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.” There is no smile on the cabby’s face when he says, “I thought you media guys had left town.”

“We’re not media guys,” says Lewis. “So, you can either take us where we want to go or do we need to hail another cab?”
“No, I got you.” There is no mistaking the tension of unsaid words during the entire ride and once paid, the cab rolls off.  Walking up the steps, and after knocking on the front door, a young lady dressed in jeans and an oversized sweatshirt greets them, “Welcome. Please, come inside.”

Once the door is closed behind them, the young lady steps ahead, “If you will.” The walls are bare and on their approach to, in unison, French doors open outward that has the young lady saying without looking back, “Quickly now.” Stepping through, Lewis and O’Malley find themselves in a huge garden of rose bushes. Up ahead, the young lady has stopped long enough to take in the scent of a single rose. Brief is her stare towards them before she resumes her walk along a worn path leading up to a gazebo. Having little choice but to follow after, once Lewis and O’Malley are on the landing, the young lady tells them, “My name is Rose.”

“I’m Lewis.”

“And I am O’Malley.”

Looking to each of their faces, she says, “Strong names.”

Slightly embarrassed by this, but staying casual in his asking, O’Malley says, “Will miss Purdy be joining us shortly?”

“What if I was to tell you that I am miss Purdy?”

Suppressing a laugh, O’Malley mentions, “She’s in her nineties, and you’re not.”

“Oh. Right. Walk with me.”

Retracing their steps to the point of Rose having her hand on the doorknob, she turns and says to them, “You two go first, I’ll follow after.” That said, she opens the door and stands aside. O’Malley follows Lewis out into the morning sun that has both turning to see the young lady stepping outside which has the two witnessing rapid aging taking place right in front of their eyes. Gravelly is her voice, “The wizard did this to me.” A long pause. “It’s hard to breathe out here today. It is a bit chilly, too. I should have brought my sweater. Now, what was I saying, ah yes, the wizard. A terrible man he is. But Mother is strong, and because she is, I shall be strong too.” Miss Purdy glances towards O’Malley before looking directly at Lewis. “She came to me. Said you would make things right. And for me not to worry. That all of this will be nothing more than a bad dream. I want to believe her, I really do.” Lewis tells her, “We should go back inside.” Unwavering is her stare until miss Purdy breaks off to where she moves towards the front door opening on its own.