Immanently

The first time wasn’t the last time. In fact, it was overdue for happening again. She checks along the perimeter of the first of her greenhouses. All clear. So she moves to the next one. She has four greenhouses in total. And recently they have become the fixation of a mischievous raccoon. A mischievous and determined raccoon.

Her greenhouses are also located in a rural area. Surrounded by a thick forest of trees on three sides, her property is one of the last few before the Millian County line. Mary Elizabeth has lived here for almost twenty years. She is immanently attached. Furthermore, until last month, she was relatively undisturbed. Then that determined raccoon showed up.

The third greenhouse is also intact along its perimeter. So far so good. However, as she turns the corner of the fourth, a jagged rip in the greenhouse fabric confirms her suspicions. So. It’s the fourth one. Time to see what the critter was after. Then she will decide what to do about James Abner. For over twenty years she hasn’t thought of her brother James Abner except in loving memory.

Now, after all this time, she discovers her twin brother did not perish in the war. After all these years, she gained a critter and a ghost. All in one week. As she enters the greenhouse she can see the path the critter took. Her greenhouses have natural grass floors. There is a small trail through the grass off toward the barrels of seed.

Gotcha, she thinks, as she follows the trail. Looks like her bandit had a taste for seeds. And she thinks of James Abner again. Actually she feels her ire rising a bit. She has lived in the same place for more than two decades. And somehow, only now, does her twin brother think to contact her. Furthermore he sends someone in his place. A paid employee no less!

Mary Elizabeth reaches the barrels of seed. For a moment it looks as though nothing has been disturbed. However, upon closer inspection she finds one of the lids has come loose. Somehow. She feels certain it had a little help. The furry masked bandit kind. She pulls the lid the rest of the way off and is nearly knocked off her feet by a furious mass of fur. It is taking flight from the barrel.

The Retrieval of Jupiter’s Heart

In a split second, the raccoon is nearly back to the end of the greenhouse. A moment later, it vanishes. It went back through, where it came in. Mary Elizabeth is shaking. In fact, she damn near wet herself. She fastens the lid back on the barrel and stacks several large pots on top. There. That should do it, she thinks. And she leaves the greenhouse for the main house.

She had no more time to deal with it today. James Abner made it clear, or his seven foot giant of an employee made it clear, that time is short. She must be ready in the next two hours if she decides to help. As she enters the main house the question still hangs in her mind. Would she help? After all these years.

She sets her phone on the counter and makes a mental note to call a handy man to repair the greenhouse. Then she carefully looks through all the papers the giant handed her. This was their dad’s work alright. Furthermore she can see that James Abner is correct. They do have some unfinished business. It looks like her mind is already made up. Therefore, she begins packing.

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