The Orchard of Hope by Amy Neftzger Page A

ear. “It’s all gibberish.”
    “What about the
one calling your name? ” Maggie asked. Kelsey ’ s eyes popped open, and she
stared at Maggie, who had been engaged in the same
exercise.
    “What
the — ?! ” Kelsey exclaimed in anger. Just when she was
warming up to her, Maggie had to show off like
this.
    “Relax, ” Roland said calmly. “ There is no reason why Maggie
can ’ t learn
along with you. She may be able to help you. ”
    “I thought this
was my lesson, ” Kelsey said in protest.
    “Knowledge does
not belong to anyone. It simply exists for those who choose to see
it. Like wisdom and beauty. When you attempt to cage these things,
you only wind up putting yourself in bondage. ”
    “One lesson at
a time, ” Kelsey retorte d sharply. So far this quest had gone nothing like
the way she had hoped it would. In fact, it was making her feel
embarrassed and inadequate. She inhaled the warm afternoon air
again to help calm her nerves, and then she addressed
Maggie. “ Where ’ s
the bird you heard calling my name? ”
    “Over
there, ” Maggie
pointed. “ That
raven. ”
    “That
one? ” Kelsey
asked with confusion in her voice. She turned to Roland. “ Doesn't that bird
belong to the sorcerer? ”
    “No, ” he answered. “ That may be why you
couldn ’ t hear
it. Be very careful with your assumptions. ”
    “But I saw a
bird turn into a crow when it changed sides and left the king to
join the sorcerer in the battle. ”
    “Birds and
people may change their appearances, especially when they make
changes in their beliefs. But never assume that you can tell which
side anyone is on by simply looking at them. Many of the most
depraved characters have a beautiful and clean outer appearance.
And some of the most beautiful creatures appear dark on the
outside. Look past what you see with your eyes and listen. Focus on
the voice of the raven and listen. ”
    Kelsey looked up at the raven
sitting on a low branch a short distance away. She could see the
bird clearly against the blue sky as she watched its beak open and
close.
    “Caw caw ... caw caw ... caw caw
..., ” the bird called.
Kelsey closed her eyes and cupped her right hand to her ear to
listen more closely. “ Caw caw ...
caw caw ... caw caw ... ” the bird continued to speak in rhythmic couplets. Kelsey
covered her left ear with her left hand and tried to block out all
other noises. “ Caw -key … caw -see ...
Kel-sey, ” the bird
called. Kelsey continued to listen until every couplet sounded like
her name and less like a caw.
    “I can hear
it! ” she
exclaimed. She opened her eyes and smiled at Roland. He nodded back
affirmatively. She looked over at Maggie who was also
grinn ing back at her.
    “I knew you
could do it, ” Maggie said with encouragement. As she finished speaking,
the raven flew down and landed on the path in front of them. The
bird ’ s head
bobbed as it strutted a few steps closer.
    “Caaaaaaaw. Caw caw ... caw caw
caw caw ... caw caw, ” said the raven.
    “I
didn ’ t
understand a word, ” Kelsey said shaking her head. The raven repeated the
message more slowly and Kelsey shook her head
again.
    “He said
something about meatballs and spaghetti, ” Maggie said in a helpful
tone.
    “Not
quite, ” Roland
replied. “ Keep
listening. ”
    Kelsey crouched
down on one knee to get closer to the raven ’ s height. The bird turned its
head to one side and Kelsey gazed into its eye as it
spoke.
    “Reapings.
Meatball is spanking in care of your soul, ” Kelsey
translated.
    “Closer, ” Roland said.
    “I told you it
was something about meatballs, ” Maggie said proudly.
    “Not ‘ meatballs. ’ The bird is saying ‘ Megan. ’” Roland explained.
    They listened
for several more iterations of the message. Kelsey and Maggie both
concentrated on the bird and focused carefully on hi s vocalizations as he spoke the phrase several
more times.
    “M eetings — not reaping, and stak ing — not spanking! ”