Letters to Danny

Danny,

As your story started, so shall it end.

Here on the blank pages your story was told, written for all to see Danny. Can you imagine what I’m talking about?  Can you see the future from where you are?  I hope so Danny. Even as I sit here and type, I can see the future from where I am – where my life is captured digitally as a journal is captured with ink and paper. My life stored for ages to come as your life is stored.

Those in the future will be able to pull my information, peer into my universe long after I’m gone, and they’ll be able to see who I was and how I lived. Families will have living albums that will run for generations, hundreds, thousands of years of a family life captured.

Your lineage will be preserved, your knowledge, your passions, your ideas all captured, and passed down like an heirloom for the next generation to add to the collage of life. It’s truly remarkable.

Music, books, work, skills, photos, videos, experiences, and on and on Danny. Like nothing you ever seen before. It’s within our grasp yet we do not understand what this means yet for our future.  But would you Danny?  Could you have understood what the future held for you?

It’s wonderful – so many have begun to peer into your world. They are seeing your struggles and they have much to say Danny. I decided to create a page – it’s a sort of like a piece of paper you hold in your hand but it’s stored inside a computer.  People can see it from their own computers through a connected network, viewing your world from afar.  Here I am putting up this paper for people to post what they thought about you, your life, your story Danny, and your friend Cluster.  And I’ll see what I can do to relay some of it back to you. Hang in there, we’ve only just begun.

Sincerely,

D.W. Rigsby

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

Image Credit: Open Book, Blank by Doug Aghassi

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

Danny,

I’ve found a way for others to see your world finally. It is amazing. You won’t believe what we can do in 2014 with information. I’m about to submit this thing we call a link – hard to explain – but it’s a sort of pathway through connected cables where a computer is located for people to see your world.  Imagine a page in front you on your desk, and imagine that others can see your page just as you see it. We also have small mobile devices, like that on Star Trek, to talk to each other across the globe but we can also retrieve information such as that page on your desk and read it.

Yes, very much different than in your time and I know maybe difficult for you to grasp. But today, hundreds, thousands, even millions of people will have a way to see your life, what you are going through, and what you are up against.

You will not be alone – everyone who picks up this link – will be connected to you like nothing you’ve ever seen before and it’s about to happen.  It has happened!

Be ready, you might feel a jolt – maybe a shaking in the ground, or an intense burst of wind passing through your town. Whatever you experience – just be prepared as so many are going to go through what you are going through. You will not be alone anymore Danny.  Keep your chin up, have hope, and know that we are behind you all the way!

Sincerely,

D.W. Rigsby

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

Image Credit: Interconnected by Steve Johnson

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

Danny,

Oh, I’m so tried my eyes can barely hold themselves open any longer. I think I need some time to rest, to get away from it all, just for a little while.

I wanted to try and describe your town to you. Using some of the information you’ve sent me. So bare with me on this bit of writing here.

New Weston is surrounded by hills that interconnect with one another to form a vast expanse of the foothills of the Northern Appalachians. The hills here represent the timelessness between man and nature, how the two are intertwined like rope strands. The people live on one strand, while nature lives on another, their lives twisting together, connecting at some points while never touching at others.

The hills continue upward hundreds of feet to the peak and are covered with maple, ash, walnut, oak, and more buckeye trees. They’re all bunched up together to create a beautiful canopy of green in the spring and summer, and lush yellows, reds, browns, and oranges in the fall. Barren branches outstretch to overlap one another in the winter.

The buckeye tree is a symbol of the area, one that has a long history and lore surrounding it.

A single buckeye is about the size of a walnut, though looks nothing like one. The buckeyes are encased in a flexible yet durable sack that’s rough on the outside and smooth on the inside. They grow in groups of three or four, and when the leaves turn brown, the buckeyes fall to the ground and make sounds like small explosions that echo off the encircling hills when the sacks pop open to release their contents. To hear them fall it sounds like a firefight where the battle wages on until the last of the buckeyes stop falling

There are times when the clouds are high above and beams of sunlight pass through as spotted rays of gold; other times the clouds hang low just above the peaks and create a glorious white halo. Then there are times in the mornings when the clouds sit in the valley below to create a dense fog that one must pass through while traveling on the road.

In the morning it’s still, silent, like a crystal-clear lake where nothing stirs. At sunrise the cock crows and wakes the neighborhood. The hound dogs cry for their breakfast and for a chance to go on a hunt.

In the afternoon Blackberry Street is busy with people walking up and down it. Cars rumble by one at a time, as the road isn’t wide enough for two to pass side by side. The road itself is barely together, covered in a layer of broken asphalt with potholes patched with loose gravel.

Houses line the road. The side where Danny lives is a hill that runs parallel to Blackberry Street. It jets up high above the shrunken houses. These houses were built nearly a hundred years ago; most of the homes have held up, but time has taken its toll on the now-tilted foundations of many others. Some yards are kept up, but most are not. There are toys, tools, even garbage scattered about, often sprawling over into neighboring yards. This street is unlike many of the newer developments in the valley. Most of those homes are larger and kept up to present a fine appearance.

Blackberry Street starts at the bottom, flat, where it connects to Bowman Street. From there it inclines sharply for a hundred yards and continues up past Danny’s home, where it curves to the left at the bend in the road. Take the road another hundred yards, and that’s where Cluster lives on an open, large lot of land that spans his entire hill, which is perpendicular to Danny’s hill and meets at the center where Buckeye Hollow forms.

Legend says the buckeye brings good luck. And when you get a chance. Send me a buckeye!

Sincerely,

D.W. Rigsby

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

Image Credit: buckeyes by laura_kelley

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

Danny,

I’m having problems with my contraption which started smoking again. I wonder how much longer it will last or if my letters will continue to get to you from my year of 2014 to your year of 1983.  I’ll keep sending and hope you will reply.

The other day something amazing happened to me. I am writing this book, The Broken Christmas Tree, and I sent it off for edits and the strangest thing occurred.  The editor wrote me back a note and said that she had experienced a similar traumatic event as you did at the age of three. I believe she was only two years and six months old but close enough.  It truly is an amazing insight to what is happening around all of us. How things just seem to fall into place with no real explanation.

I don’t think she sees shadowlings like yourself but she never said she didn’t either.  I am left to ponder this thought.  I have no direct communications with her as the company’s policy won’t allow it.  But I’ve given it thought to see about hiring her again for my next book. I don’t know what I’ll write yet, maybe something of science fiction with a twist or I could just keep my options open for now.

Your friend, Cluster,  sounds every bit the good story teller from what I’ve heard from you. He sounds larger than life, a great friend to have no doubt.  Natural story tellers are the best I think at keeping everyone’s attention on the rise, and giving them either a good scare or a good laugh on the fall.  Art is such an expressive way of getting our feelings out into the open don’t you think? Oh, I’m sending you the cover of my new book. I hope to have it out soon for others to read in the next few weeks. A  lot depends on my final reviews of the book this coming weekend. Anyway, I’ll keep writing for a while longer if you don’t mind and keep me posted on your adventures.  Maybe I can use those as inspiration for my next book.

Sincerely,

D.W. Rigsby

 

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

 

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

Danny,

I almost forgot to write this week. I’ve been very busy with all my other duties and responsibilities.  Oh how I miss being young, not a care, and running around town playing games. It was a great time as I’m sure you know. Playing hide and seek, kick the can, picking up a game at the baseball field, or hiking through the woods. It still might be warm enough to camp  there even with the cooler nights, which I loved to do but never did enough growing up.

It’s getting that time of year when it’s best to go camping down here in Florida.  The summer is not like it is up in Ohio, and the fall is still warm enough to pitch a tent. A nice camp fire with a few burnt marshmallows doesn’t sound all too bad either.

You say you like to camp? That you even bought your first tent with your own money? What a great thing it is to be able to work for something you want and when you get it there’s that sense of accomplishment.

I have no worries about you when  you get older. You describe yourself as resourceful, self reliant at times and clever.  We need people like you, and  your friend. The way you describe your friend he sounds much older than you, but I know you said he’s only a  year older. Well, some people are born older.

Keep writing.

Sincerely,

D.W. Rigsby

 

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

 

Image Credit:  Cincinnati – Hapersfield Covered Bridge HDR by Corey Balazowich

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

 Danny,

 

My progress is slow with my stringed instrument, but I’m enjoying the process. I like to play the different chords, to feel the buzz of the strings, and hear the tones resonate as I pluck away at the strings.  It’s not an easy task. Learning the roll patterns took some tries but after several weeks I got the basic ones down. I still miss here and there but I’m getting the rhythm. Timing is another matter. I was looking into a metronome – it’s a way to keep your timing, making sure you hit a note each time it ticks. It’s job is to discipline your performance and without it I’m not sure how anyone could truly become a master of their instrument. Oh, I’m sure someone with the gift of music has done it, but I don’t possess this gift. I must work hard at it, I must chug along like the little choo-choo train that thinks it can.

You say you draw. We’ll that is an art in itself. A great one for self expression. I am glad you have some spark of artistry in your blood. We are like kindred spirits I think.

Now tell me that Sam is no longer around is he? It is terrible what happened. I still think about it. I’m glad you handled it well. It never changes. No matter where you go there is always someone out to make your life miserable.

As for those shadowlings you should still be careful. Don’t try and seek them out. I know what you told me that you can’t help it. I am not you so try and use your best judgement.

Sincerely,

D.W. Rigsby

 

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

 

Image Credit:  Cincinnati – Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum “Your Time Has Come” by David Ohmer

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

Danny,

What you said in your last letter explains a lot to me. My only guidance to you is be on your guard, keep your wit about and make sure never to tell anyone what you told me unless you think they can keep it a secret.

People often act strange when they find out something different about another person. It’s human nature I suppose. It’s been ingrained into us since the dawn of time but we learn, some of us. You’re friend Cluster sounds like a true friend.  When you get older like me you’ll look back and see the wondrous thing of friendship and what it really means. We don’t often think of it until things have sort of slowed down and we have time to reflect. It’s okay, not to worry as you are young and I”m sure you probably already see some of what I mean.

Oh, I wanted to tell you that I’ve decided to pick up an instrument and learn to play music. I’m rather horrid at the moment but that will soon change as I practice more and more. My advice to you is try and learn music at a young age, it will be something you’ll enjoy for a very long time and one you can share with others. I’m excited even at my current age to learn and soon I’ll be able to share it too with my friends and family.

I look forward to hearing more from you. Please keep writing and don’t worry about the contraption thingy, it still works and hasn’t smoked for nearly a week. A good sign. I think that it’s on the road to recovery.

Sincerely,

DW Rigsby

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

 

Image Credit:  Ohio – Amish country by Kristen Klein

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.

Danny,

 

New Weston sounds like a wonderful place. I wish I lived there myself from the way you describe it. It’s like so many of those small towns you see on television. Some of us stuck in the larger cities long to be in a small place, run around in the woods and enjoy what nature has to offer.

I bet the fall is wonderful there with all those hardwood trees with their leaves turning brown, gold, copper, yellow and ash.  I bet the nights are starting to cool down now. It must be heaven. It’s still very hot and humid where I live. It will be a while longer before the cool air reaches us.

Oh, yes I did some research on those shadow things. It seems sometimes this happens to people after a traumatic event. Did something bad happen to you?

Sincerely,

DW Rigsby

Letter to Danny from The Broken Christmas Tree

 

Image Credit:  Cincinnati – Spring Grove Cemetery & Arboretum “Morning Light & Mist” by David Ohmer

Copyright ©2014 DW Rigsby All Rights Reserved.