A fire burns in the distance...surrounded by fire...a blue dragonfly...the Tree of Life. Why? Who knows. Is it referring to my past, present and future? Do I want the answer to that? I'm not sure. Will I get the answer? Only time will tell.

Sitting straight up in bed, I grab my dream journal to record last night's dreams before brushing the remnants stuck in my head away.  Over the last few weeks they have been more frequent and vivid. What are these dreams about? Do I want the answer to that question? I'm not sure.  Will I get the answer? Only time will tell.

As I get ready for the day, a familiar calmness washes over me.  Gazing out my bedroom window at the woods behind my house, two shadows float at its edge.  I peer out further, but, once again, I come to no clear conclusion as to what...or who, these shadows are.

My alarm clock buzzes at me, and the date on the clock face reminds me that it's my day to volunteer at the local shelter.  Watching someone else climb out of their situation reminds me of how much I have to be thankful for.

Coming downstairs, I'm greeted by a pair of matching hazel eyes that belong to my mother and sister.  Sometimes I wish I had their eyes instead of my gray ones or their mahogany hair instead of light brown.

"You're going to be late," my mom says, playfully swatting me as I go by.

"What are you two up to today?" I ask, as my sister gulps down her breakfast of a chocolate and banana smoothie.

"Shopping!" my sister, Kaitlyn, shouts.

"And that's something to be cheery about?" I reply. We have different opinions about shopping, fashion and fun.

"I know. I know. Not your thing," she replies, as I open the refrigerator to get stuff to make lunch.

"Exactly. But seriously, Mom, can you pick me up some more socks. I have a feeling I am going to need some new ones as the summer drags on." Everything in this town is within walking distance of my house, and I don't mind the time anyway as I use it to clear my head and get ready for what lies ahead.

"No problem," Mom says as I head out the door and towards Shaffer House, a shelter for abused women and children. The agency has two houses that provide shelter, counseling, educational training, and advocacy.

Because I had to transfer several residents to our other house next door including all of the paperwork involved, my day goes by quickly. It is filled with transferring the two families over to the new house. It would have been easier if my mom and sister hadn't taken the day off. 

Since I'm meeting my friends downtown in thirty minutes and I'm walking, I rush out, pushing past the overgrown hedges at the front entrance. Danny really needs to get on that! Sometimes I feel like he takes advantage of the fact that he's my best friend, and that he lives with my family and I. But he is forgetful—he's always thinking about the next adventure.

Speeding up my pace, I am blanketed by sticky moisture. The bluish gray hills, of the Tennessee valley, loom in the distance, and the smell of fresh cut grass invites me to turn my head to the right. Once I turn my head, I am greeted by Mr. Johnston taking a break from mowing his yard.

He grins at me. "Do you need help with the lawn care at Shaffer House?"

"Why does it not surprise me that you would notice the overgrown hedges I just had to push through." I say as I cross over to where Mr. Johnston is sitting under his large oak tree.

He chuckles. "That boy needs a swift kick in his ass."

I laugh at his bluntness and open my mouth to respond.

"No need to try and cover up for his laziness dear, but just remind him that the investors plan on stopping by "really soon". But you didn't hear that from me."

What else is going to happen "really soon"?

After some small talk, I excuse myself and head for downtown at an even quicker pace.

As I round a corner, I find Danny leaning against the wall of John's Barber Shop, his dark blond hair covered by a blue Nike baseball cap.

"Did you have any other strange dreams last night?" Danny questions.

"Why?" I ask. He might be my best friend, but I don't tell him everything.

As I rush past him, he responds. "Because I care. I just think you put way too much thought into your dreams—is all."

Whipping around, I have to look up to look into his dark blue eyes. "I put so much thought into them because they're strange. Owls and planes and snakes don't necessarily go together," I answer then continue to move down the street.

"Hey, wait up. I guess you have a point."

Stopping, I look up at him again. "Okay. Next time will you listen and try to help me with figuring them out?"

We get to Main Street, where our friend, Jared, is meeting us. Once we get there, Jared's large frame towers even more over me than Danny.  Even though they are both athletic, their personalities are different, and the three of us balance each other out.

Jared's voice brings me out of my musings.

"Identical again?" Jared calls out.

Looking down at myself and over at Danny, I notice we are both wearing Nike tees and matching shorts.

My lips try to turn up. "Danny coordinates with me every morning."

"I do not!" Danny protests.

"I was just joking.  We do this all of the time." I turn slightly and look up. "Don't we Jared?"

"Yes, darlin'. There have been times when I've even wondered if you dress the same on purpose."

"I don't dress like her on purpose." Danny chimes in, and we laugh at his seriousness.

"Anyway, what are your plans for this summer, Tally?" Jared asks, focusing on me.

"Nothing much yet. My parents are fine with me taking a year off to figure out what I want to do before I go to college."

"I thought you knew what you wanted to do with your life, Tally. You're so talented in art and writing - you'd be great at that," Jared remarks.

I stop in my tracks. "Well... um..."

"Tally wants to hang out with me for a year - don't you?" Danny cuts in.

"Sure," I mumble.

The clouds behind us start to darken, so we quicken our pace. Suddenly Danny is unusually quiet, and looking up, I imagine the reason is a particular blonde clothed in a peach mini-dress and practical heels down the road.

Jared grabs my hand. "Ignore her if she comes this way darlin'."

"But..." I start

The girl, Amber, always found a way to disturb any peacefulness I created at school.

Jared interrupts my thoughts. "No 'buts'. She isn't worth your time."

Looking down at the ground, I find my voice. "But maybe she's right, and you shouldn't waste your time with me."

"Hogwash!" Jared exclaims.

"Jared, what's that?" I ask.

"Nothing. Just somethin'  that's often said where I'm from."

Danny wrinkles his nose in Amber's direction. "She sure is a conceited witch."

A hint of a smile graces my lips. "I thought you had a crush on her."

"You're the only one for me babe." Danny responds, and I hope he and Jared don't see the heat that prickles  my neck and face.

A chill runs down my spine as we are walking along. When I turn my head to the left, I spot a new shop that has opened up recently. The sign says "Natural Healing and Medicine" with large windows. Peering through the glass, I spy rows and rows of shelves packed with bottles.

I turn to my friends. "Let's go over there." The reason for wanting to explore this building is a mystery. I've always had an interest in natural healing, but this store calls to something deep within my soul - like a longing that has waited patiently to be filled with that something specific.

"Do we have to?" Danny whines.

"Come on you big baby. I usually go most places with you, even if I don't want to."

"When?"

I begin to rattle off the "adventures" we've been on. "The graduation post-party, your adventure down the river, your hike to the top of the mountain..."

He blows out a breath and then says, "Ok, ok I get it. I'll go in with you."

Jared chuckles and shakes his head. I'm not sure how to interpret this reaction. Is he laughing at Danny's reaction? At the humor of the situation? 

The first thing that hits me when I walk into the store is the aroma of the fresh herbs in small baskets around the shop, especially the mint. Meandering around the shop, I observe the sheer number and variety of fresh and dry herbs on the shelves. One wall also contains some potions and crystals. The crystals are fascinating with all of their brilliant colors and designs. Danny follows me glancing out the front window and then looking at his watch, in frequent intervals. 

A soft voice, coming from the back of the store, stops my complaining. "May I help you kids?" and I turn to immediately to see an older woman.  She doesn't look much older than her early fifties. Wearing a white top and a purple flowing skirt that moves readily as she flits about, she comes closer.

"We're just looking ma'am." Danny replies and gives me the "I'm ready to leave" look.

I hesitate, "Go ahead and leave, Danny."

He looks straight up before replying, "Thanks. I'll meet you outside in an hour."

A deep laugh erupts from the doorway. "You just saved me darlin'," Jared says.

"Like you need that much help," I say.

"You'd be surprised. Danny can be very persuasive when he wants to do something bad enough. We'll be back," Jared says before following the rest of the group out the door.

"He didn't seem too eager to stick around," the lady points out.

"This isn't really his thing, and he gets bored easily,"  I reply.

"And it is your thing?" she asks.

"I suppose. I've always been interested in natural healing and found this store interesting and wanted to investigate."

Looking around the shop, light reflects off of a violet-colored crystal displayed on the middle shelf. "What does this do?" I ask while holding it up.

"That is amethyst. It can help with calmness, balance, peace, helping keep a clear head, and can help you apply intellectual powers to any situation you may face."

"Wow, that's interesting."

Browsing the shelves, I ask more questions, which she answers readily with a broad smile.

"What is your name?" She asks.

"Tallulah, and yours?"

"You can call me Miriam."

I smile. "Hello, Miriam. I really like your shop."

"Would you like to see something else?" She inquires with a twinkle in her eye.

"Sure." I shrug and nod, smiling at Miriam.  Why not it isn't like I have anything better to do.

Walking through a curtain of black beads, we venture into a room, only lit at the moment by the rays of the sun through small rectangular windows. She goes behind a generic looking desk, something that I can't imagine this woman buying, and bends down. Grunting, the lady pulls out what looks like an old oak chest.

"That is a beautiful chest."

"What's inside is more beautiful." She beams.

"And what is inside?"

Her eyes lose their sparkle. "Would you like me to tell you about your family? Your biological family?"