The Wizard and the Acorn, prologue
So... here's the first bit of my new book. It's not very long - just the prologue. But I thought I'd post it anyway. Hoorah!
The Wizard and the Acorn
Prologue
On Sunday nights, Edgar and Anna Savage liked to unwind in front of the television after putting their young son, Kevin, to bed. This particular Sunday night was no different. Edgar stared at the screen, not paying much attention to what was on, and listening to the howl of the wind around the house. It had been threatening rain all week, and the calm had finally broken into a storm of proportions even western Washington rarely saw.
There was a sudden flash of lightning, followed swiftly by a crack of thunder that shook the house and made both Edgar and his wife jump, masking the first knock on their front door. After a moment, the knock came again. The baby started to cry in the next room, and by unspoken agreement Anna got up to tend to Kevin and Edgar went to answer the door.
A sudden crack of thunder shook the house and made both Edgar and his wife jump, masking the first knock on their front door. After a moment, the knock came again, this time marked by a flash of lightning. The baby started to cry in the next room, and by unspoken agreement Anna got up to tend to Kevin and Edgar went to answer the door.
The visitor was an older man with a neatly trimmed black beard, wearing a strangely old-fashioned waistcoat and jacket. He seemed to be unaffected by the storm outside the porch’s shelter, and was leaning on a folded up umbrella, holding a bundle of cloth in the crook of one arm.
“Are you Mr. Edgar Savage?” the other man asked. He had a strange accent tinting his voice; something that Edgar couldn’t quite place.
“Yes, I am,” Edgar told him. “Can I help you?”
“I am from Washington State Child Services,” the man told him. “I believe you were notified of my coming?”
“No, I wasn’t,” Edgar stated flatly. “And isn’t this a little late for a business call?”
“I am sorry about the timing, but it is imperative that we get this child into proper care at once.” With that, the stranger handed the strange bundle to Edgar, who took it automatically. Looking down, he saw that it was not actually a bundle of cloth, but an infant wrapped in blankets.
Edgar looked back at the stranger. “No,” he said. “I mean, we can’t take in anymore foster children. My wife and I, we were only doing it because we didn’t think we could have any children of our own. But now we have, and - I thought I already told all this to Child Services?”
The old man looked unfazed at Edgar’s reaction. “We have determined that you are the ideal family for Arthur,” he explained, as if that statement alone would change Edgar’s mind.
“Arthur?” Edgar looked down at the baby again, then back at the stranger. “No. That doesn’t matter. We agreed we wouldn’t take any more foster children.” He tried to hand the baby back, but the man either didn’t notice or didn’t care.
“Eddie?” Anna called from the living room. “Who is it?”
Edgar turned to his wife. “It’s alright, honey. I’m taking care of it.” He turned back to the doorway.
But the old man was gone.
Hoorah!
PS: Can anyone guess where I came up with the man's name? Especially the last name? Hmm? Anybody?