Clean Hands And A Pure Heart
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The sun was high in the sky by the time he found the right place. The little dirt road he’d taken wound through a thick forest of oaks and pines, the ground underfoot turning to mud with each step. He stopped several times to catch his breath before the forest gave way to an open field, still heavily overgrown with weeds and wild grasses.
It was covered in a blanket of fallen leaves that were already starting to rot. In the middle of the field sat a small shack.
He had been walking for so long that he knew this couldn’t be it, but he was too exhausted to walk back down the road and try again. He approached the shack cautiously, feeling like something was watching him from behind the trees.
But the only thing he saw was a broken old picnic table sitting beside the shack. The roof was caved in on one side, and there were boards missing from the front where a door had once hung. It looked as if it had been abandoned for decades.
There was no electricity or running water, which meant that he would have to spend the night here. He’d been hiking all day, and he hadn’t eaten anything since the previous evening.
As he reached the doorway, he saw a piece of paper stuck inside. He pulled it out and unfolded it.
***
This is a safe house for people who are homeless or runaways. We provide food, shelter, and work to those in need. This is not a place of punishment. There is no time limit for your stay. We do ask that you respect the property and not damage what we’ve provided.
The money we receive from donations helps us pay the bills, but it’s still only enough to cover the bare necessities. Please come to the door when you arrive.
***
Alyssa, the girl who lived in the house, came to the door as soon as she heard him approach. She was young, maybe seventeen or eighteen. She wore a black sweater, jeans, and a pair of cheap leather boots. Her hair was a dark brown, cut short.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I didn’t see any sign.”
She laughed at him. “It’s not exactly big and fancy, but it’s a safe place to stay. You can sleep in the back bedroom. Do you have a bag?”
He nodded.
“Good. There’s a closet over there. Bring it with you. Don’t worry about anything else. We’ll take care of your clothes, and we’ll have dinner ready for you. We serve two meals a day: breakfast at eight in the morning and supper at five in the afternoon. Once you’re settled, we’ll give you some time to rest, and then we’ll discuss what we can do to help.”
“What about my friend?”
She hesitated before answering. “You know that’s not allowed. It’s only for those who are alone.”
“But he’s not.”
“You’re welcome to bring him back tomorrow. But now you must go. The others will be waiting.”
He didn’t understand. He had just walked all this way to find them. And if he left without finding out where they were, he would never be able to find them again.
“I have to know,” he said.
“You’re a grown man,” she said, “and you made your choice. If you want to spend the night here, we’ll provide food and shelter. If you want to go home, that’s fine too. Just don’t get in the way.”
“How will I know which one is her?”
“There’s no way you can tell.”
He turned to leave, but she stopped him. “Wait. You’ve got something on your head.”
He pulled off his hat and showed her the black streak. “I found it when I was digging up some roots. Is it a symbol of some kind? Some kind of organization?”
“It’s a curse.” She pointed to the mark. “If you want to make things right, you’ll have to do exactly as we say.”
“And if I refuse?”
“Then you’ll have to stay here forever.”
***
The first thing he noticed when he stepped inside the house was that he was filthy. His clothes were dirty, and his skin was covered in scratches. He’d been hiking through a forest of weeds and wild grasses for most of the day. It wasn’t long before his legs started to ache. When he reached the shack, he hadn’t even realized how much his feet hurt until he sat down on the couch.
His eyes adjusted quickly to the darkness. The interior was small but comfortable. There was a small kitchen, a living room with a wood-burning stove, and a bedroom with a bed and a dresser. Everything was clean, except for the dust on the shelves. There were no windows or electricity, but there was a lamp sitting on a table by the door.
“What is this place?” he asked.
“This is our safe house,” Alyssa said. “We provide food, shelter, and work to those in need. This is not a place of punishment. We do ask that you respect the property and not damage what we’ve provided. The money we receive from donations helps us pay the bills, but it’s still only enough to cover the bare necessities. Please come to the door when you arrive.”
She was sitting on the couch, next to a young woman who looked to be about her age. Her hair was short and black. She wore a pair of jeans and a dark green sweater.
“I’m sorry,” he said, “but I didn’t see any sign.”
“That’s not allowed. It’s only for those who are alone.”
“But I brought my friend.”
“You’re welcome to bring him back tomorrow. But now you must go. The others will be waiting.”
He hesitated, then nodded. He walked out of the house and across the yard, where he found three more people waiting. They were all older than Alyssa. They wore gray sweatshirts and blue jeans. All three had a black streak in their hair.
“We’ve been expecting you,” said one of the men. “We’ll take care of everything.”
They led him into the woods. They spoke little, and when they did, it was in whispers. The air was damp and smelled of rotting leaves. At first, he thought that the trees were taller than they should be, but as the sun set, he realized that they were just leaning over to block out the light.
The trail was narrow and twisted. When they reached a small clearing, they stopped. The man who had spoken earlier pulled out a knife and sliced off a piece of his shirt. “Take this,” he said, handing it to him. “Wear it to keep the insects away. You’re going to need it.”
“Is this what you want me to wear?”
“Yes.”
He put on the shirt. It was so tight, he couldn’t even move his arms without pulling it down. He’d never worn anything like it before. It felt uncomfortable, and it made him itch.
“What happens now?” he asked.
“Now we wait.”
They sat in silence for several minutes. Then, suddenly, he heard the sound of footsteps.
A pair of figures appeared at the edge of the woods. They were both wearing black robes. One was tall and thin, with long, wavy hair. The other was short and stout. They stood perfectly still, and didn’t speak. Their faces were hidden behind their hoods.
“It’s time,” said the woman. She took off her robe, revealing a simple white dress. “Come to us.”
He followed them into the forest. When they reached the clearing, they were met by a dozen or more people. They were all dressed in the same clothes. Most of them were old, but there were some young ones as well.
“We welcome you,” said the woman. “This is your home.”
***
The next morning, he woke up early. He had a pounding headache, and his stomach was cramping. His clothes were damp and dirty. He felt weak, and his legs ached badly.
“You must have been out there all night,” Alyssa said when she saw him. “Did you find our place?”
“Yes,” he said. “But I’m not sure how to get back.”
She handed him a bowl of oatmeal. “That’s where we come in. We’ll help you find your way home.”
He ate quickly. The oatmeal tasted awful, but it was filling.
“Do you know why you’re here?” she asked.
“I don’t understand. What did I do wrong?”
“Nothing. You were brought here because you need help. That’s what we do. And you will stay here until you’ve found it.”
“Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Why are you wearing that?”
She glanced down at her clothes. “This is our uniform. It makes us recognizable. People who need help can find us easily. But it also helps us identify those who should be sent away. It’s a good system.”
“Are you allowed to leave?”
“Only on special occasions. Like now. You’re welcome to go, but we would like you to stay.”
“I think I’ll stay,” he said. “It sounds nice here.”
“Good. Then let’s get started.”
They walked through the woods. They were quiet for most of the walk, but every once in a while, he’d hear a whisper or a rustle. When they reached the clearing, they climbed onto a flat rock and looked out over the water.
“What do you see?” asked Alyssa.
“Just the lake,” he said. “There’s no island.”
“That’s right. There isn’t. But there used to be.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Look closely. See how the trees lean over the water? That’s a trick of perspective. This is all that’s left. It’s all that’s left of our home.”
“Why aren’t you helping them?”
“We have given up. We’re leaving. They’ll die if we don’t help them.”
“But you’re so strong. Why are you giving up?”
“It’s hard to explain. Once upon a time, this was a peaceful place. People came from all over to visit. They brought their families with them. Now, they’re gone. The woods are empty. Our people are dying. We must go. If we don’t, we’ll be next.”
“How will you get back?”
“The same way we came.”
“Will you come back someday?”
“I hope so.” She stood up and began to climb down. “You’ll need to find your own way home. Just keep going until you reach the lake.”
He watched her go. She was wearing a plain white dress, with nothing else on her feet. He wondered what she would look like without the robe.
When he reached the edge of the water, he turned around and saw that it wasn’t an island after all. It was just a large rock.
***
“You’re back!” Alyssa said when he stepped inside.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be gone so long.”
“You did fine. It’s not easy being away from home for the first time.”
He followed her into the kitchen. She poured him a bowl of cereal. “Eat up. We’ve got a lot to do today.”
She led him down a hallway, where they entered a room filled with shelves. Every shelf had something on it: clothes, shoes, dishes, books, even food.
“What’s all this?” he asked.
“We have everything here. And we’ll teach you how to use it.”
They spent most of the day in the kitchen. After lunch, they moved onto the living room.
“Do you know why we have so much stuff?” she asked.
“Yes. You can take care of yourself.”
“That’s right. We don’t need much. But we also have enough to share. Everyone needs to eat.”
“I’m hungry.”
“You’ll get some soon. First, we’ll get you dressed.”
She pulled out a closet door. She opened it and handed him a pile of clothes. “Try these on.”
He took the pile and walked into a bathroom. He closed the door behind him and quickly undressed. Then he picked up each piece of clothing and examined it. It was all very strange. His skin was so pale, but his hair was black.
“Are you sure these will fit?” he asked.
“We’re always making adjustments. Some things work better than others. It’s trial and error. If they don’t fit, then we just make new ones.”
He pulled on a pair of pants. They were a little loose, but they felt good. “These are comfortable.”
“Good. Now the shirt. Go ahead, try it on.”
He slipped into the shirt. The sleeves were too long, but he could fix that easily enough. When he lifted his arms, he noticed a hole in the side.
“Oh no,” said Alyssa. “We’ll have to sew it up.”
“Can’t I just wear this?”
“No. You need to be able to move freely.”
“Couldn’t you do it while we’re outside?”
“No. This is delicate work. We’ll have to do it here.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble.”
“It’s okay. It happens.”
The shirt was fine, so he put on a jacket. The material felt like it would hold up well.
“There,” she said. “Now we just need to find you some shoes. And socks.”
“What about my underwear?”
“You won’t need those.”
He looked at her curiously.
“It’s easier if we don’t talk about it,” she said. “It’s embarrassing for us, but we don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s go.”
They returned to the kitchen. She took him by the hand and led him out the door.
“Where are we going?” he asked.
“We’re going to the forest. It’s where we live.”
“What are we looking for?”
“Anything that might help us. Or anyone who needs our help.”
“You’ll have to show me how it works.”
“I’ll try.”
When they reached the woods, Alyssa began to walk. He followed her, careful not to trip over any roots or rocks. The trees were tall and wide. Birds flew overhead. The air was warm and smelled fresh.
“Do you see what I mean?” she asked. “We can do whatever we want here. We can be ourselves.”
He glanced down at himself. He wore only the clothes she had given him. No belt, no shoes, nothing else. “I think I understand.”
“Let’s take a break.”
They sat on a log near the stream. She poured them each a glass of water. They shared it. Then they got up and continued walking.
“Have you ever been in the forest before?” she asked.
“No.”
“It’s very nice.”
“Is it?”
“Yes. It’s beautiful.”
“Then why aren’t you happy?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why are you so sad? What happened to make you like this?”
“I’m not sad.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“What was it that made you like this?”
“I don’t know.”
“Tell me.”
“I was in an accident. That’s all I remember.”
“Was it a bad accident?”
“I don’t know.”
“Could you tell me more about it?”
“I can try.”
“That would be wonderful.”
She took him back to the kitchen. She told him about her family. Her parents were good people, but they were never around much. They had to work hard to support themselves. They couldn’t afford to hire someone to help them with the cooking or cleaning. So they did it all themselves. It wasn’t easy, but they managed.
Alyssa and her brother worked together in the garden. They planted seeds and watered them. They tended to the animals, too. The chickens and ducks provided eggs. And the cows and pigs gave milk.
But then one day, the world changed. There was no more money. Everyone was forced to find a new way to survive. The family struggled for a while, but eventually they had to sell their home. It was too expensive to maintain. They moved to the country.
The house was small and old, but it was perfect for Alyssa and her brother. It was only a few miles from the woods. That’s where they lived now.
“Is that where you live?” he asked.
“Yes. We have a lot of fun here. But we can’t stay here forever. We need to find somewhere else to go.”
“What happened to your parents?”
“They died. In a car accident.”
“Do you miss them?”
“Of course. They were good people.”
“Have you ever talked to anyone about what happened?”
“No. I don’t really know how to talk about it.”
“You can tell me. I promise I won’t laugh.”
“I can try,” she said. “But it’s not easy to explain.”
He waited patiently as she continued to pour them both water. When they finished, she showed him to the living room. She had left his clothes on the floor near the fireplace. He put them on and found a pair of socks.
“Now we’ll see if I can show you how to talk to us,” she said.
She led him through the forest. It was much easier this time. It was like walking on a path. Only she knew the way.
When they reached the clearing, she pulled him to the right. She sat on a log near the stream. He followed her.
“I want you to think about something,” she said. “Something that happened when you were alone.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know, like you’re sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner or watching TV. Or maybe you’re in bed asleep.”
“That’s hard to picture.”
“Okay. Then just think about a moment when you were by yourself. You know, when you were by yourself.”
“How can I do that?”
“Just imagine it. Picture it as clearly as possible.”
“Okay.”
“It might help if you close your eyes.”
“Why?”
“Because I want you to concentrate.”
“Okay.”
She waited. The stream splashed against the rocks. Birds chirped. She took a deep breath.
“Can I open my eyes now?” he asked.
“Yes.”
He opened his eyes. “Where are we?”
“We’re in the forest,” she said.
“How did we get here?”
“I brought us here. Now you need to do it.”
“Can you show me again?”
“Sure.”
She pulled him back into the woods. They walked for a while. She showed him the stream and the clearing where they had sat before. She pointed out the trees and told him the names of each one.
“Do you know what any of those things are?” he asked.
“No,” she said. “But I can find them.”
“Would you like to find a few more?”
“I guess so.”
“Okay. Let’s go.”
They walked deeper into the woods. She showed him how to listen to the wind. How to smell the air. And then they found a tree.
“This is a pine tree,” she said. “It’s a very good tree. It likes to give shade. But it can also be used for making things like paper and wood.”
“Can you make something with it?”
“Yes. I could make a basket. Or we could chop off some branches to use for firewood.”
“So it’s useful?”
“Very. This is a good tree.”
“Are there other kinds of trees?”
“Sure. There are oaks and maples. Elm, elm, elm.”
“Is it true that the trees are alive?”
“Not really. They’re not people. But they do have feelings.”
“Like what?”
“Like when they’re cut down and killed. Or when they’re burned.”
“Why would anyone want to hurt a tree?”
“Sometimes people need wood for things. But most of the time, they don’t. They just take it because they can.”
“I never thought about it like that.”
“That’s okay. I’m glad you did.”
“What else do you think about trees?”
“I think about how much I love them. And how I wish there were more of them.”
“Do you think there are too many cars?”
“I think we need a lot more trees than we have.”
“Me too.”
“It’s important to protect them.”
“Why is it important to protect them?”
“Because they’re beautiful. And they’re very old. And they give us so much. I mean, they give us everything.”
“What do you mean?”
“Food. Water. Air. Shelter. The sky. The stars. All of it. It’s all here in the forest.”
“And the animals?”
“The birds, the squirrels, the deer, the rabbits. They’re all part of the forest. Everything is connected. It’s like a big family.”
“Are you part of the forest?”
“No. I’m just one person. But I’ll do my best to help.”
“What will you do?”
“I’ll plant some trees. And I’ll try to make sure everyone does the same thing. We can all work together to keep the forest clean and safe.”
“Will we have to chop down all the trees?”
“I hope not. But if we need to, then we should do it as gently as possible. So the forest can heal.”
“It sounds like a lot of work.”
“I know. But we have to do it.”
“We have to do what?”
“Protect the forest.”
“You’re not going to chop down any trees, are you?”
“No. I promise. We’re going to find a better way.”
“Then I’ll help.”
“I’m glad you said that. Do you want to go back to the clearing now?”
“Yes. Let’s go.”
They walked through the woods and found their way back to the stream. She pulled him up onto the bank and pointed out the stones she had placed there before.
“Here,” she said, “is where we sat before.”
“It’s good to be here again.”
“You’re welcome to come back anytime. But maybe next time we could bring a picnic basket with us.”
“I’d like that.”
“Okay. Then let’s go home.”
The End