The River Creek Chronicles: LaKeisha's Transformation

Prologue

The Oracle called them together at three in the morning. The night was as black as velvet, the darkness only interrupted with street lamps flickering like fireflies. The Oracle’s abode was lit with grey light flickering through the shades. The group met in front of the Oracle’s door, gave each other puzzled looks, then slipped into the Oracle’s room.

Dammit, Lazarus said, plopping down in a chair in the corner. He pulled up the strap of his overalls, which had slipped down his left shoulder. Just because you can’t sleep doesn’t mean that you need to get the rest of us up. I’m too old for this shi… He shut his mouth, looking at Joanne Long, who gave him a disapproving look over her knitting.

The town is doomed, The Oracle intoned. He looked around. Where’s Hiram?

Out of town, Lazarus said. Vacation. And you know he’s got that case coming up.

Oh, the Oracle said. I had forgotten. Anyway, he continued in a melancholy tone, the town is doomed.

Joanne Long looked at the television, flickering in one corner, then went back to her knitting. She looked as neatly pressed as she usually did, not like she had just gotten out of bed. I think that you’ve been watching too many scary movies, honey. She settled back into her chair.

No, the Oracle said. Infomercials. That’s when I get my best revelations.

And the revelation you got while watching a commercial about knives, Daniel Summers said, rubbing his eyes, was that the town is doomed.

The town is going to be destroyed in a ball of fire, the Oracle said. And a baby will be our salvation.

Whose baby? Mayor Daniel Summers said. He tried pushing his salt-and-pepper hair out of his face, but it kept flopping back into his eyes.

The baby has not yet arrived.

So it hasn’t been born? Daniel said.

The Oracle sighed. You’re breaking the mood. He hesitated. Both.

Huh? Lazarus said. He blinked.

Yeah. Both. The baby hasn’t been born yet, and the parents haven’t moved into town yet.

The group looked at each other. We haven’t had anybody move into town for years, Daniel Summers said slowly. Most of the outside world doesn’t know that we exist.

And we like it that way, Lazarus said, sitting back in his chair. His overall straps fell down again.

You remember what happened that last time the outside world intruded into a town like ours, Joanne Nelsen said, with a shudder.

Actually, Daniel said. I don’t remember. None of us actually remembers that. That was four hundred years ago. Joanne opened her mouth. But I remember the history. Salem.

I was a hundred miles away at the time. The news coming out of Salem was chilling, the Oracle said, wistfully. He sighed. But still, those were the days! That was when…

Daniel spoke up quickly, talking over the Oracle. But will the family fit into our little town?

It will be fine, the Oracle said, glaring at him for interrupting. They will fit in, eventually.

Eventually? Daniel said.

Well, the Oracle said. You can’t let them know about the nature of this town, and you can’t tell them why we need them until they decide to stay in River Creek permanently.

Them? Lazarus said.

The baby’s parents.

And how, Daniel said, are we going to get a couple of outsiders to move to our town without letting them know what they’re facing?

We give the father a job, the Oracle said.

What job? Daniel said. He looked around at the group. It’s not exactly like we have a whole lot of jobs here.

Well, the Oracle said. We haven’t had a police officer in years, have we?

So why, Lazarus said, looking around, Do we need police? We ain’t had a crime here in… He closed his mouth, looking as if he was trying to count.

Subtlety is wasted on you, isn’t it, boy? the Oracle sighed.

Apparently, the baby’s father is a police officer, Daniel said.

But it’s the mother who is the unbeliever.

And the father is not an unbeliever?

He’s seen enough that nothing surprises him.

Really? Daniel said.

No, the Oracle cackled. But I do like to keep things mysterious.

Wait a minute, Daniel said. How do we know what you say is true?

The Oracle turned to look at him. Daniel Aelfdane Summers, he said. When was the last time I was wrong?

Daniel pursed his lips. You know I hate it when you use my middle name.

When?

He looked at the floor. Never.

Then, the Oracle said, looking around the room, as the village council, I think you need to hire a police officer. And your council needs a new member. I think the officer’s wife will do quite well. It will cement her ties to this town. Do I have a consensus?

Aye, Daniel muttered.

Aye, Lazarus said, looking rather eager.

Aye, Joanne said serenely, continuing to knit.

What about Hiram? Daniel said.

The Oracle considered. Perhaps you had better not tell him until his case is done. I don’t think he would agree to the wisdom of this secret.

You really think it’s wise to keep a secret from another council member?

Yes, the Oracle said sharply. I do. Daniel raised his eyebrows. The Oracle ignored him. Okay, then. Here’s where you find our new neighbors…

Wait, Daniel said. What happens if they decide to leave?

Then the town is doomed, the Oracle said. Any other stupid questions? No? Then, can we get down to business?

Can we do this tomorrow morning? Lazarus said.

I suppose we can, the Oracle said. Sure you don’t want to watch an infomercial or two?

As one, the council hurried rapidly out of the door.

Chapter I

LaKeisha gasped and closed her eyes when her husband made a right turn into a huge tree.

She opened her eyes when she realized that they hadn't actually hit anything. Turning in her seat, she looked behind the car to see trees and a black paved road. M216 was disappearing into the distance. She looked forward again, and spotted a sign. Michigan Highway 999. 999? She had never heard of any highway with a number that high. A sign came up on the right:

River Creek

Population: varies, but somewhere around 3000 souls

Elevation: Varies

City Slogan: A safe place in an unweird world

LaKeisha Andrews glanced at her husband. Did you see that sign?

Sam shrugged. Of course. I saw it when I interviewed here.

She looked at the houses streaming by on M-999 and realized that they were now in a village. Well, the houses seem fine. She looked at the road, then looked down a cross street. Is that house standing on chicken legs?

Sam looked, but they were already past it. The place they’re going to offer us is up here.

LaKeisha looked. Well, the house looked normal enough, and she said so. So – how much would we have to pay each month?

They gave it to us.

She raised her eyebrows. They gave a house to us?

He stopped in front of the house and pulled the keys out of the ignition. Yep. He separated the keys. Here is the key.

The village gave you the house.

Uh-huh.

LaKeisha closed her eyes. Sam, I have never heard of any villages giving their police free houses.

That's why I took the job. He grinned at her.

LaKeisha knew this was coming. You took the job. She wasn’t really surprised. She had been married to Sam for ten years, but still had yet to actually understand him. You took the job, she repeated.

Honey, he said, looking at her with an expression that melted her heart. She hated to use clichés, but it was his puppy dog look. You’ve been urging me to find someplace where I can be happy. I think we can be happy here.

Still, she insisted, ignoring the puppy dog eyes, there must be something wrong that they can’t keep a police chief.

Actually, he said, grinning, I’m the entire police force. They said that they haven’t had any crime for ten years.

She raised her eyebrows. How can that be? Darling, there’s no place in this world without crime.

They're right. I looked it up. He got out of the car. Honey, let’s look at the house.

She sighed. Okay. She had to admit, a home that wasn’t an apartment would be nice. And since she hadn’t actually mentioned to him what she suspected – because she had yet to go to the doctor – a house would be convenient from now on.

They walked up the front walk. It was an older split level that had apparently been recently worked upon. The front was nicely landscaped, with forsythia bushes and tulips in a raised flower box. There was a small creek rushing along the side yard, and she hoped that the bedrooms were on that side.

He opened the door and motioned her in. The front entry way was bright, with light angling in through a skylight. A small shadow came over the window, and for a second, she thought she saw a small human face peering in, but it was gone in a second and she decided it must have been a bird. On the left was the living room, also with skylights. At the end was a stone fireplace, surrounded by white bookshelves, and LaKeisha could imagine her knick-knacks and selected books arranged tastefully. A comfy looking couch was along one wall, and a couple of nice looking chairs faced it, making a conversation pit.

Off the living room was a large kitchen, with stainless steel appliances and European looking cupboards. The kitchen had a raised kitchen counter for a breakfast bar. On the other side of the breakfast bar was a dining room with a – Sam, she said. that looks like a crystal chandelier.

He shrugged, and she remembered that he never really noticed such things.

She looked around. This is a nice dining room.

She went back to the entry way. And took the stairs down. There was a nice looking den, with – again – some comfy couches and a flat screen TV. Off the den was a room obviously meant for a bedroom, and another that was a utility room, with a front loading washer and dryer.

They went back to the entry way and went upstairs. Three bedrooms were upstairs, with a master bath of the master bedroom, and a roomy bathroom for the other two rooms.

LaKeisha looked and then looked again. It was all very, very nice, but then a small thought from the back of her head started percolating around, and suddenly bubbled to the surface. Sam, she said slowly, does this house seem a lot larger on the inside than it is on the outside?

He scratched his head. You’re right. I thought there was something odd about this house.

She blinked. Why did you think so?

Well, Sam said, looking around again, it just seemed too perfect. He looked back downstairs. I didn’t notice the kitchen, before. Or the bathroom.

I did.

I know.

They looked at each other. Then Sam shrugged. Well, he said, we really shouldn’t question perfect, should we?

LaKeisha stared at him. Sam, I love you, but I do question perfect. She shook her head. I haven’t seen perfection yet. She reached over and pecked his cheek. Although you’re close.

Thank you, darling.

I think I’d like to find out more about your job. When do you start?

A couple of weeks, Sam said. I gave notice in Three Rivers yesterday.

LaKeisha sighed. I still wish you had told me about it.

We had talked about it for a year, Sam said.

I know, I know. She smiled. Just don’t surprise me like this again. Police chief, huh?

Yeah. He smiled.

We need to celebrate.

I have some champagne in the car!

Her face fell. Um.

What’s the matter?

Nothing, She smiled. I just don’t think I should have champagne just now.

Sam’s eyes opened wide. Does that mean what I think it means?

She smiled at him, and led him downstairs. It does. I think. I still need to go to the doctor.

He caught her up and whirled her around in the entryway. As she whirled, she thought she saw a small face in the window.

Put me down!

What?

She stared at the window. There was nothing there. Didn’t you see that?

No…

She blinked. She was pregnant, but she didn’t think that hallucinations were a symptom of pregnancy. Then she shrugged.

I wonder, she said, if this house has a swimming pool and a hot tub.

Let’s look, Sam said.

They wandered through the house. In the kitchen, they saw a door that they hadn’t seen before. She peered through the window. A pool and a hot tub, she said. Huh.

She saw a little face smiling at her.

She shivered.

Let’s look at the rest of the town.



I have to admit, Sam, LaKeisha said, looking out at the town as their car passed by, the town is rather charming. In an oddball sort of way, she thought. Most towns in this part of Michigan seemed to start with the oldest buildings, usually large Victorians, in the center of town, and the style getting newer the farther out from center. This town didn’t have a Victorian center, it was downright Gothic. The central house almost looked like a palace that Dracula would be comfortable in. LaKeisha almost expected sacrificial victims in the court yard. The rest of downtown seemed a bit more modern, albeit early 1930s. A grocery store-cum-hardware store, a small diner, a City Hall that seemed abandoned at the moment. A few clothing stores. A large bookstore – paradise to LaKeisha – that seemed to be well stocked. An internet/coffee café. A small movie theatre that seemed to be showing new movies. A blood bank.

A blood bank?

LaKeisha blinked. Okay.

Yeah, Sam said. I’m not sure why that’s there, either.

The people who were out seemed to be friendly, too, waving at the couple as they drove by. And not all white, which was common in Southwest Michigan. This town seemed to be a good mix of races, too – she looked suddenly backwards. Was that man purple?

No. Must have been the lighting.

They passed by a park with a small zoo and a nice playground. Nice, LaKeisha said. She held her hand over her stomach.

Further out, they found another couple of sit-down restaurants.

Hospital? she said.

Looks like just a clinic.

Well, a hospital would be nice, but I guess I can always go to Kalamazoo.

They passed by a couple of churches. They all seemed to be clustered in a row. Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, Catholic, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and…

She blinked. Is that Stonehenge? Then she caught the sign. A Pagan site. How… enlightened. The next building was the First Circle of the Wiccan coven.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised, LaKeisha murmured.

The Wiccans were just leaving their building, and they waved happily at the car going by. Sam smiled and waved back, and, after a second, LaKeisha followed suit.

Friendly bunch.

I found the village council pretty friendly.

She glanced sidelong at him. You’re pretty set on this job, aren’t you?

Yes, said Sam. That’s why I took it. I think this place will be good for us.

Three Rivers isn’t bad.

But no room for advancement.

LaKeisha sighed. It was a nice town, but, after three years, she still never felt as if she fit in. How could this place be any worse?

Okay. She smiled so that he wouldn't misunderstand her.

Thanks, honey, he said. You won’t regret it.

Something caught her eye, and she looked upward. Is that a giant bat? In the daytime?

He looked up. I dunno.

She sighed. Then she saw the back end of a horse going down one of the side streets, blinked, and blinked again. Optical illusion. She could swear that it looked like a Centaur.

No, couldn’t be.

It was a pregnancy hallucination, right?

Was there such a thing as pregnancy hallucinations?

CHAPTER II

The city council, meeting at Mavis Beaber’s Bar, Grille, and Newsstand, introduced our new police officer, Samuel Andrews, last night. Also introduced were his wife, LaKeisha Andrews, and their unnamed child. LaKeisha Andrews then addressed the council, looking startled, wondering how they knew she was pregnant. At that point, Hiram Weatherall, emerged from the bathroom, burped loudly, and ended up face first on the counter. In the general laughter, we noted that Mrs. Andrews' question went unanswered, so this reporter shall not report the method.

Samuel Andrews then proved his general suitability for the job by quelling the crowd, then eating two donuts. In general, police officers subsist on donuts – it’s on their vitamin chart – so we feel that a good quantity of donuts will keep our officers ready and fit.

In other news, the subject of a roundabout at the corner of Maple Lane and Walnut Drive was discussed. The plans were presented – actually thrown on the table, narrowly missing a pile of mashed potatoes – and were studied by all present. After that, Mayor Daniel Summers declared that the plans would not work. When asked why, he noted that the roundabout never actually joined up with any roads, leaving the intersection as is. The roundabout was off to one side of Walnut Street.

The road engineer was questioned. She replied sullenly that if the roundabout section wasn’t actually attached to the intersection, the asphalt wouldn’t have to be replaced for years. When told that roundabouts were meant to ease traffic flow, she said that there was no place in River Creek that had more than three cars on the road at any one time, since the town was only findable if someone actually needed to be there. After some discussion, during which LaKeisha Andrews looked on puzzled, the roundabout amendment was passed. This reporter figures that the roundabout will be good for bicycles and scooters.

The floor was then opened to the general public. When asked why the council was meeting in the Grille, yet again, it was explained that the Council Hall was still being