When Time Stands Still

By Diane Martin

Three siblings, Megan, Nicholas, and Brooke, think they are going on an uneventful family vacation. They couldn't be more wrong! They find themselves investigating the mysterious disappearance, many years ago, of their great-great-uncle Jack.

After being spirited away to a foreign land, the siblings wonder if they will ever solve the case, let alone get home again. Back at camp, where time stands still, their baby brother Tanner just might have found the missing piece that unlocks an old family mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tellwell Talent
• Release date: Dec 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9780228855378

Diane Martin

This collection of 55 poems is called A Pilgrim’s Progress, written over a 15-year span during the period when I moved to St. Petersburg, Russia, and then to Sansepolcro, Italy, with sojourns in numerous other countries to sit out my alternate three months out of the Schengen zone, as I was not given Italian residency.My exile, not entirely self-imposed, as circumstances and illness forced me to leave San Francisco, CA for a more hospitable and affordable city, wrought much soul-searching, creative production, and many changes. While I had never felt like an insider in my native country, I became a thoroughgoing nomad in others, able to commiserate more fully with my fellow passengers to the grave and experience the sometimes privileged perspective of a genuine outsider, but often one who passes some of the tests of inclusion. This book is the artistic result of my reflections and interpretations, influenced by the landscapes and cultures of my wanderings.

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Copyright © 2022 by Diane Martin

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other non-commercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Tellwell Talent

www.tellwell.ca

ISBN

978-0-2288-5536-1 (Paperback)

978-0-2288-5537-8 (eBook)

Dedicated to my children: Megan, Nicholas, Brooke, and Tanner

And to my husband for supporting my writing.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 1

It’s one of the best times of the year! Days of sunshine and freedom await. School was finally out, and the summer holidays were begging for a bit of adventure and lazy days. Every year for Megan, Nicholas, Brooke, and Tanner, their escapades and respite took place while camping at Rainbow Falls with their parents for a couple of weeks. It was a long drive there, about four hours; however, the kids didn’t mind because they always had such a great time there. Mom’s family has been travelling to this particular site for many generations, and the kids could understand why! There was so much to explore. Their special camping place was a semi-secluded location set in the mountains with an abundance of colourful wildflowers and a wide variety of wildlife. But before they could go, there was much to be done.

Brooke, that’s mine! Megan snapped, snatching the little photo book from her younger sister’s petite hands and causing a photograph to fall out. Anger was starting to bubble inside Megan, and her deep blue eyes seemed to turn almost black. Her tanned skin transformed to a rosy red as she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued to pack, praying Brooke would go away.

Just get out of my room and go pack your stuff for the trip, Megan demanded, trying to sound mature while pointing to the door. Remembering to breathe, she said, And stop touching my things!

This is mine, Brooke barked back, kneeling to pick up the fallen picture and forcefully blowing her long blonde hair out of her green eyes to glare at her big sister while sliding the picture behind her back. Brooke knew how easy it was to get a rise out of Megan and found it entertaining at times.

What’s going on in here? Dad asked with a sigh, poking his head into the room and preparing to be the referee.

She’s a pest as usual, Megan whined dramatically, throwing the rest of her clothes into the suitcase.

Megan felt Dad would automatically take Brooke’s side because Brooke was the charming third child and very outgoing. She was also five inches taller than other children her age, which encouraged Brooke to act older than she was.

Brooke, how about you? Are you finished packing? Dad asked.

Brooke sighed, shaking her head no.

Please go finish packing your clothes so we can get going on time, Dad suggested, gently nudging her slight frame down the hall to her room with the top of his foot.

As he was urging Brooke out, she smartly bounced her way back into Megan’s room, producing the photo she’d snagged from Megan’s floor. Hey, Dad, who’s this, and why are there a bunch of white spots all over the picture? She waved the photo in his face, hopping onto Megan’s bed.

Well, let me see. He said, sitting down beside Brooke and curiously studied the picture in her hand.

Let me see too, Megan added, distracted from packing and now peering between the two of them. Oh, that’s where we go camping every year. Brooke, did you take that from my book? Nana gave that to me.

It was on the floor, so it’s a fair game. Brooke smiled.

Megan squinted her eyes at Brooke. It was on my floor, so everything is off limits to you.

Yes, this is our campsite, Dad replied, ignoring the sisters. And I believe that is your mom’s Grandpa Brian. I think. As for the white dots, I’m not too sure. You’ll have to ask Mom. Dad hesitated, scratching his head. Your mom has an interesting story about him. That picture was taken just after Brian’s brother disappeared. I don’t remember the entire story, so you’ll have to ask your mother.

Nana says our camping spot is a magical place, Megan informed them, moving her attention back to packing. That’s why there are white spots. She calls them orbs.

Well, that’s dumb. There’s no such thing as magic, Brooke sternly said, sliding off the bed with the picture still in her hand.

Brooke, you’re only five. You should still believe in magic, Dad sadly commented, getting up and placing his hand on Brooke’s shoulder.

Nic says there’s no such thing, Brooke regurgitated in a saucy tone. And he’s ten, so he knows everything. Brooke ducked from under his hand, leaving Megan’s room.

Ugh, she is so annoying sometimes—a total brat! Megan grunted, shaking her head. Correction … make that all the time. I wish I were an only child.

Who’s annoying? Nicholas asked curiously from the hallway with his bag in hand.

Nobody, buddy, Dad replied, ruffling Nicholas’s thick strawberry-blond hair. Did you grow? You look like you’re filling out, not so scrawny anymore. Soon you’ll be as tall as Megan. He smiled.

Difference is I’m athletic, and you’re not, Megan said, sticking her tongue out at Nicholas.

I am too athletic, Nicholas snarled back. Hockey is way harder than swimming.

Okay, that’s enough, Dad quickly interrupted, putting his hands out. You’re both very athletic, and each sport has its degree of difficulty. Now let’s get back to the matter at hand. Leaving.

All packed and ready to go! Nicholas said with great excitement, patting his bag. This is going to be so much fun! I can’t wait to go exploring along the river and in the woods. His green eyes sparkled with anticipation, and the smile on his freckled face showed how eager he was to get going.

By the way … who told your little sister there was no such thing as magic? Dad inquired, playfully wrestling with his brawny young son.

Must have been Megan. Gotta go! Nicholas swiftly said as he squirmed away to run down the stairs, avoiding the question.

Nicholas, what have I told you about telling the little ones stuff like that? Dad hollered after him, shaking his head in frustration. Turning his attention back to Megan, Dad added, Okay, Megan. Let’s get a move on. He encouraged her by clapping his hands. And by the way … what fun would it be if you were an only child? Brothers and sisters are fun, and they’re supposed to be annoying. It’s like a job for them, and you’re lucky enough to employ three! Life is fuller when there are more of you to share and appreciate the adventure of life. Besides, having brothers and sisters builds character. Dad laughed, trying to make light of his preaching to show Megan it wasn’t the end of the world to have siblings. Also, if you’re ever in trouble, they will always be there for you, and vice versa. That, my dear, is a wonderful thing.

Megan nodded her head and agreed with Dad to make him happy as she gathered the rest of her belongings. She often tended to tune him out as he rambled on. In her mind, he spewed the same information about her brothers and sister all the time.

Mom and Dad were always pointing out to them how fortunate the kids were to have each other and that, no matter what, a family should be there for each other. Unfortunately, Megan, her sister, and her brothers didn’t always see it that way. It was difficult for their young minds to understand.

Not funny, Dad. You and Mom make zero sense, Megan replied melodramatically, handing him two suitcases and then placing a duffel bag over each of his shoulders. With a bat of thick eyelashes and a white toothy grin, she tried to distract him from the amount of luggage she’d packed. Maybe Brooke should consider a career change, Megan pondered out loud, moving her mousy brown hair off her face and supplementing her comment with another satisfying thought. She stared into space with a smirk. I think I would like to fire her.

As I’ve said before, both Brooke and Tanner pick up a lot of habits and attitudes from you and Nicholas. Unfortunately, not always the good ones, her father reminded Megan as he scanned the load she’d just given him.

Megan rolled her eyes and turned back to her bed, smoothing it out while hoping he wouldn’t say anything more. Megan then examined her closet and floor to see if she had forgotten to pack anything.

Holy smokes! Got enough clothes here? You’d think you were going away for a month or two, her dad remarked, trying to catch one of the suitcases slipping from his arms.

What do you mean? I already took a bunch out. You never know what the weather is going to be like or what we’ll be doing, Megan defended herself, leaping across the bed to catch the falling suitcase. Megan was disappointed that she would have to cut back on what to bring, even though she had already suspected Dad wouldn’t allow so many cases.

I just about made it through. It took you a while to notice, eh Dad? Megan added with a huge smile, tilting her head.

I think you better go through them again and get it down to one suitcase like everyone else, Dad said in a firm voice, loading the suitcases and bags back onto Megan’s bed. I’m pretty sure the bears and squirrels don’t care what fashions you’re wearing or if your shirt matches your pants and shoes. Please make it quick.

Bears! Megan looked up with wide eyes, putting a hand on her cheek.

All done, Dad, Brooke interrupted, skipping back into Megan’s room.

Where’s my picture, Brooke? Megan inquired, organizing the bags on her bed.

What are you talking about? Brooke replied most innocently, showing Megan her empty hands.

See—total brat! Megan growled, unloading her clothes onto the bed with force. She felt frustrated with her sister.

Brooke, lose the attitude, put the picture back into the album, and let’s go. Dad sighed, thinking it would be a much longer drive if they all kept this arguing up.

All right, here’s your silly picture. I’m done, and you are not. Bye! Brooke pulled the picture from her back pocket and tossed it at Megan. She turned around and waved, running toward the stairs to go outside to the trailer.

Brooke, attitude! Dad called after her as she quickly began to slide down the stairs. Come back and apologize to Megan now! And you are grounded from your Game Boy and videos on the drive.

"Dad, no!" she whined, plunking herself down in the middle of the stairs.

Now you might think before you speak, Dad replied, imagining how it would be nice if just for a day, the four could get along. He also realized that Brooke’s punishment might be more of a punishment for him than her.

Sorry, Meg, Brooke called softly from the stairwell. Brooke did mean it, since she felt a tad terrible for getting Megan so worked up (not that it was hard to do) just before they were supposed to be leaving for vacation. And now she was grounded, which wasn’t any fun when the drive was so long.

She bugs you because she loves you so much, Dad whispered. Walking to the bedside, he reached out for Megan and kissed her on the top of her head. Now finish up here, and I’ll go check on the boys.

No, she doesn’t. She does it because she’s a spoiled brat, Megan protested, still stewing.

Perhaps you should step out of your skin for a moment and see how you treat the others too. Might be an eye-opener for you, Dad proposed, raising his eyebrow before walking out. You could look at it as she’s only five, and five-year-olds do stuff like that; or you could step back, make an observation without judgement, and say, ‘Oh, isn’t that interesting,’ and let it go.

What is that supposed to mean? Megan replied with a confused look on her face. You and Mom are so weird. Or should I say, ‘Oh my, you and Mom are interesting’?

"All I’m saying is to pay attention to how you speak and act with others before you criticize what they do. We shouldn’t judge others because they do something differently from us. Different doesn’t make it right or wrong. You create your world. The more you think about what you don’t want, the more it will show up—Law of Attraction. It would help if you were thankful for even the things you don’t want as