Poison River Players, Part Four

2 March 2006

I was laying in Rick's bed, his comforter shielding me against the lingering winter chill and his absurd habit of keeping a fan on "just for the noise." When I half jokingly threatened to only sleep with him at my place if he was going to keep that up, he replaced his old and worn fleece blanket with this comforter. My comforter, in practice. I considered it an acceptable compromise, for now.

"How's the spirits?" he asked as he returned from the bathroom. I had delayed coming over today to spend some time meditating under the abandoned trestle bridge just off downtown.

"Getting used to me," I answered, "but it's clear they're still a bit leery about mankind in general. I think they'd warm to me faster if I could do something about the pollution." He climbed into the bed and I rolled over, laying my arm across his stomach.

"With magic?"

"I'd need them on board already to do any magic that big, and the cost..." I shuddered.

"Well. You could do that Earth Day cleanup. The spirits might like seeing you there."

"What Earth Day cleanup?"

"The, uh...oh, what're they called...the Shenango River Watchers. They do a big community cleanup of the river and I think local creeks and that on Earth Day." I sat up.

"There's a group committed to cleaning up the Shenango River watershed once a year?"

"Well, no. They do cleanings all year, it's just that on Earth Day other people are willing to help out. My uncle's wrapped up with them, I think he's usually out doing stuff at least once a month."

"Why didn't you tell me about this!?"

"Well, I dunno. You don't talk about being big on environmentalism, you know."

"I talk about the condition of the river all the time!"

"You talk about the condition of the river spirits. I have no idea how much they have to do with one another."

"They have quite a lot to do with one another!"

"Well, maybe you could teach me some magic," he said, smiling and poking my breast, "and I would know shit like this."

"Oh, no," I said with a chuckle, pushing his hand away. "You had trouble understanding why a woman born in Honduras might be chilly with a fan on and snow on the ground. I don't think you'd be a very good student." I let out an 'eep' as he rolled over on top of me.

"Well," he said, "is there anything you think you could teach me?"

"Hmm. I think I could find something," I said, smiling.

Previous

beginning

Next

---