Free Echo by J. K. Accinni Page A

anyway.”
    “So, Scotty and I will be here alone?” asked Abby.
    “No, Abby; I’m moving in. I can pay for the house and anything else that we need,” said Jose.
    Abby flushed as Jose looked at her.
    Scotty looked from face to face. They all looked tense and stressed. There’s nothing worse than the death of a family member but two members? Catastrophic. He pounded on the table, jumped up and ran into his bedroom, returning with his little wooden box.
    Slapping the box on the table he shouted, “No. We are not splitting up! Mom and Hiro wouldn’t want that.” He blew his nose as Jose picked up the box and took out the gold coin. His face looked grim and determined.
    “Scotty, this coin is for your education. We can take care of this without cashing it in. It’s time for some changes anyway. Come on kid, let’s you and I take Barney out for a walk. We can talk.”
    “No,” he mumbled, gruffly. “I want Mom back. You can’t try to take her place.” Throwing his coin across the room, he burst into tears and ran out the front door. Abby got up from her seat to go to him and then thought better of it, wearily sitting back down.
    ###
    “Scotty’s just reverting to little boy behavior because he lost Mom and Hiro. Better to leave him alone for a while. He’s only running off just like he used to as a kid. He’ll come home when he’s ready.” Slipping her arm around Mama Diaz, she looked up at Jose. “Maybe you should go after him if he’s not back before dark; take Barney with you, ok?”
    Nodding his agreement, Jose watched as she went to the sofa to hug Emma and Bonny. She stood, looking at Tomas who hovered, sending loaded glances her way. He held out his arms for a hug, expectation on his face. Abby ignored him and slipped off to bed, her exhaustion weighing her down. Tomas started after her but realizing everyone was staring, sat back down.

Chapter 7
    Scotty ran blindly into the wood, his eyes swollen with tears and anger, instinct taking him through the magic glens of his childhood to the big granite rock that played a role in the fragmented memories of his past. He recognized the toe holds on the side of the rock that he struggled with as a child. Ruefully, he realized he need only give himself a big boost and he would be on top. The shallow depression in the top of the rock beckoned. Only large enough for his butt now, though. Sitting in the depression, he crossed his arms on his knees and lowered his head. His tears fell warm and silent as he tried to come to grips with his loss.
    As his tears slowed, he felt a numbness insinuating itself through him protectively. His tears dried. He knew nothing could change what happened; just another thing to live with, his bitterness accentuating the lack of control in his life. Like his preposterous tail. Letting it unfurl from underneath his shirt, it flexed. It felt good to give it a little exercise. He looked at it critically. His guilty feeling of pride mystified him. How could he feel this way when he knew it made him a freak? He wished he had been able to talk to his mother about it. Nah—that would have just messed with her head. Sighing, he turned his face up to the waning sun as it peeked through the branches of the oak and elm trees. His eyes caught a sunbeam as it unexpectedly exploded with golden rainbows. He blinked, lowering his head to find himself staring into the same rainbow eyes of his boyhood fairy creature.
    Scotty froze, so shocked he couldn’t move. He just stared. Then carefully, he inched on his butt to the edge of the rock. The creature just stood there, silent, staring back at him. Scotty’s nerves spasmed convulsively—the silence incendiary. Watching the creature, he awkwardly lifted his hand and broke the silence.
    “Hi.” No reaction. Maybe the creature couldn’t talk. Maybe he barked or mewed. He did kinda resemble a cat or something. No, second thought … not with those long leathery fingers and the horns; definitely