Wasn't Ready~Tod Belle

Wasn't Ready


I snuck out the back door and down the porch stairs. Once I was in the grass, my walk turned to a run, then to a sprint. Trees flashed past me and my shirt caught on a branch ever so often. I had no need of a flashlight, even this late at night. The moon was full and I knew the path well. When I was deep in the woods, I turned back to make sure the lights in the house remained off. All of the windows were dark. I smiled to myself. They would never notice I was gone.
I continued down the path to the tree I was carving. When I got there, I pulled out my pocked light and shone it on the carving in the tree. I took out my pocket knife and whittled away at the shape for at least an hour. My wrist began cramping, but I kept on. I blew away the sawdust that was now collecting in the line I had carved. I could see, with the help of the flashlight, that I had carved about an inch into the trunk of the massive tree. I had just a little more to go before I could pry the shape out of the trunk of the tree. Once I did that, there would be just enough space in between them to fit the note I had written.
I kept carving, humming an improvised tune as I worked. When I had carved another quarter of an inch, I wedged the knife under the bottom point of the heart. I pressed down on the handle of the knife, and I heard the wood break away from the inner part of the trunk. I gave the knife one final shove, and the piece I had spent days carving came out in my hand. I looked back at the shaped indent it had left. I ran my hand over the smooth surface it had left.
I looked at my watch and gasped. If I didn’t get back soon, Dad would realize I had snuck out and I would be in so much trouble. I picked up my knife and my flashlight and shoved them both in my pocket. I picked up the carved wooden heart and slipped it back into the trunk of the tree. It fit snugly, like a puzzle piece. I got up and ran in the direction of my house. I made sure not to run into any tree branches, now that I could see more clearly. If I got home late and had to jump into bed with my clothes on, I didn’t want to look like I’d just sprinted through the woods, which I had. I came around the barn, and didn’t see a single light on in the house. I sighed with relief. My dad wasn’t up yet, so I could easily sneak back in the house without anyone noticing. I climbed the back porch steps quietly. I opened the glass door as noiselessly as I could, my back facing the living room. I made sure the door didn’t slam, and I turned to go up the stairs. I stopped right in the middle of the floor.
“Where have you been?” My dad said tensely from his place on the couch. I searched my mind for an excuse as to why I had been outside at near four o’ clock in the morning. I drew a blank.
“I’m waiting.” He said. I knew there was nothing I could say that would get me out of this. But if I told him why I was out tonight, I would have to explain how I’d snuck out three nights before then.
“I was just getting something that I left in the woods earlier.” I said. I tried to make myself sound as convincing as possible, but his face still looked stern.
“Get up to your room and get some sleep. I’ll deal with you in the morning.” At that point, I did the only thing I could to better the situation. I obeyed. If I had tried to argue, I would’ve only gotten in to more trouble. I turned and trudged up the stairs. I was lucky to have gotten off as easily as I did. Of course, morning would tell what I’d really gotten myself into.
I opened my room and was met by yet another one of my family members. Niki recited Dad’s speech as though she’d been listening to the whole conversation.
“Where have you been?” She started. I wouldn’t argue with Dad, but with Niki, my confidence overpowered my sense.
“None of your business.” I said angrily. She had no right to be asking my questions about where I went. I could go where I wanted to. She didn’t control me.
“Fine.” She said. “If you don’t want to tell me about your little project, that’s fine with me.” I jerked my head up.
“You knew where I was the whole time.” I hated how she knew what I was doing. I couldn’t keep anything a secret from her.
“I wasn’t working on my project.” I lied. “I just want to go to bed right now.” Another lie. She gave in.
“Fine. I’ll leave.” She said. “But we’ll talk in the morning.” She said matter-of-factly.
“Don’t sound so sure.” I said. I knew we would talk. I just didn’t let her know that I knew.
After she left, closing the door behind her, I climbed into bed and turned on my side. Getting into trouble was not what worried me. It was the fact that they might find out what I was doing for Milly. It wasn’t that I was embarrassed…I just wasn’t ready to tell them yet.