It was Duncan’s turn. He got up and grabbed the microphone.

“Proud Mary,” he said to the person tending the karaoke machine.

In moments the opening beats of the song sounded loud and clear. “Dut dut dut, daaaah, dut, dut, dut, daaaah, dut, dut, dut, dah, dah, dah, dah,da-dut, daaah.”

“Left a good job in the city.” Duncan’s rich baritone silenced the room. Then dancers began gyrating to the rhythms. Some patrons hooted appreciatively, as Duncan’s voice rolled out, expertly rendering his favorite song.

It was a good evening, right through to last call at the bar. Duncan sang and sang. He was the favorite of the evening, and by the end of karaoke night, everyone else just sat and listened, while he sang song after song. He ate it up. When the bartender staff started hinting to the stragglers it was time to go, he was ready. It had been a long day and a long week. Karaoke night was the perfect ending. He was relaxed and sleepy. He and two of his construction buddies walked from the club to their trailers.

“Hey, did you hear about Remembering Rock?” John asked.

“Yeah, isn’t that just a crock,” Dale said.

“What is it?” Duncan asked.

“Some old story about a rock that makes people remember stuff they want to forget,” John answered. “No way that’s for real, but it sounds like the rock really exists.”

“Right,” said Dale. “You know that grove of hemlock about a half mile south of town? Seems it’s in there.”

“Hey, maybe we should check it out.” Duncan was curious.

“Not tonight, man.” John yawned, closed his eyes, and feigned sleepwalking.

“Well, tomorrow’s Sunday. We have the whole day to ourselves. We can go then, if we want.” Dale stopped. “We’re home, guys,” he sang.

They separated, each to his own trailer.

****

In Memory Grove, Guardian stirred and sat up. She looked out her window for a few moments. The moon was high and bright, nearly full. She slipped her feet into a pair of slippers and went out the door. The light from the moon was so strong, she could see all across the clearing. The Purities were restless.

Guardian walked toward the rock. “Someone’s been talking about you, haven’t they?” She sat on the grass and stroked the rock lovingly. “Nothing new. People talk about you all the time.” She paused. “But they don’t always plan to come see you, do they? Well, Duncan would have been here tomorrow at your invitation, anyway. It will be interesting to have spectators. It’s been a while since there’s been an audience.”

She laid her cheek on the cool stone. “Good-night, dear ones. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She rose and went back to bed.

****

Duncan was up and out first in the morning. He banged on John’s and Dale’s doors. “Get moving, sleepyheads. I’m hungry. I want some breakfast.”

He heard a muffled “Go ‘way,” from John’s trailer and a “In a minute,” from Dale’s.

“I’m heading over to Pat’s for breakfast,” Duncan said. “I’ll see you when you get there.”

****

Pat’s was full. It was ten-thirty; most of the crew had been up half the night and was looking for a late breakfast. Duncan had to wait fifteen minutes for a table. As he was being seated, Dale and John came in. He waved them over.

“Good morning, sleeping beauties.”

John just grunted, but Dale replied, “Back atcha.”

It was another fifteen minutes before Ruth came for their orders, bringing a pot of coffee and three cups with her.

“Let me guess,” she said, as she poured coffee. “French toast?”

“Ah, Ruthie, you know us too well,” Dale said. “Don’t forget the blueberries.”

John grabbed his cup and alternately blew and sipped without speaking.

“Don’t mind him,” Duncan said. “He’s still asleep. He’ll eat when you bring the toast, though.”

Ruth left with their order, and the guys looked around the room.

“Seems the guys all stayed up late last night,” Dale said. “First weekend in a new town. I suppose they wanted to get acquainted with the neighborhood. Or the people. Or the bars. Whatever.”

“Can’t say anything,” Duncan answered. “We did, too.”

John grunted.

“Hurry up and drink your coffee, John. You sound like a hibernating bear.” Duncan elbowed him.

“What do you know about hibernating bears?” Dale asked.

“Nothing. But it sounded good. Didn’t it? Didn’t it? Huh? Huh? Didn’t it?”

“Man, are you punchy. I don’t think you got enough sleep. Come on, John, we might have to tie Duncan to his bed before we head out to the grove.”

John looked over Dale’s shoulder. “Oh, good, here comes the food.”

Dale and Duncan turned as Ruth walked up to the table and handed around their platters of French toast. She set down the syrups and said, “Anything else I can get you?”

“I think we’re good,” Dale said as Duncan and John quickly syruped their slices and started eating.

Ruth put her hands on her hips. “Those two don’t stand on ceremony, do they?”

“Not when they’re hungry.”

Ruth left and the guys were silent as they ate. In short order the toast was gone and they were sitting back in their chairs, drinking the last of their coffee.

“Look at the time.” John was facing the clock on the wall. “It’s almost noon. We won’t have to eat lunch.”

“I wouldn’t say that,” Dale replied, “but we can eat a really late lunch.”

“We have plenty of time to get out to that grove in the meantime. I have to say, I’m pretty curious.”

“I’m not touching,” John said, “just in case. I don’t want any old memories getting dragged out of me.”

They got up, paid their bills, and bought some bottled water to take along. It looked like a warm day, and they were planning to walk. Besides, they didn’t know how long they would stay at the grove.

****

Fifteen minutes later they were standing outside the grove. Dale went up to the trees and tried to go in, but he couldn’t find a place to get through.

“What a pansy,” John said, but he had no luck, either.

“Hey, guys, over here.” Duncan was a few feet away, sticking his head out and waving them over. “We can get in here.”

He held the branches open for the other two and they were soon all working their way to the other side.

“Man, these trees are close together,” Dale complained. “And, listen, it sounds like the wind is picking up a little.”

They could hear the sighing sound of the breeze through the branches. It had been still before.

“I swear the branches are moving out of the way for you,” John said to Duncan.

“Don’t be silly,” Duncan answered. “I just know where to walk.”

“Don’t get cocky,” Dale said sourly, after getting slapped in the face with a branch for about the twelfth time.

They figured out the quickest way to get through was for Duncan to hold the branches and the other two to walk through, then repeat.

When they reached the clearing, they stopped and looked around.

“There’s the rock.” Duncan pointed.

They walked toward the rock. Duncan was surprised to find the other two trying to stay behind him.

“It’s listening to us,” John said when he asked about it. “Anyway, I feel funny, like someone’s watching us.”

“What a wuss.” Dale took a couple bold steps, which brought him in front of John, so he stopped and took a step back.

Duncan glanced to the left. “Look, there’s a cabin over there. Do you suppose someone lives in here?”

They all stopped and looked. The cabin was about a hundred yards away.

“Someone’s coming out.” John was whispering.

“Short person.” That was Duncan.

“I think you’re supposed to call them ‘little people’,” Dale admonished. “Boy, is she ugly.”

“I don’t think it’ll do you much good to be politically correct, if you say stuff like that,” John said.

Then she was close enough to hear them, and they stopped talking and watched her.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” she said. “I am Guardian. Welcome to my home.” She turned to Duncan. “We’ve been expecting you.” Glancing back at the others, she finished, “It’ll be interesting to have an audience.”

Duncan’s eyebrows shot up. John and Dale elbowed each other and made lewd faces.

“Knock it off, you idiots,” Duncan said. Then to Guardian, “What are you talking about?”

“You’ve heard people are sometimes invited to Remembering Rock, right? You have been invited. And you are so sensitive to the summons, I didn’t even have to go out to tell you.”

Duncan backed up a step. “Not me, lady, you got the wrong guy.”

“Well, then, let’s have a party,” Guardian said. “I have some cold drinks and snacks ready. I’m sorry I can’t provide any music.”

“Or women?” John looked around.

“No women, either, I’m afraid.”

“Oh, why not,” Duncan said. “Let’s go.”

They followed Guardian to the cabin and inside.

She seated them at the table and went to the refrigerator.

“This is awesome wood.” Dale was running his hands over the table. He twisted around to look at his chair. “Chairs are made of the same stuff.” He looked closer. “Is this ironwood?”

“Yes, it is.”

“Should people be making furniture out of it? It grows so slowly, if very many did that, it would all be gone in no time.”

“Sadly, very true. If I was choosing my wood today, I would choose differently. Back when I built these, there was so much ironwood, no one had any idea it would ever become scarce.”

Duncan looked at her and frowned. “How long ago was that?”

Guardian sighed. “I can’t really remember. A long time.”

“I get it,” John said. “You don’t want to give away how old you are.”

“Can’t hide anything from you, can I?” Guardian smiled.

“Well, this is amazing wood,” Dale said. “I wish I had some. I priced it one time. You wouldn’t believe how expensive it is.”

Guardian put a glass of something in front of each of the men and a plate of cookies in the center of the table.

“Is there alcohol in this?” John held his glass up to the light.

“None.”

“Good.” He took a drink. “Pretty good. Kind of like iced tea, but tastes different. Better.”

Dale reached for a cookie. “Say, Duncan, you could provide the music. John and I could do a little dance.”

"Very funny. I don’t think so. My throat is sore from all the singing last night. This iced tea feels good on it, though.” Duncan held up his glass.

“Would you like more?”

“Please.”

She poured Duncan another glass and said, “Anyone else?”

John and Dale both held out their glasses for refills.

They didn’t have much more to say, as they finished their refreshments.

“This party’s getting too quiet. Let’s go back outside.” Dale jumped up from the table.

The other two rose, as well, and all four filed back out into the sunshine.

“Ah, that’s better,” Dale said, throwing his arms out and tilting his head back.

As if by prior agreement, they all walked toward Remembering Rock.

“Looks like two people, lying back to back,” John said.

“Yes,” said Guardian.

“Why are their arms linked like that? It was John again.

“I’ll show you,” Guardian answered. “Stand back to back with Dale, there.” They did. “Now link your arms like theirs. Press your backs together and bend your legs until you are sitting down.”

“Hey, I remember doing this when I was a kid,” Dale said. “Stay there, John. Keep pressing back against me and stand up again.”

John whooped, and they sat down and got up two more times. “We did that, too. And, when we wanted to be more advanced, we did it without linking arms.”

“Here’s another one,” Dale said. “Come here, Duncan. It takes three people. Okay, I’ll stand in the middle and link elbows with each of you, one on each side. Now, you each lean as far over as you can. You’ll be off balance, but you won’t fall, because our elbows are linked.”

As he was hanging to the side, John said, “This feels kind of weird. Like, dangerous. You’d have to trust the person holding you up.”