2
I looked at the empty fields that we passed that had the rare cow on them.
"What's happened here?" I asked noticing how dead the land looked well not dead but dry and empty.
"Companies shut down and families left. They all ran off to find "opportunity"." he said and I looked at him curiously.
"But you all stayed?" I asked and he nodded.
"I came home from Korea and when I did, I told myself and my family that we ain't leaving. We bought this land, we built it, and we will never leave it. Nah too many memories. Too many family. I remember when you and that brother of yours use to come by on your way home from school. Momma use to love making ya'll breakfast." he said and I smiled some. I honestly couldn't wait to see her.
"How is everyone. Are they okay?" I asked and he nodded leaning back leisurely in his seat.
"Oh yeah. They're doing mighty fine." he said and I nodded before realizing something crazy.
"Shit, I left my clothes and stuff back in my car." I said and he nodded.
"Don't you fret, I'll have it brought over." he said and I nodded my thanks and looked forward.
"Wooowee Momma's going to be happy to see you." he said and I grinned before glancing out the window.
"And Thomas? Is he still there?" I asked before noticing Charlie's smirk of viciousness.
"Oh yeah. He's still there." he said lowly and continued to drive. In about fifteen minutes we saw a familiar house and I started to smile before slowly noticing how unclean the outside looked. I blinked and tilted my head. It has changed, but I wouldn't dare tell Charlie that. The car stopped right out front and Charlie and I both got out and just examined the house. He placed his hands on his hips.
"Home sweet home." he said looking at me with that wide smile he used to give me and I just smiled before following him inside. I was not expecting such a foul smell, but out of respect, I said nothing. The house looked dirty, but I could see that someone attempted to clean due to some places were dusty and other desks and tables were wiped off. We passed the familiar living room where I saw a man with no legs just sitting there staring at TV that showed some black and white cartoon. I blinked and looked away as he looked my way and I just followed Charlie some more. "Momma look who's here."
"Huh, who's there?" I heard her elderly tone, and I walked in the kitchen I saw her. She had aged and was wearing an old bun and a white and faded blue flowered dress. She now looked at me quickly as if surprised that I was standing there. She moved her glasses from the top of her head and placed them over her eyes and looked at me intently and it took her a second before her eyes widened and she placed her hands over her cheeks.
"It that- Oh my god! Tati!" she said with happiness and spread her arms wide and I just smiled and moved into her hold. She still had that old motherly smell so much that it beat the sweaty body odor she had right now. I held her gently.
"Hey. It's me." I said and pulled back and she took a step back and just looked me over.
"Look at chu! You have grown. Your hair, those hips, you are just gorgeous." she said happily. I almost blushed. My hair was a river of lush black curls and I wasn't even offended as she gently grazed my curls and suddenly bounced with joy. "Oh my lord, I am just so happy you're here. What brings you here?" I looked down hiding my sadness now.
"Momma died." I replied and she gasped and placed her hand over her mouth.
"Oh my god. No. Not Michelle. You going to see about her belongin's?" she asked and I nodded.
"Yeah I planned to. My car broke down further down the road." I told, and she nodded.
"Well you must stay here then. Your kin, we won't leave you out in the heat." she said and I smiled as she touched my cheeks. "Family is family." She then looked toward Charlie.
"Boy what are you doing standing there like a lump. Go and get Tati's bags." she said. Charlie raised his hands.
"Alright alright, I'm going, I'm going. They're in her car. I'll be back." he said and began to turn away and move back down the hall.
"I'll get you situated in one of our nice rooms. Oh Tommy will be so happy to see you." she said and I smiled a bit.
"Can I see him?" I asked shyly and she nodded.
"Oh yeah, he's in the basement playing with his toys I suppose. TOMMY!" she called and I looked in the direction she was looking in and it was at a door I remembered long ago being the basement, but it was dirty and gross. "Boy come up here, there's someone here you have to see." She said the last sentence with utter happiness causing me to smile.
I heard large footsteps coming up the stairs and oddly it rattled me a bit, because the weight of the footsteps sounded monstrous. My smile slowly faded as I heard the footsteps coming closer and closer to the door and once the door opened, I could see fingers on the door and they were beefy dirty fingers. I watched as large figure began to appear from down the hall, and I began to just look taken back by the huge form of the man who began to stand in the doorway of the kitchen and hall. Oh my god. It was Thomas. He was huge. His face was dirty and covered by some kind of cloth and I looked down to see his shirt was dirty with what looked like blood and I was unsure of what to think.
The Hewitt's did own animals so he must be preparing one for the family. His hair had gotten longer and greasier and the white buttoned up shirt beneath the black apron was loose and unbuttoned and in his other hand I saw a large carving ax and I gasped and jumped at the sight of it. He had a ghoulish sway about him and I was now unsure of this place and the people in it. His eyes looked down at me and just stared at me as Luda Mae placed her hands on my shoulders and shook them.
"Thomas, look who is here! It's your old friend Tati. She's going to be staying here with us for a while." she said and Thomas just looked at me and I watched his body rise and fall slowly. "Oh come now boy you remember, Tatianna. She was your friend as a kid." I felt my body tremble a bit as I watched Thomas just look down at me.
I could tell I was growing nervous and expected to say something.
"You said you wouldn't forget me." I said and he just slowly looked down, his breathing shallow through the mask over his mouth and he slowly curled his fingers together with the knife in his hands as if recoiling shyly and looking down at the ground, something I remembered him to do all too well.
"Aww Thomas no need to be shy now. Your little girlfriend as returned." Luda Mae teased and I watched Thomas dark eyes look up at me, and I honestly did not like the way he was looking at me. There was intent behind his eyes. "Well come now child, let's get you cleaned up. Thomas here is helping me making some delicious stew and you can get settled in while we cook. Charlie will be back soon with your stuff." I let her guide me toward Thomas and when he was close, he backed into the wall as if avoiding me and I noticed this. We moved toward the stairs and I just glanced at Luda Mae wanting to know why he looked so pale, But I refrained.