Anything is Possible

“Yes, of course, anything’s possible, but we’re talking probabilities here.  This is a court of law, a place where answers are found based on common sense and tangible evidence.  The fact of the matter is your case, on its face, is not winnable.  You're looking at a lost cause, a long walk off a short pier.  I just can’t put it any plainer than that.” 

Lily Vallee nodded once toward the officer standing guard just outside the steel door.  The tiny, sweet-faced prisoner, swallowed up by the regulation beige jumpsuit, politely stood and complacently positioned her hands behind her.  The businessman in the business suit smiled confidently.

“So, I’ll arrange a date for your guilty plea.  Agreed?”

Lily waited for the click of the handcuffs being locked in place before she spoke.

“That won’t be necessary, but thank you. I have everything I need.  I’ll take it from here."

“Wait, what?  Have you listened to a word I said?  I don’t think you understand. . .”

 The last words Lily heard from her visitor before being led back to her cell made her insides happy.

“You're impossible!”

*   *    *

Wendy watched her brother Will as he skipped a stone six times across the lake before it made a final “plunk” and disappeared.  She was deep in a sulk and would not return the beaming smile Will shot at her.

“Oh, c’mon.  That one broke the record, Wind!”

Wendy rolled her eyes at mention of her childhood nickname.  Born twins, they’d been coined Wind and the Willo, terms of affection they, now as adults, reserved only for each other and usually with some manipulative intent.

Will heaved a sigh and sat next to Wendy on the same log where they’d fished for sunfish as kids.

Wendy flinched when Will touched her hand.

“Jesus, Wendy, let it go, will you?”

“And just how can you let it go so easily?  You saw the same thing I did!”

“Well, and I can’t explain it any more than you can.  Whatever it was, it was, and there’s nothing we can do about it.  Let it go!”

“I wish I could.  Let me show you something.”

Wendy reached into her bag and took out her cellphone.  She scrolled, stopped, and then held it out for Will to see.  He took the phone from her, frowning.

“It doesn’t mention a body."

“I think we both know why.”

“Not entirely.  I’ve come to the stunning realization that I really don’t know anything.”

This made Wendy smirk.

“I could have told you that a long time ago.  I think I did, more than once.”

“Well, it’s different when it’s me talking.  Anyway, so what are you thinking?  I’m listening.”

*   *    *

Lily sat cross-legged on her bunk, her back to the cell bars.   Nearby, a corrections officer could hear singing coming from Lily’s cell as he made his rounds.  He hesitated, hearing more than one voice.  This was harmony!  He rushed the last few steps, but then the singing abruptly stopped.

“Who do you have in there?”

Lily looked over her shoulder at the officer and smiled sweetly.

“I heard voices in here.”

Lily turned back and glared insistently at several roaches and a cricket she’d been singing with.  She didn’t face the officer again until she was sure they’d all ducked out of sight. She kept her smile intact.  

“I’ve been told I have a very unique singing voice.  Did you like it?”

The guard gave the cell a last good look, and then announced with an authoritative tone, “You have visitors in the waiting room.”

“I do?  That should be nice.  I wish I had my tea set.”

The guard said nothing and escorted Lily to a room with several cubicles that contained phones separated by cloudy partitions.

Lily smiled brightly at the two strangers staring back at her.

Wendy returned the smile nervously and pointed to the receiver that hung near Lily’s shoulder and then picked hers up.  Will stood behind her without expression.

Lily tapped the contraption curiously, then copied Wendy’s movements.  Her expression transformed into one of pure joy.

“Oh, greetings!  How do you do?  I don’t think I know you, do I? It’s so lovely to have visitors.  What would you like to talk about?”

“Hello, Ms. Vallee. My name is Wendy, and this is my brother, Will.”

“Oh my, look at the resemblance!  You two are bookends, aren’t you?  Don’t tell me, let me guess!  Are you related to one another?”

Will gave Wendy a sharp nudge between her shoulder blades.   Gritting his teeth, he whispered, “C'mon, Wendy, this is . . .”

Wendy ignored him.

“Why, yes, we are, Ms. Vallee.  Will and I are twins.  And we are here. . .”

“Ooooooh, how delightful!”

“Yes. . . well, it can be.  Ms. Vallee, we’re here because we think. . . or rather, hope we might be able to help you.”

“Help me?  Am I in need of help, do you think?”

At this, Will bent to speak into Wendy's phone.

“Look, we were there and we saw what happened.  At the lake?  The man . . .”

“Oh, you mean that?   Goodness!  You should know that I have that situation well in hand.  I will say, though, you are so sweet to imagine I might need your help.  I knew some mortals were good.”

At the frozen expression on Wendy’s and Will’s faces, Lily stopped herself and giggled.

“Well, there, I’ve done it again.  Forgive me, I’ve forgotten myself.”

At the snap of Lily's tiny fingers, Wendy and Will disappeared.  Lily turned and signaled for the guard to return her to her cell. She wished to resume her songfest for cockroaches and other captured creatures.

*    *    *      

That evening, back at the childhood home they’d inherited, Wendy and Will sat across from each other at the kitchen table.   Between them were two open laptops, two shot glasses and a bottle of bourbon.

“And that’s all you can remember?”

“That’s it.  Are you sure that’s all you . . .”

“That’s it.   A weird introduction and then we’re suddenly, inexplicably back in the car.  We’ve been over and over it, Wendy.  I can’t begin to explain any of it.”

“I have a thought.”

“I’ll take it.”

“There’s a hearing tomorrow morning in State versus Lily Vallee.  Maybe we should attend.”

“What kind of hearing?”

“Something pretrial.  Maybe we can get a better handle on what’s going on.”

“Are you sure we can just go in?”

“It’s public, right?  Courtrooms are public.”

Will refilled their glasses.

“Are you sure you want to get in this any deeper?”

“We are in.  We’re witnesses, of sorts.”

“No one knows that.  No one needs to know.  We don’t even know what it is we saw.”

“Wouldn’t you like to find out?”

“That, said Willo to the Wind,” Will raised his glass ceremoniously and together they tipped back, “is merely something else I will add to a long list of I-don’t-knows.”

*    *    *

    “Mr. Chase, please call the next case.”

    “Calling up the case of State versus Lily Vallee.  Ms. Vallee is charged with first degree murder in the disappearance of one Franklin Jessup, a local State Trooper.   The defendant is also charged with tampering with evidence, a human body, given the fact Trooper Jessup’s body has not been recovered.”

    Wendy and Will listened intently from the back of the courtroom.  The judge at the bench was a stately woman with a businesslike demeanor.  The plaque next to a miniature Lady Liberty read “The Honorable Gayle Maelstrom.”  

The judge fixed an eye on Lily as she stood alone at the defense table.

    “So, Ms. Vallee, it is my understanding that you wish to proceed pro se.  Am I correct?”

    “Well, actually,” Lily’s voice was high-pitched and childlike, “it’s just that I believe that I can take care of myself, Your Majesty.”

    Wendy winced upon hearing several “oh boys” and a smattering of amused laughter escape from several of the people in the gallery before her.

    “I will take that response as a yes,” the Judge allowed before asking her next question.  “What is your full name?”

    Lily almost giggled, then caught herself.  “Why, you know, it’s Lily of the Vallee, Your Ma . . .Honor.”

    The Judge quickly scanned a paper in front of her.

“And your date of birth?”

    Lily paused. “Well now, we don’t really have those.”

    The Judge slowly raised her eyes to Lily and waited for more.

    “But I like the number 2, so I’ll take 2/22/22.”

    Judge Maelstrom leaned forward.

    “Young lady, are you under the influence of any drugs or alcohol?”

    Lily appeared to be in deep thought.  After a beat, she looked up at the Judge and said earnestly, “You’re probably wondering what happened to that man I sent away.  I would have to think, I mean, wouldn’t you rather talk about that, Your Honorable?”

   Assistant State Attorney Chase jumped to his feet. 

“Your Honor, this is so highly irregular, it’s beyond comprehension to think this defendant should attempt to usurp this judge’s authority and approach this proceeding in such a way as to make a mockery of this Court!” 

   Lily’s eyes turned to the prosecutor.  “Wow!  You’re really good!  What does all that mean?”

   “Order!”  Judge Maelstrom banged her gavel.  “Given half a chance, Mr. Chase, I’d be happy to run this courtroom.  If I may?”

    Attorney Chase sat, sufficiently chastised.

    “I intend to continue this matter in my chambers,” the Judge pronounced, “where I hope there will be less of an opportunity for theatrics, and then perhaps we can make some reasonable headway in this matter.  Counsel will join me.  Deputy, please escort the defendant.  Court is in brief recess.”

*    *    *

    Wendy whispered to Will, “What do you think is going to happen now?”

    “Probably time for some psychiatric evaluation.  She can’t be for real, Wendy.  She needs help.”

    “I know she does.  I still think . . . hold on.  I’ll be right back.”

    Will stared after his sister.   When he saw her rush over to the State Attorney’s table, he groaned inwardly.

    “Here we go, gone with the Wind.”

*    *    * 

  Back in chambers, Judge Maelstrom removed her robe and sat behind her desk.  Lily sat propped in a mock red-leather chair, gently patting the fabric and admiring the gold fixtures that adorned its edges.  A knock came, followed by Mr. Chase, who appeared somewhat unnerved.    

    “I apologize, Your Honor, I was held up . . .”

    “Yes,” the judge nodded toward an empty chair, “I guessed.”

    Mr. Chase sat.  “Your Honor, if I may, I was approached after you left the bench by a young woman who claims to have witnessed the events that led to Ms. Vallee’s incarceration and may shed some light on the ultimate question here.  I honestly can’t explain more than that. I would respectfully suggest we hear from the young lady herself before going any further.”

    Judge Maelstrom was, indeed, interested in this latest development.  “Very well. What’s her name?”

    Mr. Chase looked at the deputy.  “Wendy Miller.  She’s here with her brother, whose name is Will.”

    Lily looked up suddenly.  “Oh, my twin visitors!”

    The judge glanced at Lily, then signaled for the deputy to bring in Wendy and Will.  Wendy marched right in, whereas Will looked, and was, uncertain and uncomfortable.

    “I understand that you believe you may have some information that could help us in this particular matter, Ms. Vallee’s case?”

    “Yes, Your Honor.  Thank you. My name is Wendy Miller.  This is my brother Will.  We grew up near here and . . .”

    “Wait, Ms. Miller.  Let me place you under oath.  It’s just how we do things around here.”

    Lily’s eyes grew large.  “Oooooooh!”

    Wendy smiled and raised her right hand to be sworn.

*    *    *

State Attorney Chase began the questioning and quickly got to the point.

    "And so, Ms. Miller, is it fair to say that you and your brother were reminiscing about your childhoods near a lake where you fished as children when you heard someone coming through the woods? What happened next?"

    "Well, we just stayed quiet and saw a man come to the edge of the lake.   He peered into the water like he was looking for something."

    “Speculation, Your Honor.  It’s not as if she can know that.”

    “Yes, yes, Counselor,” the judge acknowledged, “so noted.  There’s no jury here.  Let’s dial it down. Continue, Ms. Miller.”

   "The man seemed to find what he was looking for.  Then he unzipped his fly and peed in the water.”

    The prosecutor frowned. "Is that it?'

    "Oh, no."

    "Then what did you see?

    "Well . . ."

    Wendy looked at Will.  He shrugged as if to say, we’ve gone this far, you may as well go ahead.

"When he went to zip up his pants, he froze.  He looked like he’d been caught and was trapped.  Then, in another moment, he was gone.”

    "Gone?  How do you mean gone?"

    "Not there anymore, gone.  Disappeared, gone.  Like poof, just gone.”

    The prosecutor stared at Wendy, incredulous, then shot a look at Will.   He then turned to the judge.

    “Judge, I’m so sorry. I must apologize.  I don’t mean to waste this Court’s time.  I didn't . . .”

    Just then, the prosecutor froze, moved not a muscle.   The deputy placed a hand on his revolver, his eyes darted about, clearly not sure where to focus.

     The judge had her eyes on Lily.  Will had his eyes fixed on Lily, too.   Wendy followed them and saw that Lily was staring intently at Mr. Chase.

     “So,” cried Wendy, “it was you I saw.  We saw.”

     Lily placed a finger to her mouth and made a silent shhhh, then faced the Judge.

     “I think I’m getting the hang of this, Your Honor.  May I?”

     Lily stood and raised her right hand.

     “To tell the truth, I do.”

*    *    *

    This time, the judge did the questioning.    

    "Were you deliberately following Trooper Jessup?"

    "Oh yes."

    "Why?"

    "I watch over that lake and this person has no care.  He has disdain."

    "What do you mean when you say 'no care'?"

    "The water, the fish, the plants, all the living, breathing blessings of the natural world.  These are gifts, friends."

    "And how do you know this particular man had no care for these things, Lily?"

    "He did not answer a call of nature.  His relief came when he could sully nature."

    "Can you explain more specifically what you mean?"

    "He sprayed waste on an innocent family of turtles."

Judge Maelstrom straightened her back and thought quietly for a minute. 

    "I see.  So, what did you do, Lily?"

    "Gave him a time out."

    "Time out?  How?"

    "Away from beautiful things."

    "Will he come back?"

    "Do you want him back?"

    "Well, yes, Lily, I would say we do."

    "If you’re sure you do."

    "Yes, I’m sure."

    "Okay, then, Your Honor.  He’s back."

    "Where?   Where is he back?   Lily?"

*    *    *

      The next morning, the news reported that a missing state trooper had been found near where his vehicle had been located weeks earlier.  He recalled nothing of what had happened to him.  He stated he had pulled his cruiser over and must have blacked out.  He didn’t regain consciousness until he awoke at the lake's edge.   He couldn’t explain how or why, but he claimed the lake had spared him somehow.  

He subsequently became a dedicated sponsor for the lake’s creatures and donated as much time and funding as he could to see that the lake was properly maintained.  

      The court files held no record of State versus Lily Vallee.  None of the participants that had been present that day in the judge’s chambers had any memory of what occurred.  They shared a similar dream experience that night, though none of them ever spoke of it.

      Wind and Willo returned to the lake on a regular basis.   It remained their favorite childhood memory, and they passed on their love of the lake and its inhabitants to their spouses and children.   It would remain so for many, many generations to come.  

*    *    *

      During one such reunion at the lake, Wendy, now Wendy Haverhill, and her family, including three little girls, met Will and his wife, plus their double set of twin boys at the lake.  They were busy demonstrating the proper way to cast a fishing line and how to gently release and appreciate the fish they caught afterwards. They stopped when they heard rustling coming from the woods. nearby.

      Deciding to investigate, Wendy and Will ventured a short way into the brush where they spotted an open area.  There was an older gentleman there digging in the soil, planting something.

      “Howdy,” the man waved to them, “Want to see?”

      Wendy stopped Will before he could move.

      “Wait.  Will, do you smell that?”

      "I do. I know that smell.”

      “It’s that plant with the tiny white bells.  What’s it called?”

      They gazed into each other's eyes, serious, trying hard to remember.   The answer was so close.  Who would be the first to remember?  Before long, they gave up and just laughed in each other’s faces just like they did as kids.

       “Let’s go meet this guy.  Odds are he'll know.”

       “Seems like a strong possibility.”

       A tiny tinkling sound, like the laughter of a child, blended with the wind as it made its way through the trees and caressed the lake, all teeming with life.