Chapter 4: Revisited
Ephram went upstairs to the 2nd story of the Brownstone and began searching for his grandparents. He opened up all the doors upstairs, peeked inside each and called them but he received no response of any kind. He had gone through all the doors but one and decided to try it before heading back downstairs. He opened the door and stopped in the doorway, dead in his tracks. Ephram immediately recognized it as his mother's old room. He could feel his mother's presence in this room. It was almost as if she was there with him, right now, just watching him; the very thought of his mother being with him sent chills down his spine. It's not that he wouldn't want to see his mother again, he'd want that more than anything else, but he didn't like the idea of seeing a ghost.
Ephram walked around the room just fingering his mother's precious mementos and looking at the pictures of his family. He was going through a pile of old jazz records that were piled up in a corner when he came across a dusty photo album. He blew away the dust and began turning the old and crinkled pages. There were pictures of his mom and dad before they were married and after and pictures of his mother as a child.
He looked at the pictures of his dad and thought about how different he looked without that ugly ass beard. From the old photographs, his parents looked happy. Ephram knew they weren't right before his mom died. He remembered one time like it was yesterday even though it was two years ago. He was coming out of his bedroom to get a snack after studying for a big test, when he heard his parents arguing in their bedroom.
(Flash back to two years earlier at the Browns' 5th Avenue Brownstone)
Julia: Well, if you'd be around more maybe Ephram wouldn't be acting out as he is!
Andy: Do you have any idea how hard it is being a brain surgeon! I have other commitments beside this family who need me!
Julia: This family needs you, Andy! Being a mom isn't as easy as it looks! All the meetings I go to, all the dinners I cook, all the problems I solve! My family is my commitment! Delia and Ephram are growing up almost without a dad! One day, you're going to regret all that you missed! (Screaming continues)
(Fade back into present)
Ephram was still looking at the photo album; it was as if he was there while still here, still shocked but what he just rewitnessed. He decided to head back downstairs in case Amy found his grandparents. He checked his reflection in the mirror to make sure he looked presentable. His grandma, whenever she would see him, would always flatten his hair and straighten his collar. He gazed at his reflection in the mirror expecting to see his own reflection gazing back at him, but instead he saw a transparent version of his mother. He couldn't believe that he was seeing the ghost of his mother. He hurried back downstairs with the photo album afraid of what he just saw. He kept telling himself ghosts weren't real and he didn't see what he just saw.