The Xidoran Prophecy Read online

  The Xidoran Prophecy

  By

  Elaine Bassett

  No part of this publication may be reproduced, or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recorded, in any form otherwise now known or hereafter invented, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system, is forbidden without written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher.

  For information regarding permission to reproduce selections from this book, write to I Dream Publishing LLC, P.O. Box 6504, Lee’s Summit, MO 64064-6504

  ISBN 978-0-988-9313-1-2

  Text copyright © 2012 by Elaine Bassett. All rights reserved.

  Published by I Dream Publishing, LLC.

  Cover Design copyright © 2013 by Adam Forrester – Grape Design LLC

  Edited by Beverly Linder

  All rights reserved. Published in the United States by I Dream Publishing, LLC.

  To find out more about this series and the author’s other literary works visit: elainebassett.com and idreampublishingcompany.com

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

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  “Let us explore every possibility until we have exhausted our imagination-”

  E.B.

  CHAPTER 1

  Charles Brookfield sat in his favorite chair on the wraparound front porch of the old Victorian farmhouse. He thought about the letter in his hand that he had just read. He looked it over and noticed that it was well worn. A hole was beginning to form in the crease from reading it through the years. He mumbled to himself as he refolded it and slid it into his pocket. It was dusk and the sun was low on the horizon. He looked around the front yard and noticed the well-manicured landscape. Charles made a mental note that it needed to be watered. The weather had been unseasonably hot and dry for this time of year. His neck itched just under his chin and he reached up to scratch it. Random thoughts filled his head as he gazed across the dead end road that was in front of the house. On the other side of the road was a well maintained wooded area belonging to the Old Jones’ farm. Occasionally it would reveal a deer or two, and assorted wildlife from time to time. He sat quietly and watched to see what would materialize. The lightning bugs that had begun to appear seemed to shimmer right along with the tune that the birds were chirping. The gentle swaying of the trees cast interesting shadows that made it all seem as if it had been choreographed. It looked to Charles like there were more lightning bugs out tonight than usual. As he sat there watching them, his random thoughts began to become focused taking him back to a specific time in his life.

  He briefly closed his eyes, as he smelled a familiar aroma coming from the kitchen through the open front door. It was his Nana’s blue ribbon baked applesauce cake topped with penuche icing. As he opened his eyes and looked around, his memory took him back to his fifteenth birthday. It was as if he was reliving the most memorable time in his life where the events of that day forever changed him. It was a very long time ago; so much in his life had changed since that day. The memory was so vivid it seemed like reality…

  In recreating the memory of that remarkable day, Charles once again briefly closed his eyes and began to remember the wish he made when he blew out the candles on his birthday cake. Charles’ right shoulder tightened as he remembered Paw Paw patting his shoulder right after making his wish.

  “Atta boy, Charles.”

  Charles opened his eyes and saw Paw Paw’s face right in front of him.

  Paw Paw jokingly asked, “What did you wish for?”

  Charles laughed and said, “You know I can’t tell you that; my wish won’t come true.”

  “Smart boy,” Paw Paw replied as he stood up.

  Everyone applauded. Nana came over and kissed Charles on the cheek. She whispered in his ear, “Happy birthday, Charlie.”

  After eating cake and ice cream the presents were opened. Charles was glad to get through this part of the day. He never really liked all the attention. After he thanked everyone, they began leaving the table so Nana and her friend Margaret could begin cleaning up. Charles pushed in his chair and bent down to pick up Sophie, who had come over to give him a hug.

  Sophie said, “Cynthia and I are going out to chase fireflies. Want to come?”

  “Sounds like fun Sophie. You might have Cynthia go with you to the old potting shed to find Mason jars to put the fireflies in.” He set Sophie down and tickled her. She squirmed away and giggled as she ran through the house and out the back door to find Cynthia. He shook his head.

  Charles wondered where Paw Paw had gone when he disappeared. He headed for the kitchen. He walked to the back door and looked out at the porch. He saw his mom and dad enjoying the cool night air. He opened the screen door and looked around to see if he could find Paw Paw. He could hear Cynthia and Sophie rummaging through the potting shed exploring the items on the shelves. He thought: It’s just like the girls to be nosy. Charles heard them laugh as the glass jars clanked together.

  Molly turned around and said, “Oh, hi Charles. Want to sit with us?”

  “No Mom. I’m looking for Paw Paw.”

  His dad, Jack, replied, “He’s not here. He may be on the front porch. I saw Carson heading that way with Al.”

  Charles closed the screen door. He turned to Nana and said, “Thanks for the best birthday ever.”

  Bev looked over at him and smiled. She couldn’t believe he was a year older. Charles was growing up. She set her towel down on the counter and walked over to him. As she stood beside him she couldn’t believe how tall he had grown. He was a very handsome young man with brown hair and dark brown eyes. Charles had an athletic build from years of riding his bike and walking the trails around their property. She gave him a hug and kissed him on his forehead. “You’re welcome Charles.”

  Margaret was searching through the cabinets looking for containers to hold the leftovers.

  Bev said, “Oh Margaret, I know just what you need….”

  Charles continued his search for Carson, through the house to the front door. He heard voices on the front porch. Looking out the front door he saw Carson and Al having a conversation. Charles observed Paw Paw. He was average height with gray hair and gray-blue eyes. To Charles he always looked like a proper gentleman. When Charles walked out on the front porch, they ended their conversation.

  Carson turned to Charles and said, “There’s the birthday boy!”

  Al said, “I hope you had a good birthday Charles.”

  “Thank you. I did.” He walked over to where they were standing.

  Al continued, “You can’t beat Bev’s applesauce cake.” Carson and Charles agreed.

  There was a pause before he said, “I bet Margaret will be ready to go before long.” He leaned back on the porch railing.

  “How are things going on your farm?” asked Carson.

  “It looks like I’m in for another long day again tomorrow. The old tractor broke down again. I will probably be looking for another one before long. This is the second time it has broken down on me while I was in the field. It’s not very reliable.”

  “I’ll send Walter and his son Ed over if you want.
I’m sure it wouldn’t be any problem to have them look at it. Ed’s the best mechanic around.”

  “I’ll think about it. Thanks Carson. It might be about time I look for an extra farmhand to help out too. I never thought this day would come, but I have to admit it when I need more help.”

  “I’m fortunate to have Walter and his family.”

  Al agreed. Years ago Walter had taken over the management of Carson Jones’ farm. With the help of his family they ran it efficiently. Walter had enough sons who had grown up on the farm that they could take care of about any need that arose. Not only that, Carson had the capital to do just about any endeavor he chose to pursue on his eight hundred acre farm. It was a lucrative business for Carson and Bev. Al admired the fact that the Jones’ did a lot of fund raising for the community. It was rumored they were the secret donors who helped out less fortunate families.

  Al and Carson had been friends for about forty-five years. Bev had introduced him to his wife Margaret of thirty-two years. Margaret and Bev came out onto the porch each carrying a large paper bag. Al reached out and took the bags from their arms. “What’s in here, leftovers?”

  “Yes, and I even sent some applesauce cake for dessert,” said Bev.

  Al’s knees slightly bent and he put his head back. As he stood up straight again he said, “All right! That sounds great.”

  Margaret smiled as she stood beside him and lightly scratched his back as he looked in the bags. “We thought you’d like that. Time to go. See you tomorrow Bev.” They walked toward the car. Once they were ready to get in Margaret turned and hugged Bev. “It was a lovely party.” Margaret looked at her best friend who seemed more like a sister to her. Beverly Jones was timeless to Margaret. The two of them still pictured themselves giggling, fixing each other’s hair at the sleepovers they had as children. Bev, after all these years, still had the most beautiful long dark brown hair that she swept up into her signature French twist. Margaret looked into Bev’s blue eyes, wrinkled her nose and smiled. Bev thanked them for coming. As they got situated and were about to leave, Sophie and Cynthia ran around the corner of the house with their jars of lightning bugs. They ran over to Nana and Paw Paw and held their jars up for observation.

  Sophie said, “We wanted to show Margaret and Al before they left.”

  Molly and Jack came from around back walking with their arms around each other. Jack picked up Sophie and put her on his shoulders. Everyone waved goodbye to Margaret and Al, except Sophie who was busy talking to the bugs that were crawling up the sides of the jar.

  After Margaret and Al were out of sight, Molly said, “Okay it’s our turn to go home. Jack, would you please help Charles load his gifts into the car?” Jack put Sophie down. As he walked to the house he motioned for Charles to follow. Cynthia and Sophie ran around the yard playing tag. Molly stood in the yard talking to her mom and dad.

  Molly’s attention turned to Cynthia and Sophie. As she watched the girls chase one another she thought to herself about how fast her children were growing up: Cynthia resembles me with her black shoulder length hair, hazel eyes and pale complexion. Cynthia is so different from her sister. She’s strong-willed and quick witted. Sophie on the other hand resembles her dad with her golden blonde hair, big brown eyes and long eye lashes. She’s as playful as a little sprite.

  Bev asked her if she would mind if Charles spent the night.

  Molly processed the question she was asked and turned to her mom. “Oh, we hadn’t planned on him spending the night.”

  Carson said, “Molly, I wanted to talk to you about Charles helping out around the farm. I really could use his help around here.”

  Molly looked at her mom, then back to her dad. “You want Charles to help out around here? Is something wrong?”

  Carson smiled. “No. I could just use the help and we think it would be a good experience for him to learn more about the farm.”

  She didn’t respond right away. Then she said, “He’d be a good helper around here. I don’t think Jack would mind. I guess it would be okay.”

  Carson hugged her. “Great. I have plans for him this summer.”

  Molly started to ask more about what he meant when Bev changed the subject. “I have a sack of leftovers for you too. Let’s go and get it.” The two of them went inside leaving Carson to roughhouse with the girls.

  Once everything was put in the car they loaded up the girls who protested because they had to leave. Cynthia wanted to stay the night but hadn’t asked because it was Charles’ birthday, but not Sophie. She never liked staying the night anywhere but her own bed. She just wasn’t ready to leave her catch of the night. Carson went to collect the jars that had been placed on the steps. He brought the jars filled with lightning bugs to them. Everyone received a round of hugs and kisses before they were finally ready to leave.

  Cynthia asked, “Why isn’t Charles coming with us?”

  Molly answered, “He’s staying the night.”

  Cynthia pouted in the backseat and whined, “When will I get to come spend the night?”

  Cynthia became annoyed with Sophie who was trying to play. “Not now Sophie, keep your hands to yourself,” she scolded.

  Molly was ready to leave at this point. “We will talk about this later.” Under her breath she said, “Hopefully soon…”

  Cynthia said, “I heard that.”

  Molly turned around and smiled at her unhappy daughter. “We’ll make plans. Just not tonight, okay?” That didn’t appease Cynthia.

  Everyone in the car, except Cynthia, said, “Happy birthday, Charles.”

  Jack put the car in drive and they headed down the dead end road to the old caretaker’s domicile where they lived. It was a small, but charming home that had been renovated and added on to for their growing family. It was adequate for a family with three children. As they drove away Bev, Carson and Charles stood in the yard waving until they couldn’t see the taillights.

  Carson looked at Bev. She smiled at him. Carson then turned and looked at Charles. “We have something for you in the office.”

  Charles perked up. “You do?”

  “I’ll race you!” They took off for the office as Bev watched them go around the corner. Then she went back inside to finish cleaning.

  When they reached the office door and were about to enter Charles noticed the arched door that he hadn’t thought much about before. It was a unique vintage wooden door that was different from all the rest of the doors around the farmhouse. The arbor in front of the door had flowering honeysuckle vines that grew around it. It seemed to Charles at that moment that it looked like a door from some mystical far away land.

  The oversized detached outbuilding was not only a garage, but also their office space, along with a potting room at the back. The large building had a finished upstairs and a basement. It was only on rare occasions that the Brookfield children ever went inside the office.

  Charles followed Carson through the door and stood inside the office.

  He stopped and looked around. To the left of the door was a beautiful ornate birdcage with an exotic looking bird inside of it. On the other side of the birdcage was Carson’s stately mahogany desk with a lamp. From what Charles could tell from where he stood, on top of the desk were handwritten notes in a disarrayed pile mixed in with assorted paperwork. A leather bound journal was on a lectern. The opened book was marked with an unusually thick embroidered red ribbon. On the other side of the desk was a long bookcase filled with Carson’s old history book collection.

  Charles looked to the right of the doorway. Along the whole length of the wall mahogany bookshelves were lined with books just like the one sitting on Carson’s lectern. He didn’t think it was unusual for Paw Paw to own so many books; but he thought it was odd that the few times he’d been in his office he’d never seen the massive bookshelves. It would have been impossible to miss them.

  The wall across from the doorway was only a half wall; a gigantic bank vault took up the other half. On the wall
hung a hand carved oversized cuckoo clock. Surrounding the clock were tastefully framed family pictures.

  The only remaining wall in the office was the most interesting to Charles. It had on either side of the wall, that hadn’t been taken up by the vault, white doors. The door on the left was the door to the garage and behind the other door was a closet. In between the doorways hung two oversized framed vintage maps of the world. Carson had at one time told him that the maps were commissioned for a prominent merchant and were painted by a world renowned artist. In between the maps was a large metal sculpture. It was supposed to depict an eight-foot in diameter coin and was approximately two feet in width. The thick rim was made from brushed charcoal gray iron. The outer facing rim of the coin had words in a foreign language that read: “Order was created throughout the universe allowing man to make discoveries”, in gold. The iron rim seemed to float, hovering above a massive metal base that Carson had once described to Charles as “an extremely large magnet.” Inside the rim was an iridescent detailed holographic picture. The life-size lady portrayed on it looked like a goddess to Charles. The word at the top of the holograph image was scripted in a foreign language that Carson had once told him read, “Freedom.” At the bottom of the coin were Roman numerals that represented a date.

  The center of the office held two earth tone comfortable brocade chairs with a proportionate table between them. Under the chairs and table was a large complimenting Persian rug.

  Charles stood in the entryway watching Paw Paw. Carson who had been talking to Charles abruptly stopped upon noticing he wasn’t following. He turned to Charles and motioned for him to come and stand beside the desk. “Nana and I have a gift for you to commemorate your special day.” Carson sat down at his desk on his leather chair. He opened his desk drawer and did something that unlocked an inconspicuous small secret compartment located in the false bottom of the drawer. He took out a golden key, stood up and walked toward the vault.