t understand why he willingly took on such a potentially dangerous livelihood. She knew it wasn’t right but Matthew was her favorite brother. She didn’t get to see him but maybe twice a year. It wasn’t that Mason, Marcus, or Marlin weren’t good brothers. They were. Matthew just had a special bond with Mazzie that her other brothers didn’t. Matthew slid into the gravel drive that led to the house, parked the quad, and cut the engine off. He hopped off the quad and offered her a hand as he dipped into a dramatic bow.

“My Lady if you’d be so kind as to let me assist you down from your chariot.” He said in his best gentleman’s voice.

Mazzie giggled, accepted his hand, and stepped down from the quad with regal grace.

“Why thank you kind sir!” she said in a fancy voice of her own and curtsied the best she could in damp cutoffs and a pink T-shirt.

“Don’t mention it my lady, the pleasure is all mine.” He said as he tucked her hand into the crook of his arm and they walked up the front steps of the house.

“You know, I can’t wait for senior year to be over so I can move to California and be closer to you. College is going to be so fun!” she said with excitement evident in every word.

“Woah slow down princess!  Your senior year hasn’t even started yet little girl! You got plenty of time.” He said with a wink.

“Matt you’re only six years older than me. Please give the little girl thing a rest! I’m almost eighteen and that’s hardly little.” Mazzie said.

“Well you’re still the cutest thing ever.” He countered.

“Yeah…do me a favor Matt don’t ever say that again, it’s just weird.” She said casting him a withering look.

He laughed at her discontent as he opened the screen door for her. They stepped into the two story ranch house and the intermingled scents of fresh baked garlic bread and spaghetti sauce wrapped around them like a warm blanket.

“Smell that Mazzie? THAT is the best homecoming there ever was, the scent of your mother’s cooking set in the familiar surroundings of the house you call your childhood home.” Matthew said raising his nose to the air.

They followed the mouthwatering smell into the dining room and saw there was a fresh green garden salad and melon bowl on the table as well. Mazzie was the only one among her siblings still living at home, but the boys came back every holiday and also when Matthew was home on leave. Mrs. Stonewall was making her way to the table with a smile for her oldest and youngest children. She was holding the last two glasses of sweet tea to be set on the table.

“You two go wash your hands for dinner.”  She said pointing to the kitchen sink.

Mazzie had lived in the house her whole life and couldn’t imagine what calling another place home would be like. It was scary yet exciting all at the same time. She knew she’d miss the vaulted ceilings along with the wood and tiled surfaces that made the house the epitome of a country home. It was a far cry from the city life Mazzie yearned for. Her future didn’t include country roads or one stop gas, bait, and beer shops. At least it wouldn’t if she could just get through senior year without losing her mind. Between school, family, volunteering at the library, soccer, and working at the skating rink she might not make it through with her sanity still intact.

“DINNER!” Mrs. Stonewall shouted towards the basement family room.

It sounded like a herd of cattle was stampeding up the stairs as Mazzie’s father and brothers responded to her mother’s call. If there was one thing in the world that would get the Stonewall men moving, it was the promise of Mrs. Stonewall’s food. Mazzie took her seat with Matt on her right, her mother on her left, and then watched as the remaining five seats were filled in record time. She looked around the table at all the faces she loved until her gaze came to rest on a pair of moss green eyes she’d never seen before. The man they belonged to regarded her with a curiosity that mirrored her own. When he offered her a friendly smile she didn’t return the gesture. Instead she kept her expression blank and unreadable.

“Who are you?” she asked the young man pointedly.

“Mazzie!” Her mother said horrified, “Where are your manners?! That is not the way we treat a guest!”

Mazzie flinched at the sharpness of her mother’s tone and stared at her plate as she apologized.

“I’m sorry mama.” Mazzie said.

She looked at the young man that was sitting across from her, his smile still in place. He didn’t say a word just sat there like he was waiting for something. It occurred to Mazzie that he might want an apology.

“Well how does it feel to want?” she thought to herself.

She couldn’t put her finger on the why of it but something about this young man had rubbed her wrong right off the bat. He had that self-absorbed and thinks he’s, “god’s gift to women” look about him.  She knew she shouldn’t judge a stranger by looks alone, but the smugness that creeped into the smile on his face had her doing just that…judging him. An awkward silence settled over the table and when she looked in Mrs. Stonewall’s direction, the look on her mother’s face clearly said, “Apologized to him not me!”

“I’m sorry for being rude.” She said looking him in the eye.

If she wasn’t mistaken his smile deepened and he got the slightest glint of cocky in his eye. In that moment her mind casted its verdict and it was a solid 10 on how much she did NOT like him. She was all too familiar with guys like this one, all sculpted perfection and more shallow than a wading pool. She was fairly certain that even that might be too deep for the likes of him. She wondered which one of her older brother’s he’d followed home. He just didn’t seem to fit for some reason. There was something different about him. Then he opened his mouth and there was no question of who had brought him to their home. She looked at Matthew trying very hard to contain her smirk and laughter over the young man’s northern accent.

“It’s alright Mrs. Stonewall it’s not every day that you see a stranger sitting opposite you at your family dinner table. I can understand her curiosity, but to answer your question, the name is Donovan Bishop, but your brother here calls me Bishop.”  Donovan said.

“Well it is nice to meet you Donovan, I’m…” Mazzie started to say.

“ Mazzie…I know. Your brother here talks about his baby sister all the time. You are the apple of this guy’s eye, his pride and joy.” Donovan said gesturing toward Matthew.

Matthew perked up, looked at his sister and said, “Well who wouldn’t be, I’m telling you man, she is going to go places with her art!” Matthew said as he threw his left arm around her shoulders.

“Ok enough with the small talk. I’m starved! Now if y’all don’t mind, I say on with the prayer and let’s dig in!” Mr. Stonewall said.

Mr. Stonewall said the Lord’s Prayer to bless the food and the game of musical dishes began. Mazzie watched as the food traveled counter clockwise around the table. She studied their guest and everything about him, mannerisms, tone, and the way he sat there like he’d known her family all his life. She realized that Donovan was comfortable with exactly who he was and if she were a betting woman?  Well she’d bet that it took a lot to get under his skin. Mazzie had gone from merely observing to full out staring. Donovan looked up from the meatball he was cutting and without missing a stroke of the knife, he held her gaze. She flushed bright pink, snatched up the bowl of spaghetti noodles, and piled a heap on her plate before passing the bowl on to her brother. She did the same with the salad and then asked for the ranch.

“Here you go.” Donovan said and passed it across.

“Thanks” Mazzie told him with a thin smile.

She doused her salad and for the rest of the meal everyone was too busy eating to talk. After finishing her plate Mazzie took it to the sink.

“Don’t forget it’s your turn to do the dishes Mazzie.” Her mother called to her.

She sighed under her breath and when her back was facing her mother she rolled her eyes. She knew better than to do something like that where her mother could see it. That would be stupid bordering suicidal and Mazzie had never been suicidal in her life…she wasn’t about to start now. Besides doing dishes would give her the opportunity to sneak out the back door rather than socialize with their, “House Guest” when she finished the chore.

“I’ll help her Mrs. Stonewall.” Donovan announced.

“That isn’t necessary dear!  You’re a guest, no dishes for you hun!” Mazzie’s mother told him.

“Mom’s right, I can handle this!” Mazzie said earnestly.

“Oh but I insist, it’s the least I can do!” Donovan said and took the dish cloth from Mazzie’s hand.

He strolled to the sink like he’d done the dishes there a hundred times before and got straight to work with the suds in the sink. Mazzie threw daggered glares at his back and when he turned around and smiled the tips of her ears turned red.

“I said I’d help so come on over and grab a drying towel, I’ll wash if you dry.” he said.

She snatched the dish towel off the oven door and went to stand next to him at the sink. She was trying very hard to keep her unexplainable rage in check. Counting backward from 10 in her head, she wondered what it was about him that got her so fired up, she really had no clue. Once she felt it was safe to open her mouth again she offered their guest a saying that would put him at ease but was actually a negative in the most sarcastic of ways there in the Midwest and south.

     “Awe well bless your heart.” She announced with a brilliant smile and then got down to drying and shelving the dishes he’d washed.