Hush Little Baby
Vivian VanDam
Chapter one, Haven.
I work in a rather large Victorian style mansion. The front foyer and the rest of the first floor was covered in marble tiles, once you stepped into the main area, right in the center of the room was the spiraling staircase leading up the upper floors. There were eight. Nine if you counted the attic. Around the staircase was beautiful black iron railings, going all the way up. Before you hit the top floor, right dead center of the room, was a large real crystal chandelier…it's beautiful. In the midday, when the sun hits it just right it casts beautiful rainbows throughout the foyer. Passed the foyer there were five different doors, one led to Stu's, (the master) dojo. He taught Tai Chi. He made money, but not nearly as much as the missus, and my best friend Myu, she was the C.E.O of a plus sized fashion company; it had originally taken off in Korea. Now, she's over here spreading her beautiful clothing. Next to that, was the largest dining area you'll ever see. It had a table that could fit thirty, forty on a good day. Another crystal chandelier hung above the table that was made from red rood. The breakfast nook was for family only, the walls were made of glass and was surrounded by greenery. It truly was amazing. We maids, were not treated as help. We were treated as family. Within the living area held a large wrap around couch, with a 3D television. Something Stu HAD to have. The kitchen was just as big as the dining area. A full staff of chef's come in and make the Master and Missus's meals every day. They too are paid handsomely. The mansion had a large front porch with a solid thirty acers worth of land, surrounded by a forest. Covered in trees, the wild life loved to come from the forest and check out the home. I loved the forest in the summer and spring, wild flowers bloomed in the large field. Fall was nice, watching the leaves change while doing the dishes. I'm their maid, the youngest. I'm twenty-seven. They pay was alright, five hundred a week. Sometimes a little more if I work over my forty hours. It pays my bills, supports my son, puts food in his stomach and clothing on his back I was happy. Myu, has five children a sixth one on the way. She wanted a girl, so they kept trying till, hopefully now she would have one. She didn't hire nanny's, she wanted to raise her children by herself. Which she had done, she also helped me raise my own son, Calen.
Throughout the halls there were amazing paintings, real Persian rugs and vases that costs more than my rent. Yet, Myu was very humble. She never showed off she had money. She just loved the beauty of real things. She never spoiled her children, and not once has she ever bought something she didn't use, and or tended to use. The uniforms I had to wear were very simple. Skirt, five-inch heels, a blue blouse and stockings. My back and legs scream by the end of my shift, there are times where I just want to sit down and cry from the soreness…I had my son to look after. There are seven of us total, I made seven. It's hard, honest work. There's not a day I go home without feeling some sort of accomplishment. I have breakfast with my son before shoveling him off to school, I have lunch at work, and my son comes to Myu's mansion for dinner. Sometimes we have breakfast here, if I was needed early.
My son goes to the same school as Myu's oldest four children. She agreed to pay his school fees, and I was more than happy with that. Calen is nine years old, my god he's a bundle of energy. He took after me in pretty much everything. Curly red hair, bright green eyes, freckles over his face, light lips and light skin tone. We sometimes tease one another and call each other 'Casper the Friendly Ghost'. Yes, we're Irish. Well, I'm full blooded. Calen is Irish and German. He's my little ray of sunshine. As cliché as that is, it's true.
I'm the only maid allowed to go into Myu's bath area and help her with her yoga. She's about ready to pop at any moment. I love her to death as well, there are times we must keep our friendship a secret to Stu…and Stu…he's an enigma. He's scares me to death. There are times if were alone in the same room, I get chills running up and down my spine. I feel like…like he's something totally wrong he has eyes that could pierce through your soul if you allowed him to look at you long enough. One time, while rubbing essential oils on Myu's swollen legs and feet, I caught him watching me from the other end of the room. When I confronted her about it, she told me it was because one of their other maids, had stolen something and he didn't trust younger maids.
I don't think that's it at all…another reason I hate him, is because when we're alone, he loves to rub against me. Or 'accidently' brush my bottom, or elbow my breast. Now, I'm not a skinny woman. I am well endowed, but that gives him no reason to 'accidently' touch me. I know it's not an accident. I've been working with them for the last nine almost ten years. Since I had turned sixteen and she took me in for a while…that's too long of a story to get into.
One night I was cleaning his dojo, on my hands and knees waxing the floors with a Korean oil, he came barging in, locking the door behind him. I watched him as carefully as I could. When Stu is around I never pay attention to him, I ignore him unless spoken too…this time, it was different. He walked up to me, told me to stand up. When I did, he wrapped his hand around my throat and shoved me against the wall. I stared at him, I just watched him do this to me as if I was watching a movie, and someone else was me…he was breathing heavily on me, trying to kiss me. All I did was bring both my arms up, struck him in the center of his elbow. He lost his grip on me, and I ran.
Ever since that day, only Anya the eldest maid was allowed his clean his dojo.
I was fine with that.
I hated that man with an undying passion.
Every night when I come home with Calen, I have a bone deep ache and all I want is a hot shower and to collapse into my bed and fall asleep. But…my son needed me. I help with his math homework, I ask him how his day was. It was the same answers, over and over…every single night. There are times, if Myu allows me to go home early, I spend the rest of the evening making a feast for him. He may be turning ten, but he eats like a teenager, how he stays so rail thin, I'd never know…after dinner I'd sing him a song to make sure the 'monsters' stay away. I think it was just his way to see me before he fell asleep.
My son knows I try hard to raise him right, he understands what I do is for him. He doesn't tell me he gets teased at school, but I know he does. I see it in his eyes. I see how lonely he gets. Considering his only friends are the ones that he grew up around. He never once complained. Not about his Wal-Mart clothes, or his second-hand shoes…even the shabby two-bedroom apartment that I can hardly afford. But, my son goes to the best school in the county. Thanks to Myu for that one. He tries to comfort me, in telling me that everything will be alright, that he doesn't need any real friends when he has me, and the older maids from Myu's…but, that's all he had ever known. I try to teach him right, that sometimes having a little is just enough, and having a mother who busts her ass for him day and night was all he needed. I understood that he wanted a father, he never once asked about him, he never seemed to want to know. It's as if he understands the situation at hand. For a nine-year-old…he's one smart cookie.
The best part of every night, before I sing him to sleep, he kisses my cheek and tells me he's proud of having a mommy that works so hard, that he's happy with his books (albeit worn down). He surprises me whenever Christmas comes around, all the other kids had the newest iPhone, iPod, or a mac book air, he just looks at me and tells me.
'Mommy, I don't want a computer. I just want a new book for Christmas. Maybe even new socks.'
All he ever wants is books, drawing supplies and I'll tell you what, the most expensive thing he had ever asked me to buy him, was a fountain pen. And I'll be damned if I didn't buy him one.
A lot of people are surprised when I tell them my son's only nine. They think he's so much older due to how he looks, and acts. But nope, he's my little nine-year-old baby. He's still a child at heart who believes there are monsters underneath the bed, in the closet…and I giggle. It makes me feel, like there's still something I can teach him.
'All monsters, are human.'
I know it sounds so wrong to teach a nine-year-old that, but it's true. Everyone can become a monster. No matter how old, how young…it can happen. And I try to raise him to not believe everything he hears. Something I should've been taught by my own mother.
Calen isn't spoiled by any means, he does housework. Calen cleans the dishes, vacuums and sweeps the floor. The only thing I don't allow him to do is the laundry, that's only because I have a certain way I want it done…and possibly because he might have flooded the bathroom with suds…yes, the only place for our washer and dryer is in the bathroom. At the end of every week, he gets an allowance. A dollar for each year he is. He's a very, very bright young boy. When report cards come out, if he has all straight A's I give him a little 'bonus'. I take him out to dinner, and I give him an extra ten dollars. Sometimes I just give him an even twenty.
…My son is a very thoughtful child, a few nights ago I was struggling with rent, he comes walking in (when he's supposed to be asleep) with a large coffee tin I gave him to keep his change in. He places it down in front of me, getting up in our worn down, mismatched dining room chair. He looked at me with those big, bright childlike eyes. His smile was large and bright, he had just lost his front left tooth.
Calen never believed in Santa, the Easter Bunny, nor the tooth fairy. He just showed me, and tossed his teeth away. I did try to get him to believe in good ol' saint nick, but it never worked. He looked at me as if I just walked out of the loony bin.
That night we sat across from each other, he looked at the bill in front of me. He reached into his tin can, and pulled out some money. He looked to see how much I was short, and handed me a hundred and fifty-one dollars. I gave him a look and he shrugged. That was the moment, I realized that my son, wasn't like your normal average child. I wrapped my arms around him, I hugged him so tight I thought his beautiful green eyes would pop from his skull. I couldn't help but cry, I loved my job, I loved my son, and I was thankful to have everything that I did. I did want to convince my son that, that money was his. That he should save it, keep it for himself. He could find something he wanted really, truly bad…and he would give me a look. And I knew, I wouldn't have won that argument. That night, I promised I would take him to the toy shop, like I said, he was still a nine-year-old who loved toys.
…
"Mommy!" He screeched jumping on my bed, I sat up drool and some of my red curled hair stuck to the side of my face. I reached up to rub my eyes, chunks of eyeliner and mascara came off. He was falling back off my mattress on the floor bed, laughing.
"You look like a clown!" He was pointing, laughing. I opened my left eye staring at him.
"It's my first day off in almost three weeks, why are you waking me up at…" I turned to look at my alarm clock. It read seven thirty.
"At seven thirty in the morning?" I moaned falling back on my pillow. Calen climbed up and flopped down on top of me squealing.
"Because, I wanted to go to the toy store!" He was excited, I could tell. I didn't blame him, it wasn't often that I had a day off on a weekend. I moaned rubbing my face again.
"Okay, okay…I have to pay rent today anyway." He was rubbing his face into my chest, his arms around me in a huge hug. I let myself smile before wrapping my own arms around him, I buried my face into his curls. I could smell my shampoo. It was a gentle floral smell. I was home…
"I'll make coffee!" He bounded up from my arms and trotted off, keeping the bedroom door open. Yawning I swung my feet off the bed, they touched the floor. I got up scratching my head, I fell asleep with my hair up in a messy bun. Walking into my living room, I had on my long t-shirt that I had gotten from a recent ex-boyfriend. The end of the shirt landed on my knees. Calen was pouring us both a cup, he added whatever I liked, he liked his coffee black. And strong. I sat down on our old, falling apart couch. I brought my cup to my lips and took a long drink. I sucked air through my teeth.
Yup, stronger then I make it. I love it though.
"Calen sweetie, are you sure you want to give me that money?" I asked him, he was sitting next to me in his sleepy time P. J's and he nodded.
"I know you were short on money mommy. Since you had to get a new window unit." He nodded to the living room window. A new A.C unit sat there running.
Calen must've turned it on before coming to wake me up. Smart boy. I still gave him another look.
"How much have you saved up baby?" I asked, he gave a light shrug.
"Three hundred and ninety-seven dollars and thirty-eight cents." He took a long drink of his hot coffee. I had no idea that he had been saving up so much.
"I've saved up every penny I found, every dollar you gave me. Even the money that Myu gave me for my last birthday. "He crossed his legs Indian style like I do. I watched his smile grow, my heart melted.
"Baby…you're too sweet. You should've been saving the money…" I felt the look he gave me.
"Mom, we need to keep this place. Where else could we go? You don't like bother Aunt Myu for anything. I know how independent you love to be. I'm your son, I'm supposed to help. Just like you help me. We're family, it's what we do." His maturity showed even stronger.
"How about we go get breakfast too?" I asked, he gave a bigger nod.
"Ihop?" I asked, he nodded faster.
"Alright." I giggled at his naivety.
I raised such a good boy…
"What were you saving up for Calen?" I asked, he tilted his head slightly.
"I was trying to save up so I could take you out shopping. You need pretty clothing. Not boy's clothing. I want you to feel beautiful, not ugly…" I was appalled.
"Why would you say that Calen?" I asked him, my eyes were wide. He gave me another look as if I had grown a third head.
"I hear you at night, you cry yourself to sleep. You tell yourself that you're ugly and I don't know why. You're beautiful. You don't have to wear all that make up, I don't understand why you do that to yourself." He shook his head slowly, giving a soft sigh.
"I wanted to make you happy. Your face smiles, but your eyes don't. Not like they used to be. I don't know what happened, I don't want to ask…it's none of my business." He finished his cup, taking it over to the sink, rinsed it out and placed it on the drying rack.
"I won't take the money back mom, it's a gift. Something I gave to you, besides. You always tell me, money can't buy happiness." I looked down into my cup, before taking my final swallow of coffee.
"This is true. Money doesn't buy happiness…unfortunately, it's what makes the world go around." I was getting ready to stand when he came over and took it from me. His small hands wrapped around mine, I looked at Calen.
"If only love could make the world go around, there would be no more monsters, and no more sickness…all would be better." Knitting my brows at what he said, he pulled away taking the cup with him. He rinsed it, went around me to his room to change.
What's gotten into that boy…? Shaking it off, I got up to go to my room to change into my off-day clothing.
…
Holding my sons hand, we walked down the busy street. Men passed by, not even glancing my way. It was something I had grown used too since…since he left me. It left a deep hole within my chest. A hollowness I felt for nine years now. I grew custom to it. After paying rent, we went to Ihop, and now to the toy store. Calen picked out my outfit today. A worn-down pencil skirt, flats with a small heel, and a silk tank top that I had since I was twenty-one, when Myu bought it so I could go out to the bar.
Did not have fun that night…
I felt depressed on my twenty first birthday, I wanted to be with my son, stay home and watch cartoons. As stupid as that sounded, I just wanted my family. Calen was the only person to slowly fill that hollow emptiness within my chest.
Something was still missing…I didn't want to think about him. He had been gone for so long, pushed away, out of sight, out of mind. It wasn't something I thought about often, I tried keeping the past in the past…and away from Calen, the less he knew about his mother's past, the better. Calen stopped in mid stride almost making me trip over him.
"Calen, don't stop all of a sudden- "He let go of my hand and ran into the store. I looked up to see it was an antique store. A pull forced me to open the door and walk in, I had felt a sudden sense of dejavu…I looked around the shelves in the front, nothing caught my eye. I watched Calen take off from the furthest shelving unit.
"Calen, don't touch anything! You can be a bull in a china shop!" I tried keeping my voice calm, yet a shakiness had come over me, I couldn't walk forward. Eyes. Eyes were staring at me, a chill that felt like fingers walked up my spine. I shuddered. My stomach had felt like a thousand-pound brick was laid in it. I didn't like the darkened corners of the store; a certain smell lingered in the air, I sniffed at the air. I was used to the old polishing oil, dust, dirt, rust…and something sweet. A sweetness I smelt before, I knew…I just couldn't quite put my finger on it.
"It's alright darlin, he's a child, ain't nothing in here worth hollarin over." I gave a look at the elder gentleman sitting at the welcome desk, on top of it was an old-time register. I gave him a light look, before offering him the best smile I could come up with.
That shakiness remained in my smile, my heart kept racing.
A panic attack? I haven't had one of these in years…what's going on with me today?
"I'm sorry sir, you don't quite know my son, he can be very destructive. Just ask our windows." The joke came out drier then I wanted, yet the man still cracked a grin.
"Children will be children. If he breaks something it's alright. I've been here for four decades. Ain't nothing I can't handle." I gave a light chuckle and a nod. I looked at my wrist watch, Calen had run off not two minutes ago.
It feels like hours…Again that choking sensation, fingers wrapping around my throat. I coughed lightly.
Just dust. I breathed in some dust that's it…I tried taking in deep, calming breaths…
"Mom!" His sudden shrill voice snapped me back, I felt terror run through my veins. I tried not to panic and start off at a run, I was going at a fast walk. Heel, toe, heel, toe…faster. I took the same corner he did. In a second the panic tripled. I couldn't breathe.
I swear I can smell something like candy…
I kept making turns, I heard a giggle…
I think it was him…it didn't sound like Calen. My heart slammed on breaks, I watched someone take the next turn around another shelving unit, whoever it was had on white and black shirt and grey pants with suspenders. I was on him in a second.
Another giggle turning to laughter. It hit me again. That smell…
What the fuck is it? It smells so…
I stopped, Calen was standing on his tippy toes reaching for an old Laughing-Jack-In-The-Box. It was beaten up, scratched all to hell and its colors faded to an off black and white. He pulled it down, and I felt a punch to my stomach, my chest heaved. It was a full-blown panic attack.
"Calen, don't you dare scream like that again!" I stepped up to him placing my hand on his shoulder, the Laughing-Jack-In-The-Box was in his hands and staring up at me. My stomach had started doing summer salts. His eyes were wide and tear-filled.
"But I didn't- "I shook my head at him.
"Don't lie to me buddy, come on." I started to pull him to the front of the store.
This place is bad. Bad. Bad. Bad. Bad…
"Mommy, I want this." He pushed the box out to me, I gave it a once over. Knitting my brows together.
"Are you sure?" I asked, he gave a hard nod. Something about that box…looked familiar. I sighed before nodding.
"Alright, come on." I pulled. He was on my heels, jumping up and down, skipping…laughing.
Out. Need to get out…
He was up at the register holding out the box. The man held his belly and laughed.
"You want that old thing? I've had it in this store for the last ten years. It needs a lot of lovin' think you can do that son?" He was leaning forward, Calen was nodding his head.
"Do you want to know something really cool?" He whispered, I gave the old man a look. Calen nodded.
"That box as a secret; if you try really, really hard and make a wish. A friend will pop out and grant you everything you've ever wanted." Calen's jaw opened in shock. I slowly shook my head.
This is the kid who didn't even believe in Santa…I scoffed, my temples throbbed. A whiff of…of…I turned to look over my shoulder.
Cotton candy…? I narrowed my eyes into the dark shadows. I didn't see anything.
"Uh, excuse me sir?" The old man stopped talking to Calen and looked to me.
"Yes darlin?" He leaned back on his chair, I gave him a quick look.
"Did someone else come in after us?" I asked, he shook his head no.
"No ma'am. Just you two." I felt a shudder run through my body.
"How much is the Laughing-Jack-In-The-Box?" Calen asked, I started to zone out staring into the darkness. A song began playing in the back of my head, it was soft, distant…a piano melody that I hadn't heard in years. A swirl of purple manifested within the darkness of the shadows, I had to squint my eyes to see, it was only dust swirling in the sun's rays that tried to break through the blackout curtains.
"How much? Oh, my dear sonny boy. Nothing, it's about time to spread the love and joy to the other children." Calen's screech brought me back, I shook my head hard. Trying to regain some sort of grasp onto the real world.
Sleep deprivation is all it is. All. It. Is. I looked to the elder gentleman.
"How much?" I asked, the man shook his head.
"Nothin darlin. Just make the boy happy." I gave a slight look before nodding.
"Alright, thank you sir." I looked to the jack in the box, my stomach started heaving again. Something wasn't right about it…but I saw Calen's smile and him wrapping his arms around it. Already he was in love with the old thing…
Something feels…too familiar.
…
The bleating of my cellphone made me put my book on the arm of the couch, it was Myu. She had only called if it was emergencies, and it wasn't Thursday so it wasn't our normal vent to the best friend day…I picked up.
"Hey Myu, what's going on?" I was listening to one of the children screeching in the background, Myu trying to say something, Calen was in his room winding up the jack in the box having another laughing fit.
"I'm so sorry Fay, could you come in for a while? Leo is really, sick. He's running a fever, and vitamin M isn't work. I need to take him to the E.R" I was on it in a heartbeat.
"Of course, I'll come in. How are the other kids doing?" I asked, she groaned lightly.
"All of them are worried, he keeps throwing up everything and anything I try to give him. He severely dehydrated as well." She was moving again, and I looked at the clock, it was hitting nine.
"Sure, I'll be right over, just let me call Sarah so she can watch Calen." I was getting up.
"Should I put on my uniform?" I asked, I could hear her say something to one of the kids.
"No dear, just come in your off clothing. And I've told you already, you can stop wearing that thing. You're not sixteen anymore." Something fell.
"Baby, knock it off. Go read Dion something please?" She was fussing. I couldn't help but laugh gently.
"Alright Myu, I'll be over as soon as possible." I was about to hang up when she called my name.
"Thank you so much Fay, the other maids are just too old to handle this kind of stuff." I gave a light smile.
"It's no issue." I hung up, going through my contacts I found Sarah.
She picked up on the third ring.
"Yeah?" her voice sounded irritated.
"Sarah, I got called into work. Family emergency, could you watch Calen for a little bit tonight?" She was quiet as if contemplating.
"Yeah, whatever. I'll be over in five." She hung up first. She was a fifteen-year-old girl, it wasn't surprising she had an attitude about everything. I was on my feet, grabbing my purse and key, I went to Calen's room first. He was sitting in the middle of his rug, playing with the windup toy. It boggled my mind as to why he wanted it so bad.
"Calen, I have to go into work. Leo's sick. Sarah is coming over, she should be here any minute. Let her in okay?" I gave him a smile, his own smile left before giving me a shrug.
"Okay." I gave him another look.
I hate it when I must leave him with Sarah…I don't like it at all…I should talk to him about it soon. I left his door cracked.
"You know, I don't need Sarah. I have someone else." His voice sounded serious. When I turned to look back at him, he was standing there holding the box. I shook my head slowly.
"Sarah for now, we'll talk later. I love you." I gave him a wave. He waved back.
…
I watched mommy leave, she had to go to Aunt Myu's because Leo was sick. He was sent home from school today because he kept throwing up. I sat on my bed winding up my new toy. I felt happier than I ever had since I found my new best friend. The top of the box opened, and the black and white clown popped out. He did a backflip before landing right on his feet.
"Well hello gum drop!" His voice was melodic and sweet, I gave a big laugh. He held out a handful of my favorite candies. Cherry jolly ranchers. He was tall, taller than mommy by a lot. He had sharp pointy teeth, with a pointed nose. He was black and white all over. He had long scary nails, but he didn't scare me. I never felt like I was in trouble or intimidated by him. I still felt sick to my stomach that Sarah was coming over. I didn't like her, I never had. Not since she started to play a game I didn't like. Jack noticed the look on my face.
"What's wrong gummy bear?" He asked tilting his head, his neck length hair stuck to him, his white eyes ran over my face as if reading me. He placed his hands to his hips, and I shrugged my shoulders.
"I can't tell you. It's against the rules." I kept shaking my head, sucking on my piece of candy. He knelt in front of me his smile slowly started to fade.
"What's against the rules Calen?" He wondered, I gave him a look and his eyes reflected the sadness in them.
"It's a game Sarah and I play. If I tell anyone, she'll hurt me…really, really bad." My shoulders slumped.
"So, I can't tell anyone." Jack crossed his arms and scoffed.
"Does this game involve playing doctor of some sort?" He asked, I looked at him in surprise.
How did he know?
I gave a light shrug before looking back down at the dirty box. I had spent the rest of the afternoon trying to clean it, buff it out with sand paper and try to re-paint it a different color. There was a brown stain on it I just couldn't buff out. So, I gave up, and tried to toss some stickers on it.
"You know Calen, you remind me of someone that was your age." He sat down in front of me, and I saw that he had on socks that were the exact same color of his shirt.
"She looked just like you actually, with bright auburn red hair and the same colored eyes. She was a good little girl who, well…had the same game. But with a boy." I watched him lay back on my floor. I couldn't help but blink, surprised.
"She looked just like me?" I repeated, and Jack did a 'mhm' noise.
"Well, the only person I can think of who looks like me, is my mom." I replied, he started to slowly sit up, watching me carefully.
"Is your mom still alive?" He asked, I gave a nod.
"Yup, she works for Aunt Myu." His eyes looked me over, blinking slowly. His face seemed to have gone slack.
"And your dad…?" He asked, I gave another shrug.
"I never knew him. Mom told me that my dad left before I was born." He gave his head a tilt, looking me over slowly.
"I see…" He seemed to be lost in thought.
"Why?" I asked, he gave a light shrug before looking me over again.
"I was trying to get to know my new friend is all." He replied.
"What about you Jack? Do you have any family?" I asked, a dark look crossed his face.
"No." He snapped. I flinched.
"I'm sorry Jack, I didn't mean to offend you." I looked at my hands, he started to laugh.
"Offend me? Oh no. Calen, I see the darkest parts of you, the loneliness is deep inside you, just like me. And just like that little girl I knew. She has a sickness, just like you." He was sitting up and I looked at him.
"Sickness?" I asked.
"Just like her mother had it. It's something doctors can't get rid of or help…it's something that only a few people can get rid of." Jack shrugged.
"I don't follow." I reply. He shook his head.
"Let play!" He was started to laugh and smile. I gave a nod before going over to my large toy trunk. I had a lot of broken toys, toys I never played with anymore and some that I hadn't even touched in forever. Jack started to laugh at me.
"What do you want to play with clown?" I asked, he was up on his feet and going to my bed, he dropped down and pulled out a large stuffed dog. When I turned to look at him, I screamed with joy.
"How about this?" Jack held it up with a big, bright grin. Already I was on him, jumping, wanting to grab it and hold it. Hug it, and call it mine. He handed it down to me, and I rubbed my face into its fluffy fur. It was warm, and smelt just like cotton candy. I took a deep breath in and sighed in content. I was back to jumping up and down when I realized it was real.
"Oh my god! It's so fluffy I want to die!" The moment those words left my lips, Jack had a sick grin on his lips.
"Do you like Mr. Snuffles?" He asked, I nodded as fast as I could. I loved it. I loved it more than anything I had ever had before, other than the box of course. I looked at the stuffed dog, seeing it's large bright black eyes, it's fluffy brown ears, it was almost the same size as me. Well…anything could be as big as me. His hand reached over, gently touching the top of my head. He ruffled my curls, I looked at him. His touched had felt nice.
"Hey Jack, have you thought about meeting my mom?" I was curious, I couldn't help myself.
"I wouldn't be allowed to gummy bear. It's against my own rules." I made a face.
"I'm sick of rules. Why can't people just be fair and care about each other?" I asked him, he was taken back by my question.
"Well gum drop, I'm…I'm not too sure." He started to rub the back of his neck he looked rather confused.
"I mean…well…" He chuckled.
"I don't know about love and care…those are two things that are not in my vocabulary." He started to take a step back from me. And I just gave him one last look.
"What about me? Don't you care about me?" Again, another look of confusion.
"Well yeah, you're my best friend!" He gave me a smile, bigger than before.
"Why can't you be best friends with my mom?" I asked, he was starting to say something.
"The girl you described, could she be my mom from when she was a kid?!" I was getting excited, and he gave a look to me.
"Doubtful." He replied.
"Well I was wonder-"
"Calen, little bud, where are you?" My smile disappeared, and Jack made a tilt of his head.
"Who's that Calen?" He asked, my smile completely disappeared as I sighed heavily.
"That, would be Sarah…" I frowned heavily.
"I don't like it when my friends aren't smiling…" Jack's own smile disappeared.
"I don't like it at all…" He took a step and dissipated into a cloud of purple fog. I shrank into my stuffed animal and hugged him tighter, hoping that Jack wasn't gone forever. I wanted to have him back, so I could play with him more and not Sarah. I never liked the games Sarah wanted to play. They didn't feel right.
My door opened and she was there, with her big bright hazel green eyes. Her hair touched her shoulders, she wore a skirt that I noticed first. I tried swallowing spit, but my mouth was drier than sand. It left a bad taste as well. I held onto my stuffed animal tighter than before. She walked further into my room, closing the door behind her. She had rolled her hips in a certain way that made me want to scream, she scared me.
Help me please…I don't want to go through this again…I whimpered closing my eyes, she was taking the bottom of her shirt and started pulling it up over her head.
"Remember what I said Calen? Tell anyone and Doctor Sarah will rip off those ears and cute buttoned nose…" A noise, so soft I almost didn't hear it. Sarah was working at her bra when I looked over at the center of my room, my jack in the box laid there. The handle of it winding. A distorted piano or organ began to play, a voice carried over from the box.
"Round and round the carnival ground, the clown chased the child. The blood was shed, the soul bled and bled…."
The music grew louder, faster, the handle on the box moved with the music. My eyes were fixated on it. The sudden moment it had slowed down, I waited.
"POP GOES THE WEASEL!"
The clown jumped from the box, Sarah screamed, pulling herself away and I crawled to the back of the bed, holding the stuffed dog close to me. He stood taller than I could remember, he didn't even look at me, he was looking at Sarah.
"They searched around every corner and bed, but never could find them." He was smiling, reaching out with his hands, the candy melted into black and white goo. Ribbons shot forth, wrapping around Sarah's legs, and I didn't even try to help. I didn't want too. He was laughing, laughing, and laughing, but his laughter didn't scare me
The music kept playing, and I closed my eyes and listened.
"And that's the way the town here works…" He was speaking through his laughter.
"POP GOES THE WEASEL!" He screamed, as did she.
I opened my eyes, the two of them were gone. Only a small smear of blood, from the ribbons left on my bed. I reached over and covered it, I covered it with my blanket. I crawled up to the head of my bed, I laid down, the dog against my chest, watching the box. It didn't move, the music was gone, so was Sarah. And I was happy.
…
Every time I tried to get ahold of Sarah there was a message tone, every time I had tried to reach the house phone Calen didn't answer. My heart was running wild within my chest. I couldn't breathe. I needed to know my son was safe. I dialed the apartments number again, and once more. Nothing. There was nothing…I was left with dead air. I couldn't help but look at the time on my phone. It was a little past twelve. Sarah had to have still been up, at least she could do was answer the damned phone…I rubbed my tired eyes as the screen of my phone doubled. I closed my eyes, took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. A giggle from behind me, I turned around and was about to raise hell.
"Ian, you should be in bed mister!" I was tired, I had no patience…
Up the spiral stairs I went, stomping my feet as I did so. The moment I hit the children's floor, which was the second landing. I noticed a light going on underneath the bathroom door. I was about to say something when a little brown-haired boy poked his head out from his bedroom door.
"His Ian in trouble Auntie Faylen?" He asked, the children had normally called me Ms. Snow in front of their father, but in front of their mother, other maids or by themselves, it was Auntie Faylen. His brown eyes danced in his dim bedroom light. I gave a light smile.
"No Dion dear." I knelt, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"He should be in bed, so should you." He gave a light look; his eye was swollen around the outside.
Damn it Stu…he must've struck him for some damned reason again. I sighed, kissing him on the forehead.
"It's alright dear, if you want to stay up and read, stay up and read." He nodded before hugging me goodnight. He closed his door behind him, when I turned around I saw Ian standing in the bathroom closing the door behind him. His own brown eyes looked at me, he seemed just as shocked to see me up there as I am to see him awake.
"Ian…you should be in bed sweetheart…" I sighed, he too had a swollen lip. I felt horrible…I had been in the exact same position a while ago…
"I'm sorry Auntie Fay, I had to pee." He was walking down the hall, brushing past me. Lightly his hand caught mine, he placed a piece of paper within my hand.
"Good night Ian…" I watched as he closed his bedroom door behind him. I brought the piece of paper up, reading it.
Help us. Please. We can't stand it anymore. Daddy's planning something. You're in danger.