Not So Snow White
By K. Sean Jennkrist
Published by K. Sean Jennkrist at Smashwords
Copyright 2011 K. Sean Jennkrist
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
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Permission for use of cover photo from Fotolia.com
Dedicated to all those
with a bit of mischief in their hearts.
My name is Winter Snow and I have a secret.
Chapter
1:
Becoming Snow White
It was the first week of school, my senior year. I sat in the front row of biology class, not really paying much attention to Mr. Thompson's lecture on the biosphere. My brain cranked out ideas, the possibilities of what I could do. It wasn't so much of a list as it was bits and pieces of my desperate thoughts. I needed to make a move and finally act on something no one else could or would do. At least that's what I decided after months of frustration and the buildup of impatience. As everyone who knows me can verify, I am not a patient person.
You know you have to do something, anything! Just get off your ass and go do it!
Will you shut up! I'm tired of your meddling. I'll figure it out. Just leave me alone, will you?
No can do, muchacha. I'm here to stay … or at least until you get the job done. Nobody likes a quitter. And it seems to me like you're thinking of quitting. Not about to let you do that. Not on my watch, anyway.
Did anyone ever tell you, you look like Robert Downy Junior in drag? Yeah, the little pink outfit with your gossamer wings. The face stubble ruins it though. You need a shave.
I don't have wings! And I'm female to the core.
Could have fooled me, Iron Man.
"Miss Snow, perhaps you can give us an example of a food chain we would find in the tropical biome, instead of mumbling and doodling at your desk?"
"Hmm?" I looked up from the scribbles on my notepad—but not before noticing the perfect sketch of a man in a pink tutu—and stared at Mr. Thompson. The puzzled frown on my face must have sent the message he had already guessed. I watched him take a finger and slide his glasses down until they rested at the tip of his nose, while his one eyebrow arched upward.
"Well, then. Since you seem so disinterested in our topic, maybe reading a chapter in the book will help stimulate you. Class, thanks to Miss Snow, you will need to finish chapter fifteen in your textbook, and expect a quiz over the material tomorrow."
I slumped down in my seat and moaned. I heard the snickers and whispered comments. Freak, Weirdo, Nutcase. The usual vocabulary.
Tina Ford bumped into my desk as she traveled to the front of the room. "Still talking to your imaginary friends? Really, don't you think that freak show is a little old?"
Her voice felt like tiny pricks of needles stabbing me. Of course, I understood. Who could resist calling me the oddball? Me and my conversations with this tiny creature whose voice constantly chatters in my ear? I'd call me a weirdo freak, too.
"Thanks a lot, Snow. As if I don't have enough to do tonight," Jacob mumbled.
His warm breath on my neck as he leaned forward to whisper did nothing to arouse the usual emotion I have for him. Jacob Miller was a major heart throb to nearly every girl at Woodland High. Yet, right now, he didn't faze me. I was totally oblivious.
"Hey, Winter, don't listen to them. Do you want to stop at Menche's on the way home? I'm craving one of their blue cheese and guacamole burgers." Abby stood next to my desk with a five-layered stack of books cradled in her arms.
I smiled and nodded. "Sure, but we've got to swing by the shop first."
Abby groaned. "Not again? How many times does she have to tell you she doesn't remember?"
"I know, but I thought of some new questions for her to answer. It might help." I realized I sounded more desperate than usual. My voice trembled and it had this pathetic edge to it.
"Fine." She nodded. "Let's get moving or we'll be late to history. And you know how Mr. Frankie Frankenstein can be."
I weaved my way through the crowded hall. Some eyes stared at me. As usual, I ignored them, not bothering to stare back like I used to do.
"Way to move, Snow White. This workload is already killing my social register, and you just slammed it again."
Benny pulled up beside me and nudged my arm. I frowned at him, ready to open my mouth with some equally lame retort, but then I detected the smile on his lips.
"Yeah, Snow White at your service. Glad to be of assistance. Besides, you enjoy reading, don't you?" I teased. It really didn't bother me, him calling me that. He was my friend. It was all the others and how they meant it when they said it that hurt.
"Yeah, but not about biomes and food chains. I'm more of an Amanda Hocking or Stephenie Meyer follower."
I cringed and stuck a finger in my mouth. "Talk about overload. Vampire and werewolf stories have hit the tilt button. Something new has got to happen."
"I like romance novels, too," Benny defended.
I laughed. "You are certifiably the weird one. Seriously, you know I've had other things on my mind. More important stuff." I shifted my smiling self into a more somber mood. I felt inside my pocket to find the paper I'd put there. Questions for Gwen. She was my only lead. At least she was the last person to see him before he disappeared.
"We're gonna stop by Menche's for burgers later. Wanna tag along?" I offered.
"That's after we stop at The Learned Owl," Abby added.
"Huh. Not giving up, are you?" Benny stared at me.
I read the flicker of concern in his eyes. "Would you? I mean, if this was your dad?" I realized I had touched some kind of chord as he grew silent for a moment.
"Let's meet behind the Commons then," he finally said. "And yeah, I would never stop looking if my dad was missing."
He smiled at me, a sad sort of smile, and brought his hand up to brush away a white blonde curl from my cheek. "Keep the faith, Snow White."
I laughed and shook my head. "Always. Okay, gotta motor." I grabbed Abby's arm and hurried off to history. One more hour and I could hardly wait. I used to feel that way all the time, at least until my dad disappeared. Early April, the day had reached an unusual eighty with the rain falling all day, leaving a sticky, wet mugginess lasting into the night. Hard to believe it had only been five months ago. After that, I chose school to be my refuge. Home left me empty, sad, and crying every night. Now, I had a different reason for wanting school to end each day. I had a quest to begin—as if Tinker Bell would let me forget. I had to find my dad.
Chapter
2:
A Book by Its Cover
"No, I don't recall anything else. Sorry." Gwen shook her head and retreated behind the counter once more. Her fingers picked at the corner of a large book with photographs by Ansel Adams.
I sighed and gave Abby and Benny a sideways glance. Bringing my focus back to Gwen, I said, "Maybe if you just thought about it for a minute."
The head shook even harder. "I can't, and I wish you'd stop this, Winter. All these questions. I've told you before and I will keep saying the same thing. Your dad came to the shop that evening, bought the travel guide, said goodbye, and then left. Nothing else. Nothing unusual. Nothing cryptic. No clues or hints about where he was going or why. There's nothing more I can tell you." Gwen wrapped both arms tightly around one another as she folded them across her chest. "Now, would you please leave it alone?"
I felt it again as I listened and watched her. Like every time, I felt she held something back, something important. But what? "Can't you can check your store's inventory one more time? Maybe you overlooked that day's sales records. If you just ..." I wanted to cry, but bit down hard on my lip to stop it.
Gwen shook her head once more. "I didn't overlook anything. I checked several times. I even had one of my employees go through them. Somehow, that day is missing. I don't know why."
I shivered. "Well, if you do remember anything else, please …"
"Call you. I know. You've only told me twelve times."
I caught the sarcasm, but overlooked it. I was too tired and too frustrated to care. Gwen was one of Dad's closest friends. She and Dad went to school together. Her husband and my mom grew up in the same neighborhood. Woodland Hills was a small town. Lots of folks crisscrossed paths more than once throughout their lives. Gwen should know more, I thought. More than she was admitting.
Of course, I guess I was trying to convince myself there had to be more to why my dad left. He couldn't just leave, right? I asked myself the same question everyday and got the same answer. I didn't know. Nobody did. Certainly not my mom. And she should. The problem was that he never hinted at leaving, not one word to her. One evening they said goodnight and went up to bed. When she awoke the next morning, he was gone. We hadn't spoken about it since. She refused, even when I tried.
"Fine," I mumbled, and then turned to Abby and Benny. "Before we leave, I want to browse around. I need some new reading material."
"You mean reading a chapter on biomes and studying for a quiz won't keep you busy enough?" Benny scowled.
I rolled my eyes. "Funny." I started toward the back of the store where the young adult fiction section was displayed, leaving Benny and Abby at the register to chat with Gwen.
I gravitated toward the wall labeled fantasy and began to scan the titles. I'd read a good many of them, even the vampire and werewolf fodder I once enjoyed, but nothing new on the shelves really grabbed my interest. I turned to walk away, figuring maybe next time, when Abby and Benny weren't waiting impatiently, I could browse more. It was then my eyes settled on a table by the rear wall. A hanging sign informed me it was piled with used books. Someone's collection donated to sell. Curious, I decided Abby's hunger pains for burgers could wait a few minutes longer.
My hand slid across the top layer of mostly shabby leather covers until it stopped on one that looked worn more than the others. The dark red leather had faded in spots and the gold embossed title had flecked, leaving cracks in some of the lettering.
"Snow White, A Twisted Sort of Tale," I read aloud. For some reason a chill shivered and rushed through my body. And for another, I decided without even peeking at the inside, I needed to buy it. Walking to the front once again, I found Abby and Benny had disappeared. I looked at Gwen who gave me an indifferent shrug.
"They just told me to let you know they would wait outside."
Somehow I hesitated, but then placed the tattered book on the counter. "How much?"
Gwen frowned as she stared at the title, but then she pulled out a sheet of paper and studied its contents for a few seconds. She looked up and smiled. "Lucinda Mayhem enjoys sharing her treasured reading. At least that's what the note says, the one she included with these musty-smelling tomes."
It was my turn to look indifferent. "But how much?"
"Okay." Her finger tapped on a place about halfway down the sheet. "Says here she would like to give this one away to a fellow lover of fairytales. Can you believe it?" Gwen looked up and smiled once more. "So, I guess it's yours, free of charge, compliments of Mrs. Mayhem."
I watched Gwen shove the paper back under the counter. I puzzled over what she'd just told me. Now, I began to wonder about Lucinda Mayhem. "Who is she?"
"Hmm? Oh, you mean the giver of books? I can't really tell you much, other than she's very, very old. In fact, when she shuffled into the store last week, toting all those books, I couldn't believe my eyes. That box must've weighed nearly forty pounds. But she carried it in like it floated on air. Very strange." Gwen shook her head.
"That's it? That's all you know about her?" Suddenly, I had the urge to leave this waste of a conversation and get home to read what I bought. Well, not bought, but mine all the same.
"She did say that her family has lived in Woodland Hills since nineteen-fourteen. When she was nine, her parents moved here from the east coast. Her house is somewhere along the lake, near the center of town, one of those turn of the nineteenth century homes that have endured with little wear. It's amazing how well kept those homes are. Owned by people who respect history, I imagine."
"Wow. That makes her over a hundred years old," I exclaimed and stared once more at the book in my hands.
"One hundred and six on her birthday next month," Gwen added.
I stared at her, my brows drawn together.
"She told me she plans to have a big birthday bash at the end of October." Gwen paused to laugh. "Can't imagine she has very many friends or relatives left. She's probably outlived them all!"
"Hmm. That's sad though." I couldn't even begin to wonder what it would feel like to live after everyone around me passed away. It was bad enough that Dad had disappeared.
"Maybe so, but Mrs. Mayhem says she plans on inviting the whole town, anyone who wants to attend. I know I'll certainly be there."
"Yeah, well, that's a really interesting story, Gwen, but I've got to hurry, or Benny and Abby will leave without me. Like I said, if you …"
"I know, I know. I'll make sure to get in touch. Have a nice day, Winter, and enjoy your, ah, fairytale."
I said a quick goodbye and ran out the door to find Abby and Benny sitting on the curb.
"About time," Benny growled.
"We almost left without you. I'm so hungry I could eat two blue cheese and guacamole burgers," Abby added and stood up to brush off her bottom.
"Sorry. I found something interesting and then had to hear from Gwen how the book came to be in the store. I have to admit, it is strange." I stared once more at the frayed cover with its gold-lettered title.
Abby leaned over to read. "Snow White?" She laughed "Taking this nickname a bit too seriously, aren't you? And twisted doesn't seem like the way to describe a fairytale."
Benny snickered. "Über weird. You know, this would soooo add to your popular, fun status at Woodland High."
"Maybe it's like one of those fractured fairytales we learned about in English," I defended and then scowled as I turned to Benny. "And you, shuttup." The last thing I needed right now was to be reminded of how weird people thought I was. They already got an eyeful after one look at me with my white blond hair and skin just as pale, along with eyebrows and lashes to match. I'd been called an albino, but they were wrong. If they could only see the family photo albums, they would soon learn that most relatives on my dad's side had the same coloring.
The odd part was how that genetic code came about in the first place. I heard one story often enough. Some great, great ancestor from England with black hair, dark eyes, and olive skin had managed to really tick off some powerful people. One day, this ancestor went too far. And the way my grandmother tells it, the next morning she woke up with a head of white hair, pale blue eyes and her skin the color of new fallen snow. I used to laugh about it, thinking how crazy my grandmother was, but then again, my grandmother did have an extreme sense of humor.
I just used common sense and told myself that somebody back then probably married someone with those light features and they started a long line of white-haired descendants. Not so strange, after all.
Of course, when I was born, my grandmother and her weird taste decided it would be fitting to name me Winter. Since our last name is Snow, I'm sure that's where she and her humorous side got satisfaction. Thanks a whole heap of dog doo doo, Grandma.
But of course, that's not the only reason people thought I was weird. That part started after my dad disappeared. Problem was … the guy-girl in the pink outfit wouldn't go away. Crazy? Maybe, but it seemed real enough to me. Just not anything I could talk about to anyone. At least, not in this universe.
"Maybe we should get to Menche's before the dinner rush," Abby suggested.
I noticed how pained her expression looked. I laughed. "Okay, okay. I can see you're about to faint, so let's go." I stuffed the book inside my bag and hurried along with Abby and Benny. For the moment, I forgot to worry about Dad.
Chapter 3: A Twisted Tale
I locked my bedroom door and sat down on the bed. My hand traveled over the book's cover, back and forth as I hesitated to open it. One hand rose to rub my arm as I shivered with the same sense of coldness I felt back at the store.
"This is silly," I said aloud and laughed nervously. With a quick force, I threw open the cover and stared at the first page. "Snow White, A Twisted Sort of Tale by Ashton Mayhem." A relation to Lucinda Mayhem? Too much of coincidence not to be, I decided.
I flipped through the pages, studying the antique scrawl of letters and the colorful illustrations. I couldn't help but admire what Ashton had created. Setting back against my pillow, I then turned to page one to read.
In a kingdom far away, deep in the woods, lived a king and queen who wanted a child very much. They prayed every night that the heavens would bless them, until one day the queen announced she was with child. As happy as the royal couple could be, they decided to hold a festival to celebrate. Everyone in the kingdom was to be invited, from royal subjects to common servants.
On the evening of the joyous occasion, carriage after carriage arrived, bringing hundreds of guests to the front door of the castle. Soon, the ballroom was filled with noise—laughter, song, dance, and celebrated talk among all. The most repeated phrase was to congratulate the royal couple and to wish them the best of luck and health. Many who could afford it brought gifts for the unborn child.
One guest was especially gracious and she came dressed in the most exotic garb. No one had ever witnessed such a display in this part of the world. She called herself Queen Lorelei from a neighboring kingdom. She bowed graciously before the king and queen. With a warm smile, she reached out with a rather large package cradled in her arms. She watched, pleased, as the king opened the wrapping to find an ornate, gold-gilded mirror.
"A gift for your child, my lady and my lord. In the year of her eighteenth birthday, give this to your daughter. And not before, I advise you. Henceforth, she may look upon this mirror everyday and be reminded of how beautiful and wise she is."
The queen frowned before finally asking, "My dear stranger, your gift is most generous, but how do you know our child will be a girl?"
Queen Lorelei smiled. "The gods have shown their signs and I have noticed. Do not worry. The child will be healthy and beautiful. You will see. Special and unique in her own way." The exotic visitor bowed and backed away.
The queen wanted to ask more, but other guests came to the front and Queen Lorelei disappeared into the crowd. She couldn't remain worried. The mirror was a glorious gift and promised to bring happiness.
I closed the cover, lay the book down on my lap and thought about Lorelei's gift. I remembered the original story and the evil queen's mirror which would tell her how beautiful and fair she was. The fairest in the land, the creature in the mirror said. I had read to the end of chapter one, but still had several more to go. Ashton Mayhem took a simple tale and expanded it, but into what, I wondered? And how about the twisted part? That had me more curious than anything.
The sound of thunder rolled and rumbled across the sky. I stood up and crossed the room when I heard the first pings of rain hit the glass and hurried to close the window seconds before it turned into a torrential downpour. The streams and swirls of water blurred my view of the street below. Yet, a small dark image seemed to stand out as it moved across the front lawn. I raised the window a few inches and tried to get a clearer view, but when I bent down to peer out, the shadowed form was gone.
"Okay," I muttered aloud and thought about going outside to look from the porch, maybe get a better view, but the phone rang. "Hello?"
"Miss Snow?"
The voice at the other end sounded rough and crackly like the surface of sandpaper when you’d scratch it. "Yes, this is she."
"Good. I inquired at the bookstore and the nice young owner gave me your name and number."
I waited for more, but nothing came. "I don't understand. Why would you be asking about me?"
"I just wanted to thank you for showing interest in the Snow White fairytale."
"Oh, ah … I see," I managed and then added, "You must be Lucinda Mayhem." In a second, I heard the cackling of laughter, the sound much like the sandpaper roughness of her voice.
"Yes, indeed. And the author of your book, Ashton Mayhem, was my father-in-law, bless his soul. All he ever wanted was to be recognized for his writing. He tried so very hard, well into his elder years."
"But this book …" I started, somehow feeling sorry for someone I didn't even know.
"Vanity publishing, dear. A self-indulgence of sorts, I would say. He tired of the wait, so he paid a local press to print it. Only five copies, one for each member of our family."
Now, I was puzzled. "But why give it away? Wouldn't you want to keep it? I mean, to remember him by or something?" I kept thinking about Dad. What would I want of his?
"Oh, dear. Would you look at the time? I'm late for an appointment so I'm afraid we will have to continue our conversation later. Before I go, I want to invite you to my birthday party, a special invitation. I hope you will come?"
The conversation was getting stranger by the minute, I thought. "Ah, yeah, I guess so. That's in October, right?"
"I've decided to move it up a bit. Next week, as a matter of fact. And I'm so glad you'll come. I want you to meet my family."
"Okay, hmm, thank you. I mean, I guess I'd need to know where you live."
"Don't worry about that, dear. I will send you an invitation. Good evening and enjoy your book."
I heard the click and stared at the phone for a moment. "That has to be the strangest thing that's happened to me in awhile." I shrugged and grabbed my biology text out of my bag. I had just enough time to read and study before getting ready for bed. Trying to concentrate turned out to be more than I could handle. Bits of biome data floated through my brain, only to be pushed out by thoughts of the twisted Snow White, Ashton and Lucinda Mayhem, and the whole bizarre telephone conversation. I scolded myself for taking up time with any other data than Dad and his missing status.
I stared at the red-leathered cover and reached out to trace the lettering with my finger. "Why is your story so important, Ashton Mayhem?"
And why would Lucinda Mayhem be so interested it me? My life was boring. Slim pages of nothing special, nothing unusual. Lots of kids have one parent, and even one parent who abandoned them, I decided. As for how kids at school looked at me, everyone, or most everyone, thought I was strange, but that was another matter. I shivered at remembering last spring. My behavior had taken a real turn, a nosedive into depression after that day Dad disappeared.
"You need to see a doctor," Benny had commented, more than once.
"I don't think any doctor can cure this," I remarked and always ignored the stares and the snickers.
"Fine, but at the speed you're traveling … well, I don't think you'll last."
It was the last conversation we had about it. However, if I had a crystal ball, I'd know that it wouldn't be the last I heard. And depression might look like a minor flaw compared to what was to come.
Chapter 4: Want to Party?
You are wise and beautiful with a special gift … I woke with a startled gasp and glanced at the clock next to me. Seven-thirty. "Oh great," I mumbled and threw the covers off me. I had fifteen minutes before first bell. In mid-stride to the bathroom, I stopped. The words I woke up to registered. Snow White and Ashton's twisted tale. I pushed the thought to the side and hurried on to get dressed, then downstairs to find my books.
"There you are. I thought maybe you were taking the day off," Mom said before turning to stare out the kitchen window and sip her tea.
I remembered when she used to wake me in the morning, singing some cheesy, but cheery song to brighten my usually grumpy mood that came with the early hour.
"I have to hurry or I'll miss my ride." I grabbed a granola bar out of the box and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "See you later. Love you."
As I crossed the front doorway, I thought I heard her mumble something back to me. I wasn't sure who I worried about more—her or Dad. Of course, I could see how things affected her. Dad's situation was more of the mind-worrying kind, the kind where my imagination transformed and morphed into wild, horrifying possibilities.
The horn beeped and brought me out of my semi-conscious state. Benny and his Tribe Mobile sat out front at the curb. People started calling his car that since he had it painted red and blue and then added the Indian's decal on the hood. Not much of a stretch for anyone to guess what his favorite sport was. His dad and he had season tickets to the Tribe games every year. Go Cleveland.
"Hey. Just in time," I said in a breathy tone as I climbed into the backseat.
"Morning." Benny and Abby chorused together. Abby tossed a juice box back to me.
"Figured you might need one," she said.
"Huh. Good call. Say! You'd never believe who I heard from last night." I went on to explain about Lucinda and her invitation.
"That is weird. Are you really going to her party?" Abby asked.
Figures that would be what she was most interested in. And I guessed her next question would be to ask if she could tag along as my guest. "Yes, it is weird. And to your second comment slash question, it's a maybe." I waited until her mouth started to open. "And no, you can't come along. She invited me, no guest, just me."
"But you could ask, couldn't you?" Abby's voice turned whiney.
"Why would you even want to go to some century old woman's birthday bash?" Benny interrupted.
I was glad he did. At least that showed I wasn't the only one thinking how lame it was.
"Well, duh, just about everyone will be there. Everyone who is anyone, according to the write-up in the Woodland Hills News. See?" She tossed the paper to the backseat.
I glanced at the article on the front page: "Prominent Citizen Turns One-Hundred and Six". I read through the first couple of paragraphs, just enough to learn about what I already learned last night.
"And what you're really thinking is that you might get a chance to talk to Charles Freemont, right?" Benny laughed.
"Who's Charles Freemont?" I asked, puzzled by the turn in conversation.
Benny stopped laughing long enough to answer. "Oh, he's the guy who owns the radio station. You know, the one Abby has her eye on? The one who gives out the internship to graduating seniors every year? That one."
"It's not funny. I'm very serious about what I want to do after graduation, and if I could just get a chance to tell him how much I want that internship, maybe …"
"You and about a hundred other seniors," Benny quipped.
"Seriously, guys, I don't even think I'll go. I mean, she seems kind of creepy. So, a whole family of them might be more than just a little scary." I shivered and stared at the article once more, reading on to find out that Lucinda Mayhem was tenth generation American and the Mayhems lived about five of them as Woodland Hills' residents. The family moved from England to Massachusetts in the seventeen-hundreds, before the Revolutionary war, but for some reason migrated west to Ohio in the early nineteen-hundreds.
"Not go? Are you crazy? This is a chance of a lifetime," Abby squeaked.
"Yeah? For who?" Benny snickered.
"Shuttup, lame brain," Abby snapped and then twisted her head around to face me. "Who knows? If you get on Lucinda Mayhem's good side, and you asked her, maybe she'd hire a detective to help find your dad. She's loaded."
I laughed. "Nice try. Forget broadcaster. With your litigating talent, you should become a lawyer."
"Then it is a good idea. I can see in your eyes you agree. Come on, Winter. What harm could it do? I mean, really. Lucinda and her creepiness can't hurt you with all those guests around. And if you take me, I can protect you. I'll stick to you like glue all evening."
"You mean when your glue isn't busy sticking to Charles Freemont?" I tried hiding the smile wanting to stretch my lips wider.
"Seriously, I can do both." She scowled and then turned back to hunch down in her seat. "Both of you need to grow up."
Benny rolled his eyes as he stared at me in the rearview mirror. I smiled back. My mind tried not to be convinced by the very convincing argument Abby had tossed my way. It was true that I didn't have the resources to search for Dad. Neither did Mom, or she would have done so by now. Still, asking a total stranger for money to hire a detective? That took some major steel as Benny often phrased it. I couldn't. However, I had to admit, I was curious about the Mayhems, even if in a nervous sort of way.
"All right, Abby. You win. I'll go. And I'll call the founding mother of Woodland Hills and say I have to bring you along for protection. How's that?"
Abby's jaw dropped. "You aren't really going to say that, are you?"
I laughed. "No. But you are coming along for protection. Got it? Where I go that evening, you go." I glanced down at the paper once more and refocused. I could hear Abby and Benny carry on a conversation about burgers versus tacos, which had better flavor, but soon lost interest. Besides, the article had more appeal. It was when I reached the last paragraph that I had to muffle a gasp. It appeared Lucinda and I had more in common than a book about Snow White. A lot more.
I looked up. "Hey, wanna ditch school with me this morning? I have to pay a visit to Lucinda Mayhem, and it has to be right away."
Chapter 5: All Things Lead Back to the Beginning
"So what if she's from Needham Massachusetts? It might not be your Needham Massachusetts," Abby exclaimed.
I sighed. "Abby, there's only one Needham in Massachusetts, don't you think?"
"Oh, well, yeah. I guess that makes sense. But so what? Lots of people are from Needham."
I was getting impatient with her push to tear down my reasoning. I'd been trying to make sense of why Lucinda Mayhem had suddenly come into my life. The family connection formed by two families from one town in Massachusetts seemed logical. It was the other bit of information I'd read that seemed too coincidental to be coincidental.
"Look, guys. I know this idea of mine may have zero possibility, but I have to try. I have to try everything, no matter what." I sat up straight and pointed. "Turn here. Gwen said it's on the corner of Park and Fourth."
Benny slowed the car and brought it alongside the curb before stopping. "You want us to go in with you?"
I nodded. I wasn't about to face her alone. For whatever reason, Lucinda Mayhem frightened me. And I had a strong feeling, she would intimidate just about anyone. I hadn't even met her and I already felt that way. Who knew how intense it would get face to face?
The three of us walked up to the front door, not uttering a sound. I took a deep breath and reached up to ring the bell. I studied the outside of Lucinda Mayhem's residence while we waited. Gwen was right. The building was tidy and well-maintained. I had just started to read the small plaque hanging on the wall when the door opened. A man in a black suit wearing an expression that would send most kids crying for their mothers, stood there without saying a word. I decided to take the first turn.
"Hi. My name is Winter Snow. And these are my friends, Abby Bruester and Benny Stilton. We're here to see Mrs. Mayhem, if she's at home." I tried smiling, but only managed with painful effort to stretch my lips into a stiff line and form a look that had to be scary.
He nodded and moved sideways as he opened the door to let us inside. Still no words, but I thought I detected a grunt of sorts. Maybe in this household, conversation was overrated.
I watched him disappear into another room. All three of us lined ourselves against the outside wall of the foyer, trying not to fidget while we waited. Soon, I detected the soft click of heels on tile as Lucinda Mayhem entered from one of the front rooms.
"My dears, what a pleasant surprise. I seldom receive company," Lucinda exclaimed.
I had to admit to curiosity about how a hundred plus person would look. I expected tons of wrinkles and sagging skin, but that's not what I was seeing. Her face looked as smooth and unworn as a much younger person. She stood tall and straight, no break in her stride as she walked toward us and then ended her steps in front of me.
"And you must be Winter." She held out a hand to grab one of mine.
I opened my mouth to respond but the only sound I managed was a nervous twitter.
"Such a beautiful child," she continued.
"I'm so happy to meet you, Mrs. Mayhem," Abby spoke up for me as her head nodded up and down.
Mrs. Mayhem turned to glance at her in silence, as if she was taking a moment to decide what to make of her. "Any friend of Winter's is welcome in my home." She glanced at Benny, too, and smiled.
Benny shrugged, not nearly as impressed. He gave her a cool nod.
"And why have you come here today?" Lucinda asked as her eyes settled on me once more. "I did tell you there would be an invitation delivered to you."
I shuffled my feet from side to side. I had the uncomfortable feeling that she was reprimanding me for coming uninvited. It wasn't exactly the impression I'd hoped for. "Yes, well, I read the article in today's paper," I said and then stopped, not sure in what direction to take this.
"The article about the birthday celebration? I told my son not to bother with such nonsense. Rather flashy, don't you think? I hate that sort of brazen display."
Lucinda wrinkled up her nose as if something smelled horrible. "It's not so bad, really. I mean, there's a lot of interesting background stuff in it. Like where your family came from. Needham Massachusetts, wasn't it?" I held my breath and studied her face. It seemed her eyes looked surprised for an instant, but then she looked calm once again.
"Yes, Needham is where my ancestors settled in seventeen forty-two. But why would you ask?"
I chewed on my lower lip and gave Abby and Benny a side glance before turning back to face Lucinda. "My family came from Needham."
"Yes, it is a wonderful town, one of the first settled in this country."
She grew silent, and I figured now was the time. "And one of my great, great—I'm not sure how many greats, actually—grandmothers had the name of Penworth, which, if I'm not mistaken, is your maiden name, Mrs. Mayhem." It was my turn to wait and watch. Lucinda seemed a bit unnerved, but recovered quickly. Abby and Benny, on the other hand, were a bit more animated.
"How weird is that?" Abby said.
Benny's words were too colorful to repeat.
I felt my confidence boosted by Lucinda's silence. I pushed further. "Is there something you'd like to tell me, Mrs. Mayhem? Something I should know?"
She sighed. "You may as well learn the truth now. Our families are related. But you must understand, I did not learn about this until recently. Of course, I was very anxious to tell you, but I wanted to wait for the perfect moment. And that was to be at my birthday party, you see."
"But what about the book? The one about Snow White?" Abby asked.
"Yeah, what's up with that?" Benny added while frowning at Lucinda.
I could tell he didn't care for her, or trust her. I wasn't sure if I did either. Too many secrets. "You couldn't possibly know I'd pick that one out from all the books in the store." I voiced my thought aloud and realized how unreal the idea sounded.
Lucinda threw back her head and laughed. "Of course, I couldn't. That was sheer good fortune. When I came into the store that afternoon, after you had been there, and learned that you'd taken the Snow White tale … well, let's say I was shocked and pleased at the same time."
I shook my head. "That's just … that's impossible. Things like that don't happen."
"Perhaps we can sum it up as fate playing one of her hands?" Her voice lowered to a soft, gentle tone.
I tried reading her expression, though her eyes managed to veil everything underneath. Not being the type of person who enjoyed game playing, I felt my impatience boiling to the surface and I didn't care for it. Life seemed to be a lot like that lately.
"Look. If you can't level with me, tell me everything that's going on, I'm not going to stick around. Not for your party, not for you and your family, not for … I have more important things to do." I tried keeping my voice steady, but it quivered along with my lip, letting me know I was about to cry.
"You mean important as in finding your father?" Lucinda kept her gaze on me.
I gasped. Abby gasped. And Benny muttered, "Holy shit." Yeah. That too, I thought. Lucinda Mayhem and her comment had taken me to a place I could never have expected: right back to the beginning.
Chapter 6: A Connected Path
"How would you know?" I asked, not thinking how Dad's disappearance had been front page news at the time.
"Just like most, I suppose. It was the day after your father's story came out that I learned of our family connection," Lucinda explained.
"As simple as that, huh?" I shook my head. "You read a story about James Snow and somehow conclude that our families are related. That's it? I'm sorry, but I don't buy it."
"Yeah, sounds like a truck load of bull," Benny chimed in beside me.
I did an eye roll. He was enjoying every dig he could manage.
"I can’t explain why, other than to say I had a strong hunch. Call it a premonition or psychic moment, if you will." She shrugged. Her eyes shifted to a painting on the wall. "There is the portrait of Newell Penworth. He was your ancestor's father. After she was born, he passed away the next year. Her mother remarried, but the Penworth reputation stayed with the young girl, Sybil."
"Reputation?" I swore under my breath that if she started telling my grandmother's story, I was ready to walk out. I didn't believe Grandmother Snow, and I wasn't about to believe Lucinda Mayhem.
"You must surely have heard about the curse?"
I listened as Abby gasped and Benny whistled. "Seriously, I don't believe that kind of nonsense." I crossed my arms tightly over my chest. "It's a load of bull as Benny puts it."
"Speaking of curses, how about that day last spring when you came to school and …"
"Shuttup, Abby." I cut her off. "That was just a rumor Tina Ford started. She and her friends who you know hate the sight of me." Now, I couldn't help but think back to all those moments, the time when Benny told me to get help. I argued that nothing happened, nothing worth talking about. I was still trying to convince myself, but it was becoming more impossible.
"If you choose not to believe, then at least accept it when others do," Lucinda said.
I had to admit that had me thinking. "Are you saying you do believe in all of it?"
"All of what?" Abby asked.
I had to remember no one, including Abby, knew about my grandmother's story. Embarrassment kept me from telling it.
"It's not what I believe that is important. Besides, we are quite a bit off the subject, aren't we? You wanted to know if we are related and we are. As for why I invited you to my party, I hoped that we might get better acquainted. It is as simple and innocent as that. If you choose not to come, that's entirely up to you."
I didn't sense any resentment in her voice. It seemed I was the one with the bitter attitude. And maybe Benny. "I'll think about it." That, I could promise. I still didn't trust her. Maybe that was my premonition talking. I smiled and turned to Abby and Benny. "Let's go. We can make it to third period if Benny's Tribe Mobile isn't slacking."
Benny lifted his chin. "The Tribe Mobile is not a slacker. Follow me, ladies."
As we started for the door, I turned to Lucinda. "Sorry for busting in like this. It won't happen again. Promise." I gave a slight nod.
"See you next week then." She called out as we reached the porch.
"Maybe." I hurried down the steps, anxious to get away. It somehow didn't feel that great knowing we were related. I shivered. In fact, it felt frightening.
"Why didn't you want her to know about what happened last spring?" Abby started in before Benny even put the car in gear.
"I keep telling you, it was nothing. You just won't listen." My head twisted around to get a last glance of the Mayhem residence. I felt like I had just fallen into a maze, not sure which way was out, and Lucinda had her bony fingers wrapped around my shoulders, pulling me back, farther and farther away from anything familiar. It was silly, but I couldn't help it.
"Well, I guess it's none of her business really. I mean if you had a problem, that is," Abby said.
I bit down on my fingers to keep from screaming. Nothing was wrong with me. Not then, not now. Sure I'd been depressed and thought about my dad so much that I talked to him. It was my way of staying close. And then, of course, there was that other voice, my cheerleader fairy, trying to give me encouragement. Can't forget him. Or her.
"People talk to their dead relatives all the time. Not that your dad is dead, of course. I don't mean that, but if somebody happens not to be there, that doesn't mean you can't say something to him. Right?"
"Geez. Why don't you clam it shut for once," Benny snapped.
And Abby did.
We pulled into the school lot and by this point my mood sizzled and popped until I didn't know if I'd burst or deflate. What I had hoped to gain this morning, information wise, may have happened, but it had put me in a wicked mood.
"What are we going to tell the attendance office?" Abby rushed to catch up with me.
"Car broke down, had to call a tow, something like that." I shrugged, not really worrying about it when there were so many other matters beating me over the head.
"Hey, the Tribe Mobile …" Benny started.
"Yeah, yeah, the Tribe Mobile is invincible." I didn't want to argue. Right ahead of me, I noticed Tina Ford stood at the front door. She was talking to her best friend, Laurie. My armpits started sweating. I couldn't help it; she got to me.
"Well, if it isn't Snow White and her two dwarves. What happened to the other five?" Tina laughed and Laurie along with her.
"Who you calling a …?"
I jabbed Benny in the side. "Why don't you go back in your witch's den where you belong?" I pulled Benny along with me and Abby to find our way to the office.
"Don't forget to check in with your mirror. I'm sure it's dying to hear from you," Tina said.
I felt my neck muscles tighten. As if my mind's eye traveled at warp speed, I could picture the girls' restroom. I stood at the sink and stared in the mirror. The tears welled up and spilled over to trail down my cheeks. I blinked once or twice, trying to erase the reflected image. Dad was smiling at me and telling me not to worry. I had to respond. I had to. The words poured out of me. I could see my mouth moving, the tears streaming down, the salty taste of them on my lips, and the laugh. It was a cruel sound. Then, the sound moved. It came out from behind the stall door. The ugly smile of Tina haunts me still.
I remember how after her remark that only crazy people talk to mirrors, she turned her back to me and walked out of the restroom. At that moment, I knew deep down in my gut that the whole world would hear the story and Tina would be its messenger. Still, they wouldn't know everything. No one could know that.
"Witch. I hope you grow warts," I mumbled as we walked up to the desk.
"Um hmm. Car broke down. That's original," Mrs. Penarski said. She stared back at us, tapping her pencil against her chin. "Well, you know the drill. If you can get your parents to call and verify your story, we can excuse the tardiness."
All three of us smiled. Well, maybe not Benny, but his look was as close to pleasant as she would get from him.
"Remember, only after the call. Now here are your passes. Go to class."
Once Mr. Brown rambled on for a few minutes about the Civil War, I soon forgot about Tina and my miserable junior spring. If it hadn't been for Benny and Abby, I don't think I could have gotten through it.
But now life had a new layer. Lucinda Mayhem. Somehow I had that gut feeling again, and it was telling me that this Snow White hadn't even faced her worst nightmare. I suddenly thought about the unfinished fairytale. I wondered how its events would turn out, just like I had to wonder about mine.
Chapter 7: Mirror, Mirror in My Room
We headed toward English class and I dreaded every step. Tina was in that class. I was sure she had more than enough time since this morning to think of some scathing comebacks. I knew from experience how little the words "fair play" meant to Tina. She played dirty. That was the only way to put it. And after my comment about the witch's den, there would be no mercy.
As soon as Abby and I walked in the room, all eyes in the front row turned to look at me. In unison their lids closed. I let out a small groan as I read the ten letters shaded in black marker. Crazy Freak. A letter for each lid. I felt Abby squeeze my hand as we slid our way down the last row. Anger inside of me sputtered and sparked until I wanted to hurt her. I watched Tina turn around to give me an ugly smile. Clenching my fists, I told myself to calm down, but it wasn't working.
Just do it. Come on. You know you want to.
When the books resting on my desk began to wiggle and then shake, I stared wide-eyed at them. A quick glance at Abby showed me she noticed. My head shook forcefully at her and a finger went up to my lips. Taking slow breaths, I managed to relax, but not before I heard a loud pop.
"Way to go, Gunito. It sprayed all over me."
I strained my neck to see around the row of people in front. Kevin Seal got up to grab some paper towels and began blotting his shirt. Then he snatched up the roll and tossed it at Tyler Gunito who had a huge puddle of diet pop spilled on his desk.
"Don't look at me. I didn't even open it. I swear," Tyler argued, just before the sound of heels clicked and approached the door.
"That is one good reason why you shouldn't bring food or drink to class. How many times have I said that?" Miss Palmetto shook her head as she entered the room and reached for the phone to call the custodian.
I looked down at my books once more, which by now remained still.
"What was that all about?" Abby whispered while everyone in the front kept busy cleaning up the mess.
"A can of pop exploded, I guess."
"I know that, goof. I'm talking about that." She pointed to my desk.
"That? Oh, that." I rolled my eyes and tried to look indifferent. "I just got so angry with Tina that I started trembling. I guess I was shaking against the desk and well … you know."
Abby tilted her chin to the side. "Okay, if you say so."
"All right, class, enough down time. We need to cover the use of alliteration in Frost's poem."
I let out a long breath and focused my attention on Miss Palmetto and the literary term of the day. I had a hunch Abby would bring up the book trick again, but maybe I'd have a better excuse later. No way could I explain the truth, or at least what seemed to be the truth. This wasn't the first time, so I knew it wasn't just me and the trembling that caused those books to move. I didn't want to think about it and assumed I'd left it behind, along with all those other bad memories from last spring. I guess I was wrong.
I gave my excuses to Abby, saying I needed to hurry home to help Mom with some project. "Maybe we can get together over the weekend. I'll have more free time tomorrow," I said and rushed to the exit door.
"But I thought we could talk about the party. It's next weekend and I need to decide what to wear," Abby hollered after me.
"Tomorrow." I waved an arm to dismiss her. In the next second, I was out of earshot and walking across the parking lot. Benny honked from the road, but I kept on going. My impatience seemed to burn a hole in my chest. It pushed me to continue reading the fairytale. And by now, the whole idea of these hunches and gut feelings became exasperating.
"Hey, sweetie. You're home already?"
I found Mom in the living room with a photo album spread out on her lap. "What's that?" Of course, I already knew.
"Just some old photos of your dad and me in the early days. Would you look at that? Here's our wedding announcement. Sandra Winston will marry James Snow this Saturday, June 19th, nineteen ninety-three at 7:30 pm. Such a long time ago."
I thought she seemed to float away to another place and time, leaving me behind. "Mom?" When she didn't answer, I turned to make a path to the kitchen and grab a granola bar. I seldom got any type of reaction anymore.
Once in my room, I grabbed the fairytale off my desk and plopped on the bed to read chapter two. Just as Queen Lorelei predicted, Snow White grew up to be beautiful and wise. Not much of a twist. I started to grow bored, but moved on with the story just the same.
When the young Snow White reached the age of eighteen, two things happened. First, the king announced the engagement of Snow to Prince Bruce. And second, the queen knew it was time for her daughter to have the golden mirror Queen Lorelei had given to her.
"This mirror has special powers, Snow. You must be very careful to use it wisely," her mother warned.
Snow White promised to do so, and with a smile, she took the mirror to her room. She carefully placed it on her dresser and gazed into the glass. She studied her fine, delicate porcelain skin and white blonde hair, shining and sparkling like silver. Her eyes of blue, like sapphire stones, stared back at her.
She gasped as the mirrored image began to blur into swirls of grey, until it cleared once more, to show her the outline of a tiny green outfit—coat, pants, and a pointed hat. With a poof and pop, a face appeared beneath the hat.
"Snow White, Snow White, princess fair, believe what I say. I am a wizard who has traveled through time and conversed with sorcerers of many cultures. Your beauty and wisdom surpass all in the land." The voice spoke, deep and solemn.
Snow White nodded and tried to maintain her composure, but she wanted to laugh. "You are … so small. What are you really? A fairy? A pixie? Surely, you aren't a wizard," she laughed.
"Call me what you will, but I know what I know, and it's much more than you could possibly learn in several lifetimes. So listen carefully. You shall take your wisdom from this mirror. Each evening, come to me, and I will surely give you enough to make you more powerful than any princess." With another poof and pop the wizard's image disappeared.
Snow White trembled with fear and excitement. She felt herself grow hungry for the power the wizard mentioned. And she promised to seek his wisdom every evening.
The days passed and became weeks and then months, but nothing happened. Though the wizard showed her the world through mirrored images, taking her many places, all across the continents, sending her forward and back in time to learn all there was to know, the princess grew impatient. This knowledge of the world wasn't the power she wanted. She expected magical powers. Each evening, she asked the tiny wizard whom she called Toad, just to anger him, why this power he spoke of hadn't come to her.
"Be patient and do not worry. In good time, all will be yours."
But Snow White didn't believe him. Finally, to punish the wizard, she hid the mirror away in a closet. She refused to let the wizard come out and instead she sent for the most powerful magic in the land.
Soon, an ugly peasant woman arrived at the castle. Her name was Maleficent. Snow White shivered at the sight of her, but she wanted her help.
Snow White nodded. "Old one, will you help me gain power? To have more power, magical power, than anyone in the land?"
The old woman thought for a second and then replied. "You are the most beautiful. You have riches beyond a peasant's dreams and the love of those around you. Is that not enough?"
Snow White scowled. "No. It is not enough. I need more. Can you do this or not? Otherwise …"
The old woman cackled. "Yes, yes. I can do this, but only if you will give me a favor in return.
"Yes, whatever you need." Snow White nodded impatiently.
"Good. I will give you more power, the power to rule over others, the power to have … whatever you wish. And tomorrow morning when I come to you, you will grant me my favor."
Snow White looked puzzled. "But what do you want? Will you not tell me?"
Maleficent shook her head. "Tomorrow I will ask and not before. If you disagree, then we will not do business and I shall go."
"No! Wait! Tomorrow is fine. I will see you then."