Pebble Garden Mysteries and the Unseeable Clues

By Urban Miyares

Imagine waking up unable to see or speak, feel your body, or have any memory of who you are or even your name?

Katherine “Pebbles” MacVaine is a Colorado teenage girl who after a car accident wakes up from a coma and shockingly discovers her eyes removed and brain surgeries unexplainably rewarded her with extraordinary sensitivity of her four remaining senses.

Follow the dramatic life changes of Pebbles as she struggles to be a typical high school teenager with blindness, yet finds excitement in using her new sensory gifts, assisting three family members in law enforcement so they can recognize unseeable clues to solve crimes and mysteries.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Urban Miyares
• Release date: Aug 27, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463953389

Urban Miyares

Urban Miyares is an award-winning entrepreneur, disabled/blinded Vietnam Veteran, former national Alpine ski champion, and competitive offshore sailor.Always driven to write, from his military service and early business career to writing newspaper columns, now retired, his destiny to be an author has arrived.His first book, “My Life Outside the Fish Bowl,” is to be followed shortly by “Hap: The Last American Hero,” a romantic novel, and then by “The Pebble Garden,” a mystery-crime novel series.Urban Miyares lives in San Diego, California, with his wife, their son, and grandchildren.Connect with Urban online:Email: [e-mail]

Book preview

Chapter 1: Senses of the Mind

Where am I? I think I’m awake but I’m not sure. I can’t see anything, and I feel suspended in a black hole, unable to hear a sound and I can’t feel my body. Something is wrong. Am I in a dream … am I dead? Who am I?

It was her first cognitive awareness before returning to oblivion. A faint sound awakened her again and then the noise quickly disappeared back to a nothingness. These short bouts of consciousness and unrecognizable noises repeated, but she didn’t know if the time lapse between her short moments of wakefulness were for only a few seconds, hours, days, or weeks.

Scared and confused, she felt alone unable to open her eyes to see any light, incapable to move her body to find out if she existed in reality and was truly alive and not paused before her transition into another dimension.

The curtain rose again with the same strange sounds in a repeat performance, and this time she thought she heard people talking with a voice that sounded familiar but she wasn’t able to identify it from her clogged memory. As the voice became clearer she heard, Pebbles, you can wake up now. We are all here with you. Instantly, she knew it was her mother, Barbara MacVaine, and remembered her nickname of Pebbles."

Relieved to recognize who she was and not alone, she tried to call out to her mother when the performance’s audio switched swiftly disconnected again and the emptiness of sleep returned.

How long she was asleep she didn’t know but once again she heard a wake-up call to unrecognizable chatter, but she didn’t hear her mother’s voice but could smelled the pitch of cleaning aromas she knew. Fear immediately overtook her emotions and she knew she was seriously ill. Her anxiety compounded by not being able to see, move her body, or speak. It was then she wished to return to the nothingness and die rather than live and be physically and mentally paralyzed and a burden to others. A distant, soothing melody from the distance quickly distracted her from her emotional drama and she began to laugh as she mentally thought, If I can’t move or feel my body or speak, how can I end my life?

Internally laughing at her own humor, she calmed her emotions and could tell she was breathing. Then she heard the pulse of her heart and the erythematic flow of blood through her veins. Excitement filled Pebbles’ thoughts and she concentrated through her daydream paralysis and eventually found herself able to wiggle her toes, then her fingers. Pebbles wanted to scream out that she was Alive Again but no words came out of her mouth.

As she laid in her bed relieved with the sensation of feeling her body again, she remembered her full name, Katherine MacVaine, along with her nickname of Pebbles, and knew she lived in the River City of Grand Junction, Colorado.

With an urge to lift one of her arms, she could feel tubes on her one arm and across her chest and a flashback arose of getting her tonsils removed when she was in middle school. Raising her other arm, she touched her face and felt a gauze bandage rolled around her head from her nose and continuously wrapped around her eyes and over the top of her entire head.

Panic returned as she became paranoid about what might have happened to her and she tried to cry, but only felt her upset emotions with waterless tears and her heartbeat beating rapidly. Silence in her room pacified her and she had a weird, spatial sensation of her surroundings as a miraculous vision of her room appeared. Aware that her eyes were covered, she sensed her mind’s eye had opened as if she was able to see. Focused on her mental illusion, she imagined a chair and a person motionless at the foot of her bed and who might be a female woman by the scent of sweet plumb hand lotion.

She took a few deep breaths and after she swallowed, forcibly said, Hi there, to find out if she was dreaming or if her mind was playing a trick on her.

Huh, she heard a woman’s voice yell in surprise and then said, Oh my god, you’re awake, as she quickly stood and frantically rushed to the open doorway and called out, Doctor, doctor, come quickly!

The open and airy room quickly filled with people; their bodies gave Pebbles a distressed sensation of enclosure in a dark and hot tunnel with little air to breathe.

Can you hear me? asked a female doctor loudly in a hyperactive, high-pitched voice.

Before Pebbles could take a breath to respond, a male doctor barged in and asked, Do you know your name? How do you feel?

Pebbles laid unresponsive before she spoke to collect her fuzzy thoughts as everyone huddles around and over her and then said her name, and asked what happened. No one seemed to listen to her as the attack of questions continued. Pebbles finally yelled for them to stop talking over each other, slow down on their questions, and don’t yell, as she couldn’t make out what they said.

Above all the anxiety of those around her bed, Pebbles heard her mother’s voice calling her name as she forced her way through the swarm of doctors to her bedside and grasped her hand. Pebbles felt the warmth of her mother’s hand and the rapid beat of her pulse.

Hi mom, think I took a long nap and now feel like I’ve returned from the depths of outer space, said Pebbles.

Shaken by Pebbles’ voice, she said with a quiver, It’s all okay honey … praise to God you’re alive.

Before Pebbles and her mother, Barbara, were able to say another word, they heard a deep voice of authority tell everyone to move away from the patient’s bed as a man approached Pebbles from the opposite side of the bed where her mother stood.

Hi there, young lady, not sure if you recognize my voice, but I am Dr. Steve Kaufman and we are all glad you are back with us again.

Stunned for a second as she tried to connect the somewhat recognized name with the voice, but there was no connection and she asked, What happened to me?

You are in the hospital and will learn more over the next few days; we need you to rest and get stronger, said the doctor.

Why are my eyes and head bandaged?

Pebbles, you had surgery and the bandage will be removed soon, he replied. Are you in any pain right now?

No pain, but I feel different and unable to think clearly, she replied.

That’s to be expected. You probably will feel woozy and disoriented for a couple of days before you’re back to being the Pebbles we all know, said Dr. Kaufman. You have been through quite a bit and you are one strong, young lady. Talk with your mother and I’ll be back in a couple of hours to visit you again.

Pebbles heard Dr. Kaufman leave her bedside and walked out into the hospital hallway with the footsteps of the doctors from her room close behind him.

Mom what happened to me? I can tell something is seriously wrong.

Pebbles felt her mother’s hand tremble as she began to respond but before she was able to say a word, Pebbles said, Wait, mom, as she still heard Dr. Kaufman talk to the others about her in the hallway as if a microphone was present. From the medical jargon Pebbles overheard, she had brain surgery and was now permanently blind, and then their voices slowly faded away as the doctors walked down the hospital hallway and into an elevator.

Sorry, mom, I was distracted. I’m back with you again.

Dear, Michelle’s mother was driving you and your girlfriends to the RCO Rodeo, and following a pick-up truck filled with sheets of plywood. One of the plywood sheets flew out of the truck’s bed, crashing through your car’s windshield. You sat alongside Michel’s mother in the passenger seat and your girlfriends behind you when the flying plywood hit you in the head. You were the only one injured.

Tranquilized by what her mother said, she had no memory of a car accident or the rodeo.

Mom, how long have I been in the hospital?

This week is ten weeks since you’ve been in an induced coma because of the surgeries on your injured face and head. Barbara took a deep breath as she squeezed Pebbles’ hand even tighter and said, Honey, you’re blind but we’re all so thankful you’re still with us.

Pebbles brought her free hand to her face again to confirm she was not in a dream and touched the gauze bandage. With the humor, her family said she inherited from her Grandfather Mac, said, Guess there goes my geology career. Now I need to focus on a career in astronomy.

Barbara gave her a hug and said, Thanks, sweetheart. You are always so funny, positive, and make the best of any terrible incident. Love you.

Love you too, Mom. Here it comes again, the land of Nod is calling me and I need to say nighty-night.

Okay, dear. Rest and I’ll tell everyone in the family you’re alert and able to speak again.

A nurse came to her bed and asked if she was okay and that she or another nurse would be by her room often and food should arrive shortly for her. Pebbles fell asleep before she was able to react to the nurse.

Pebbles awoke when she heard, Are you awake, honey?

Hi, mom, guess I took another one of those naps, said Pebbles and immediately sensed people in her room.

I think it was more of a beauty sleep. Your dad has been here with you while I went home to shower and change my clothes, Barbara said. There is a surprise for you, dear.

Before Pebbles was able to connect on a mental visualization of her room and say Hi to her father, she heard almost in unison Hi, Pebbles from the entire MacVaine family surrounding her bed.

Shocked and with a big smile she said, You all look awesome today! and surprised to recognize the laugh of each person in her family.

Her dad was the first to hug her, then her grandparents followed by her three older brothers, and the conversation began. She could instantly could tell everyone in the family spoke cautiously so to not to upset her, and she sharply told everyone to lighten up and not act as if they were at a funeral.

Let’s be calm now, her mother Barbara said. This is not the time to get upset.

I know, Mom, I’m sorry, Pebbles said in a calm tone. I’m good; and I know I’m blind forever and had surgery on my brain and I can handle whatever is said.

Our big girl will be all right, Pebbles’ Grandfather, Mac, robustly commented.

Paul, the youngest of her three older brothers always teasing said, Sis, you really over-did-it this time for attention.

Everyone was shocked and quiet over his untimely comment and worried about Pebbles’ reaction but she swiftly snapped back at him as she had learned to do over the years and said, Don’t talk to me like I’m one of your community college co-eds; and you need to wash off that cheap cowboy cologne you bought at the feed store. The smell will surely kill me and others here in the hospital.

After Pebbles’ slashing comeback to her brother and the laughter by everyone, the conversation eased and Pebbles learned about a family member always being with her 24 hours per day while she was in the coma. She was especially relieved knowing only her mother and Grandmother Joan or her sister-in-law, Robin, had washed her body and changed her hospital gown.

Pebbles was glad to hear that her best friend since fourth grade, Davina, along with her classmates and teachers from school and others in Junction visited and talked to her while she was unconscious.

Her brother Paul, teasing Pebbles again, said that he took care of the horses and her responsibilities on the ranch while she was on vacation, and there was nothing for her to worry about at home and she owed him big time.

We’re even now, Pebbles responded quickly.

Will you two stop it, their mother said. Some things never change.

Pebbles and her brother Paul always teased each other, but their bond was close as was her closeness with her other two older brothers. The MacVaine family unity was strong as everyone lived in the same house all except her oldest brother Rob who with his wife, Robin, and their daughter, Nicole, lived in their own house on the far end of the family’s ranch property in the outskirts of Grand Junction.

The conversation with Pebbles’ family continued and she began to connect names and events from the stories told when she heard the sound of footsteps and smelled food outside her room in the hospital hallway.

I think it’s time to eat now, Pebbles said, interrupting the family’s conversation.

Quiet in the room as everyone looked to locate where the food was and after a few seconds, a nurse walked into the room with a food tray.

Excuse me, the nurse said as she approached the bed. You slept through your last meal, Miss MacVaine, and I thought you would be hungry now.

Thank you, but the food smells terrible and I won’t eat that turkey sandwich. Who eats turkey with ketchup on stale white bread? Can I get another turkey sandwich on wheat bread with mayonnaise or even butter? And also lettuce and tomato … and please some fresh fruit instead of those peaches from a can.

How can you tell what’s on the tray? Your food is covered, the nurse replied.

Can’t you smell it? Pebbles responded.

The nurse removed the cover from the food tray and said in surprise, Oh my goodness. You are right. It is white bread and only a packet of ketchup, and peaches in the sealed plastic cup. I’ll get you another sandwich right away.

That would be great, and please make sure it’s freshly made and not a leftover.

Yes, Miss MacVaine, the nurse replied as she picked up the food tray and mumbled to herself as she left the room.

The entire MacVaine family was startled at what they had just witnessed until Grandpa Mac asked, Pebbles, how did you know about the nurse and food before she was in your room and also what was under the covered food tray?

I don’t know, grandpa. Everything now feels so strange and I don’t understand why now I can now better sense what’s around me than when I could see. I could hear the footsteps of the familiar nurse coming to my room and holding food; and knew about the sandwich and peaches as if I already tasted each item.

There was silence in the room until Grandpa Mac said, Pebbles, let’s keep this quiet even though the nurse might report what just happened. We do not want to stir the fire right now until we find out more from Dr. Kaufman.

Okay, grandpa, said Pebbles.

The nurse returned quickly with another food tray for Pebbles and said she hoped this sandwich was okay.

With the food tray still covered Pebbles said, Yes. This is fine, yet she was able to detect her turkey sandwich on wheat bread was dry with no mayonnaise or butter, and there was applesauce instead of the fresh fruit she wanted. She kept quiet about the meal as her grandfather requested.

After the nurse left, Pebbles’ grandmother asked if the food was okay, and Pebbles said she was too hungry to complain and began to eat her sandwich.

Her father, Scot, began a discussion about the new schedule of a family member being with her now that she was out of the coma and there would be no nurse in her room at night.

Then is when Pebbles’ eldest brother, Rob, excused himself to return to work as a detective in the Grand Junction Police Department – he was in law enforcement like her father, Captain Scot, and retired Chief of Police, Grandpa Mac.

Shortly after the new schedule of who would be in Pebbles’ room, the MacVaine family said their good night to Pebbles with her father saying her second oldest brother, Dan, would stay with her that night in her room.

You don’t need to do that anymore, dad, Pebbles objected. I’m okay now and comfortable to be here alone.

Dan will stay in your room tonight; that’s final, her father Scot said.

Before everyone left to go home, Grandpa Mac touched Pebbles’ hand and said, Here is your lucky pebble bag. I took care of it and prayed to it every day you were in the hospital. and then placed the leather pouch filled with small stones and gems in the palm of her hand and gave her a kiss.

Thanks, grandpa; love you. All will be fine now, Pebbles said as she put her hand through the loop on the pouch’s drawstring and firmly captured its contents in the palm of her left hand.

With everyone gone and her brother at the hospital cafeteria to get dinner for himself, Pebbles opened her pebble pouch and said, Hello, sorry I left you home when I went to that rodeo. Each pebble had a distinctive color and shape and given a name by Pebbles as a remembrance of a special person or event in her life since she was an infant.

While she conversed to her pebble friends, names of classmates at Book Cliffs High School and others began to surface in her thoughts. The more she talked with her pebble friends, the greater the she recalled of the past, all but the day of the car accident.

It was her obsession with small stones and gems from before she was able to walk when her grandfather tagged her with the nickname of Pebbles and everyone now knew her by Pebbles instead of Katherine or Kathy MacVaine.

From the excitement of the day Pebbles fell asleep, her special pouch resting in the palm of her hand when awoken by a doctor to check her vital signs and ask how she was feeling. After the doctor left, Dan came to her bedside and said, Can I talk to you now?

Are you going to interrogate me as an attorney or talk to me as my brother?

He told Pebbles that he needed to talk to her before others did as he represented her about her injury and the accident as someone else would come to ask her questions for the final report.

I don’t yet remember about that day, Pebbles said. A lot of what’s happened still confuses me and is absent, but with each moment I’m awake I can tell my memory is rapidly coming back to me.

Dan mentioned to Pebbles that if someone she did not know came by to ask about the accident or her injury for her to act ignorant unless he or another member of the family were present.

"Now with my lecture over and as your brother, tell me how you really feel. It seems like your audio and olfactory senses are now sharper.

Dan, it’s all so crazy. I feel like I’m not of this world but from another planet or dimension and came to earth appearing human but different. Even though I cannot see, I can tell my other senses are now super sensitive and can mentally visualize my surroundings, including you sitting by my bed wearing blue shirt and khaki slacks. Is it my imagination?

Stunned at what he heard, Dan reached out to hold his sister’s hand and said, You have always been our shining star, but now you have even gone beyond that. I cannot believe it; if you were not my sister and I wasn’t convinced you couldn’t see, the attorney in me says you are not blind or that someone told you beforehand about what I wore.

Dan, Pebbles said. It’s so scary and I don’t understand what’s happened to me. I feel tingly and unsure if it’s from the tight bandage wrapped around my head, the medications, or something else going on upstairs in my noodle. I hope I’m not going looney.

You are fine sis. I think that is enough for tonight. We both need to get to sleep; we have a busy day tomorrow. Grandma Joan will be here in the early morning as she wants to be with you when the doctors are around and tests begin.

Dan gave Pebbles a kiss on the cheek and said he would be