Visitors:The Battle of Great Mound City

Visitors

The Battle of Great Mound City

by Isodanelli

Chapter One

Driving through the desert, on the outskirts of an unknown town, the air conditioning suddenly quit without warning. Due to the abrupt decline of cool air blowing through the vents of their old minivan, the Spearman family was forced to make a desperate change in travel plans. Realizing that traveling to Albuquerque, where they had overnight reservations, was not going to happen, they exited the highway while praying for good news.

This was only the second day of their four-day trek from California to Illinois. The first night went smoothly as planned with an overnight stay near the Grand Canyon. Despite having little time to tour the canyon before checking in to their modest motel rooms, they managed to have a good time. This was not a trip for luxury or vacation, rather one of necessity since they were relocating for a new employment opportunity.

Now with the minivan malfunctioning, their much anticipated tour of historic New Mexico sites would be replaced with a tour of local automobile A/C repair shops instead. They hoped to find one that was both speedy and budget-friendly, but unfortunately, that did not happen. After visiting three shops, they decided to continue their road trip by driving only at night, when the air would be at its lowest temperature. Timing was of utmost importance because all of their worldly possessions were to be delivered in three days--they had no time to lose.

Okay, listen up guys, announced Bill Spearman from the driver’s seat, flashing an exasperated look of disgust to his wife seated next to him. There’s been a change in plans. He wiped the sweat from his brow with the bottom edge of his t-shirt displaying a man surfing a big ocean wave. Cathy glanced over to admire her husband’s suntanned, muscular physique and gave a gentle smile of approval to help ease his anxiety. Also in top physical shape and dressed more for the gym than a road trip, she pulled her long golden hair away from her face and fanned her neck with a fitness magazine from her lap. She liked the look of his natural suntan but, unlike her husband, preferred the convenience of a tanning salon due to her sensitive skin.

His mother-in-law Granny was in the midst of telling an intriguing story to her grandkids--Cory, Jia and Wil, ages twelve, ten and seven--about her first time crossing the desert as a child. Her enthusiasm turned to concern as her focus turned to Bill. As the kids quieted down, Granny struggled a moment to cross her legs within the tight confines of the minivan’s second row. She readjusted her seatbelt and fluffed her freshly coifed hairdo that was beginning to wilt from the heat. It was dyed golden blonde, to match Cathy’s, and to cover her gray roots. Her colorful blouse and white slacks had become damp with perspiration.

We’ll just have to make the best of it, he began. The important thing is that we simply must keep moving east. There’s no time or budget to repair the air conditioning right now because it’s so old that they’ll need to order parts.

Cathy nodded in agreement.

So . . . we’ll make the best of things and continue our trip once it cools off outside.

What time will that be--midnight? inquired Cory, rolling her eyes to her siblings seated behind her through red eyeglasses taped on one side. Her boyish skinny frame contrasted against Granny’s mature, rounded curves.

Perhaps, Bill replied with a smirk. We’ll start driving as soon as the sun goes down--open the sunroof, drink plenty of water, and leave the hot dog by the side of the road.

What? We can’t leave Bootsie just because he’s hot and furry! screamed Wil in protest. He’ll be okay in the back with me and Jia.

Wil, Dad was only kidding and you fell for it again! You know he’d never put our dog on the side of the road, answered Jia, Right, Dad?

Oh, of course not! answered Granny.

Cathy added, But we’re delighted to hear that you and Jia will not be complaining one bit since Bootsie has to share the back row. He may not seem hot now, but he will later when all of that fur starts blowing in your face and sticking to your sweaty little legs, so be prepared.

We won’t complain, Mom, assured Jia, Promise!

Jia and Wil wore shorts and sport jerseys with their flip-flop sandals kicked off, seated with their legs crossed beneath them. Their bare arms and legs had deep tans displaying artistic, colorful faux-tattoos created to pass the time. Jia drew a detailed mermaid on her left forearm. Both of Wil’s arms and thighs had serpent and dragon tattoos sketched on them. Very athletic and agile, they learned to adapt to the third row, shifting often to catch the breeze, with only the dog and their mobile devices for entertainment.

And we also need to buy extra water and fruit juice--no sodas! Bill added as Cathy gave an even bigger nod of approval.

And you know what that means--more potty breaks! added Granny. Please don’t make an old lady suffer without her potty breaks!

Bill chuckled, Okay, so we’ll need to leave the old lady by the side of the road to make good travel time!

Ha, ha, ha! Wil laughed, I know you’re kidding this time!

No problem. I’ll stay right here in the middle of the desert in an ice cold hotel room if you would be kind enough to send me an airline ticket to join you folks later. That will be no problem at all!

Mom, that will be an awful long wait, and they’ll probably kick you out of the hotel by the second week of excuses about why you can’t pay the bill. said Cathy.

No, make that the second day, when they realize the credit card is no good! added Bill.

Everyone laughed together, and it was just the comic relief the family needed before embarking on the next leg of their journey. Bill, a retired airline captain, and Cathy, a former small business owner, were very anxious about their long trip to their future home. Still, they maintained their game faces, determined to make as light of their situation as possible. Bill hushed the laughter as he pulled next to a dumpster by a small strip of grass on the edge of a vacant parking lot. He took a moment to listen closely as he turned off the engine with his head cocked sideways to the dashboard. Without explanation, he turned the motor back on and off once more. After sitting in quiet contemplation for a few seconds, he gave a signal for the rest of the family to exit the minivan to stretch their legs and walk the dog.

The kids had been on pins and needles ever since packing up and vacating their home in Orange County, California. First, there was the obvious inconvenience of traveling halfway across the United States with three adults crammed into one vehicle. They felt especially uncomfortable, trapped under a magnifying glass--or so it seemed, since the smallest incorrect comment or action out of place could result in the strictest of consequences. They tried their best to get along with each other, despite their circumstances, but the loss of air conditioning was almost the straw to break the camel’s back. The intense desert heat had generated a new level of agitation, sparking arguments and irritations like wildfires popping up repeatedly as the temperature rose inside the oven on four wheels.

Okay, let’s all climb back aboard, Cathy called out a short while later. To drive through the night, we must first rest during the day; so we need to find a motel where we can do an early check-in. Who knows, maybe we’ll get a price break since we’re not staying overnight.

Don’t count on it, mumbled Bill. I suggest you start searching now on your phone and we can make some calls from that air-conditioned twenty-four-hour mega superstore that we passed by the I-40 exit ramp. We’ll find everything cheap there and pick up fresh ice later when we fuel up.

After a few calls, Cathy found a good deal on two motel rooms about eight miles down the highway. By the time the temperature inside the minivan became unbearable, they were there. While their parents negotiated the room rate with a young lady at the check-in counter, Cory, Jia and Wil endured watching other kids having tremendous fun at the motel pool and playground just outside the lobby. They longed to play alongside them, but were ordered to go straight to their motel room to cool off and get rested--there was lost time to be made up on the highway. To make matters worse, they had to share the room with Granny and Bootsie, who was slightly over the allowable size limit for pets. He remained in the minivan as their dad gestured with his hands to explain the dog’s approximate dimensions, which made him seem much smaller than his true full-grown golden retriever size.

Jia waited quietly on a vinyl padded bench, squashed between her sister and brother, by the automatic sliding doors that connected the covered outdoor entryway to the lobby. Wil became fascinated with his ability to open the double doors just by extending the tip of his foot out as far as possible, triggering them to open repeatedly. After a half dozen times, Cory made him stop.

You’re going to get us in trouble! she whispered while reaching across Jia to give him a hard nudge.

Quit it! he yelled while trying to regain his balance without slipping onto the floor.

Granny strolled over from the lobby, paused directly in front of them without making eye contact, and then calmly exited through the automatic glass doors. She peered through the windows of the parked minivan, uttered a few happy words to Bootsie and returned. When she was back in front of the kids, still looking straight ahead, she spoke firmly, moving only her lips, I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You know your mom and dad have been through a lot and you need to just behave yourselves while they take care of business. She walked over to be seated on an overstuffed chair next to a rack of tourist brochures, began flipping through them, and then slid a few into her purse.

***

The kids were relieved at the chance to separate from their parents and cool off by relaxing inside their assigned room. Granny, who had been learning Tai Chi in California, took a few minutes to stretch after putting on her pajamas. The kids watched in curiosity as she began waving her hands in the air.

Now what are you doing, Granny? asked Wil as she twisted about, swinging her arms from side to side.

It’s called the ‘Washing Machine’. Hush! I’m trying to concentrate! Granny whispered.

The kids looked back and forth at one another, trying their best not to laugh. Wil began making faces mocking Granny’s serious expression as she tried to concentrate. Just as Cory and Jia were about to explode with laughter, Granny stopped. She looked at the kids and silently shook her head. She laid down on the bed and let out a loud sigh of relief. Granny fell asleep almost immediately, and was soon snoring on her queen-sized pillow-top bed.

Cory and Jia had an identical second bed to share. The doorman brought Wil a twin-sized rollaway cot to sleep on, and Bootsie had climbed on top of it as soon as he exited. Since they were not tired at 11:30 a.m., they decided to surf the internet to gain more information about their new home town of Great Mound City, Illinois.

A few short clicks later, they found the local newspaper’s website and discovered a rather unusual article about strange phenomena that had occurred in Great Mound City over the past few months. A local farmer claimed that unexplained, fast moving lights had been sighted by him and his family over late night skies. And on one of those nights, crop circles mysteriously appeared on his property. The story made it seem like the farmer was not taken very seriously by the local media. But the photograph of a large geometric pattern imprinted in a cow pasture got the kids’ attention. Drawn by the photograph to do a more specified search, the kids found links to more articles about similar crop circle sightings worldwide.

What does ‘extra-ter-res-trial’ mean? asked Jia, stumbling over the word, Doesn’t it have something to do with aliens?

"Aliens! They’ve got aliens in Great Mound City?" Wil cried hysterically.

Be quiet! screeched Cory as she linked back to the Great Mound City story. She adjusted the laptop screen and her eyeglasses to get a closer look at the words. "Wow, this is way cool! It says, ‘ . . . local authorities state that the late night lights are due to nearby test flights from Sykes Air Force Base. All residents are asked not to contact Air Force personnel or the media regarding this matter . . . .’ So there it is in plain English! We have nothing to worry about--that’s the same place Dad will be working at and I’m sure there’s nothing weird going on there at all."

Granny stopped snoring and moved about on the bed as if still in a dream state. The kids silently shushed each other without moving a muscle until the first loud snore resumed.

Hey, here’s another link to a site called The Night Watch. It has an article claiming that a cluster of colorful blue, red and green lights was seen swirling in one spot high up in the sky over a farmer’s cow pasture. It remained there for weeks, until one evening it was gone! Jia added, So what do you think of that smarty pants?

I’m sure there’s another logical explanation, like some sort of testing going on up there, or whatever, replied Cory, Dad would know what’s going on. We can ask him tomorrow.

No, we can’t ask him about his assignment, Jia cautioned. Everything’s so top secret.

Just ask him if he believes in aliens, explained Wil.

"Yeah right, and you’ll be grounded for the rest of the day.

We can ask Mom!

Go ahead, and we’ll all be grounded for the rest of the trip, for sure! Jia replied.

The three panicked when they heard movement from the bed behind them. Granny placed her feet into her slippers and was rubbing her eyes. She walked into the bathroom half asleep, but when she returned a moment later, she was wide awake. The kids had already turned off the laptop and dove into their beds fully clothed. Wil banged his knee on his cot and tried his best not to scream out in pain while his sisters tried their best not to laugh aloud.

You’re not fooling anyone. Go to sleep! Granny ordered.

Wil exhaled to relieve his pain, "We can’t sleep, Granny. It’s hard to sleep in the middle of the day! We’re not driving, so how come we can’t play games on the laptop while you sleep?"

And wake me up giggling every 20 minutes? I don’t think so! Granny answered. Your mother and father didn’t say to go to your room to play, now did they? Get your pajama’s on, and I dare you to turn that thing on again tonight. She turned to address the girls, That goes for you too, ladies; this light’s going off in five minutes!

But, Granny! cried Cory with her best pitiful, sorry facial expression possible.

"‘But, Granny’ nothing! She leaned over to grab her purse and retrieved a handful of the brochures from the motel lobby. Here, read about these boring tourist attractions in . . . where are we anyway? Oh well, it doesn’t really matter does it? Granny tossed the brochures to Jia who was the closest to her. When I wake up again, it had better be dark in this room except for that trickle of sunlight in the cracks between the curtains. . . . Understand? Goodnight!"

Wil commented, You mean ‘good day’. It’s still daylight outside. He quickly pulled the covers over his head in fear of what was about to come out of Granny’s mouth. Much to his relief, she said nothing and rolled over to go back to sleep. Jia raised her clenched fist in the air as a threat and threw a couple of brochures at him.

Cory became very excited, silently waving a brochure in the air, signaling the others to join her on the side of the bed farthest from Granny. Huddled on the floor between the window and the bed, they tried their best to read by the light coming through the closed curtains. Look at this! she whispered. There’s an alien wax museum somewhere right around here. I wonder how far it is from here to Route 12. Cory poured over the map on the back of the cover. Wait a minute. We’re on Route 12! This place is right by the pancake house where we’re going for breakfast, I mean dinner--whatever!

Let’s see it! Jia asked, snatching the brochure, Are those real aliens on the cover?

Of course not--they’re just wax dummies of real aliens. Let’s check out their website in the morning. Go to sleep now children, Cory teased and yawned.

***

The family gathered together at 7:00 p.m. to dine at the twenty-four-hour pancake restaurant and, since they were still hot when they exited an hour later, they decided to become tourists for a while. Remembering the brochures from the motel, the kids suggested that they visit the wax museum located down the street. They described its alien theme based on regional folklore claiming that the area was visited by extraterrestrials. The adults agreed to go along with their request in order to soak in as much air conditioning as possible.

Once they arrived, a rather oddly behaved elderly couple greeted them, offering a thirty-minute tour for half-price since closing time was coming up at 8:30. The couple, originally from Mexico, wore colorful outfits native to their ancestry. Both wore running shoes and carried themselves with a great sense of urgency, despite their inability to move very fast. The museum was a small, quirky little place with only a handful of other patrons. It’s our labor of love, explained the wife as she lead the tour down a semi-darkened hallway lit only by fluorescent black lights, accentuating the neon colored galaxies painted on black walls depicting outer space.

A variety of glittery rocks mounted in a display case were claimed by the husband to be from asteroids which landed upon earth thousands of years ago. Bill listened intently to the old man’s commentary and asked many detailed questions, while Cathy and the kids made faces at one another, believing his stories to be a big hoax. Granny kept her thoughts to herself as she trailed the group, never denying it could all be true. Who knows? she said with a shrug as she investigated a larger glass display case covering an entire wall. Inside the case, stapled against a background of more neon galaxies, were handwritten testimonials and snapshots from local townspeople who claimed they had first-hand encounters with extraterrestrials.

The tour lasted only twenty minutes, ending in front of a small gift shop where memorabilia depicting scenes from old Hollywood alien movies was for sale. Just beyond that was a colorful staged area where, for a small fee, you could pose with realistic-looking alien replicas or choose from six cartoon-like scenic backgrounds of outer space. At the cash register, the couple’s grandson offered discounted rates for group photographs taken with any three background combinations.

Let’s pose on that rocket ship blasting off into outer space! said Granny with much sarcasm. I believe we can all fit onboard. Everyone turned their attention to a rather sad replica of a rocket ship traveling through the galaxy with smoke billowing from its bottom. It was a large cylinder painted red and black, tilted at an angle on its side, with just enough room for the entire family to mount it like a pony. Six metal handlebars across the top determined where each person would sit. To their surprise, the ship began to vibrate once the last passenger climbed aboard. The young man immediately snapped a shot capturing their surprised facial expressions.

For the second shot, the family walked on the surface of the moon next to an American flag on a short pole. More of the same glittery substance from the asteroid rocks was painted everywhere, and what appeared to be regular desert sand had been sprinkled on the ground to mimic lunar dust.

The museum’s final display, clearly the favorite of them all, featured three green men, a bit taller than waist high to the adults. They were a cheerful trio with their little arms stretched out, so the family could join hands with them for a unique photo opportunity. The old man and his wife carefully placed each family member, suggesting how they should pose to get the best angle. Then, on the count of three, the young man snapped the picture.

This one’s going to be really good, he declared. You know, you can get it blown up to eight-by-ten for just $9.99.

No thank you, Cathy replied without hesitation as she swiped her credit card. The others laughed at the finished five-by-seven photos that were being tucked into cardboard sleeves that bore the museum’s name and logo. Let’s go! Cathy motioned for the family to follow her outside where she was happy to find that the sky was a bit darker and the air a bit cooler.

***

Cathy joined Bill at the gas pump as he filled the tank, while Granny supervised the reorganization of the minivan’s rear storage compartment. Cory carefully tested the rear door lock to ensure that it would not explode due to the large amount of luggage and personal belongings stuffed behind the third row. Bootsie had just been walked in a patch of nearby bushes and two bags of ice had been purchased from the convenience store.

So . . . what do you think? Cathy asked.

About what?

What do you mean ‘about what’?

Bill yawned with a full-body stretch, scratched his stomach and shook his head. I don’t know, he replied. They’re probably imposters, just trying to make a fast buck.

She added, They certainly went to an awful lot of effort to convey their story. I guess that’s all a part of the plan. They lure you in and try to convince you of why it all makes perfect sense, yet it makes no sense at all.

Who knows?

Cathy answered, I know you can’t possibly side with . . . those people!

It’s not so much about them. You’re right. They’re putting on a pretty good side show to amaze people. People love to be entertained and amazed. Look around you. There’s not much out here to draw tourists, and this interstate highway gets plenty of cross-country traffic. Bill smiled, Anyway, Granny and the kids had a good time and we’ve got plenty of alien family photographs to prove it. Let’s not make this into another unnecessary episode, alright?

Cathy looked Bill in the face for an engaged moment before realizing she was being summoned by her mom. Excuse me, was her only reply.

Hurry up you guys! Time’s being wasted! he yelled to the others, who were now standing outside of the vehicle. We’ve got gas, food, drinks and too many people. Let’s go!

And one stupid dog! added Wil who began running circles with Bootsie around the minivan while waiting for the other passengers to get in.

I’m getting hot just looking at you, Wil. Get in the back seat, now! Granny snapped. And quiet that dog down. Now he’s hot and panting like a wild beast!

Cory and Jia were huddled together, laughing and texting a friend on the cell phone they shared. Jia stopped smiling and slowly climbed in behind Wil and the dog. Cory paused to offer assistance to Granny who was next in line to get in. Bill politely helped Cathy into the front seat and then checked each door from the outside to make sure they were secure before climbing behind the steering wheel. Next stop’s Oklahoma City! he announced.

Whoo-hoo! said Cory a bit too loud for the other passengers.

It’s a perfect night for a race across the country. Bill reached forward to open the sunroof. Just look at how beautiful the skies are tonight!

Hopefully there are no aliens tracking us with sophisticated human detection devices! Jia laughed, reflecting back on a gift shop display from an early 1960’s alien war movie.

Cathy laughed too, I think we’re safe, Jia.

Speak for yourselves, said Bill. That old man at the museum seemed convinced that aliens have invaded the earth’s atmosphere many times!

And I believe he’s been heavily medicated many times! Granny quickly added. And don’t you agree he seemed a bit out of touch with reality?

Mom? Jia interrupted with a squeaky voice. We found something on the internet.

Wil became excited and shoved Bootsie from his lap, How did you choose a place like Great Mound City to move to? Don’t tell me--they’ve got aliens doing crazy stuff there too!

Cory quickly swung around from the second row to shush Wil, heeding Granny’s earlier warning not to disturb their parents. She also did not want to get into trouble for being online instead of going straight to sleep as commanded.

The minivan was quiet as Bill signaled to merge with traffic on I-40 eastbound. A sign which told them they were 531 miles from Oklahoma City passed by in the headlights. After driving about two miles, he broke the silence. So, what did you guys learn online?

The three kids stared back and forth to one another as if a big secret was about to burst across their lips, yet no one had the courage to let it out. Jia finally released a huff and began, Well, we couldn’t sleep earlier, so we thought we’d investigate our new place on an online map. One link led to another, and we found interesting facts about the parks and community pool . . .

And the dog park--there’s a dog park not too far from our new house, added Cory. We can walk Bootsie up there any time!

Wil screamed, "They even have a Magic Shop downtown! I’ve always wanted to shop at a Magic Shop. I can learn card tricks and make things disappear . . . " Wil became quiet when he noticed Jia glaring at him.

"Like I was saying, we found some really cool, interesting stuff online. The local newspaper is called Our Daily World. We read a few articles and found out some more interesting stuff."

Cory now had the courage to speak more directly and cleared her throat to get everyone’s attention, Okay, I’ll just tell them. She scooted closer to the front edge of her seat so her parents could hear her. We discovered some very interesting facts about our new hometown, alright. She paused for a reaction but got none. It seems there’s been some unusual activity going on there too. At least four articles talked about aliens and lights in the sky that nobody could explain!

Nobody, like who? asked Granny, shifting in her seat.

I guess the people who live in Great Mound City! added Jia. I know those weird people at the wax museum were probably fakes, but now we’re heading to another place with a new bunch of wacko people saying the same thing?

Wil added, "At first, I like totally believed everything I saw on the internet; but after visiting that place today, I don’t think so!"

Be quiet, Wil! yelled Jia. You still believe in the Boogie Man! Mom, Dad--they said it right on the internet! The city where we’re moving is worse than the Mayan cities in Old Mexico!

Jia, now you calm down, Bill cautioned. "Just because there are articles printed in the newspaper doesn’t make it a factual truth. There’s a major Air Force Base there, remember? That’s where I’ll soon be working. Don’t you children think I would know something about all of this if it were true? Come on--think!"

Let’s just drop the subject and not talk about aliens, little green men, spaceships or any of this silly stuff for the remainder of the evening, said Cathy. I just want to make it to Oklahoma City in one piece, go to sleep before it gets too hot and coast through the final miles to our new home without incident. How about that? Before you know it, the movers will be delivering our furniture, right on time!

I second that! said Granny.

Bill adjusted the rearview mirror and looked directly at each child’s eyes as they sat motionless in the rear seats. Each one silently stared back at him with identical expressions of longing and determination, the likes of which he had never before noticed in their faces. They were growing up fast, he reminisced; and this time they would not be willing to settle for any sugar-coated cover-up story. This time, they would demand no less than the whole truth, from him or anyone else who cared to comment. What did they actually read? he pondered. How did they laugh so much at the wax museum while thinking about all of this? He focused his eyes back on the road ahead. Everything was so strange: the conversation, the skies above, the whole reason they were relocating in the first place. What a mystery! he thought as he tried to block out the many questions in his head and focus solely on the miles and miles of highway ahead.

Secretly, however, he had a strange feeling about the relocation, and he had been hiding that feeling from them all. He was now more certain than ever that something, someone or some force seemed to be manipulating the circumstances surrounding this trip; and even worse, manipulating his emotions. He had even prayed a special prayer that God would protect him and his family from any harmful forces--from this world or from worlds unseen.

He knew this prayer was like none he had ever uttered before. In his heart, he knew something strange was happening; and, even scarier, he knew it was just the beginning of something immensely different from anything he had ever experienced. But how does a man describe his feelings of fear, fascination and compulsion at the same time? These were the feelings which were driving him, just as surely as he was driving his family across the country. His intuition told him that nothing could stop the new experiences they would encounter upon arriving at their destination. As an experienced pilot, he knew that a 180-degree turn would be the safest action; but as an adventurer, straight ahead was the only course he would take.

Chapter Two

Four men stepped out of a black SUV, with the license plate: U. S. Government, For Official Use Only. Three wore civilian clothes. Their SUV sparkled brightly in the afternoon sunlight as it rested by the curb. It seemed to release a slight moan of relief as the automatic fan kicked in to cool its engine. A slim trickle of liquid coming from the undercarriage collected near the feet of the tallest man, who stood out from the group, appearing as if he had exited the cockpit of an Air Force fighter jet in his starched and creased camouflage suit and gray military boots. He removed his glasses, scratched his brow and adjusted them back onto his narrow face as if to see where he had landed. After a brief pause to survey his surroundings, the tall man examined a document passed over to him by the driver of the vehicle.

The driver placed his hands in his pockets and anxiously glanced at his comrade, who returned the same look of concern. The men from the back seat walked over to join them. Although wearing casual denim jeans and colorful polo t-shirts, their close-cropped haircuts and lean, muscular physiques gave them away instantly as military. The four formed a tight circle with heads bent down as if strategizing a game-winning basketball shot--awkwardly shuffling and whispering together. The driver stepped back from the group to point out the home at 717 Milky Way Drive, and then was quickly re-absorbed into the huddle. A moment later, they each straightened their postures, crossed the suburban street of Cosmic Gardens and paused at the base of the home’s driveway.

The two-story brick house was bustling with activity. A moving van filled most of the long driveway, with its gold-colored cabin spilling over into the street. Its enormous wheels were secured with wooden blocks to prevent the tons of steel from rolling forward. Against the royal blue trailer, written in golden cursive letters outlined in white were the words: STAR * MOVERS--We will handle with care and get you there!

The four men quietly filed past the massive truck across a thin strip of concrete, careful not to disturb the driveway’s delicately landscaped borders. Peculiar knocking and bumping sounds could be detected from deep within the trailer; whose steel doors were secured against its sides in the open position. At the top of the driveway, there was just enough room for the steel ramp which extended from the rear of the trailer to the ground, stopping just short of the open two-car garage.

The truck’s internal sounds progressed until a young man, wearing a gold mover’s jumpsuit, suddenly appeared at the open-ended rear. While balancing a large black leather recliner upside down over his head, he stomped on the top of the ramp like an angry King Kong. He resembled a mannequin dummy, as his upper body moved and twisted only at the waist. He gazed at the front door of the house with great determination as he began his careful descent down the ramp in a squatted position--maneuvering about in aborted jerks, seemingly uncertain of his next step.

A second, younger mover followed in an identical jumpsuit, carrying an ornate, gilt-framed mirror. This slim, muscular young man gripped the back of the mirror with oversized clamps and struggled to see where he was going as he peeped around its wide rectangular shape. The hot midday sun reflected off the mirrored glass as if sending Morse code transmissions to the sky. As the mover carefully crept down the ramp, the official entourage walked straight into the mirror’s reflection, which gave the illusion that they were walking side-by-side with their own twins. When the men turned to look at their mirror images, the intense, reflected sunlight was almost blinding, forcing them to immediately shield their eyes as they navigated the remainder of the narrow path to the front porch.

Inside the garage, Cathy was busily organizing the unloaded boxes and pieces of furniture. As soon as each item arrived at the bottom of the ramp, she labeled and stacked it, properly routing each piece to its designated area of her new home. When she suddenly spotted the four men coming around the moving van, Cathy quickly dabbed the corners of her moistened eyes with a tissue. Then, she checked to ensure that her makeup had not become smeared from perspiration. She recognized them as military right away. Honey! she called to her husband, as the gentlemen stepped onto the porch. These men must be here to see you.

Her words echoed within the garage space and beyond the open door to the laundry room, with no reply, except from Jia. She looked up from across the front yard. Cathy motioned for Jia to find her dad, then searched about for an ideal spot to place the large jade plant cradled in her arms. Although anxious to let her husband know that there were guests approaching, Cathy did not want to break the fragile plant that had traveled safely all the way from California. She had no intention of breaking its branches or her plans; in fact, the last thing she had expected that morning was an official interruption in the midst of the move. Cathy hastily exited through the garage’s smaller side door. Bill! she called out in a loud whisper. She carefully placed the pot on the grass and tiptoed towards the side gate. Cathy especially felt the need to warn Bill of the unexpected visitors so he would not be caught off guard. She eased open the side gate just enough to curiously poke her head inside the back yard.

Bootsie was behaving hysterically--barking and jumping about the full length of his chain. Jia could not calm him. Cathy waved for him to be quiet and not blow her cover. Now that he sensed that new visitors were approaching, he pulled harder on the chain attached to the weeping willow tree with no regard for his own safety.

Cathy did not expect him to react so violently. He was known to behave frantically whenever the mailman crossed their yard in California, but today’s behavior was totally out of character. With being so thoroughly preoccupied with locating her husband, she did not pay too much attention to the pet that ignored her commands. The new chain was very strong, but unfortunately, his old vinyl collar was not. It snapped, allowing a sudden window of opportunity for his escape. Bootsie charged straight for the open gate. Cathy was standing with her back to the weeping willow, when, like a flash, she felt Bootsie’s fur brush past her legs. She whirled around just in time to see the white tip of his tail disappear around the front corner of the house. A deep sense of panic filled her heart.

The four men were unaware of the impending danger with their view entirely blocked by the oversized mirror’s blinding sun rays. The young mover, still balancing the mirror and preparing to walk to the porch, panicked as Bootsie ran straight for him like a military tracking missile. Lady, get your dog, get your dog! was the alarmed plea Cathy heard from the front yard. The first mover heard the call as well, and froze in his tracks by the front door, with the chair balanced over his head. The young mover swung the mirror around to protect himself, placing it as a barrier between himself and the fast approaching animal. Next, it was the visitors who were caught off guard.

The lead man in camouflage was the first of his group to spot the danger. He grabbed mace from one of his many pockets, but dropped it, and the official document he was still holding, as he turned to rush the others towards the street. Bootsie scurried right behind them like a giant jackrabbit with teeth bared and ears flattened as his white paws seemed to barely touch the ground. The camouflaged man was soon singled out and chased across the manicured lawn and through the hedges. The other three tried their best to distract Bootsie long enough for their comrade to escape, but to no avail.

***

Bill was unable to hear his wife’s calls because he had intentionally closed himself up inside a shed, tucked away in the far corner of the back yard. He had been dispatched by Cathy to carry items upstairs, to the basement or wherever she deemed necessary; but after hauling three awkwardly shaped boxes for storage to the shed, Bill allowed himself to become side-tracked by an old AM-FM radio he discovered within one of the boxes. Using its archaic dial, he noisily browsed the local radio stations, determined to find cool and upbeat music. To his dismay, the station playing the best music was full of static--a sign that they were miles from the heart of the big city. Bill abandoned his quest when Wil joined him in the shed. Wil had been assigned to carry the smaller, less delicate items to designated rooms of the house, following his mom’s detailed color-coded system. He also managed to sneak away from her watchful eye for a much needed break after eagerly volunteering to roll his go-cart from the mover’s ramp to the shed.

Father and son were in the midst of a go-cart spot maintenance checkup when Bill finally heard the commotion from the front yard. He immediately rushed through the open side gate to assess the situation. Oh, my goodness! he gasped, while dropping a shop towel he had used to dry his oily hands. Bootsie! Come over here! he commanded. He assumed a bold immobile stance and demanded a response by snapping his fingers and pointing to the ground by his feet, "Right now!"

The dog was oblivious to everything but his target; he continued, hot on the heels of the man in uniform, causing Bill to further panic. This was not how he envisioned beginning his new assignment in the Air Force. He could hardly believe his eyes--his stupid dog was chasing his new boss! He looked to the peaceful blue sky above while trying to quickly concoct a solution.

Cathy had assigned the task of carrying the most delicate items from the garage into the house to Cory and Jia. Cory could barely believe her eyes as she watched the catastrophe unfold just beyond her workstation at the far edge of the wide front porch. Amused by the entire incident, she immediately dashed through the front door to tell Granny what was going on. She found her peacefully singing while arranging pots and pans within the many kitchen cabinets, totally unaware to the mounting episode outside.

Jia raced Wil from the back yard, through the patio door to the kitchen, anxious to provide her own account of the mayhem to Granny. She began out of breath, I had just asked Mom about a box of dishes when these strange men parked across the street. Mom pointed directly at me and then to the back yard. Cory mimicked her mom frantically pointing. "I knew she wanted me to find Dad like, real fast, so I snuck around the other side of the house, but I couldn’t see anybody! Wil stretched his upper body across the granite countertop as if too fatigued to listen. Cory signaled for Jia to ignore him and continue, So I tried to calm Bootsie down; but he pulled away from me and started barking all over again like crazy!" she swallowed hard and pounded her chest to clear her throat. Wil raised his head to see why she had suddenly quit speaking.

Granny removed her apron and threw it onto a pile of boxes, by the refrigerator. She was glued to Jia’s every word as she desperately searched the floor for her pink rubber sandals.

So I was about to check over by the shed when Mom stepped through the gate. Just when I figured out Dad and Wil were inside, Bootsie broke loose. You should have seen the scared look on Dad’s face when he ran past me. You would have thought there was an explosion out front or something! Jia laughed until she snorted.

Wil laughed hard and added, And that’s when she raced me to the house. And I won!

No you didn’t!

Granny fanned her face with her right hand and breathed deeply.

Jia continued her rant, First we ran to the front yard, and Bootsie was chasing after a man in uniform.

Cory nodded, And everybody else just scattered! She had to immediately turn away from Granny and cover her face with her hands to conceal how hard she was laughing as her entire body shook.

Jia added, "And then I raced Wil to the kitchen—and I won!"

Hurry up, Granny! Wil screamed as if he would burst from the excitement.

Granny scrunched her eyebrows, preparing to scold her grandson whom she had already reprimanded for begging all morning to test his go-cart--long before it had even been removed from the moving van. Now the situation in the front yard was more than he could bear. Before she could comment or restrain him, Wil quickly darted past her and his siblings, through the laundry room, to the open garage.

Granny grabbed Jia’s hand to steady herself as she hastily slipped her feet into her sandals, which she found partially hidden behind an unopened twenty-pound bag of dry dog food, displaying a golden retriever with a striking resemblance to Bootsie on the label. The girls looked from the bag to each other and giggled, and then rushed Granny through the laundry room, into the garage where they found Cathy nervously pacing in anticipation of what Bill would do to solve the problem.

As Bootsie circled the moving van for the third time, Bill distracted him briefly by acting as if he had a treat. He used to joke: If you want to burglarize our home, be sure to bring dog treats! Just before the dog realized there was no treat and took off again, Bill lunged like a linebacker and tackled him to the ground. His quick plan was a success!

On the way to the back yard, Bill paused by the four men assembled by the open garage door and acknowledged them, slightly out of breath, I’ll be right with you, gentlemen. Then he politely nodded, One moment please.

The men stood catching their breath, with no response except for a slight return nod from the driver. Bill eagerly rushed Bootsie, as fast as his hind legs could carry him, through the gate and over to the chain still attached to his broken collar on the ground.

New chain, old collar, Bill mumbled, kicking the collar away from his feet. Take him, he ordered Wil who trailed closely behind. If he gets loose again, I swear . . . He noticed a nervous expression on his son’s face but continued his tirade, I swear I’ll . . .

Wil looked towards the house and gave a small gesture with his head to point out the tall man in uniform peering over the high-sided gate.

Hook him up good son, Bill said with a feigned smile and passed the four-legged prisoner over by the paws. He calmly strolled back to the gate to properly greet his new boss. After wiping his hands on his pants, he extended a warm handshake.

It’s nice to see you again, Erik.

Well, it’s a good thing I’m in shape! Man, I can’t remember when I’ve been chased like that, at least not since I walked across the path of my daddy’s bull on our old farm. Erik appeared as if he had devoted a great deal of time to weight training, whether on a farm or while in the military. You know, I grew up right around here. It’s certainly good to see you too, Bill.

They gripped each other’s hands for a moment and laughed. Bill touched his temple and shook his head, searching his mind for answers.

He’s usually as calm as a kitten and only barks at the mailman!

Yeah, I bet! replied Erik.

He must be confused with the long trip and this new environment. We had another little dog who came up missing, right before the move and, well—never mind that.

Bill used his sleeve to wipe the dripping sweat from his forehead. There was silence. Erik continued to smile. He squinted from the sun as beads of sweat rolled down his nose. Bill looked once again over to Wil, who held Bootsie restrained in his arms, daring neither to speak nor draw any more attention.

Erik, come on inside where it’s cool. Follow me. Bill gestured for Erik to follow through the open door at the side of the garage. I know it’s like a mine field with all of these doggone boxes. Be careful.

Doggone, indeed! Erik smiled, Yeah, let’s all go where it’s cool. I want you to meet Larry, one of our team members who will be participating in our new endeavor.

The other three men nodded and gave a slight smile as they followed through the garage, carefully stepping around boxes and toys. They conducted themselves as if the prior incident had never taken place. The movers and family members quietly busied themselves, pretending not to notice anything as the five-man delegation entered the house.

***

Directly across the street, through closed mini blinds, a silent observer closely monitored the new neighbors and their guests, avoiding all possible detection. The onlooker paid particular attention to the man in uniform--from the very moment he and his team arrived on the block until the dog charged him. In fact, it was the observer who generated the dog’s insatiable wild desire to attack the camouflaged man--the observer controlled the dog’s mind.

The observation continued, as just a few minutes after entering the house, the men exited again through the front door. They wore larger smiles than when they first entered, intentionally providing no clues as to what had transpired inside. Despite their cool aloofness, the remote surveillance from the house across the street was intensified to thoroughly assess the situation.

We’ll be seeing you soon! announced Larry, dressed more conservatively in black denim slacks with a grey striped shirt that matched his salt and pepper hair. He tried his best to appear relaxed, but had a stiff manner about him which made him seem out of place without a uniform. His clean-cut hair did not move in the wind. As he walked to the government vehicle, he turned and waved goodbye as if saluting. The other men were much more relaxed as they smiled and waved their good-byes.

Bill maintained his cement smile from the front end of the moving van. He stood motionless, following the men with his eyes, undecided whether to return to the family action or to stand at full attention until the SUV was totally out of sight. Cathy walked over to break the spell on him. She slipped her arm around his waist and gave a small tug. "We are here. Can you believe it? We are now Great Mound City residents and this is our new home!" As soon as the vehicle disappeared around the corner, Bill’s smile faded as he exhaled.

It feels wonderful Cat. Yes, we made it. We made it out of a dark place and into the light. He turned to face the household. Well, at least it looks like your mom has things under control, as usual. Those movers don’t stand a chance with her in command. The couple smiled and hugged. Cathy rose up on her tiptoes to rub her nose against his as a show of affection--like they did on the night he proposed and said he would care for her for the rest of their lives together. Bill pulled away from her embrace and raised his arms to the sky. And now this, he shook his head hopelessly.

Don’t worry honey. You fixed everything, alright? Sometimes things just happen, and you certainly can’t predict the mind of a dog.

"Yeah, especially that dog! He’s been acting strangely today. I don’t know if I fixed everything or not. It would happen on the very first day. I bet they came by ‘unofficially’ to check up on my state of mind. . . . Welcome to my world!"

Oh, now; don’t blame yourself. You handled the emergency as well as could be expected by anybody. Cathy’s face lit up as she slapped her thigh. You should have seen the look on Bootsie’s face when you fell on him! His eyes got this big. She formed two large circles with her fingers in front of her eyes.

"Excuse me. I did not fall on Bootsie, I pounced on him. There’s a difference. It was the perfect execution of a great plan to stop him in his tracks, and it worked!"

"Yes, it worked. And you will work out at the new base just fine, dear--don’t you worry one bit. This little incident won’t deter you from accomplishing what you came to Illinois to do."

Yeah, right! he scoffed, gazing up at a loud passenger jet slowly cruising overhead.

Okay, let’s get back to those movers. I hope this stuff doesn’t take all day. Cathy clapped her hands together as she walked back into the garage, Places everybody!

***

The Spearman family’s first day in Great Mound City certainly caused a shockwave of excitement on the block. Many friendly neighbors, walking dogs and pushing baby carriages, paused to say hello and offer warm welcomes to the neighborhood. Some kids waved, while others just stared out of curiosity as they rode by on bicycles.

It had been quite a journey to this point. Everyone in the family had pushed very hard to remain positive throughout the entire relocation. Despite being jammed tightly within the confines of a hot minivan, their spirits never broke. They took their discomfort in stride, because each of them knew that their lives were moving forward for the better, or so they desperately hoped.

Bill’s new assignment was across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri--as a civilian working for the Air Force. After retiring from a long Air Force career, he had flown jets for a commercial airline, until disenchantment with his career options set in. He quit flying altogether, resulting in months of unemployment. Granny came to the rescue when she moved in with her daughter’s family and offered much needed moral and financial support. Together, the entire family made the big decision to leave their California home for a fresh start.

Always upbeat and positive, Granny’s presence sparked a new ray of hope and optimism for the family. During the exhausting trek to the Midwest, she invented games and recited comical stories for everyone’s enjoyment. No one could have imagined such a journey without her happy spirit on board. She managed to keep Cory and Wil in tears of laughter with her elaborate tales of being raised on a farm in Illinois. Most were repeats, but always fascinating and entertaining, no matter how many times they had been heard. They were a perfect trio, since Cory loved to laugh and Wil thought everything under the sun was funny--even when it was not.

Jia was more reserved, like her parents. On the surface, she perceived that their future appeared on track and headed in the right direction, toward mending their broken past.