Chapter 3
The following day at school dragged on agonizingly for Bernie, each second feeling like an eternity as she sat through classes that seemed to stretch indefinitely. The more pleasant weather had little bearing on her mood; instead, her thoughts were dominated by the enigmatic lady she had encountered. During lunch, she gathered with her friends Katie and Lyle at their usual table, her heart racing as she recounted the strange yet magical experience she had. Both friends leaned in with interest, their eyes sparkling with curiosity, yet Bernie couldn't shake the feeling that cynicism lurked beneath their eager expressions, mirroring her mother’s own doubts about the identity and import of her newfound friend.
As they finished their sandwiches, the brief silences were filled with crunching potato chips, and Katie’s inquisitive nature surfaced as it often did. With her trademark perky grin—one that usually signaled the beginning of some wild adventure—she chirped, “Can we meet her?” Bernie felt a twist of apprehension coiling in her stomach. Katie was notorious for steering their trio into thrilling yet often troublesome escapades, and Bernie knew this could spiral out of control just as easily.
Anticipating this very question, Bernie had already formulated a response in her mind but decided to feign a contemplative expression for a few moments to buy herself time. “Yes, but not now,” she replied, her voice steady. “If she’s there after school again today, I’ll talk to her. But I need you two to promise me that you won’t pounce on her like cats stalking unsuspecting mice, okay? She’s really nice and friendly, but she might be shy. I don’t know her that well yet, and I don’t want to scare her away.” The words left her lips in a rush, and she immediately pondered whether revealing so much to Katie and Lyle had been a mistake.
Lyle rolled his eyes dramatically, a teasing smirk spreading across his face. “Oh, sure, Bernie Mac-A-Nernie, keep your secret friend all to yourself. Don’t share her with us!” He was relentless, playfully poking at her desire to keep the lady’s identity under wraps.
“I didn’t say that, Lyle,” Bernie shot back, exasperation creeping into her voice. “I just need to talk to her first. That’s all I’m asking. I want to make sure she’s comfortable.” Lyle had a way of pushing her buttons like a finely tuned sports car, shifting from laid-back to too pushy in the blink of an eye.
“Back off, Lyle,” came Katie’s swift retort as she leaned forward defiantly. “If she says she’ll introduce us, then she will. Just chill.” The spirited girl wore that mischievous grin again, one that seemed to spark ideas for grand, unconventional plans. “Hey, maybe she’s a rich Yankee here on vacation with loads of money! Perhaps once she gets to know us, she’ll buy us something extravagant!”
Lyle tilted his head in disbelief, folding his arms and shaking his head. “In February? If she’s a rich Yankee, she must be clueless for choosing New Bern over sunny destinations. She should be lounging on a beach somewhere, not freezing here in winter.”
Bernie pondered for a moment before interjecting, “Not really. She could be from Canada. We do get a few Canadian visitors this time of year. If you lived up north right now, New Bern would feel like paradise compared to Ontario’s relentless snow and icy winds. Honestly, I don’t think she’s Canadian, though, not with her accent and all.”
“Whatever she is,” Katie asserted, her arms resolutely crossed as a playful defiance sparkled in her eyes, “we want to meet her too.”
“You will,” Bernie promised, a tinge of confidence returning to her. “I swear, just give me a chance to talk to her first! She’s incredibly kind, and I’m sure she’ll want to meet you both, too.”
When the school day finally drew to a close, the trio exited through their usual route, the familiar sounds of laughter and chatter fading into the background. At the four corners where their paths diverged, Bernie waved goodbye to Katie and Lyle, then headed towards her street as they made their way home. She hadn’t disclosed her plan to seek out the lady after school; Katie and Lyle assumed she would.
“See you tomorrow,” Lyle called out, his casual wave signifying the end of their daily ritual. Katie added a quick wave of her hand, a mischievous spark in her eyes.
“Not if I see you first!” Bernie quipped back, their playful banter echoing in the chilly afternoon air.
As soon as they were far enough away from her, Katie suddenly gripped Lyle's arm tightly, her fingernails digging into his skin.
“Ouch!” Lyle winced, caught off guard by her sudden gesture. “What the heck, that hurts!” He glared at her, confusion written across his face.
“We’re going back,” she said, a devilish twinkle dancing in her eyes and a coy smile tugging at her lips.
Lyle shook his head fervently, immediately understanding her implication. “No way! If Bernie finds out, she’ll be furious. She said we need to wait! You know how she can be when she's angry. That fiery red hair of hers is not just for show—she’ll go full Irish on us!”
Katie's grin only widened. “That’s true, but there’s no way she’d ever know we were there! We’ll just sneak over to the lot where she meets this woman and take a secret glance, that’s all! We won’t linger. Just a peek and then we’ll disappear. Poof, just like that!” She snapped her fingers, emphasizing her point as if sealing a deal.
Lyle hesitated, the thrill of adventure battling against the fear of Bernie’s wrath. But the allure of the unknown was calling, and he found himself torn between loyalty to his friend and the temptation of a secret escapade.
Lyle certainly wasn’t enthusiastic about the idea. Still, as he pondered the situation, he found it hard to articulate a strong argument against it—at least, not one that would prevent him from going along with Katie’s whims, especially since he had made a silent vow to keep it from Bernie. It felt like a classic internal struggle, with a devil perched on his left shoulder, urging him to indulge in the mischief, and an angel on his right, warning him of the consequences. Still, deep down, Lyle knew he would ultimately follow Katie’s lead, just as he always had, and likely always would. Memories flooded his mind — all the times she had dragged him into trouble, often leaving him to face the fallout alone.
At least this time, they would finally get to meet the woman Bernie had spoken so highly of, a revelation that added an air of excitement to the plan. They could always pretend it was their first encounter when Bernie eventually introduced them, dissolving any suspicion. Despite the inherent risks of their little escapade, Lyle couldn't help but feel a thrill at the prospect.
“Okay, but let me make this clear: if she catches us in the act,” Lyle stated with a mix of seriousness and nervousness, “I swear I’ll pin it all on you. And I wouldn’t be lying!” His tone was blunt, sending a clear message that he was at least partially aware of the looming consequences.
Katie shot him a playful smirk, unfazed by his words. “Oh, I know, Lyle, you are a sniveling little wimp,” she teased, her voice light but excited. “Now come on!” With that, she began to stroll in the direction Bernie McGee had just taken, her confidence radiating through her every step. They had some time on their side; Katie was determined to make sure the lady would be present when they stealthily approached the lot for a glimpse.
If nothing else, Katie’s talent for orchestrating mischievous adventures was unparalleled — it was, without a doubt, her greatest gift. As they moved further away from the safety of familiarity, Lyle couldn't help but feel a nervous anticipation building within him. This would lead to trouble, great trouble.
Bernie approached the edge of the vacant lot, the sun casting a gentle warmth that felt like a comforting embrace compared to the chill of the previous day. A light breeze brushed through her hair, carrying with it the faint sounds of the bustling street nearby. In the distance, the distinct squawking of a couple of seagulls filled the air, their raucous voices engaged in a spirited dispute over a morsel of food carelessly discarded on the sidewalk. The lot was otherwise barren, save for a gnarled old oak standing sentinel in one corner, a haphazard pile of dirt and stones scattered beside it, and a discarded brown beer bottle lying forlornly in the grass that bordered the street. Yet, the lady she had hoped to see was nowhere in sight.
As disappointment washed over her, the girl felt her heart sink, heavy with unmet expectations. She had eagerly anticipated this moment all night and throughout the day, her mind racing with possibilities, and now it felt as if the air had been sucked from her lungs. Doubt crept in as she wondered how she could have misread the woman’s intentions so profoundly. With a sinking feeling, Bernie made her way to the towering oak, its rough bark a familiar comfort as she slumped down against it, seeking solace in its broad shade. The tree, with its steadfast presence, was a reliable companion—unlike the uncertainty that seemed to plague her interactions with people.
As she settled down, a wave of sadness washed over her, mixed with feelings of being used and abandoned. Thoughts swirled in her mind, breeding frustration and confusion. Yet, as she sat there in the stillness, a deeper concern began to take root in her heart. Maybe something had happened to the lady—perhaps an unforeseen accident had befallen her. With that thought, her sense of abandonment deepened into genuine worry, a twist of anxiety tightening in her chest. She chastised herself for harboring such negative feelings about someone she barely knew, a sense of guilt bubbling to the surface. It was a turbulent blend of emotions—hurt, disappointment, and now an unsettling sense of guilt—leaving her unsure of how to navigate her own thoughts and feelings. Instinctively, she wrapped her arms around her knees, seeking comfort in the coolness of the earth beneath her.
“Hello Bernie.” The voice was unmistakable and instantly warmed Bernie’s heart and soul.
Jumping to her feet, she turned to see the lady standing as she had the day before. What was somewhat odd even to Bernie, though, was that the lady was still dressed the same way she had been the previous day: a white sweater top, faded blue jeans, and all.
“Hi,” Bernie greeted her, emotion sounding in her voice. “I thought you forgot.”
A smile curved up the woman’s lips, and it put Bernie’s heart at rest.
“No,” she said, “I will never forget you, not even when after all the stars have faded away. I was waiting for you.”
The way the lady spoke, so strange, mesmerized Bernie. It was as if she could see everything, always and forever.
“But I didn’t see you there,” Bernie remarked, her voice tinged with both surprise and curiosity. As she surveyed the parking lot and the surrounding street, she noted the stark absence of any hiding spots; there were no shrubs, no parked cars, and no shadows where someone could slip away unnoticed. It was clear: someone was either present or absent in such an open expanse, and there was no room for ambiguity.
“You do see me now, don’t you?” the lady responded, her smile broadening like a warm sunrise cresting over the horizon. It illuminated the chilly morning landscape in a golden hue, casting away the lingering shadows of night and filling the air with a sense of comfort and promise.
“Yes. I do,” Bernie replied, her heart swelling with relief. The lady's presence felt like a balm to her uncertainty, providing a reassuring sense of safety amidst the bleakness.
The lady moved gracefully, just as she had the previous day, and settled down underneath the expansive branches of a sturdy tree. Its leaves fluttered gently in the breeze, creating a soft rustling sound that matched the rhythm of the moment. With her right hand, she gestured for Bernie to join her, patting the ground beside her invitingly.
Feeling drawn to this captivating person, the young girl walked over and carefully lowered herself onto the grass next to the lady, the cool blades tickling her skin. At that moment, a profound calm enveloped her, and she couldn't help but think how she could happily spend the rest of her life sitting beside this captivating woman, soaking in her warmth and wisdom.
“I’m glad of that,” the lady said, her laughter ringing like chimes in the wind. “And you will see me sixteen more times before I leave New Bern.”
Bernie paused, a frown creeping onto her brow as she considered the oddity of the statement. “Sixteen times? Why sixteen?” she wondered, a swirl of confusion and intrigue blooming within her. It struck her as peculiar how the lady often spoke in such enigmatic ways, weaving words that at times felt both profound and puzzling.
“And how do you know that?” Bernie queried, with genuine curiosity forcing the question. She couldn't help but feel that a part of the allure of this lady lay in the sense of the unknown that surrounded her. It was as if the woman were a mere fragment of something much larger and deeper, much like the tip of an iceberg, with vast, secret depths hidden beneath the surface. Bernie longed to pierce that veneer of secrecy and uncover everything about her. Who was she really?
“Because I am here in New Bern for a reason,” the lady stated, her voice steady and deliberate, as if each word were a stone carefully placed in an intricate path. “I’m going to ask you to do something for me, but let me be completely honest: following through on my request may lead to trouble—perhaps a great deal of it.” For a fleeting moment, a shadow of sorrow crossed the lady's delicate features, casting a brief pall over her otherwise serene expression. “I cannot shield you from all the dangers this world presents, but I promise that once you grasp the full scope of what I’m asking you, your happiness will surpass anything you can imagine right now. Remember, though, that I will never force you. You always have a choice in this; that is the essence of free will.”
Bernie looked up, studying the woman with a mix of confusion and intrigue. It was difficult to fathom that this peaceable figure, with her unwavering gaze and gentle demeanor, could bring about any significant trouble. In her mind, the idea of a lady like this causing chaos was as implausible as envisioning violent doves or ferocious sheep. But, despite the irrationality of it all, a certainty bloomed within her: she would do whatever the lady asked without question.
“I’ll do it,” Bernie declared out loud, her voice firm and unwavering. Even she was surprised by her own resolute tone, as if an innate force was surging through her. In that instant, she understood that she would follow the lady’s guidance to the ends of the earth, even if it led her into the fire.
The lady laughed softly, a melodious sound that resonated with every fiber of Bernie’s heart and soul, uplifting her spirits in ways she couldn’t comprehend. “But I have not even told you what it is yet. Are you not at all curious to know what I’m asking of you?”
The warmth in the woman’s smile and the light-heartedness of her laughter enveloped Bernie like a beloved song, filling the spaces within her left untouched for far too long. The lady was not helping her; the lady was completing her.
“I’ll do it,” she affirmed once more, offering the lady a blank check of trust and commitment, a promise that seemed to transcend the complexities of the moment.
In that encounter, a realization dawned on Bernie, illuminating her heart with an intense clarity: she loved this lady in a way she had never loved anyone else. It was a fierce, unyielding love, the kind that ignited a willingness to sacrifice everything, even her very life, to fulfill the lady’s wishes.
“Good,” the woman replied, her eyes sparkling with approval. “Now, here is what you are to do, and this is precisely what you will say. You must commit it to memory, so hear me carefully. Repeat it after me, and remember every single word, even if the message seems odd or disturbing to you. Do you understand?”
The air was heavy with anticipation as Bernie nodded, ready to dive into whatever lay ahead.
“Yes, I understand,” Bernie said with a note of determination in her voice. “And I’ll remember it, every single word.”
Bernie McGee found herself absorbed in a way she had never experienced before, her attention sharper than it had ever been in any classroom. Though the woman's earlier concepts and ideas were often elusive, the lady reassured her with a calm that suggested comprehension would come with time and patience. As Bernie sat there, she felt a profound shift in her life; the fate of her future now rested in the hands of someone she had met only twenty-four hours earlier.
The conversation stretched on for an hour, during which Bernie wrestled with her limited understanding of the unfamiliar topics they discussed. The lady painted vivid pictures of her homeland—a place rich with the sounds of horses neighing, the creaking of wooden wagons, and the hum of carts rolling over sun-warmed cobblestones. She spoke of oil lamps, their warm glow fueled by olive oil, casting flickering shadows that danced against humble walls. As Bernie listened, she identified the haunting presence of foreign soldiers known as legionnaires, who had established their control over the region. These legionnaires, she learned, were there as occupiers, exerting an oppressive grasp on the citizens of the lady's town. They allowed certain freedoms, but their iron-fisted rule loomed ominously over the populace, with the potential for brutality hanging in the air like a thick fog.
The mere mention of those soldiers sent chills down Bernie’s spine; her mind raced back to a film she had seen years ago about the fierce men of the French Foreign Legion. From the palm trees and other exotic details that the lady described, Bernie surmised that her new friend’s home must lie somewhere in the vast, sun-scorched expanse of North Africa, perhaps nestled within the treacherous dunes of the desert. A flicker of regret washed over her as she wished she had devoted more attention to her history lessons and studies of distant lands; she longed for a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of the lady’s life and her struggles in a world so different from her own.
As the discussion continued, Bernie sensed that this connection with the lady was not merely a meeting but the dawn of a journey that would change her awareness of life—and herself—forever.
As Bernie and the lady conversed, Katie and Lyle carefully navigated along a white picket fence, its gleaming surfaces contrasting beautifully with the vibrant green of the surrounding garden. The privet hedges, displaying their lovely, variegated leaves, moved gently in the afternoon breeze. They crouched low, positioning themselves stealthily behind the fence to catch a glimpse of the intriguing woman Bernie had been raving about since their early lunchtime discussions.
They crawled along the ground like soldiers inching their way through enemy territory, acutely aware of the need for stealth to avoid detection. Lyle's face scrunched in frustration as he felt the rough, dirty earth clinging to his pants. “Ugh! I’m going to get in so much trouble if my mom sees these!” he grumbled, but Katie, with her determined spirit, urged him on with a whisper.
“Come on, Lyle! We’re so close! Just a little further!” she insisted, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and excitement. Finally, they reached a vantage point and peeked over the fence, their hearts racing in expectation. But what lay before them was astonishing, and their jaws dropped in unison at the shocking sight.
It wasn’t the appearance of the lady that shocked them, nor was it the nature of her conversation with Bernie. The true source of their disbelief lay in the realization that Bernie McGee—who had been a steadfast friend since their kindergarten days—was perched comfortably against the sturdy trunk of an ancient oak tree, seemingly captivated by a spirited dialogue. She gestured animatedly, her hands weaving through the air as if she were sharing secrets with someone right next to her. Yet, to Katie and Lyle’s utter astonishment, there was absolutely no one there. The space beside her was eerily empty, devoid of any presence or sound, not even the faint echo of footsteps from the nearby sidewalk.
Lyle turned to Katie, his expression a mixture of bewilderment and disbelief. “WTF?” was all he could muster, his wide eyes reflecting the confusion swirling in his mind.
Katie, always the more composed of the two, furrowed her brow in deep contemplation. “I don’t know, Lyle,” she replied, her voice trailing off as she weighed the possibilities. “Maybe this is just some elaborate prank. I wouldn’t put it past her. It’s been a while since she’s pulled a good one. Maybe she thought if she told us about a wonderful lady, we’d sneak up to take a look.” Her voice held a hint of uncertainty, even though she had to admit to herself that this explanation felt insufficient.
As they continued to observe Bernie, it became increasingly clear to them that she was either an extraordinarily gifted actress or—at least in her own mind—truly engaged in a vibrant conversation with an imaginary companion.
Katie spoke again, this time with a touch of seriousness. “Or our friend has completely lost her damned mind,” she added, crossing her arms skeptically.
Lyle, known for his impulsive nature and a propensity to leap into action, jumped at the thought. “Let’s get up, go over there, and talk to her!” His excitement bubbled over, and he began to rise, but Katie swiftly grabbed his arm, applying just enough pressure to draw him back down.
“No, not now!” she whispered, her eyes wide with concern. “Believe me, she’d be instantly mad if we barged in like this. Let’s wait a bit and talk to her later—maybe at her house. Honestly, I need to think about this one for a while before we say or do anything.”
With a deep breath, they settled back into a quiet observation, remaining unnoticed for a few more minutes as the strange scene unfolded before them. Finally, with a shared glance of understanding, they decided to creep away from the lot in silence, their minds racing with questions and uncertainties about what they had just witnessed.