Phillip Wolfe
The family
that lived at the edge of the oak forest kept away from the town folks and
rarely interacted with their neighbors.
One of the townsfolk might catch a glimpse of one of the children
talking to forest animals or see the children climbing trees. Sometimes in
passing conversation some peculiar circumstance might be mentioned but in
general everyone thought it best to mind their own business.
Mr. Wolfe and his wife took two walks per day,
one at daybreak and the other just after the sun set and stars were beginning
to pop out of the dark canopy of night. Some of the townspeople suggested that Mrs.
Wolfe was an artist and Mr. Wolfe was a writer but no one bothered to ask or do
any research. The guesses were true and they were well known
in some circles. Mr. Wolfe was also a character actor appearing in many minor
roles. In the big city their names were occasionally
mentioned in the society pages but in their small town they were just normal people
with abnormal children.
Mr.
Wolfe owned a mom and pop mini mart five miles from their house and a mini
storage facility next to town. Although
many said the Wolfe family was rich the family was careful with their money and
bought forest land which they donated to the U.S. Forest Service.
Things didn’t
always go well for the family. Because the children had ongoing problems in
school, Mrs. Wolfe, after teaching three years, decided to stay home and take
care of the three boys and one daughter.
In their younger years the four children were
hard to describe. They seemed to blend
in with every kind of scenery or scene. When
class pictures were taken the Wolfe children never were in focus or were hidden
just out of the picture. Newcomers to
the area might ask, “Where’s Johnny? Or where is Abigail?”
After a few days the newcomers didn’t ask
anymore because the regulars would simply turn away glassy-eyed and ignore the
question. It was said that Johnny and
Abigail could hide in shadows or cracks in the walls. Of course that was nonsense, or at least it
couldn’t be proven.
The two
younger brothers, Justin and Phillip, were even harder to explain and even
harder to ignore. Their movements were
quick and their voices too loud for indoor activities and the Wolfe house
couldn’t contain their restless activity.
Outdoors the children were at home, especially
when they were in shady areas or partial darkness. When twilight drew near and
nocturnal animals were shuffling about, the two boys became restless, energized
and alert. On nights when the full moon
swallowed up the sky, the two younger brothers roamed the countryside, and went
racing about, carefree and wild.
Both smiled
constantly, but if they felt threatened or saw someone bullied, their demeanor
changed. The smiles changed to snarls and
the fight was on. On several separate occasions bullies challenged Phillip and
Justin but the battles were always short.
A whirl of motion here, a snap and a growl, and the bullies were on
their backs, pleading for mercy. Although
it didn’t last long, peace reigned for awhile.
When they were
in their twenties they appeared suave and sophisticated. All of them had been
exposed to stage and cinema and were anxious to see if the thespian life was their
calling.
Johnny and
Abigail took small parts hoping the roles would expand. Justin and Phillip were not sure they wanted
to be actors so they held back.
Justin
learned a lot about himself while protecting others. After the first time he had come to someone’s
defense, Justin wanted to be a deputy keeping law and order. In his opinion every person deserved equal
treatment.
Phillip, the
most unusual of the four, had special qualities. Everyone believed he had ESP because he had
the uncanny ability to look at someone and know his next move. It was thought that Phillip could track any
animal across rocky terrain or across bodies if water. Phillip knew his abilities but he let people
think his powers were unlimited.
Once, during
search party training exercises, Phillip demonstrated what he could do. It was recorded on film by a deputy and
verified by several others.
“Philip bent
low to the ground, took a quick sniff, tilted his head back and howled, long
and blood-curdling. He then proceeded to
track a mountain lion to its den.”
The Wolfe family had long been fans of the
Theatre and claimed they had several well-known relatives, one of the most
notable being Virginia Wolfe. Abigail
had taken voice lessons and seemed destined to be a star but bright lights
frightened her. Even after therapy she
seemed blinded and unsure of herself.
She was the first Wolfe to face disappointment in acting.
Johnny, the
next in line, was accused of pawing several leading ladies. His chance to become a leading man was
diminished. He was ruled out of future productions and became the second
disappointment.
Justin seemed a shoo-in for the role of a leading
man. Handsome and well-liked, Justin
wanted to be the hero and win the lady’s heart.
However, in his first role the leading man was a villain. In Little Red
Riding Hood Justin wanted to transform the wolf into a good Wolfe. His request was turned down and he dropped
out of acting to begin a career in law enforcement.
Phillip
finally tried out for a part. He wasn’t
trying to make it big, but merely get his foot in the door. He learned his lines quickly and easily. Becoming too involved was his major concern. Could he actually lose a stage fight or give
up a fair maiden? It was difficult but
he managed to stay out of trouble.
Around town,
trouble seemed to haunt him. Usually he sat by himself, away from groups, just
watching others and studying their mannerisms for future roles. One night he drifted into a small bar located
just off the main part of town. He was
sitting quietly on a stool sipping a margarita and listening to country songs. The band was good but not great. There was a change in rhythm and intensity
when a lady with a bass guitar took charge. She was good. Phillip was impressed as her fingers danced
across the strings and the music came alive.
After a series of songs she stopped and beckoned to Phillip.
“I need a
drink,” she said into the microphone.
She leaned her guitar against the wall and out of harm’s way. “Are you going to buy this girl a drink?’ she
asked as she sidled up to Phillip. Her
gray eyes watched closely, measuring his slightest reaction.
“My
pleasure,” he replied. “Bartender, give
the lady whatever she’s been drinking.
Just put it on my tab.”
He stood up
and scooted his chair towards her. “Have
a seat and rest your weary bones.”
It was
evident to Phillip that men rarely treated her like a lady. She blushed and said, “I’m Kristine. I’m glad
to meet you.”
Phillip got
up slowly, extended his hand, and said dramatically, “I’m the Lone Wolfe, the
only one fortunate enough to meet a beautiful lady like you.”
The bar was
crowded and the room was warm. There
were only a handful of women and the men were frustrated and growing meaner by
the minute.
“It’s hot in
here,” she announced. “I need cool air.”
She fanned herself for effect and then started towards the door. Glancing at Phillip she asked, “Well, are you
coming or not?”
The situation was strange and Phillip knew
instinctively that something was wrong. The
hair on the back of his neck had risen.
Still, he was curious if this was a set-up.
“Of course,
darling. It’s cool outside and the moon
is full and beautiful. It’s something to
howl about.”
“You’re just
too funny,” Kristine said. “Now tell me who you are and what brings you here tonight.”
“Phillip. That’s my name. I just wanted to hear a good band and relax. It
was a bonus when I saw you.”
She led him
to the parking lot before she said quietly, “I think you’re a narc. We don’t like troublemakers around here.” She wouldn’t be alone and confronting him
like that.
A slight
sound caught Phillip’s attention. “I
think we have company.”
In the
shadows several men hurried towards them.
Phillip mentally noted five men, all large and muscular.
Kristine
moved away from him. “Goodbye, stranger. You should have stayed in the country.”
Phillip
moved swiftly at the edge of moonlight, becoming both shadow and reflection. Phillip knocked the first two down easily
with jabs to their throats. He was too fast
and elusive. “Is this a ghost we’re
trying to catch?” one man panted. He circled them, attacked, and destroyed
their confidence. In short order he left
them huddled in the middle of the parking lot, whimpering and shivering.
Phillip
strolled through the door and sat down.
He ordered a drink. Kristine
stared at him in surprise.
Phillip
raised his glass. “Here’s to you. When your friends recover tell them that not
everyone is a pushover.”
Phillip’s
reputation as a fighter led him to new roles.
Before long he had several roles in martial arts films playing alongside
Buck Morris and Mackie Shan.
