Soundtrack
The drive down to the nodermeet was scenic, a never ending
collection of serene cornfields under a bucolic Wisconsin sky.
Thunderclouds gathered when I crossed the Illinois border. Rain fell
intermittently but it was soft and soothing, a balm for my victimized
nerves. Wiccanpiper remarked on the ominous weather as he led me into
his home. The floors in his home are mellow with age. His house is
homey, a charming collection of pipes, perfumed
by delicious kitchen smells.
BriarCub arrived not long after Wiccanpiper mentioned that he
needed a few last minute items from the store. By that time passport
had arrived. Together the three of us traveled to pick up various
ingredients we'd be needing. Traffic was nonexistant in the small town
of Heyworth, amicably we gathered our purchases and returned back to
Wiccanpiper's bearing sour cream, rippled potato chips and a Heyworth
Hornets t-shirt for passport's significant other.
Rapscallion was the next to arrive. He was a quiet sort unlike
BrooksMarlin who did his Werner Herzog impersonation while offering
me a small bag filled with delectable delights. The
doorbell rang as my teeth sank into a death delivering nut
studded chocolate.
Fortunately I had already taken a double dose of allergy pills so I
spit my candy in the trash before greeting dann and avalyn. Hugs
were exchanged, vandewal brought a glass of wine out for me,
thoughtfully he had written my name on the cup which he set on the
porch railing. When I raised my cup I found that the wine vandewal
brought me had been replaced with a yeasty smelling beverage. Since I'm
allergic to beer I dumped my drink over the side and watched as avalyn poured
shots of chartreuse for sauth, eien_meru and androjen. Viewing
their reactions was interesting, chaotic_poet sipped at it, I was
offered a shot but not knowing how a powerful alcoholic drink would
interact with the medications I had been prescribed I resigned myself
to a sip of the potent brew.
Warmth flowed through me as the drink was interred. Colors swirled
around me, dizzily I made my way back to where I had been seated
unaware of what was going on around me. I grew tired as the night waned
yet I was wary of driving to my hotel alone. Earlier I had misplaced my
scarf, out in the car only my hand reaching up to adjust my rear view
mirror saved the scarf around my throat from being drawn overly tight.
Noise from my horn honking drew others. By the time I could breathe
again it was clear to me that someone was out to get me. Privately I
mentioned my fears to OldMiner and LaggedyAnne. Despite their
reassurances that my safety was their number one priority I decided to
return to Wisconsin a day early.
Friday night I slept unusally well. After speaking with Sessor
and kevi I decided that I would stay for lunch and leave after that.
Back in 2006 I had a bad allergic
reaction at a stir fry restaurant which turned out to be the lunch
plan. The meal was over and supper plans were being discussed when I
discovered that I had accidentally ingested something I was allergic
to. Oddly enough the incident at the restaurant turned the nodermeet
around for me. People who had been hostile earlier were exceptionally
nice to me. After a supper of sandwiches people gathered in the garage
for a round of drinking games. Maybe it was just the alcohol but I
found myself relaxing as we sat around talking. I reversed my earlier
decision to leave, Friday night scarcatcher had spent the night in
the garage, space heaters made it cozy so I spread my quilts down,
unrolled my sleeping bag and settled
in for the night.
Sunday morning the garage door refused to
open. Through the frozen window I could see people gathered in the
kitchen. Noises that sounded like cars running confused me until I
spotted several tail pipes poking through holes near the base of the
garage door. Clues I had missed earlier came together
as I lay on the floor; my mind went back to the averted gazes, several
people had encouraged me to partake of poisoned candy and drugged food,
I thought about how E2Prairie formed the E2OrientExpress group
after my name went on the nodermeet list of attendees. I have never
gotten along with alex and his wife had easy access to
drugs that would incapacitate me. One of the last things I remember
seeing was the smiling face of someone I had trusted. Several others
stood by while I frantically scribbled in my notebook wondering if
what I had written would ever get posted .
Editor's note: jessicaj is doing much better now that her room has been redecorated.