48 A Zombie Shows Up

Middle of the week Wednesday, Mabel was reviewing Tommy's afternoon math problem set with him. They were only on number four and there were still eight to work through. Tommy found the leaves on the tree just outside the window fascinating. She heard the SUV pull up. That meant they were not getting to number five - not today. It was early afternoon, but the Millie, or that George girl could come at any time. Did she have a job? Tommy jumped up. There was no stopping him. To him the arrival of any one of his vast and ever growing army of aunts and uncles was the trigger for a break. George walked through the front door and Tommy was there to greet her. The girl forced a smile for Tommy.

Mabel said, "Hi Millie. You look like you've had a rough day at the office."

Daisy came down the stairs. "Ge..Millie, how many errands last night?"

"Too many and three this morning and afternoon. You'd think I was the only one available for…errand work."

"Why don't you take a nap in my room upstairs?"

The girl walked past them and up the stairs. The disruption made its own break. Tommy was bored. Mabel said, "Tommy why don't you go out and play with Lin?" Now Mabel was aiding and abetting as if this Lin really existed.

Tommy ran out the back door. Mabel followed behind as far as the kitchen to get some orange juice. The possibility occurred to her that Mr. Hesburgh was giving them cash and that's why Daisy, Mason, and Millie didn't need to work. Although she still hadn't figured out what these errands were, or why Millie would need to do them at night. She was developing detective skills to go with her blooming talents as a spy. She returned to the living room to go over the lessons for later this afternoon or more likely tomorrow. The orange juice went down in one go. Felt good. She thought a little history or maybe geography to get some variety. She sat down and picked up her lesson planner. She decided on history. She put the planner down and looked up to see a big man watching her from across the room. She gasped. He noticed her catching sight of him and backed…backed through the God Damn wall. She sat up and looked around. She shook her head and put her hands to her face. That was some orange juice. She picked up her empty glass and went into the kitchen. She heard Daisy coming down the stairs. Mabel looked over the kitchen sink window and stifled a scream. She saw Tommy pulling on what was left of a hand attached to what only could be described as a walking corpse, a corpse very well advanced in decomposition. Its clothes were in tatters. There were pieces of flesh dangling off the face and arms. The other arm and what was left of a hand were held by a little girl. The two - Tommy and the little girl - were trying to bring the…thing towards the house. God, not into the house.

Daisy came up behind her and said, "Oh my." She called out, "Ray, Ray, go wake Georgia up. Hurry."

Mabel's legs felt weak. She backed up feeling behind her and found one of the chairs in the kitchen and sat down hard. This was good because from down here she couldn't see out that window anymore. She looked up for Daisy, but she was already heading out the door. She took a deep breath and then another, and stood up. She stood and looked out the window. Tommy was there. She saw Daisy walking towards Tommy, but the dead thing was gone and so was the little girl. She blinked and Millie was outside walking towards Tommy, who stood saying something to the approaching Daisy and Millie. How did Millie get outside so quickly? She would have had to go out the front door or through this kitchen.

Daisy left Tommy with Millie, who was just standing there, and headed for the back door. She came through. Daisy said, "Mabel, you don't look well at all. Sweetie, why don't you take a seat on the couch?"

Mabel's hallucination was over. It was just the boy and Millie now walking back towards one of the shade trees. She said, "Daisy." Daisy guided her over to the couch and they sat down.

"Honey, you look pale. Do want some more orange juice? Or, maybe you've had enough." Daisy held her hand. She started to feel calmer.

"I…I saw a man in the living room…and…"

Daisy leaned in close and asked, "Was he wearing a jacket, dark hair, handsome in a roguish sort of way, maybe late twenties early thirties?"

"You've seen him, too?"

"Maybe. Maybe, Mabel, the house is haunted."

"Was that Ray?"

"Who knows?"

"What about that thing in the backyard?"

"What did you see, Mabel?"

"I think I saw something…a nightmare…worse than any zombie in any movie I've ever been forced to sit through. Now, I admit I don't watch many, but my old roommate…" She was babbling. It occurred to her if these people communicated her hallucinations to Uncle Duane he might decide she wasn't up to the job. "I'm OK, Daisy. I don't know what I saw."

Millie and Tommy banged the back door closed coming in. The two walked into the living room. Tommy jumped up on the couch next to Mabel. "Mabel, are you OK? Because, wow, you look like you're gonna puke."

She saw Daisy get up and say something to the Millie girl, who nodded. The girl approached her and sat down on the other side. "How are you feeling, Mabel? I bet your blood sugar went too high too fast and made you light headed. Did you drink something sweet?"

"I…I drank a tall glass of orange juice."

"Can't be too careful. Daisy, I'll pick up some smaller juice glasses." She looked at her watch. "You know, I've got an errand coming up in a little over an hour and I've got to get to it." She rose and headed for the door. "I won't see you tonight, Daisy, I'm going to be helping Father Adair with his project." And she was gone.

"No more orange juice on an empty stomach, young lady. Let's get you something to eat." Daisy got up and headed into the kitchen.

Young lady my ass. She talks like she's a grandmother already.