There's a Light In the Darkness
"How's Jessie doing?" Asked Guy late that afternoon.
"She didn't seem much better when she woke up," said Bertha sadly. "She was crying for hours, but she's calmed down now. Her story didn't make any sense." Bertha shook her head, her frustration clear on her face. Guy thought that Bertha looked beautiful even under duress. She never lost her dignity. Even with a broken leg she was undiminished. The rays of the setting sun glinted off her long red hair. Jessie had said that she wished she had red hair like her mother's instead of her own black hair. Undoubtedly she wished she were more like Bertha. If only she could be more like her mother she wouldn't be so troubled or come up with such wild stories to upset Bertha with.
"She has a problem and that is mangling the language," said Guy. "You should tell her that the R-word is not one to mistake. I have said we need more plain speakers in this world."
"You have Guy," said Bertha. "Maybe Jessie isn't speaking plainly enough or maybe she is and I can't understand it. I intend to get to the bottom of this. I appreciate you said that a girl cannot do it legally. But the law always has gaps in it."
Bertha hobbled slowly up the stairs. Jessie had fallen asleep again. Bertha picked up the wooden mask that Jessie had been ranting about. She turned it over in her hands. There was certainly nothing special about it. She hobbled into the bathroom and examined it again. Suddenly the inside surface of the Mask seemed to glow with a lurid light, or did she imagine it? Outside the sun had set. Bertha shook her head. However Jessie had come by this piece of wood, it had clearly grasped her imagination very strongly. She had been gibbering about it causing her to rape her friend and she wasn't making it up, she actually seemed to believe her own words. Her daughter needed counselling, perhaps more than she herself could give. Could Jessie have done something she regretted whilst wearing this mask? It didn't look like it would fit Jessie's face any better than her own. Bertha lifted the Mask to her face again.
Then she had the shock of her life. The Mask seized at her, suddenly welding itself to her skin. She cried out as tendrils of wood sprouted from the Mask and enveloped her skull. She shouted in pain as the wood seemed to squeeze her head in a vice like grip. There was a flash. Bertha gazed into the mirror. Before her was a startling apparition in green. A startlingly green face with shiningly smooth skin and a perfectly bald green head. She touched her green cheek. Her reflection did the same. If only she had her fiery hair back, she thought. In response to her wishes, her ruddy hair sprouted from her green skull, falling in lustrous waves down her shoulders. She could feel power coursing through her. Why should she be an invalid? In response to her wishes the bones of her leg knit together once more. She broke off her cumbersome cast and threw it aside. She tossed back her fiery tressed and smiled back at the mirror. The face in the mirror smiled back with its forest green lips. She stroked her cheek and then her nose. The surface of the Mask was cool and smooth as silk. Bright green, but she felt she could get used to it. She remembered the dilemma her daughter had brought up that day. Well she could resolve it. Now she felt strong enough for anything.
A short while later Jessie awoke. It was dark outside, but the lights were on. She gasped in shock as she saw a woman with long red hair and a vivid, green face staring down at her. "Mum?" She said in astonishment. "You – you wore the Mask? But no, you're not meant to…" Jessie's eyes flickered to her bedside chair again. Her stomach turned over as she saw Jimmy sitting there, wide eyed and trembling. She really couldn't face him now, not after the previous night.
Bertha put a hand on Jimmy's shoulder. "Stay calm dear, we must get questions answered." Her voice seemed lower and richer than it had been. Like velvet. She handed him a glass with white liquid in it. "Mother's milk. It will calm the nerves." She placed the glass in Jimmy's hand. "Drink Jimmy," she said fondly, stroking his hair. Jimmy did nothing. "Don't be ridiculous," said Bertha. Jimmy began to sip from the glass. "There it's doing you good. Such a good boy. So beautiful." Bertha turned to Jessie. "Now why would you hurt him?"
Jessie's mouth was dry. "You – I – You have the Mask on. I did. I think you can guess now. It made my darkest dreams come true. I knew I couldn't have Jimmy, but I really wanted some part of him. What are you thinking? You – should… let him go…" Jessie's voice trailed off. She trembled to think what might happen.
"Look at me Jimmy," Bertha told him. Jimmy hesitatingly looked up. The milk, whatever it was, certainly seemed to have calmed him. Bertha gazed into his eyes. Jessie had noted before how similar their eyes were. Both the colour of a fresh Spring sky. "Did you ever love my daughter?"
"I did love her as a friend, but I don't any more," said Jimmy, unable to break her gaze.
"But you didn't desire her?" said Bertha.
"I have never desired girls," said Jimmy, as though in a trance.
"I understand," said Bertha. "Your wishes should have been respected. I have always wanted another child, but the constraints of every-day life and my finances have thwarted me. Of course Jessie wanted a little Jimmy of her own, but this Mask cannot be safely worn by everyone. It can grant anything, but at what price?" She clasped Jimmy's face in her hands. He looked back into her eyes. Jessie trembled. This was getting too much. Bertha spoke slowly and her voice seemed to deepen. "I take away your hurt. Everything will now get better for you…"
At that moment, there was a crash at the door and Guy came in.