Once Mrs. LowSam stowed the forest-green backpack with the gun in the trunk of her car, the three discovered the mall stores were all closed or closing for the evening.
They dropped by the beauty salon where Mrs. Bandwilly was busy working on the day’s receipts.
The girls were given permission to go with their teacher to the popular hamburger restaurant on the edge of the mall parking lot.
Settled now, in a private back booth, they waited for Mrs. LowSam’s explanation, Beth with a raspberry mocha milkshake, Mary Joyce with a banana split and Mrs. LowSam with a tall, steaming paper cup of green tea.
“Now girls,” Mrs. LowSam began, “I’ll try to explain myself as clearly as I can and as quickly as I can. Your mother, Mary Joyce, could come for you two any minute. I led you to believe my husband was the one writing the book about Bigfoot. And that’s because of the scorn heaped upon anyone professing to believe in the animal. I couldn’t chance that, being an instructor at Blake RorySpain.”
“So why the gun?” Beth blurted out, running her tongue along her dripping, raspberry coated straw.
“Beth, I wanted to scare it away, so that it would not be tempted to return to the dumpster.” She furrowed her brow and held a hand up, meaning to say it was as simple as that. “Remember, I said I thought I, well no, I’m certain I saw the animal. And now, I want to protect it.”
“With a gun?” Beth shot back with her mouth hanging wide open in unbelief.
Mrs. LowSam laughed and patted Beth’s hand. She appreciated Beth Clark’s spontaneous nature. The girl was a bright and sensitive twelve year old.
“Girls, listen carefully, please. I must get on with telling you what has been going on here. The gun was given to me by my husband as protection. He spends much of the work week away from home, traveling. Now that explains the gun. I had the gun with me this evening because I was planning to fire it at the beast―not meaning to hit it, of course―just … just scare it awa …”
“Why did you think it would come to the dumpster?” Beth interrupted.
“Girls, I saw the animal in the early morning hours last week.”
Stunned, Mary Joyce and Beth stopped sipping and spooning their treats and simply raised their eyes to meet Mrs. LowSam’s.
“I’m working on my master’s thesis. I was intent on snapping a photo of the animal. So, I’ve been waiting through the night for several nights now, to see the animal again. But, now I’ve changed my mind. The early morning that I saw the animal, it had walked from the dumpster over to my car where I hid. I didn’t realize it was just outside my window. I rose up to see where it had gone, thinking it would have already left for the woods.”
She paused, just long enough for Beth to blurt out, “You really saw it?” Mary Joyce elbowed her friend to allow Mrs. LowSam to finish.
“But a gun?” Mary Joyce asked, once the woman paused. She was compelled to address the gun. “I understand you want to protect the beast, but really─a gun!”
“Girls, I do hope you will not say anything about this. I’ll need more time to think about how to protect the animal. I don’t intend to mention that I observed the beast firsthand.”
“Why don’t you ask the mall to install an additional light, to better illuminate the dumpster area, or move the stinky thing?”
“Good idea, Beth. It just never occurred to me, the remedy could be so simple.… Let me think about it.”
“Now please finish telling us what happened when the animal was at your car,” Mary Joyce requested while dropping her red plastic spoon into the empty banana-split boat.
“Well, as I was saying, I inched my head up until my eyes could see along the bottom of the passenger’s side window.” The teacher stopped, placed her hand over her heart and continued, “The beast’s eyes met mine. Well, its one eye, one was damaged.” She sighed loudly and continued, “Girls, I have never observed such a noble beast. I could actually see my face reflected in its one good eye.” Mrs. LowSam leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Again, I beg you not to say anything about my seeing the animal. I don’t intend to let it be known that Bigfoot visits the dumpster behind the mall. I’ll complete my master’s thesis, but without the proof he exists─a photo. I’ll not have it on my conscience that the animal is discovered while scrounging through the Broadway Mall dumpster.” She drew in a deep breath, then said, “Or worse yet─maimed or killed. The thing’s eye seemed to me as large as a tennis ball.… I just don’t want a circus-atmosphere there behind the mall. I will speak in private to scientists about my encounter, but I feel strongly the public should not be told. The animal is not hurting anyone, but I wish it wouldn’t forage in the dumpster. If only you two could have observed your reflections in its eye, you would understand.”
“Were you awfully afraid?” Mary Joyce asked.
“I’ve never been more afraid. I’m so glad a truck horn blasted nearby, sending it in long strides back to the woods. Truly, Bigfoot is a wondrous animal; I know for I’ve peered into the eye of the beast and he deserves our protection.”
THE END
Posts
