Ghost Fish of Floating Bone Lake

Speaking to the barbed wire fence where she stood, Susan hesitated. “I had to go where the sales were. The real estate market here is bustling, and I have the chance of a lifetime. I want the Sales Person of the Year award, the SPOTY and I am going to get it! I’m even away from Aunt Em and Uncle Owen, too. This was a good move … wasn’t it?” "Hey, lady, you can't...," called a blond headed boy, pushing his bike toward her, “go-o fishing..." His voice trailed off as he stood staring open mouthed. Hah! Go fishing? No way. Nearly twenty years of avoiding her most terrifying, and yet most cherished, experience had not dulled the pain. She brushed a strand of hair from across her eyes. No wonder he stared, though. The designer dark blue skirt and matching jacket with blue and white striped blouse she had worn to the office was not an outfit for a muddy tromp to the lake. She should have made a more complete change instead of just switching from her high heels to her dress flats. “"Hey, lady, watch out for snakes!" The young boy had recovered. Susan jumped! Given the power by God, though she hadn’t talked to Him in a while, snakes were at the top of her list of creatures she would un-create. Spiders were second. "My mother saw you. We live there." He pointed toward the subdivision. "She sent me to warn you about the flooding and snakes. You don't look like fishin’. What are you doing out here?” "Well, I wanted to see the lake, but I sure can't get near it today. I’ll have to come back when it’s a little drier. What can you tell me about this area back here? My name is Susan Walen and you are…?” "Trevor. Why do you want to know?” "Do you play back here? Do you kids fish in that lake? What do you call it? Are there wild animals? Did any of you kids ever get hurt?" "Would you care to talk to my mom?" "Well…sure, if your mother doesn’t mind and I won't be interrupting?” "Naw, she's just watching my sister.” Trevor walked along with Susan, pushing his bicycle through the mucky, slippery spots in the saturated field. She could imagine the sucking, sliding and slipping in the South Carolina red clay, if she still had on her three inch navy heels. She chuckled. Trevor gave her a crooked smile, as if she had grown a second nose. Oh, good, he was taking her just down the street from the cul-de-sac where she had parked her Malibu. Trevor entered the back of a two story house through sliding glass doors off a deck. Susan tiptoed right behind. He didn't call out. She paused to slip off her soggy shoes and then followed, looking around and behind, as if she were breaking and entering. A blonde curly headed toddler brushed past them heading for the deck doors still not completely closed. "Mo-m-m, Gabi’s going outside again!" "Trevor, get her!" Trevor’s mom stopped short when she saw Susan. Trevor snagged his squiggling sister by the arm, dragging her across the threshold. Susan grinned. "This is my mom. She wanted me to tell you about the rain." Trevor handed Gabi over to his mother and left the room. With a quick glance Susan noted the lived-in disarray, and a pair of camera binoculars on a table, next to a large window with a panoramic view of the street. I’m Susan Walen, thanks for sending Trevor to warn me.” She extended her hand, but offered no explanation or information. “Oh, please, sit down, … Susan. I saw you, and thought you were one of the kids going fishing. You can’t tell how flooded it is until you’re actually in the water, so I thought there could be a problem. By the way, I’m Maggie Riley.” “Maggie, glad to meet you. I don’t like admitting it, but I’m terrified of snakes. I’d panic just seeing one. I’m fairly new around here. Do you mind if I ask you about the woods and the lake?” Susan followed Maggie’s interest in Susan’s feet. Oh, no! The cut- out pattern of Susan’s flats was painted in mud, stencil perfect, on her bare feet. What could she do but hold them up? “Beautiful, huh? Nature’s artistry.” “I’d recognize the shoes those feet came from in a lineup, but I imagine those shoes are destined for the trash. It’s too bad. Had they lived a long life?” Maggie chuckled when Susan pantomimed wiping tears. “Your favorites, huh? “Yeah, well, it’s my own fault for not putting on my scruffy tennis shoes, even if they wouldn’t have matched.” Susan shrugged. Both of them leaned back laughing. “About the lake, I can’t tell you much, but because of some of the stories these kids tell, I’ve told Trevor he’s not to go in the woods or to the lake by himself. When we bought this house Mrs. Goldsmith told us not to worry about any development of the wooded area behind or in either direction. Her promise is one reason we settled on this property. Though neither David my husband, nor I claim to be a Tarzan or a Jane, we enjoy the untamed beauty of our miniature forest. We see deer in our backyard nearly every day.” “Yeah, and wild dogs too. Mama is as big as a horse, and you never hear her until she’s breathing in your ear. You don’t mess with her.” Trevor had returned from the kitchen, munching on what looked like a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. If she planned to talk to God, Susan could easily add wild dogs to her un-create list. “Trevor! I’ve never seen ‘Mama’ or any wild dog. I don’t believe there are any wolves either.” As Maggie was explaining, Susan caught a movement out of the corner of her eye and turned to the window to watch a good looking man step up on the porch. When the doorbell rang, Trevor sprang to open the door before either woman could move a muscle. Maggie grabbed Gabi who was right behind Trevor. “Come on in. Mom sent me to get her,” referring to Susan, “‘cause of the flooding. You should have seen her jump when I yelled about the snakes.” Trevor stepped aside. Susan stood as Maggie walked over to the tall dark haired man dressed in a business suit, “Hi, Garrett. This is Susan. I did send Trevor to rescue her. Susan, Garrett is a neighbor.” Maggie who was still balancing Gabi on her hip stepped back. Susan smiled and nodded, but stood rigid unable to say anything in response. She focused on the unruly lock of Garrett’s hair on his forehead. Garrett placed his right hand on the right side of his face, lowered the left side of his face to his left shoulder and raised his eyebrows. Then, slowly, he surveyed Susan from her blue eyes to her immaculate suit and her mud painted bare feet. He focused on her muddy feet, shook his head, grinned and turned to leave. Susan followed his gaze to her feet and, without thinking, curled her toes. “Garrett, sit down and stay…” but, Maggie was too late. He was already out on the porch. “I’ll check with you later.” He called back. “Heavens! Hum…I don’t know what he was thinking.” Maggie shook her head. “Do you feel as if you got the once over? What’s the word I want—scrutinized?