Roxi's Mountain

Once out on the street, Lewis says, “I think we should pay miss Purdy a visit.” O’Malley calls for a ride, and within minutes, the two board a cab.

Using the rearview mirror, the cab driver asks, “Where too?”

“184 Elm Drive.”

“Got it.” That said, the cab driver slips into the light flow of morning traffic.

Stopped at a light, O’Malley mentions to Lewis, “There’s a rag splashing miss Purdy never ages. Their proof is a black and white photo where her likeness has been captured. Below, and circled in red is the date taken which is well over a hundred years ago. There is another saying that she is the spawn of the devil, and for parents to beware. Another claims that she is so old she knew Jesus.” O’Malley stops, his eyes catching the cab driver looking at him in the rearview. Troubled, he looks. As if what heard within the tight interior of the cab has struck a nerve or worse, a memory.

Paid, the cab rolls off and left to knocking on the front door, a young lady dressed in jeans, and an oversized sweatshirt says to the two of them, “Welcome. Please, come inside.”

Once the door is closed, the young lady steps ahead, “This way.” The walls are bare along their walk towards double doors. On her approach to, in unison, the double doors open outward. “Quickly now,” is said which has Lewis and O’Malley stepping out into a huge garden of rose bushes. Up ahead, the young lady has stopped long enough to take in the scent of a single rose before resuming her walk along a worn path leading up to a gazebo. Ascending a short flight of stairs, once Lewis and O’Malley are up on the landing, the young lady turns to them, “This is my safe place. He can’t hear me, or you.” After hearing this, Lewis has no problem asking, “Who is he, and who are you?”

“The man I speak of is an evil wizard. And I am princess Rose.”

O’Malley interrupts, “You’re a princess?”

“You may call me Rose if you like. Tell me, what names do you go by?”

“I’m O’Malley. And he’s Lewis.”

She looks to both of them, “Strong names.” That said, she turns and walks over to a nearby railing. Following after, and once Lewis and O’Malley are on either side of her, she says, “As lovely as the view is, I hate this place.” Lewis ventures, “You mentioned a wizard,” A hard stare. “I saw him once when I was four. Said for every century that goes by, I will age one full day. My punishment until mother submits to his will that will have me never seeing father again, only his face.”