Page 27 of The Woodcarver's Model
“Pssst. Time to get up.” Mitch spoke softly.
“Wha? Is it time to go to the airport? The driver hasn’t called yet, has he?”
“Okay, you’ve had enough time,” Mitch said as he flicked on the light, then swatted Rob with the pillow.
“Up you get!”
“What time is it?”
“Four a.m.”
“Four?” Rob was sliding out of the bed trying to steady himself. “We only got to bed a few hours ago.”
“The solstice waits for no man. Even the mightyyou. Now get dressed. I’ll meet you at the truck.”
“What the fuck?”
Rob stumbled around putting on his clothes from last night or, more precisely, from earlier that morning. Rufus looked on as Rob struggled to get on one of his socks.
“What are you staring at? I’d like to see you put on socks.”
Rufus snorted and left the room.
Rob stumbled into the kitchen once he was dressed. “No coffee? Why is there no coffee?” he whined like a five-year-old. “Mitch? Mitch?”
Rufus barked at the open front door and walked outside. Rob obediently followed. Mitch was in the truck, waving a thermos of coffee at him. “Here, boy. Come get it.”
“Very funny,” said Rob as he tripped over a tree root, just catching himself. Mitch laughed and Rufus, now in the truck, barked and bounced around in the front seat.
A now even grouchier Rob opened the passenger door. “Back seat. Now!” Rufus moved without question.
“Morning, honey. This is for you,” he said, passing him the coffee. “And these”—he passed him a box full of scones—“are for later.”
“Do not tell me you baked these this morning.”
“Okay. I won’t.” Mitch started the truck, threw it into gear and took off.
“Can I have one of these now?” Rob asked, referring to the scones.
“No. They’re for sharing.”
They drove on in silence before Rob asked, “Do you want to talk about your dream last night?”
Mitch stared straight ahead. “Nope.”
Rob finished his last sip of coffee. “Okay.” Rob changed the subject. “So, where are we going, and why now? The little forest animals aren’t even up yet.”
“It’s Solstice Day.”
“Okay.”
“It’s a big day on the island and I think you need to experience it. And keep your hands off the scones.”
“Spoilsport.”
They drove on through the morning darkness, a blackness amplified by the tree-canopied road, until they came out into a field. There were already a few cars there. Rob stumbled out of the truck and looked up at the predawn sky. He looked up. “Oh my God. Have you ever seen so many stars in one place?”
“Now go and drop the scones off on the table over there. I’m going to look for Maggie.”
