Shadows Under the Mountain Peak: Volume 2

By Mary Visker

For fall break, Terry's three brothers take her and Pam back to the slot canyon and hanging garden where they survived a flash flood during the summer. They all make it through the hike in, Tom getting hit in the head by a rock knocked down by a deer on the cliffs above, and the slow hike out. They stop at a gas station to fuel up for the all-ni

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gotham Books
• Release date: Dec 6, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887753799

Mary Visker

Mary Visker earned undergraduate and graduate degrees in education. At the age of tsixty, she received her third degree in nursing which allowed her to fulfill a lifelong dream of becoming a mission nurse for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Visker has two sons, five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

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Shadows

Under

the

Mountain

Peak

VOLUME 2

by

MARY VISKER

Gotham Books

30 N Gould St.

Ste. 20820, Sheridan, WY 82801

https://gothambooksinc.com/

Phone: [phone]

© 2023 Mary Visker. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by Gotham Books (December 6, 2023)

ISBN: 979-8-88775-378-2 (P)

ISBN: 979-8-88775-379-9 (E)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid.

The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

"6 Wherefore I put thee in

remembrance that thou stir up the

gift of God, which is in thee by the

putting on of my hands.

7 For God hath not given us the spirit

of fear; but of power and of love, and

of a sound mind."

2Timothy 1: 6-7

Introduction

At the conclusion of Volume 1, Shadows on the Canyon Wall, a brief introduction of Volume 2 was included. At that time the title of Vol. 2 was printed as Shadows in the Campus Halls. As Volume 2 was going to press, it was decided that Shadows Under the Mountain Peak would be a much more appropriate title for a survival battle on a mountain, and Shadows in the Campus Halls fits better for the title of Volume 3.

CHAPTER 1

Islowly curl my left hand into a fist and slam it down on my baby grand piano keys. With tears rolling down my cheeks, I yell with furry, I can’t do this! I fold both arms in front of me, slam them on the keyboard, put my head on my arms, and sob. In my mind, I yell, this is never going to work. I will never be able to use my hand again. The doctor was wrong. I will never play with both hands again.

I feel fingers on my shoulders and hear Pam’s gentle voice, Hi Terry.

I turn so fast I almost fall off the piano bench, but I can’t stop sobbing. Pam takes hold of my left hand, pulls me up, and crosses the room to the couch where we both sit down.

Pam waits until I’m calmed down enough that I can get out a few words. Pam, I’m never going to be able to play the piano again. This dumb hand will not work. I will never play on a concert stage. I probably won’t even be able to play tennis.

Pam lifts my head, turns it, and looks me in the eyes, Terry Lilian Masters, what are you doing? I have never known you to be a quitter.

Those words jolt me, and I look at Pam in stunned shock. I have also stopped sobbing. Pam takes the silent moment to continue, You are about to injure your mind worse than your arm. I look at Pam with questioning eyes, You know how totally important mental self-talk is in tennis. If you start any kind of doubt or fear questions in your mind you’re toast. That applies to everything you do in life, especially working your way back from an injury.

I hang my head and whisper, You’re right Pam. You are right.

Now that we have that settled, let’s talk about where you are and where you’re going. I nod my head to agree.

Tom watches the whole interchange and finally turns away from the door with a smile on his face.

I start telling Pam about my hand, and how it doesn’t work at all. I feel like I have no control over my fingers. They don’t respond to anything I try to get them to do. I am beginning to fear that they never will.

I was afraid of that. Terry, you cannot ever start the What If talk in your head. It is one of the things that has always impressed me most about you. You look down the positive road with your mind’s eye and never entertain unreal scenarios. Now let me tell you about my morning.

I went to the Physical Therapy department at the hospital. I know the therapist there who specializes in hand rehab. He told me the hand is the hardest to work with because there are so many little muscles that all need to be perfectly timed together. He said that your cut and your cast have allowed significant atrophy in your extensor muscles, the muscles that extend your fingers and wrist. Before your fingers can begin to work normally, those extensor muscles need to be strengthened. He knows you will go to physical therapy sessions, but what you do every day in personal rehab will be the real key to your healing. He said to not worry about the piano for a couple of weeks. As she reaches for my left hand she says, "Let me show you what he said will help you the most.

To start with, curl the fingers of your left hand like this. Pam shows me how to make a large C with my fingers. Now cup your right hand over the fingers of your left hand. You are going to straighten the fingers of your left hand. Apply just enough pressure that your left-hand fingers can straighten but still must push to do it. Pam goes on to show me more exercises for every movement at every joint in my hand. She explains that every time I am not using my hands for something else like playing the piano, I am to be doing these exercises and slowly increasing the resistance as the muscles get stronger. We work for about thirty minutes on all the muscles in my hand and forearm.

I finally shake my hand, That makes my hand tired, but it feels good. It makes me think I’m doing something useful. I pause looking at her, Pam, where have you been for the last three weeks and how did you get into my house?

My dad whisked me and my mom away on a vacation to Australia the morning after camp. I’ll tell you about it later. As for entry to your home, I rang the doorbell, and the most handsome man I’ve ever seen answered the door. I introduced myself and asked for you. He told me his name was Tom and led me directly to the doors of your living room. He pointed to the handles and said, ‘She’s in there, but she isn’t doing too well. The cut is healed, and the cast is off. I think she thought she would be able to sit down and start playing the piano just like she did before the injury. She can hardly move her left hand and is about to give up completely.’ I opened the doors and walked in.

I’m so glad you’re here. You brought the sunshine with you. Thank you for coming.

You’re welcome. I’m excited to be here—You can still play the piano with your right hand, can’t you?

That’s all I do. Dr. Haden said that it would help bring the nerves and muscles in my left hand back faster if I played with my right while they are injured. I had no idea it was going to take so long, and that my hand would be so weak. Thank you, I am so thankful you are back. I think you should be a doctor.

Pam laughs, I’ve thought about the medical world, but my heart still wants to perform and teach music. But right now, I need you to come with me to my voice lesson. I want you to accompany me, and I want you to meet Dr. Blair.

Dr. Who? I ask scowling.

Pam grins, Mr. Blair, the A Capella teacher received his Ph.D. this summer, so now he is Dr. Blair.

I don’t think I’m ready to meet him.

Terry you are! We are going to start working on what you can do instead of what you can’t. Pam pulls me up off the couch and out the door to her car.

Once in the car, I turn to her, Pam, look at me; I’m a mess. My hair is not combed, and this T-shirt is full of holes all in the wrong places.

Pam reaches into her back seat and hands me a sack. Go back to your house, comb your hair, wash your face, and put these on. You have five minutes to get back here before I come in after you. Pam smiles as I fly out the door… Her smile grows wider when I return to the car, Wow, Terry you are so cute. You are going to have quite a senior year. The outfit Pam has given me completely changes my image. It’s just a blouse and knee-length shorts, but it makes me look like a fashion statement. I don’t even need any make-up. She continues, I must keep reminding myself that we are helping each other and not competing.

Once I’m buckled in, I say, Thanks, Pam. Now let’s go earn this new outfit.

Pam stares at me for a long minute and finally says, Did you look in the mirror?

I look at Pam questioningly, I combed my hair; I think.

Oh Terry, you have to promise me you will never change your down to earth approach to life,

What does that mean?

Please stay genuine. Keep reaching out to others and don’t turn in to focus on yourself.

Pam, I’m not sure what you are talking about, but I don’t plan to change unless it is to become more like the Savior.

Turning the key in the ignition Pam says, Good, let’s go ‘Wow’ Dr. Blair.

When we arrive at school and turn into the student parking lot, it’s half full of cars. I ask, I know that the teachers are back, but we still have four weeks until school starts. What’s with all these cars? Have we missed a senior meeting or something?

Pulling into a parking spot, she replies, I don’t know. Let’s go find out.

We walk through the parking lot and up the sidewalk to the main entrance of the school. Just outside the doors, standing on the grass is a group of about twenty guys.

I can tell they are all senior boys. Pam whispers, Those are all of the males from A Cappella.

We are only about ten feet away from the guys when I single out one of them standing on the edge of the group, Jed, what’s going on? Did we miss a meeting or something? Everyone in the group turns and stares at Pam and me.

Finally, Jed answers, We’re just hanging out.

None of the boys move nor do they stop staring. At last, one of the boys in the middle of the crowd called out, What are you two doing?

Neither Pam nor I had thought about what a sensation it would cause seeing us together let alone seeing me dressed in something besides jeans and a t-shirt. I snicker, Oh, we’re just going to hang out with Dr. Blair for a while. See you all later. As we turn and walk through the doors, I begin to realize what a negative image Pam and I have created over the years. We need to change things.

Pam pushes the double doors open into the choir room. Dr. Blair is sitting at his desk and looks up as we enter. Pam walks right to his desk as he asks, Hi Pam. Have you had a good summer? I hope you have had time to sing some on your vacation.

Dr. Blair, then Pam pauses slightly, It’s good to call you doctor. I would like you to meet my friend, Terry Masters. I have brought her with me today to see if she can audition to become the accompanist for A Cappella.

Standing up he says, Terry, it’s nice to meet you. It looks like you have an injured left arm are you sure you can audition?

Pam answers before I can even open my mouth, She can play more with her one hand than any accompanist we have ever had does with two. In a month or two she will have two good hands. I just want you to hear her play.

Okay, Terry. Play something for me.

I hesitate for a moment, Dr. Blair, get a piece of music that you would like your choir to perform but have not been able to up to this point. Get a copy for me, one for you, and one for Pam. You direct Pam and I will play.

He gives Pam a questioning look and turns to go to his files. He returns and hands us our music. Pam moves to the choir seats, and I move to the piano. Dr. Blair steps up to stand on the conductor’s platform. I run my fingers around the keyboard and then look up at Dr. Blair. I shake my head, This will never do. I can’t see your hands. Please help me move this piano.

When the piano is repositioned, we all take our places. I speak again, Give me a couple of measures of your beat pattern. Stop. Then give me an upbeat, and we’ll be on our way.

I start right with him on the downbeat and can play most of the notes on the music score with my right hand. I am impressed with Pam because she can sight-read her music as well as I am playing. Dr. Blair conducts us through the first four pages making all kinds of changes in tempos and dynamics, then he stops. He turns to me, You’re hired. What do I have to do to get you into my class?

I answer with a laugh, Call the office, and tell them to transfer me into A Cappella fourth period.

Dr. Blair hurries into his office and picks up the phone. Pam and I watch him talk, and then he seems to be agitated. He sticks his head out of the door, They won’t let you transfer because you are in the AP English class.

I ask, Who are you talking to?

Jackson

Moving towards the door I reach for the phone, Let me talk to him.

I ask Jackson if he is still in A Cappella, and he let me know that he is. He then asks me if I am going to sing. No, Jackson. I’m going to be your accompanist if you will change my schedule. Jackson goes on to say that Mrs. Zimmerman has posted a note that no one can add or drop her class without her permission. I get serious and tell him to just make the change and put me in Zimmerman’s second period class. If she gives you a bad time, tell her that I made you do it. I will do the AP work in her second period class. I think that’s the same class that Pam’s in.

Jackson pauses for a long time then asks, Do you want to be in the same class?

I answer with a laugh, We do Jackson, and we might even talk to each other. Make the change!

Ok Terry, it’s done. Are you down in the choir room with Pam and Dr. Blair?

Yes, Jackson we are.

I hand the phone back to Dr. Blair and smile, It’s a done deal. Would you give me the pieces you’ll be working on this fall? They will sound better if I can practice a little, and I can give you my full attention.

As Dr. Blair returns from the music stacks, Pam asks, Dr. Blair can I sing a song for you so you can tell me what you think?

Pam moves to the piano to stand by me, play You’ll Never Walk Alone. I grin and begin to play. The communication we make through our music is electrifying. We make it through half of the song when the doors to the choir room burst open, and boys start pushing their way inside. When they hear the music, all the noise ceases, but they still pour into the room.

When the song ends, no one moves. Dr. Blair stands and watches in stunned silence. Pam smiles and with a little sarcasm in her voice says, I can’t imagine why all of you are here. Is Jackson here? I think we know how to organize a calling tree, Dr. Blair!

Lane breaks the silence, Terry, are you going to be our accompanist? I nod my head to say yes.

Someone else calls out, This is going to be just like the good old days.

I hold up my hand to get some silence, You have no idea. It is going to be so much better because Dr. Blair has taught you to sing.

Terry, can you still play that song we used to sing? someone else calls out.

I play a few measures of You Raise Me Up and stop. Everyone urges me to go on, but I say, But we are going to change things a little. Lyle, are you here? When I see him, I say, Take that chair and stand next to Pam. You two are going to sing the first part. Lyle, try to harmonize with Pam. When they are in place and with everyone crowded around the piano, I begin to play the introduction. Everyone began to sing right on cue. Four measures into the chorus, I stop suddenly, There are two voices in here singing the wrong part. Jerry steps forward with a hung head and explains that he can no longer reach the tenor notes. I wave my hands and point to a place for the tenors to stand, another for the baritones, and one for basses if there are any. Fred steps forward to the bass spot and shakes his head mumbling, he doesn’t have any idea what to sing. Dr. Blair comes and stands beside him.

Okay, now let’s try this again, and I begin to play. This time the music begins to mellow and come together. It sounds pretty good. When we finished, I speak up quickly. That was so much better, but I want to end on our best. Let’s do it again and this time Pam and Lyle add descants above the guys in places, and all of you feel what you are singing. I start the intro again. This time there is a concert-quality sound coming from the group. When they end, shouts and cheers filled the room. Everyone starts talking about what a great year they are going to have. Pam gets them calmed down enough to remind them that they now must let the girl choir members know.

The tallest boy in the group fights his way through the escaping crowd to Pam and me. He looks hard at both of us, Will you two be the musical number at our Seminary Morningside on the first day of school?

Pam smiles at him and asks, What musical number would you like, Kyle?

He answers with no hesitation, The one you were singing and playing when we burst into this room. And Terry, since you would be playing the piano, will you also play for the opening and closing songs? Pam, will you lead them?

We look at each other and then back to Kyle, We would love to, answering in unison.

Lyle comes forward as Kyle is talking to Pam and me. As Kyle turns to leave with a smile on his face, Dr. Blair moves to put his hand on Lyle’s shoulder. Lyle, why aren’t you signed up to be in my A Cappella class?

Lyle turns to look up at him with a hopeful expression, I just figured that you wouldn’t want a little shrimp like me singing like a girl in this class. Look at the size of everybody. I’m even shorter than all the girls.

Dr. Blair reaches down and lifts him back up on the chair he had been standing on. We will just build you a stool. You don’t have a girl’s voice; you have the most magnificent boy soprano voice I have ever heard. There is definitely a place for you in this choir. He pauses to look around, Jackson, are you still here?

I’m here Dr. Blair!

Take Lyle and get his schedule fixed. And Jackson, I think it would be a great idea if we had a little musical get-to-gather next Thursday at about 1:00 PM in this room and invite the girls this time. He then lifts Lyle down from his chair and looks into his eyes, And Lyle, you had better be here with your stool.

Jackson asks Lyle what class he has fourth period. Lyle tells him it’s English. I laugh and tell him to transfer Lyle into Mrs. Zimmerman’s second period English. Jackson heads down to the office with Lyle to make the switch.

Jeff moves to the little group before anyone else can speak, Terry, if you and Pam have finally become a team, does that mean you’re going to play doubles for the tennis team this year?

Pam answers for both of us. That’s exactly what it means starting tomorrow morning.

Jeff makes a fist and punches the air shouting, Yes, yes, yes! It’s about time. We will take state this year in music and tennis. He turns and runs out the door.

Now it is Dr. Blair’s turn as he faces me, Why haven’t I known about you before? Where have you been? Never in all my years of music have I seen anybody with an ear like yours.

Pam moves between Dr. Blair and me, Dr. Blair, I am sorry. It was my fault.

I move to stand beside her, It was as much my fault as it was Pam’s. We are simply calling it a ‘comedy of errors,’ and we have seen the errors of our ways. We’re going to make it right. After an awkward silence, I change the subject. Dr. Blair, what did you do your doctorate in?

He answers, In harmonies.

I get a wide grin and ask, Then you could put together a do-op choir. You know the group that uses strange vocal sounds to make music?

Yes, Terry I could. You just got my wheels turning; it will be an exciting challenge. This year isn’t going to be anything like I thought it would be.

Pam grins, You can count on that!

I grab Pam’s arm. Come on. We need to see Mrs. Zimmerman before she kills Jackson. We run out the door and down the hall to the English wing.

Mrs. Zimmerman is alone in her room putting up bulletin boards. She turns when the door opens and stares when Pam and I walk in together. I get straight to the point. Mrs. Zimmerman, I have transferred out of your AP English class.

Without giving me a chance to go on she says, You can’t! Pam should be in there too.

Knowing that I must explain, I break in when she takes a breath. It’s the same hour as A Cappella, and I am going to be the accompanist for the Choir. I have transferred to your second period English class. Just put my name on the AP college roll, and I will do the AP assignments in second period. That way I can take the AP test at the end of the year.

You can do the same for me. Sign me up, I’ll do all the AP assignments, and take the test with Terry. Pam says.

Mrs. Zimmerman looks at us in total amazement. You mean to tell me that you are both going to be in the same class, and that class is my second period English class.

Pam turns to me, We have a worse reputation than I ever realized. Turning to Mrs. Zimmerman she goes on, Yes we are both in your second period English class, yes we will both do all of the AP work, and we might even help each other.

Am I to understand that the two most intelligent students I have ever seen at this high school in all my teaching years, but the two most challenging and competitive girls I have ever known have finally grown up?

I take Pam’s hand that’s next to mine, lace our fingers together to make a fist, and hold it up saying, We are now on the same side!

Pam follows with, We are going to make this a senior year that means something worthwhile for as many seniors as possible. That’s why Terry needs to be the accompanist in A Cappella.

Mrs. Zimmerman laughingly shakes her head. This will be a miracle worth seeing, and I do believe in miracles. See you both in second period on the first day of school.

When we are out of the classroom, I ask Pam, Have you picked the colleges that you want to apply to?

I have!

Good. Let’s go stop by the counseling office to get some transcripts sent. We can start on the applications tomorrow afternoon before your voice practice.

Mr. Anderson greets us as we enter., Hi Pam, hi Terry. What can I do for you ladies?

Mr. Anderson, I would like to send some transcripts to some colleges, Pam says.

Mr. Anderson looks quite surprised, Pam, I already sent transcripts to the colleges that your father said you wanted to apply for.

Mr. Anderson, I think those are the colleges that my father would like to attend. These are the ones I would like to attend and am applying for. Pam gives him the names of three schools which include Augustine University in our town. He writes the names of the schools down and is beginning to understand Pam’s situation.

Pam since you are of legal age, does your father have power of attorney to sign your name?

No! He does not. Please don’t let him sign anything for me.

Do you want me to charge his account for the cost of the transcripts?

Knowing that Pam probably doesn’t have any cash on her, I break into the conversation, No Mr. Anderson, I will pay for the transcripts, and will you send one for me to our university also. I don’t have much cash, but it is enough to cover the cost.

He tells us that he will have them in the mail today and emphatically states we must fill out the scholarship applications along with the admissions applications. Neither of you should have to pay a penny for higher education. Let me know if there is any way I can help either of you. We thank him and head for Pam’s car.

On the way back to my home we discuss the afternoon. We agree that the A Cappella program is well on its way. The door is opening for Pam’s music career, and now we’ll put our heads into tennis. We decide we will both start working on a new serve. I want to do this so I won’t mess up the timing on my two good serves. Pam needs to develop a stronger second serve. As I am