Saturday, January 20, 2007

The Church Pt.2

The town of Haven was built on the backside of the ridge line over looking the valley through which highway 91 runs. As I drove the car up over the ridge I saw a small bowl shaped clearing spread out before me. The place where the town had been was now a bare patch of earth about the size of half a football field. The town had long ago been worn away by the wind, snow, and sun of the mountains. The church was set on the far side of the lip of the bowl catching the last rays of the sun. The construction of the church had utilized the local stone of the area. Granite chunks of stone had been set in uneven rows to raise a steep peaked roof and steepled bell tower. The sun glinted off small quartz crystals in the granites surfaces making the whole building shimmer. A small stone boundary marked off the a cemetery to one side. Headstones some of stone and others missing probable rottened wood but still the number and density of undulations meant the space had been used frequently.

Susan stirred next to me. She asked me where we were. I told her about my idea to see if this town might give any better report material. Michelle and Tino in the back awakened in the back seat and asked if we were near a bathroom. The road that I had been following went straight through the bare clearing toward the church on the opposite side. I imagined that this might be the only trace of the towns original main street. It took a few seconds before we had pulled up in front of the church and were standing in front of the main door. The sun had set and light reflected red off the clouds. I knocked on the door. I was ignoring the brass plaque on the door that read: Historic Town of Haven Church erected circa. 1880 hours 8-5 Mon-Sat. It was 6pm. I knocked again. Michelle began to whine and dance a little. Tino just stood there looking at the cemetery. I turned to Susan after my third knock did not receive an answer. I was about to tell Susan to walk around the side when I noticed a man standing just behind us. He stood there not moving only looking at our group his head cocked to one side slightly. He was old. I had a hard time placing his age though. He looked older than my grandfather who was young at 70 so he told me, but this guy had walked up on us quickly and silently. Not something a man as old as my grandfather could have done.

Susan noticed my attention focused behind her and turned to look at the old man. Michelle turned with start. Tino seemed dazed or still sleepy because he turned slowly and didn't seem startled by the old man. We stood there just looking back at the old man. Time stopped as we stretched out the social awkwardness waiting for the old man jump in. He didn't. I was about to ask him something when he spoke.

"Lost your way?" His voice seemed whimsical almost mocking. "We don't get many up here anymore. Especially, after sun down."

"We need to use your bathroom. We didn't mean to come after hours but this was just a last minute idea." I had no interest in going through a long back and forth with this guy about the population of the town. I knew that it was more likely this guy would say no but I needed to try. The old man smiled. "My name is Charles. I live here at the church. If you don't mind my rooms are just inside the bell tower. You could use my bathroom if you don't mind."

I looked over at Michelle. She looked leery about the idea of going with this old man but she had nearly begun to cross her legs. At that moment a single light high on the front of the church struggled to life. Michelle nodded. And Charles began to lead us around toward the cemetery. There was a small gate at the corner of the church. We walked through and I saw that the side of the church had been built with a steps up the side toward the bell tower. Charles lead us up the steps at top was a door into the bell tower. The door was thick wooden planks with large metal bands across the top and bottom. Charles opened the door and a glimmer of light was cast by some small lamp inside. I was at the end of our group and last to enter the bell tower.

Inside the room was much bigger than it looked from the outside. There was a small seating room, a kitchenette, and a bedroom which was closed. At the stove in the kitchenette a small plump woman stood stirring a pot. The room was warm and the air thick with smells of herbs cooking. Charles bade us sit on a couch across from the kitchen. There was small dark wood coffee table in front of the couch. On it a tea pot and one cup half full sat. Susan sat down on one end of the couch and I took up the middle. Tino just stood there looking around. Michelle was directed to the bedroom to use the bathroom. Tino asked Charles about the church. Charles answered all the questions he was asked. He never seemed put off by anything asked. I thought Tino must really want to do the report on this old church. Tino was welcome to collect all the information he wanted. Susan was leaning against the arm of the couch. She looked over at me and her tired expression dissolved into a smile. "We are not going to have anything for the report when we get back," she said sleepily. I nodded and sat back into the couch. Susan scooted over toward me so that she was leaning on me slightly. I was not expecting this kind of contact with her right now in this strange old church.

Tino turned toward me and began talking about the history of the place as if I had not been there in the room listening. I was listening then and I only half listened to him now. Michelle walked out of the bedroom. She walked over and sat down on the couch. Charles was busy in the kitchenette with his wife. He was taking down cups and other items setting all on a serving tray.
"I am sorry that I did not make introduction earlier, but this is my wife Stephanie." Charles said as he continued to move about the cupboards. I still had a hard time placing his age. Charles moved in the way that meant his body was more fit than the lines on his face portrayed. I looked more closely at Stephanie. She would look over briefly. She was much older than Charles if the lines were any indication. But she too moved in such a fluid and graceful way I felt like my eyes were playing tricks on me. I also had problems concentrating with Susan next to me. She was leaning into me more and more. She was not being to subtle either. She had let her rest lightly on my thigh. She wasn't doing anything else but making herself more comfortable. Charles eventually brought us some tea cups and a fresh pot of tea. He cleared away the old pot and cup. He poured each of us a cup and handed them out.

"You will need this to wake you up a bite before you all get back into you car. I can see that you have had a full day already." Charles said standing back and taking the serving tray back into the kitchenette. I asked him if he minded if we stayed a few minutes to wake up. "No, that would be fine. In fact if you need to stay any longer please feel free."

The room was hot and the smell of herbs was getting heavier. I saw that Tino was asking Charles more questions. I had a hard time focusing on him. I knew that I was tired from the driving but I didn't think I was that tired. Susan slumped heavily against me. I looked over at Michelle who was resting her head on the arm of the couch. I remember looking at the stove before my head got to heavy to hold up and it fell back against the couch. (To be Continued....)