Page 2 of Trolling For Love

“Leaving the big one?” one of the loggers asked.

“Yeah, it’s healthy. Better to take out those smaller unhealthy ones and let it keep growing,” I explained and moved onto the next tree. I had worked in this forest for years, and after college I’d become the one that got to choose which trees were cut down and which we saved. Apparently, a forestry degree said I knew more now than in all the years I’d worked in the forest. Eitherway, I liked that I was the one now deciding which trees were logged.

“Davies, can I have a word?” the foreman said as he walked around the area.

“Sure,” I said, and made sure the tag was still attached to the big tree. I didn’t want any mistakes, especially mistakes that meant cutting down an ancient tree. “What’s going on?”

“You know about the research facility on the edge of town?”

Of course, I knew about it, everyone knew about it. It was the second such research facility where monsters were taught how to behave in the human world before they were allowed to live in the human world or even work if they wanted to. “Yes, I know about it,” I said, and he pulled me farther away from the crew that were busy getting ready to start cutting the trees I’d indicated.

“Well, we’ve hired a troll who has been studying to work in the forest. He’s still new to it all but I want to give him a chance,” Frank said and waited for my reaction with his arms crossed.

“A troll?” I said, not knowing what else to say.

“Yes. Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, why would I have a problem? I’ve seen some of the monsters around town, hell there’s a few I talk to regularly. I guess I didn’t expect one of them would want to work out here.”

“He’s originally from Iceland. Now, I’m not sure you realize it or not, but Iceland has very few trees. It means a lot to him to be able to work in the forest.” His eyes pleaded with me for understanding but I was still confused. “I met my wife after she completed her time at the facility,” he said.

“Your married to a—” I wasn’t sure what the right thing to say was. I didn’t want to sound like I didn’t support monster and human relationships, because I didn’t judge anyone by who they loved.

“A gorgon. We met through the Monster Match app after she finished school.”

“What’s a gorgon?” I asked.

“Have you heard of Medusa?” he asked and smiled.

“Yes. Whoa, that’s pretty cool. Can she turn you to stone? I have so many questions,” I said making him laugh.

“She could if she wanted to, but she won’t. That’s part of the deal. Monsters cannot harm humans. She keeps her snakes under control and there’s no issue.”

“Can I meet her sometime?” I asked, finding everything about them fascinating.

“Sure, but first. I want you to make this guy feel welcome. Don’t be intimidated by the way he looks. I’ve met him and he is a decent . . . being. He won’t hurt anyone so ignore what you’ve heard about trolls.”

“What about trolls?” I asked because obviously I was way behind on all things monster. When I said I spoke to some of them regularly I wasn’t lying. A few were always at the coffee shop when I stopped by, but I didn’t know them well enough to ask about their monster ways, or anything to do with being a monster, and it wasn’t that I didn’t want to know. I was curious, but I didn’t want to pry or make them feel uncomfortable.

“They eat people, and they’re very ill-tempered. But I’ve been spending time with Gunnar and he’s trying.”

“Trying not to eat people?” I asked and it came out as a squeak.

He bent over laughing at that. “Sorry, but they can’t be here if they’ve harmed a human. He gave up human a long time ago,” he said still smiling.

“I think I need to learn more about monsters. I mean they’re here to stay,” I said.

“I hope so. I think it would be a sad thing if we lost them, now that we’ve found them.” He was quiet for a moment as he stared down at the ground, and I didn’t think he meant all monsters,but mainly the one he was married to. Clearing his throat he continued. “He’ll be joining us shortly, just please, give him a chance.”

“Of course. I have no reason not to, and if he’s willing to learn the job, I’ll help him.” He stepped closer again, not that anyone was close enough to us to hear.

“There are some townsfolk who don’t agree with giving them a chance so just be careful. Now get to work marking what they’re cutting so they don’t get bored and start cutting down the nearest tree.”

“You could be right about that.” After discussing a little more detail about what we’d be working on this week he left, and I got back to tagging trees. One of the guys on the crew walked over to speak to me.

“Hey, Flynn, what did Frank want? He usually stays away from the worksite,” Don Blair asked.

“We’re getting a new crewman shortly. I’m not sure if that means today or later in the week. He’s new and he’s going to need some help figuring out the job,” I explained. “Just so you’re not surprised, he’s also a troll.”

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