Duncan stepped down from the stage and handed the microphone to the emcee. The audience was applauding wildly, cheering and stomping their feet. Some of the women smiled and waved at Duncan. He waved back but continued on his path toward Dale and John.

“That was great, man.” Dale pounded Duncan’s back. “You should have been a professional.”

“I agree.”

All three turned to see who had spoken.

“Hey, Jerzey,” John said. “Won’t you ladies join us?”

“I should think so. Your last night in town.”

She affected a pout, as she, Vicki and Wendy sat down. Wendy leaned over and whispered something in Dale’s ear that made him blush. Vicki patted Duncan’s hand and looked to see who was singing next.

The evening flew by much too fast. The three friends had grown fond of Memory Grove Village and its people. They had especially become accustomed to spending time with the three women walking with them now.

Vicki took Duncan’s arm. “You never told me about your visit to Memory Grove.”

“Not much to tell.”

She waited, but he said no more.

“I’ve never been there,” she said. I’ve tried, but I can’t get through the trees. It’s almost like they won’t let me through. Of course, that’s silly, but….” Her voice trailed off.

“What does it look like in there?” Wendy asked.

“It’s an open clearing,” Dale said. “It’s only about two hundred feet across. There’s a big rock in the middle and a little cabin on the east side.”

“I heard Guardian had a little cabin. Did you see inside?” Vicki asked.

“Did you see the troll?” Jerzey asked.

“It’s pretty rude to call her a troll, don’t you think?” Duncan said.

“Everybody says she’s actually a troll.” That was Wendy. “It isn’t rude if she’s really a troll.”

“There’s no such thing as real trolls,” John said, “but she is pretty ugly.”

“That’s not nice, either,” Duncan said.

“But true,” Dale added.

They walked in silence for several seconds.

“Hey!” Wendy stopped walking. “Let’s go out there.”

“Oh, good idea,” said Jerzey. “I’ve always wanted to go inside. I tried, too, but I couldn’t get through. No one can. Unless they’ve been invited.”

“I think you have to find the exact right spot to get in,” Vicki said. “When you’re invited, Guardian takes you, and she knows the way.”

“Didn’t seem that way to me,” Duncan said. “I mean, I’m sure Guardian knows the way, but she didn’t show me. I just walked through the first place I tried.”

“Maybe you accidentally found the right spot. You had really good luck,” Vicki said.

“Doesn’t seem too likely.”

“Well, prove it. Let’s go right now and try.”

“Yeah,” Dale said. “I wouldn’t mind taking a last look inside the grove before we leave tomorrow.”

“Fine,” Duncan said.

They had reached the edge of town by this time, and they all stopped and looked toward the grove. The moon was high and almost full. It was a lot like the last time the guys had been there.

“Well, let’s move. We won’t get there by standing here,” Dale said.

They walked. Nobody said anything for the next ten minutes, and then they were there.

“Okay,” Duncan said. “Pick a spot. Better yet, all of you choose different spots and try to get in.”

They did.

“It’s just like last time,” Jerzey said. “You’d think the trees were trying to keep me out. The branches just keep getting in my way, and I can’t get past them.”

“Same here,” said Vicki.

“Me too,” said each of the others.

Duncan was closest to Vicki.

“Let me try,” he said.

She stepped back and he moved between the branches.

“See?” he said. “Nothing to it. Are you sure you’re really trying?”

“Try over here,” Jerzey said.

Duncan went to Jerzey’s spot and walked into the trees again. One by one, he tried where each of the others was standing. Each time he was able to walk into the trees.

“Last time Duncan was able to let us through,” Dale said. “Let’s try that.”

Duncan stood just inside the grove and held the way open. Two of the women were able to get in beside him, but they couldn’t get any further. He stepped ahead of them and held the branches again. The two women moved forward a little more, but the way closed behind them and no one else could enter. The three of them backed out.

“I don’t think we can all go at the same time,” Duncan said. “This is so weird. It’s like magic or something.”

“Whatever it is, we can’t get in unless you help us,” John said.

They tried a couple more times, but the most that could go through at one time was three, and one of them had to be Duncan.

“We’ll make three trips,” Duncan said. “I’ll take John first. Then I’ll come back and get Vicki and Jerzey. And I’ll take Dale and Wendy last.”

The plan worked and eventually they were all inside.

“Wow,” Wendy said. “Wait till everybody hears about this.”

“Well, don’t go blabbing around until I’m gone. I’m not going to start ferrying everyone in town through the grove,” Duncan said.

“Let’s go see the rock,” Jerzey said.

“Oh, yes, let’s,” said Wendy.

The six walked to the center of the clearing.

“Look at the carving on the rock,” Vicki said.

“It looks like a man and a woman kind of lying back with their arms linked,” said Wendy.

“Guardian calls them the ‘Purities’ and talks to them,” Duncan said.

“I’ve heard people lie on the rocks and have visions,” Jerzey said. “Is that what happens?”

“Yeah, what happened to you?” Wendy asked Duncan.

“Not much,” Duncan answered. “I didn’t have any vision. I started thinking too much, though, and I practically relived an accident I had a few years ago.”

“Oh,” said Vicki. “I suppose you don’t want to talk about that.”

“It’s no big deal. It was about five years ago. I was a junior in high school, and I was on the speed skating team. I blew the most important race of the year because I wasn’t paying enough attention. I caught my skate in a gouge in the ice and fell. I was going really fast, more than 35 miles an hour.”

“That isn’t fast,” John said.

“It is on skates,” Duncan answered. “Try it sometime. Anyway, I was going around the last curve when I caught my skate. I ended up with a broken leg.”

“And not just a little bit,” Dale added. “I looked up spiral fractures—that’s what he had—and they’re serious.”

“Any broken leg is serious,” Duncan said.

“Look at me,” Wendy interrupted. She was lying on the rock, facing north. “I’m not having any visions.” She squirmed. “This is incredibly uncomfortable.” She got up.

“Let me try,” said Jerzey. She sat on the east side and laid back. “Yuck,” she said. “You’re not kidding about uncomfortable.”

“Guardian said some directions are more comfortable than others for some people,” Duncan said.

Jerzey and Wendy walked around the stone, trying each direction.

“They all feel bad to me,” Jerzey said.

“Me, too,” Wendy said.

“I’ll try,” said Vicki. She tried all four sides and also pronounced them extremely uncomfortable.

That was the cue for the men to try. Dale and John both concluded no one could possibly be comfortable anywhere on the rock.

“I was,” said Duncan. “I only tried the east and south sides. South was the best.”

“Try the other sides,” suggested Jerzey.

“I’d rather not.”

They all stood and looked at the rock. Duncan seemed restless. He stepped toward the rock and backed away a couple times.

Finally, he said, “Oh, all right.”

He sat back on the north side. “Nope.” He tried the west. “Don’t like that, either.”

“So?” Wendy said. “Try the south again.”

“I don’t…oh, good grief. I guess….” He marched resolutely to the south side and sat down. He hesitated, then laid back.

He could hear people yelling and bells ringing, but he was so relaxed he didn’t care. Where was he? He didn’t know. Wait. He remembered taking some pills. Yes, that’s it. He took lots of pills. Oxycodone. No wonder he was so relaxed. He tried to giggle, but nothing happened. Now what? They were pushing something down his throat. He gagged.

He jumped off the rock like it was hot.

“Oh, that way’s bad now, too, huh?” Wendy said.

“I don’t think so,” a new voice said.

Everybody jumped and Jerzey screamed.

“Sorry,” said Guardian. “I didn’t mean to scare everybody. Welcome back, Duncan. I see you brought more of your friends this time.”

“I’m sorry,” Duncan said. “We shouldn’t have come.”

“No, not at all,” said Guardian. “In fact, I was expecting you tonight. I understand your construction project is finished and the three of you will be leaving town tomorrow after the dedication. Let’s go inside and have a farewell cup of tea before you go.” She turned toward her cabin.

Jerzey turned and walked a couple steps north, then turned back. She clasped her hands in front of her and twisted them palms out.

“I don’t know. Doesn’t feel like a good idea.”

Wendy was shifting from foot to foot. “Me too. I mean, I agree. Seems wrong.”

Vicki nodded.

“Dude.” Dale and John spoke at the same time and stopped. They both looked uncomfortable.

Guardian looked back at Duncan. “Your friends are uneasy here. They would like to go.”

All five of them turned and looked north. They were leaning slightly, as if they wanted to get moving.

“Maybe we should go then,” Duncan said.

“Do you want to go?” Guardian asked.

“I don’t think so,” he said slowly. “But I don’t want to keep my friends here if they want to leave.”

“I don’t think they’ll mind if you stay for a while.”

The five all spoke at once.

“Sure, you stay.”

“We’ll just go, and wait back in town.”

“We’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure you don’t want us to stay here with you?”

“Right, we don’t mind.”

Duncan laughed. “Fine, get out of here, you fair-weather pals. I’ll see you later.”

"But how can we go without you to get us through the trees?" Dale asked.

"I believe you'll find it easier to get out than to get in," Guardian replied.

"Oh, good!" Vicki sounded relieved.

In moments they were out of sight. Duncan and Guardian walked toward the cabin.

“I’m surprised I stayed. I’m certain I don’t want to experience any more of this…this…whatever it is, and yet, here I am. Apparently, I don’t know myself very well.”

“As a matter of fact, you are correct. Ah, here we are.”

All the lights were on. Duncan felt as though electricity was flowing through his body. He was extremely alert, kind of like he was caffeinated. He sort of skipped around, as if he couldn’t stay still.

“I’m nervous. I feel like I’m going to take a test and I forgot to study. I feel like I’m suited up for a game, but I’m all out of shape. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”

“I’m not surprised. You’ve suppressed painful memories. You did this because remembering was an obstacle to moving forward with your life. This suppression was a defense you needed. You don’t need it anymore. Now, instead of allowing you to live your life, it has become a hindrance. You need to let it go. You’ve sensed this, and the idea is scary, so you’re nervous. You’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s like taking a test without studying, as you said.

“That’s why I’m here. I’m your safety net. You will be okay. You can relax and do what you need to do, knowing I’ll be taking care of you.”