Magic, Myths, and Me

I have finally finished all my finals and I can concentrate on my passion of writing. I wanted to share that my first chapter of Meet Me by the Banyan Tree has been published in the University of Hawaii West Oʻahu’s Pueo Press. I did some back and forth emails with one of the editors who agreed to make some changes for me before publishing. This unfortunately did not happen. No matter, I am still excited that my work was recognized and I hope you enjoy. Please let me know if I should continue this story and what you think of my characters.

Meet Me by the Banyan Tree

https://ojs.westoahu.hawaii.edu/dpp

If you want to read from the source then the link above will take you to this issue of Da Pueo Press if not then the story is below. Enjoy!

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Meet Me by the Banyan Tree
Kathleen Saito | ENG 414 | Dr. Odhiambo

This chapter is about Ava and her friends who uncover a mysterious box buried close to the old banyan tree on Ava’s land. It is a chapter from a novel project.

It all began with an envelope addressed to Ava, which had no forwarding address: Ava Moore, 89 Alanui St. Makawao, HI 96768.

‘Can people even send mail without a return address?’ Ava thought.
Ava wondered as she opened the business envelope and pulled out an old, folded paper. Ava soon realized that it was a map of the private property that she had inherited when her dad died. She touched the area that showed the old banyan tree and traced her finger to an X. Ava’s heart jumped and she pulled out her phone from her back pocket and texted her friends Logan and Tara.
‘Meet me at the tree ASAP!’
Deep down Ava knew there was something more going on there. She could have sworn she saw flashes of light by the tree once, but her Auntie Cindy said it was probably just a reflection from one of the neighbors. Another time she thought she saw people climbing the tree but when she got closer there was no one there. She ran out the backdoor, slamming it behind her. Ava grabbed the chipped shovel from her father’s rusting shed and headed towards the old banyan. The afternoon sun was shining through the branches leaving wispy shadows below.
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It’s been said that this specific banyan tree was over three hundred years old. Ava set down the shovel and plopped down in its shade to check her pockets for a scrunchie to put her hair up.
‘What was taking them so long?’
Ava texted her friends again: Hurry up!!!
#
The three sixteen-year-olds had met at this tree for the past three years. The first time was when Logan had his first crush on a boy named Kyle. Kyle found out and told the whole school that Logan tried to kiss him. Ava found Logan beneath the banyan tree, hands shaking as he held
razor blades.
“Hey, is everything okay?” Ava asked.
“Leave me alone.”
Logan gripped the razors tighter, causing his hand to bleed.
“I’m Ava,” She edged closer, “I’ve seen you at school.”
“I want to die,” Logan muttered, “go away.”
“Is this about Kyle?”
Logan’s head dropped, tears falling.
“I’m so humiliated—I can’t go back.”
“I know you don’t know me, but I promise—you can trust me,” Ava said softly.
Logan dropped the razors and balled his fists, “one stupid crush!” He picked up the razors and gave a fierce stare to Ava.
“Yes, Kyle freakin Mason—he’s telling everyone that I tried to kiss him but he’s lying,” Logan blurted out.
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“Kyle Mason’s a punk,” Ava said, “come with me.”
She held out her hand, and Logan eventually took it.
#
A few weeks later, Tara sat crying in the library after being kicked out of the Divas, the popular clique she used to belong to. Losing her little brother to leukemia had changed her, and the Divas didn’t get it.
“She’s crying,” Ava whispered.
“Remember when the Divas made fun of you for sucking at volleyball?” Logan asked.
“Yeah, but Tara wasn’t really involved. Plus, she just lost her brother.”
Logan glanced over.
“I do like her new hairstyle,” he said.
“Really?” Ava joked, “that’s why you’d invite her to be our friend?”
Logan grinned.
“Okay, fine, but you talk to her,” he said.
Ava sat across from Tara.
“Sorry, did you need the table?” Tara asked.
“No, I just wanted to see if you’re okay.”
“I’m learning my friends can’t be trusted,” Tara said, eyes brimming.
“I’ve learned that as well. After I lost my dad, I changed—and my friends just couldn’t understand what I was going through.”
Logan popped over.
“Hi, I’m Logan,” he said with a smile, “I love your hair.”
Tara wiped her tears.
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“Thanks—nice to meet you,” she said.
From that day, Ava, Logan, and Tara became a trio—The Shade, as Logan called them, because most of their classmates acted like they didn’t exist.
#
Ava felt an unusual chill in the air, and she started to bite her nails. A tree branch snapped from within the Makawao forest behind her. Ava turned around to see who it was, but she didn’t see anyone. Then from the other direction she saw the outlines of her two best friends.
“We brought the vape!” Logan yelled.
He took a big hit and let out a huge cloud of smoke. Ava stood up and grabbed the shovel.
“Hurry up, you’re not going to believe this,” she said.
“What happened—and why you holdin a shovel?” Tara asked as she approached Ava.
Ava pulled out the letter, “I got this in the mail today—do you recognize the writing?”
Logan took a look at it, “nope, it looks like an adult wrote it though.”
He took out the map and Tara looked over his shoulder.
“We’re here—and what’s that X there?” Tara asked.
Logan spun around, “oh shit, we about to find treasure!”
“What if it’s bad—or what if it has something to do with my mom?” Ava asked.
“It’s okay girl, we got your back no matter what,” Logan hugged her then he held the map up to align the banyan tree with the house. They reached the estimated spot and there was a smooth stone there. Ava went to start
digging until Logan grabbed the shovel from her.
“Do we want to be here all night?” Logan asked.
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He gave a sarcastic grin then he took another hit from the vape. He let out a cloud of cotton candy vapor. He handed the vape to Ava then began to dig around the stone until Tara was able to move it. Once she flipped it over, she used the sleeve of her shirt to wipe the dirt off.
“I think there is some writing on here,” Tara said.
“What does it say?” Ava asked.
“Not too sure—it definitely looks foreign though,” Tara said, “I can look it up later.”
“This could be treasure, Ava, for all we know your father could have left something for you in case something ever happened to him,” Logan said, “he was a police officer.”
“True, but why would I get this letter after three years?”
“I don’t know, but someone certainly wants you to find it—whatever it is,” Tara said.
The wind picked up bringing a chill, yet the forest nearby was quiet.
“Something just don’t feel right,” Tara said, “maybe we should stop.”
Logan finally hit something with the shovel in which he sped up throwing dirt everywhere.
“Hey, watch it!” Tara said, “you’re getting dirt on us.”
“Get out of the way then,” Logan retorted, “I’m almost there.”
They started to see the outline of a metal box measuring about two feet by two feet. Logan reached down and yanked it out of the Earth. He brushed it off and handed the mystery box to Ava.
“How do I open it?” Ava asked.
She set it down on the grass and checked for a lock or hinges, but she couldn’t find anything.
“STOP!” a woman’s voice shouted.
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The three of them stopped. Ava picked up the box and watched as a cloaked figure ran towards them at full speed. When she got close enough, she pulled out a wooden wand and pointed it at them.
“You need to come with me,” the woman said while looking at Ava. Then with her wand she shot out sparks at Logan and Tara, knocking them down.
“No!” Ava screamed. She ran to where Logan and Tara fell.
“What did you do to them?” Ava said.
“They’ll be fine—just put em to sleep for a bit. We need to leave now,” The cloaked woman said with urgency.
“I’m not going anywhere with you. My friends—what did you do to them?!” Ava demanded.
“Come with me and I’ll wake them so you can see that they are fine,” the woman said.
“What’s in this box? If you want it, just take it—please just help my friends.”
“Sorry, there is no time,” she said, “we need to leave now or none of us will be safe.”
“No, first tell me where you are taking me?” Ava asked as she looked at Logan and Tara who both looked fast asleep.
‘This can’t be happening,’ she thought, ‘but what if she’s not lying? What if I don’t go with her?’ Ava’s internal struggle had a time limit, so she decided to follow the woman. Ava’s legs were shaking, and she struggled to walk. The woman grabbed her hand then pointed her wand towards Logan and Tara emitting sparks. Both started to stir, and Ava saw Logan helping Tara
up. The woman shot sparks up toward the sky, and her and Ava emerged by the banyan tree. The woman pressed her hand onto the bark and the middle of the tree transformed into an opalescent
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doorway. They passed through the swirling glow of colors and disappeared. The tree returned back to normal, and it was as if it had never transformed.
“AVA!” Logan yelled, “what the hell was that shit, and who the hell was that crazy Harry Potter wannabe bitch?”
Logan ran towards the tree and placed his hands on the bark. Tara walked over to him.
“There is always this,” Tara said as she showed him the smooth stone that had been the marker for the box.
“Isn’t there writing on the bottom of it?” Logan turned the rock around.
“Yes, but I don’t even know what language it’s in yet,” Tara said, “we’ll have to clean it so we can get a clear picture.”
“We have to let Ava’s Auntie know before we go anywhere else,” Logan said.
Logan and Tara ran to Ava’s old ranch style home with their hearts pounding. Tara knocked on the door.
“Hi, you two,” Auntie Cindy said, “isn’t Ava with you?”
“No, Ava is gone,” Logan said, “some crazy lady showed up in the woods, knocked us out, then took off with Ava.”
“What? I’m calling the police!” Auntie Cindy ran for her phone while yelling, “you two get inside!”
The police showed up in about ten minutes and it wasn’t just one police car it was four. Each car had two officers so eight officers were questioning Logan and Tara but they both agreed through eye contact not to bring up the witchy part in case they lock them up for being
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crazy. Auntie Cindy was pacing the backyard, and Logan noticed that she kept looking out towards the banyan tree.
“Auntie, we need to go now,” Tara said.
“Yes, of course,” Auntie Cindy replied, “let me know immediately if you hear from her or remember anything else.” She blotted her eyes with a tissue.
Logan and Tara started to walk home using the roads this time, as the sun was at its last glow.
“Did you notice Auntie?” Logan asked, “she was pretending to cry.”
“Wha—no she was using tissue—I saw her,” Tara said.
“Yeah, she was using tissue, but I never saw a real tear,” Logan said, “I think she knows something.”
“Like what?” Tara asked, then she stopped, “you think she knows who took Ava?”
“Plus, she kept looking towards the banyan,” Logan said, and then grabbed Tara’s arm to continue walking up Tara’s driveway. They entered Tara’s blueberry colored cottage, and the smell of chicken broth filled their noses.
“Heyee, welcome Logan, would you like some chicken soup?” Mr. Lewis asked.
Luckily the news of Ava’s disappearance hadn’t reached Tara’s house yet so there weren’t any awkward questions.
“Oh—no thank you Mr. Lewis we have to work on a school project,” Logan said, then he nudged Tara’s arm.
“Yeah dad, we have this history project that’s due tomorrow so can we use the office?”
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“Of course, but when you’re done, help yourselves to some soup, both of you. The flu is going round, you know.”
“Thanks dad,” Tara said.
Tara led Logan into the family office and closed the door.
“And why do we need to do the research here and not your room?” Logan asked.
Tara raised her eyebrow at Logan and said, “because my dad works for the University, and I can check the database for foreign languages and artifacts.”
“Very well, carry on Nancy Drew,” Logan said.
After cleaning the stone Tara had Logan hold it under the mag lamp while she scanned the tiny font.
Til þess að fara handan við blæja heima, leitaðu að hjarta fíkjutrésins. Þegar tunglskinið kyssir rætur þess, segðu nafn gleymda og tré mun skilja greinar sínar. Gakk í gegnum skuggann, þar sem heimurinn handan bíður, en varið ykkur, aðeins hugrakkir koma aftur.
Tara uploaded the scan of the foreign inscription to the research database, and they waited patiently for the translation.
Logan sighed, “I hope Ava’s alright.”
“Me too,” Tara said.
The webpage gave a refresh prompt and Tara pressed okay. They held their breaths as they watched the little upload bar slide.
“I’ll read it,” Tara said:
“Norse Translation: To pass beyond the veil of realms, seek the heart of the banyan. When the moonlight kisses the roots, speak the name of the forgotten, and the tree will part its branches. Step through the shadow, where the world beyond awaits, but beware, only those with courage
may return.”
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“Woah!” Tara said as she looked at Logan.
Logan stood up.
“We’re gonna need supplies,” he said.
“So, I feel crazy even thinking this, but do you think we’ll need a full moon to gain access to—the world beyond?” Tara asked, “this is crazy.”
“Well, we gotta start somewhere,” Logan said. “The banyan—that’s gotta be our tree.”

Tara laughed nervously.
“Yeah—it has to be,” she said.
She read through the translation again.
Logan started to pace, “okay so—the witch bitch took Ava towards the woods. They went away from the tree—didn’t they?”
He held his temples.
“I remember waking up and I am pretty sure they were in the woods behind us. But they could have been by the tree,” Logan said, “do you remember?”
“I only remember the woman shooting light at us,” Tara said, “I fell—then woke up to you helping me up.”
Tara grabbed her spiral notebook and pen, “okay let’s stick to the riddle of the stone and make sure we follow it exactly. We have to seek the heart of the banyan. You think we need to cry?”
“Probably—and we’ll also need a full moon for its light to kiss the roots of the tree,” Logan said.
Tara took out her phone. “The next full moon is not until—Saturday,” she said.
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“That gives us two days to get our shit together,” Logan said, “I’ll research witches, and you research Norse folklore.”
“Okay—text me whatever you find out and we will try to get Ava back,” Tara said.
“No, we aren’t going to try and get Ava back—we will get her back no matter what bitches we need to take out,” Logan said, and then he hugged Tara goodbye.