Cottonwood and Tangerine Dream

Cottonwood and Tangerine Dreams


An older model blue Corolla rolled to a stop near the grove of drifting whiteness. Soft music, something soulful, could be heard through its open windows. Geese honked from above. Graceful splash down in the river quieted them, but sent a slew of crows cawing their anger from the stand of cottonwood trees.

It was cottonwood seed time and fluffs of cotton blew in from the north leaving a layer of white wisps. She sat for hours humming tunes and when her tinted hair developed into a crown of wispy tufts, she smiled and blinked back tears. Miracle Raine Marcetti was happy and sad at the same time. Fifty-plus years ago she sat nearby on a hollowed-out log with her best friend, Wally O’Malley.

How they laughed at each other with clumps of cottonwood seeds settling like a fluffy cap on their heads and pasted to their clothes. How innocent and happy they were and so very young.

Wally, a skinny boy, with freckles and reddish blonde hair taught Miracle to box in these woods when she was 10 years old after she was bullied. Wally’s father, a rugged boxer with a purple nose that saw one too many punches, bragged it was worth it to protect one’s self against opponents. Especially the bad ones. That’s what she liked about Mr. O’Malley. Even though he was a fighter and Wally just a geeky kid, he treated him respectfully.

Miracle’s own mother wasn’t much of a mother. At the age of fifteen, she made it clear she couldn’t or wouldn’t be a mother to Miracle. Miracle’s mother had been a runaway. She returned home several months later complaining she was apparently dying of something with her bulging belly. Her mom cried with joy, but her dad suspected the worst. And sure enough it would be confirmed their baby daughter would have a baby. Diana refused to believe she was pregnant.

“No way,” she shouted. “It would be a miracle.” And that is how Miracle Raine got her name. A child named a child. They tried to prevent Diana from naming their grandchild ‘Miracle’ but she insisted that indeed she was a miracle. Mr. and Mrs. Raine could only shake their heads at Diana’s refusal to admit she had sex with a boy. But, it might have been somewhat true since Diana hooked up with a group of kids living out in tents at the state park.

Many a night she drank and smoked weed with the other underage kids and some disillusioned young adults. Often passing out and sleeping the entire day away. Their only source of money being begging, or in some cases thieving from tourists. Diana and Nick (another runaway) were the same age and stuck together. She trusted him and he was a horny kid, however, during one night he disappeared and Diana never saw him again.


After Miracle was born Diana’s father put his foot down. “If you want to continue living here, you’ll have to pull your weight and provide for your baby.” So she went back to high school and worked part-time at a video store at night.

Miracle was raised more or less by her grandparents and Diana freely gave up her motherly duties, since she didn’t know the first thing about being a ‘good mom.’

Sure, Diana bought her cute clothes and dressed her up like a doll the few times she took care of her, but other than that, nana and pawpaw did the hard work.


Miracle grew up happy, but when Wally moved in next door with his two yellow dogs by the names of Curley and Moe, plus a tabby cat named Larry, she screamed with delight.

First, because she always wanted a dog, but her grandparents wouldn’t allow it, and second, Wally had so many books and games. And, luckily that first summer cemented their friendship. The O’Malley’s saw more of Miracle than her nana and pawpaw.

Miracle and Wally loved cottonwood time. They’d walk the path in the woods wallowing in the earthy smells of fungi and woodland flowers. They became fairytale creatures battling a snow attack during a warm June day.

The made swords out of tree branches and discovered hidden shelters on a rainy day under willow trees that became a castle or a hide-out from alien monsters. On lazy hot days they sat under a copse of trees and tossed rocks in the river or searched ditches for treasures. Finding treasures, a game where they staked their claim for wealth in tangerine ditch lilies

During high school they moved in different groups. Wally did track and joined the chess club. Miracle entered the swim meets and volleyball. But they always found time to be together and find adventure.

When Wally joined the school newspaper, Miracle would watch him type from her bedroom window. A goose-neck lamp glowed above the old typewriter that went tippety tap at odd hours. It would loll Miracle to sleep.

His writings were mostly about school events and the hot lunch selections, but he also dedicated a column to nature. Wally’s name wasn’t on those particular pieces but Miracle always knew they were his writings because she knew about the things he wrote. The hawk nest, the coyote den, a secret cave amidst orange lilies and of course, cottonwood catkins.

Wally had found his passion and decided to be a journalist while Miracle still didn’t know. Wally went away to college. Miracle went to the local college and worked part-time to pay for classes.

Wally and Miracle emailed each other about their activities and got together when Wally came home for the summer. One summer day while they were in town, Miracle found a green felt porkpie hat in an antique shop. She plopped it on his head and rolled up the brim. He became a character of himself. Pretending to type. He pulled a pretend cigarette from above his ear and mimed lighting it up, letting it dangle from his lips while he continued to type. She bought it for him and as far as she remembers he wore it all summer as he tippety tapped long into the night.

She didn’t realize it then, but she was in love with her BFF. She thought she was only happy for him and his growing passion for writing.

During their fourth year of school, Miracle began dating Andy, then Mike, and then there was Pete. They all lasted several months and then fell apart.

Communication between Wally and Miracle dropped away to just a few messages once in awhile.

The end came when Wally’s dad died and his mother moved back to Ohio, taking Curly, Larry, and Moe. Now there really wasn’t any reason for Wally to come visit. Right out of college Wally got a job with a paper in up-state New York. Wally asked her to visit him, but by this time she was romantically involved with Joey Marcetti.

Joey was available to Miracle on a regular basis. Better looking than Wally, even sexy, and had a jealous streak Miracle mistook for love. Joey and Miracle married. She invited Wally and he brought his date. A gentle looking girl with a sense of humor. Someone Miracle would have liked to hang with as a friend, but Joey didn’t want that. They made new friends when they moved to the house Joey picked out and drove in the cars Joey choose. And, she only heard from Wally at Christmas when they exchanged greeting cards.

They were invited to Wally’s wedding, but Joey didn’t see any point. And well, that meant Miracle couldn’t go either because Joey said so. And even if she insisted, well she never wanted to find out. His temper flared often and Miracle paid the price. Apologies seldom followed. She kept a packed duffle bag in her car.

Miracle thought many times about leaving Joey, but after having two boys, Pat and Mikey, and no career, she just cried in private. After all, where would she go? The boys eagerly left the nest and Miracle was alone most of the time. She knew Joey had a lover. Her few girlfriends all but deserted her for their own cute little grandchildren.

Then at the age of sixty-five she Googled Wallace J. O’Malley. She discovered many things. His goodness with charities, funding the good causes, and a reference of his wife passing away several years ago. Cancer. There were no children.

Boosted by false courage, Miracle sent him an email with belated condolences. The short message ended with a question.” Do you remember Cottonwood time?”

Miracle honestly didn’t expect a response. Why should he answer? Maybe she even hoped he wouldn’t. What could they possibly talk about? She had been the one to fall down on the relationship, yet she regretted so much of what could have been.

And then a reply came.

Long held tears spilled over and ran down her still pretty face. Overwhelmed, she stared at five words. “You were always my treasure.”

She massaged her fingers and then finally typed, “and you were mine.”

Then soon they barraged each other with news and questions. One had arthritis and the other had a bum hip. His house needed life, hers was too lonely. They carried on for a week emailing for hours, soon it was phone calls and then Wally called one morning.

“Hi, I’m at the coffee shop on the corner. Come meet me.”

Miracle shrieked. “I’m on my way.”


After coffee they drove to a quiet restaurant on the edge of town. They huddled in a booth and held hands. They kissed between sips of wine. The hours stretched into dinner, both unaware of the time, until Miracle’s phone buzzed.

“Ohmygod – it’s Joey.” A look of fear crossed Miracle’s face.

“It’s okay…you don’t have to be afraid.”

She nodded at Wally and answered her phone. “Yes?”

A second passed before Joey shouted, “Where the hell are you, woman, and where is my dinner?”

Wally covered her hand in his calloused one, hearing every word Joey said.

Embarrassed, Miracle answered, “I’m at lunch with my friend.”

“Since when does lunch turn into dinner? Get home, now, or you’ll be sorry.”

Both Miracle and Wally could hear the hate in his snarling voice. Wally pleaded, “Come with me, I love you,” forgetting Joey was listening.

“Who’s with you, Miracle? What the hell are you doing?” Joey shouted into the phone.

With renewed hope and courage, Miracle spoke in a firm voice. “No Joey. I’m not coming home, nor am I ever cooking for you. Let your girlfriend do the dirty work for now on.” And then she just turned off her phone.

It was dusk when the headed down the road to Wally’s home in New York. Miracle was grateful she had always kept the duffle bag handy.


Several months later when the divorce from Joey was final, Wally and Miracle married under a copse of cottonwood trees. The bride wore a simple linen dress and held a bouquet of tangerine lilies.




Word Count: 1850