Out of Time

Chapter Two

33 Chapter Two He is walking down the long lane that leads to their house. His father is beside him. On either side of them are fields stuffed with new snow. The fence posts wear high white caps. Ahead is the stream and the bridge and their house on the edge of the woods. His sister is far ahead, near the house, galloping home. He looks up at her, then down at the ground, at the raccoon tracks they have followed for the last hour. It is a clear morning, the sky blue. Very cold. His father had gotten them up early and fed them pancakes and dressed them warmly. Come on, he had said. Let’s go track that raccoon that raids our garbage. Let’s find out where he lives. They had followed it through the woods, up the steep hill, then down, along the stream, all of them quiet, excited. They crossed the stream where the raccoon had crossed, leaping on unsteady stones. His sister got one foot wet, but not badly wet. Then up on the road that led to their lane, a long meandering circle. They walk down the lane. His sister, cold, runs ahead. She does not see the tracks. Or does, but does not care. The tracks lead back to the house, a perfect circle. The raccoon lives here?, he says to his father. Everything is circular, his father says. Inside, his sister sits beside the fire and pulls off her boots. ...