with blue-grey eyes in a round face. A black band around her head held a net over her hair. Wild, frizzy tufts of grey hair stuck out at both sides, hiding her ears. She wore a dress that hung down to her calves. Or was it a night gown? No, it was a dress, made of the same green material as the monkey’s. The woman looked about as old as Natasha’s grandmother.
With a wriggling little dog under one arm, she teetered for a second on the threshold. Regaining her balance, she set one foot, in a flat, heavy shoe, down on a lower step.
“I’m glad you got here.” Her voice was warm but stern.
The woman called the dogs back before she said, “Woo messed up the trailer. That’s why she’s out here.”
Unhooking the monkey’s chain, she cuddled the little animal in her arms. “You naughty thing.” She stroked her pet, saying, “She’s usually very good.”
Lee glanced at Alex, then looked at the woman. “When did you get here?” she asked.
“A few days ago. I’m here for my usual fall outing. I’ve been expecting you. Your father said you’d come for a lesson some day.”
Alex looked as puzzled as Lee felt, his mouth gaping in surprise. “A lesson on what?” he said.
“Don’t be smart, boy. Did you bring easels? I guess not.” The woman disappeared behind the tarp flap. Lee could hear her rummaging around.
“She’s nuts. Let’s get out of here,” Alex whispered.
They ran along the beach for a few feet before Lee stopped.
“It’s all changed.” Scratching her head, she remembered her lump. Even though it no longer throbbed, when she touched the area, it hurt.
Alex whistled through his gapped front teeth. “Man, this is really gonky. The trees are gone. It looks like somebody logged here.”
Lee nodded. “We should’ve passed our campsite by now. There’s the dirt road,” she pointed, hardly believing her eyes. They’d come down here every summer for as long as she could remember, but she’d never seen this area. Some tall, skinny trees reached high up into the air. Shrubs and dead branches covered the rest of the ground. Lee saw stumps, stumps of what must have been huge, old trees, with roots like the one Lee had fallen over, but bigger, much bigger. Some stumps had been pulled up, leaving huge holes.
“I don’t get it,” Alex said. “Did we miss our campsite?”
“I think so. It’s almost like….” Lee didn’t want to say it. She didn’t even want to think it. But from the old homestead trail to their camp was the same distance as…. She slapped at a mosquito on her arm. “That woman,” she said hesitantly, “her trailer is in our spot.”
“That’s what I thought.” Alex sat down.
“So, where are they?” Lee sat beside him on a stump as big around as a table.
“How should I know?” Alex muttered.
How could everything be gone, as if by magic?
“This is stupid.” Lee smacked the stump with her heal and glared at Alex.
“Don’t get mad at me,” he said.
“I’m not.” Lee jumped up. “Let’s ask her.”
“That woman? No way.” Alex shook his head, shocked.
“She’s all right. She’ll know where our campsite is. She’s been here for a few days.” Lee frowned. “I wonder why we didn’t see her before.”
“You go.” Alex stayed on the stump, but by the time Lee reached the beach she heard him running after her.
“Let’s check for tire marks.” He pointed to the old dirt road.
The path leading from the paved road down to the beach was barely wide enough for Uncle Brooke’s big motorhome. No fresh marks showed, even though they had only driven here yesterday. It rained last night. Little rivulets showed where the water had run from the puddles to the beach. There were no signs of traffic.
“Remember that little tree? The one that always scrapes the roof?” Alex asked.
“It’s gone!” Lee walked along the side of the road. Someone had cut the big trees here too, leaving only their stumps. The tracks looked wider, as wide as a regular road. But Lee didn’t see a single tire mark anywhere.
They searched the dirt road for some distance before turning back to the beach. No tire marks showed there either.
“Isn’t this where your dad almost got stuck?” Lee pointed. “There should be a pothole, but….” She swatted a fly on her cheek.
“Dad hasn’t come along here since it rained. That’s for sure!” Alex walked ahead, searching for signs. He was moving in the direction of their camp- the woman’s camp.
“Let’s ask her.” Lee caught up with him.
“I don’t know.” Alex slowly shook his head. “What did she mean about our easels?” He twisted his foot back and forth in some pebbles.
“Beats me,” Lee shrugged.
“Let’s spy on her,” Alex said.
“I’m going to talk to her.” Lee walked along the beach. Alex followed.
The woman sat on a stool outside the trailer. She, and the monkey on her lap, stared at them as they walked closer. The strange, wire-haired dogs bounded up again to sniff their shoes and legs. One of them snapped at Lee’s shoe.
“Come back,” the woman called. “No, Pout. Come.”
The snapping dog looked at her, then ran back and lay at her feet. The others followed.
“Don’t worry, they’re friendly. They’re Belgian griffons. I used to breed them. I don’t so much any more.” The woman stroked the dog called Pout. “Your dad said you might be curious. He said you don’t get away much.” She studied them. “You can’t be identical twins.” She tapped one finger on her lips and nodded. “You do look a little alike. Same small noses, same high foreheads, but different mouths. Yours is much wider.” She pointed to Alex. “You have a nice, strong chin,” she said to Lee. “You seem strong-willed and independent. And you’re taller.”
“We’re not twins.” Lee swallowed hard. “Can you tell us where our campsite is? It’s around here somewhere. We have two motorhomes.”
“Motorhomes? What are those?”
“Vans. Trailers, like yours. But newer,” Alex said.
The woman shook her head. “All that’s around here for miles and miles is beach. And gravel. And rocks. And trees. And your place up there.” She pointed up the hill towards the homestead. “This is the only campsite. I’m the only one staying here. Come, get your paints ready.” She walked over to the tarp and disappeared behind the flap.
As she did, Lee noticed their sliding
