Zach

Zach Finds his home

Zach is the story of a twelve-year-old boy who is quickly becoming a man...

As an infant he was left on the steps of an orphanage never knowing his real mother or where he came from. Only a small piece of cloth pinned to his blanket which said Zach was any indication of who he was. Since being orphaned as a baby, Zach’s has dreamed of a family, of that special someone who loves and cares for him. Zach’s constant companion and best friend is his dog Ibby. Ibby’s ears are too big, his back legs are much faster than his front legs, and his tongue is way too long to stay in his mouth. Other than that, he’s cute as a button!

Every year around this time one of the boys that had reached a certain, shall we say, maturity ventures to town to pick up supplies. This year, Zach has been chosen to take the two-day walk into town to accomplish this mission...

During this journey, Zach meets a most unlikely cast of characters, which we will now introduce you to...

Lou Wisebird happens to be a world-renowned journalist in the feathery friend world that he belongs to. Lou just happens to be a crow. He comes from a long line of very talented birds, and has many awards based on his articles about man and animals alike. He takes an instant liking to Zach, and decides that this man/boy would make a good subject for his next article.

Jahhhnn is a rather large raccoon known for his slow, lumbering style. Jahhhnn is also known for his love of honey. Not just love, but actual WORSHIP of honey. He dreams honey. His only problem is that bees really don’t want to give it up their honey so easily. Jahhhnn has a hunger for honey, but does not have a hunger for bee bites.

Finally, we will meet Nona, who completes Zach’s search. This journey will not only take Zach and his friends through the forest, but will also take Zach home; to the home of his dreams...

Zach

The sun was still low in the sky when Zach and his dog Ibby started out from the orphanage into town. Every year around fall, one of the children who has come of age is sent through the forest, over the mountain, and through the fresh meadow into town to pick up some supplies, and the latest gossip. Zach had just turned twelve, was considered a young man, and it was now his turn to assume all of those responsibilities.

Zach stood about yea tall and was quite thin. He wore blue overalls and always had a neatly tucked plaid shirt on. His driving hat had a button on the front brim so that the top could be snapped down, which is the way Zach always wore it. Pulled down, close to his eyes, because that’s the way the men in town wore them. Zach had his jacket slung over his shoulder, since it was fall and the weather could get quite crisp. When Zach walked, he always walked with a galumph. Up on one leg and then down on the other, in a rhythmic gait.

His dog Ibby was not a small dog, but also not a big dog. He was somewhat of a handsome dog, and also the happiest looking animal you would ever see, with brown spots big floppy ears, and a tongue that always hung out of the side of his mouth. Sometimes his back legs were just a little faster than his front legs, causing Ibby to run sideways. His front legs always seemed to win, and his back legs would go back to their correct position. Ibby was Zach’s best friend, and would always be.

Down the narrow winding path these friends started on their first of many journeys. Zach remarked to himself just how narrow the path was. It appeared that the old wooden cart he was pushing would just barely fit. As they walked down the path, Ibby and Zach saw the beauty of nature. The trees were changing into the most wondrous colors. Zach, who had a very good imagination, imagined that he was moving through a forest of fire that was lighting his way to town. Of

course there wasn’t really a fire; it was the brilliant color of the leaves, bright red, orange and a very soft yellow.

“What a wonderful life we have, Ibby. I can’t imagine anything being more wonderful than this right now.” Zach spoke to Ibby often, and whenever he talked to Ibby, Ibby would always turn his head sideways and bark a reply.

Of course as soon as Zach commented on their wonderful life, his thoughts wandered to a foggy memory of a familiar dream. It was his favorite dream, one that he told all the other children back at the orphanage. He found that when the young children were sad and felt there was no one else in the world for them, he would share this dream with them, and it gave everyone hope. Zach would sit with his arms folded and take a deep breath and have everyone close their eyes. Then he would weave the tale of a friendly old woman who loved all children. Her name, he seemed to remember, or possibly made up, was Nona. She had a small cottage in the woods. It was a friendly place with bright colors on the door. When the front door opened, the smell of fresh baked cookies and bread would fill the air. Her round wooden table had a beautiful tablecloth and on top of that sat a vase filled with the most fragrant wildflowers. She had stained glass windows that allowed the sun’s rays to beam through, making colors dance throughout the room.

The light made the entire floor look like a rainbow! Nona’s fireplace was always neatly stacked with wood. No going cold here on a long winter’s night! No siree, not with Nona! Then there was the bed. Ahh, unlike any bed you could imagine. It had a quilt that was filled with such fluffy down! Mmmmm, so warm and soft! When it was time to go to sleep, she would come and cradle you in her arms, only if you were small enough, of course, then she would sing a beautiful song that made you feel safe and warm. Off to sleep you would go. Zach would often find himself humming that song, and all the children would drift off to sleep, with Zach eventually falling asleep as well, with the song still in his head.

Reliving that dream in his mind, Zach let out a sigh as he walked with the cart, wishing that Nona really existed, but he knew it was only a dream.

“Never you mind Ibby, let's go to town and see what we can bring back for everyone. Don’t tell anyone, but I brought extra money so I could buy you some very yummy dog treats.”

Off Zach galumphed, whistling the song he always whistled, the one Nona sang to him in his dreams. Ibby was running and sliding into things as usual, making

Zach laugh forgetting that it would be hours before they would arrive in town. But arrive they did. Zach looked for a place to rest before picking up the supplies for the orphanage.

Zach liked the orphanage, although he always said he had more brothers and sisters than any boy in the world, he sometimes dreamed of what it would be like to have his own real family.

As they walked Ibby struggled along on the side to keep his back legs where they should be, and his tongue in his mouth.

Once the supplies were neatly stacked in the cart and Ibby had just enjoyed his special doggy snack the dynamic pair started back to the orphanage.

Zach and Ibby had only gone a short distance when they heard a voice call out, “where ya going young fella?”

Zach stopped. First Ibby’s front feet stopped, followed by his back feet, causing him to end up sideways on the path. They both looked around and didn’t see anyone, so thinking that they imagined it, they continued to walk on.

Zach started whistling again and Ibby ran along side of him, his back legs trying to keep up with his front legs, all the while panting through the side of his mouth. Again, a voice, very clear and commanding, and sort of scary said “Don’t just walk away, I asked where you were going! Be polite and answer a question when it is asked of you, young man!”

At that point Ibby looked kinda scared, but Zach, who was twelve years old, stood up straight and tall and looked around. There was no one to be seen. Then out of the corner of his eye, Zach saw something move. He turned, and there on the lowest branch of the biggest tree was a very large black crow. This crow seemed to be staring at him. Looking him up and down. Now Zach had never heard a crow speak, or any other animal for that matter, but since there was no one else around, he figured he would just go over and ask this crow the obvious question.

“Excuse me, Mr. Crow” Zach said in a very grownup gentlemanly voice.

“Were you talking to us?” The crow seemed to clear his throat, and to Zach and Ibby’s surprise, said “Of course I was talking to you. You don’t see anyone else around that I might be talking to, do you? Are you suggesting I’m a little crazy, off

my rocker, not having my facilities in order, and would just be sitting here in this tree talking to the air?”

“But I never heard of a talking crow,” said Zach, trying to be as polite as possible. The crow went on to tell Zach that all crows talk, but they just don’t talk to people. “We don’t bother talking to humans, young man. Reason being, is that they don’t talk to us, and the problems I hear about your sorts...well I rather not get involved, if you get my meaning.” The crow winked and nodded his beak at Zach in a way that implied perhaps Zach understood perfectly.

The reason this crow in particular decided to talk is because he is a great writer, and he is working on a story about young men who travel alone on meadow paths with dogs who can’t keep their tongues in their mouths and their back legs – well I guess you’d say, back!

Also, he kinda figured Zach to be a little different, since he was talking to his dog. The crow’s mother always told him that a human who talks to animals can’t be all bad, and as you know, all mommy crows know what they’re talking about.

“So are you going to stare at me all day? What’s your name?”

“My name is Zach and this is my dog Ibby, and we’re heading back home after marketing, sir. I don’t mean to sound rude, but do crows have names too?”

“Of course they do, and my name is Lou Wisebird. I’m sure you have read some of my books. I’m quite famous in the literary world.”

“It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance Zach, and you too Ibby. I have been watching you since you started on your way, and if you’re going up that way, I just might go with you. But if you’re going that other way, since I have nothing planned, I might go with you that way too. Matter of fact, if you’re going in ANY of the directions you can go, I just might go along to keep my eye on you, for my book, that is.”

Zach and Ibby realized that Lou had decided to join them on their journey back to the orphanage.

“It would be a pleasure to have a noted writer accompany us on our short journey” said Zach, and they all began down the path again, with Zach whistling his song, Ibby with his back legs trying to outrace his front legs, while panting, with his

tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, and Lou, caw, caw, cawing to Zach’s song. They made a very interesting trio!

After some time, they heard something wooing and hollering in the distance. “Ouch, ooch, eek, ow, owwwww!!!! Oh my, everyone look out, I’m coming through!” Then out of the bushes appeared a raccoon swarming with bees!

“Look out, ouch, oh my!” he cried. It was really clear this guy was in trouble!

No sooner did he run out onto the path before you could see him run and suddenly leap into the air.

SPLASH! INTO THE COLD STREAM HE WENT! SPLASH, SPLASH, SPLASH! “Take that, you bees,” the raccoon cried, “take that!” Out of the water came the raccoon. He shook himself off, sending water flying everywhere.

“Oh, I am so sorry if I have gotten any of you wet. I had a minor disagreement with some honeybees. You see, I love honey so much, I overstayed my welcome, and unfortunately, sometimes staying too long can be really painful.”

Zach could not believe what was going on. First a talking crow, now a talking raccoon. With his eyes as big as saucers, the raccoon looked at Zach. Zach could not believe his ears, but here he was listening to a raccoon talk, and a very wet raccoon at that. Zach decided the right thing to do was to introduce himself and his friends.

“Ahem, excuse me, Mr. Raccoon,” Zach said, clearing his voice. “I couldn’t help but notice you. May I introduce my friends? This is my dog Ibby and my new friend Lou Wisebird.” “My name is Zach.”

The raccoon sighed a long sigh and said, “My name is Jaahhn.” Zach being the gentlemen he was, said in a very gentlemanly voice, “I am pleased to make your acquaintance John.” But Jaahhn just sighed and said “my name is not John, but Jaahhn.” Jaahhn looked Zach up and down and said with a sigh “So young man, which way are you headed? Because if you’re going THIS way I might just go with you, and if you’re going THAT way I just might go with you too, because my honey day is over.” He then let out a long sigh.

Zach said “Sure Jaahhn, come along with us, and maybe we can find some honey along the way.”

Jaahhn stood still, shaking his head as stray bees flew out of his fur, occasionally taking a quick bite. Jaahhn picked the last bee out of his fur, flicked it and was ready to go.

So off they went with Zach whistling his tune, Ibby, with his back legs competing with his front legs, Leo, caw caw cawing to Zach’s tune, and Jaahhn just sighing and scratching his bee bites. They walked for some time, when Zach noticed it was getting late in the day.

“Say, anyone feeling hungry?” Jaahhn asked. “You know, it’s getting kind of late, and since this journey is taking a little longer than I expected, I have built up an appetite.”

“I do feel sort of peckish myself,” stated Lou. Zach looked at him with his eyes rolling. Lou said, “No pun intended Zach, but I really am hungry. All of this flying around has made me very hungry indeed.” Zach was just having so much fun talking to Lou and to Jaahhn that he had forgotten all about food!

“How about some dinner Ibby?” said Zach. With that, Ibby almost knocked Zach down. He was wagging his tail and wagging his tongue so fast that he became one big blur of fur!

“OK, let’s see what we have to eat.” Zach reached into the cart, pulled out some honey for Jaahhn, and some bread for Lou. Out came a bone from the butcher shop for Ibby, and for Zach, a sandwich he had been saving for this moment.

Slurping and chomping was all you could hear. Jaahhn, every once in a while mumbling “thank you,” and our friend Lou, cawing and singing a song. Zach never knew that crows could sing. He would find out later that one of Lou’s distant relatives was a robin, and that is where he gets his singing talent from.

“Yes indeed,” said Lou between bites, “I knew right from the start that you were a good one to talk to, Zach, and don’t think you won’t get a mention in my book. Why, I think I will dedicate a whole chapter to my travels with you. Of

course, all the other crows won’t believe that humans can talk to crows, but who cares?”

“Thank you Lou,” said Zach. Zach was very happy today. His life felt so good with his new friends.

Jaahhn started to yawn, and Ibby started to curl up beside the cart. Even Lou was starting to put his beak behind his wing. Everyone looked as if they were ready for sleep. And sleep they did. Later, when Zach woke, he found they had all been sleeping for hours, and the sun was starting to set. He knew he would never make it back to the orphanage before night set in.

Zach, who was not fond of sleeping outside, looked up and thought he saw smoke in the distance. He walked ahead and saw that the smoke was coming from the top of a chimney. Zach woke Lou and asked if he would fly ahead to see if there was anyone in the home attached to that chimney.

“If not, maybe we will have a much warmer place to sleep for the night” remarked Zach. Well you don’t have to say things twice to a crow, and off he went!

“There doesn’t seem to be anyone around, and it looks like the cottage is empty” said Lou, as he flew back from the cottage that stood in the clearing. With that news, the entire group got up and decided to go to the cottage.

As they got closer, Zach noticed the neatly kept garden with its beautiful assortment of flowers. There were flowers of every color, shape and size. Zach could hear Jaahhn sigh, and he knew what he was thinking.... where there are flowers, there are bees, and where there are bees, there’s HONEY!!!

Lou flew to the windowsill and started pecking on the window, but no one answered. Zach then tried the door, which opened easily, so they all went inside. There were flowers everywhere. The walls were painted with many colors, and the fire from the fireplace seemed to make everything in the room dance. From the inside, the cottage seemed so much larger. The setting sun cast rainbows across the floors, something that seemed very familiar to Zach.

In the corner of the room was a cupboard. Zach called out one last time to see if anyone was home as he started towards the cupboard. No one answered, so

he opened the cupboard door, and to his delight, it was full of jams, bread, fruits, nuts, and even a big jar marked HONEY.

Feeling comfortable in the cottage, they sat down and started eating. Suddenly they heard a noise. Cautiously, they got up and backed towards the front door, when from across the room, another door slowly opened, and a hooded figure stepped out. At that point, no one knows what happened. There was screaming going on everywhere. Zach screamed, then the hooded creature screamed, then Ibby screamed. Leo cawed, and the hooded creature screamed again. Jaahhn was huddled by the front door mumbling something about being SOOO close (to the honey, we think) as Lou tried to regain some control.

In a split second, Lou flew towards the hooded creature and pulled the hood from its head. There, out from under that hood was an elderly lady with long, flowing, gray hair. She stood very straight and tall, and there was a sharpness to her face that the years hadn’t taken away. She was also noticeably upset. When Zach saw it was an old woman with a friendly face under the hood, he and his friends were very relieved.

“My friends and I are so sorry we scared you, but we knocked and called out, and no one answered. We had walked a long way and were very tired” said Zach.

“Well it seems to me that I may have scared you just as much,” said the woman, obviously regaining her composure. “I don’t get many visitors, and had just gone to the cellar to fetch some cider. You are all very welcome to stay the night, but first, you must tell me how a young boy, a dog, a crow, and a raccoon have come to travel together” said the woman.

As Zach spoke, he kept getting the feeling that he had met this woman before. Her manner and her face seemed quite familiar. After dinner they all relaxed, except for Jaahhn, he had both his paws buried in the honey jar! They sang songs and told stories until it was quite late, and the last thing Zach remembered was the lady tucking a blanket under his chin.

The sun rose early, and Zack woke from the dream he sometimes had when he was warm and cozy in a nice soft bed. He would dream of a house that was nestled in the woods and a very tall, regal woman, who would grow some of the most

beautiful flowers he had ever seen. In the dream, he called her Nona. Also in this dream, he would wake up to her singing the song he always sang. Zach would run into her arms, and she would hug him and tell him how much she loved him. Ibby was always in that dream also, with his tongue hanging out of the side of his mouth, and panting for joy. Times like this made Zach wish he wasn’t an orphan, and that there really was a Nona he could run to.

As Zach was getting out of bed, he heard a song. He shook his head and smiled, because he thought he was still dreaming. He was hearing the song he always heard in his dreams. The one he always whistled. “Since I’m still dreaming, I might as well go downstairs and see Nona,” thought Zach.

Zach ran downstairs, but something was different about everything. Lou and Jaahhn were sitting at the table along with Ibby and the old woman. She hadn’t turned around yet, so Zach started whistling his song. The same song she was now singing.

The old woman dropped the dish she was holding and startled everyone. Then she slowly turned around with large tears in her eyes. Zach somehow felt this was not really a dream anymore, and didn’t know what was going on.

“Where did you learn that song, little man?” said the old woman, as she tried to sit down in a chair by the window.

“I’ve known that song ever since I was a baby. I’ve always had a dream of a woman named Nona. She taught it to me, but like I said, that was only in my dreams” said Zach. He didn’t know how she knew this song either, because he had always thought this was a song he made up.

The old woman slowly approached Zach and started to hug him. “Years ago a baby was taken from me, and I searched a long, long time for him. This was the song I used to sing to him. You see, little man, MY name is Nona, and that baby, I’m sure now, was you. You are my grandchild, dear boy!”

When Zach wiped the tears from his eyes, he noticed that Lou, Jaahhn and Ibby were also feeling the effect of this chance reunion. Zach looked up into Nona’s eyes and couldn’t help but smile. He was home.