Curse of Remorse

by Waggoner, Robert C.

  Candice heard her name being called and she turned to a smiling secretary who motioned her to come into the mayor office. She and David moved swiftly and in a flash were seated in front on the mayor. Candice first noted her dark eyes and realized this lady was nobody’s fool. She cast a quick look at David and then said without much preamble, I am Veronica Blades and what can I do for you?”

  Candice said, looking into her dark eyes and then her face that looked like virgin olive oil, “I’m not here Madam Mayor to speculate on the paranormal side of these phenomena for the entertainment of the readers of the New York Times. I’ll leave that to the weekly papers. What I would like is a chance to talk to your son if possible and see what he thinks is going to happen to him or to others in the future, if in fact, it does happen in the future.”

  Veronica had been looking the business card she was given earlier by her secretary and said, “Candice, I’ll leave that up to him. He’s usually home doing home work by three most days. I’ll call him and tell him what you desire and if he agrees, I’ll call you and let you know.”

  “Thanks and could I ask you as his mother that if this happens to him, how will you handle the situation?”

  “I hope as a good mother and without a lot of emotion. I attend church and if this is what the Lord has destined for him and our other kids, then nothing I can do about it but live with it.”

  Candice rose out of her chair and stuck her hand out to say good bye. Veronica put on smile and gave the hand a firm shake and then a nod at David. She watched their backs as they left and wondered if she really was a strong as she made out to be. She sat down heavily and massaged her temples as she felt a headache was coming on regardless of what she might take to kill the pain. She looked out the window at the falling snow thinking that it was as cold outside as inside her body at the moment. Soon Friday would be here and she felt the gloom of a mother that her son would contact the same affliction as the other three kids. She wondered, as she rose to make a cup of tea, how the kids were doing in school today.

  If she could have vicariously felt the mood of the school, she might not have such a bad headache coming on. At school, the kids were doing well and had already adjusted to what had happened to them over the weekend.

  ***

  Ann hung onto Alice as they made their way to the cafeteria. The rest of her friends were gathered around chatting in their normal voices and commenting on the usual stuff: boys, tests, movies, cell phones and complaining about their parents.

  What Ann sensed more than anything was the different smells she had never realized were around her until this day? When she first came to school with her father, she smelled the aftershave of the principal and the perfume of the lady who tended the desk. Next walking down the hall to her home room, she detected many different smells of the kids passing her and then in the classroom, the wet clothes smell of melting snow mixed with the oil heat of the old school. It wasn’t a bad smell, just different than what she was used to.

  She smelled the cafeteria long before they reached it. She guessed it was a hotdog day and she was right. Alice found a place to sit and went to get two trays. Ann sat there rather ridged and stoic. She heard a person sitting down next to her and a voice said, “Hi Ann, I am Brian Blades. I am sure sorry to hear about your eye problem. Do you remember me?”

  “Oh, hi Brian, sure I remember you as usually we know most everyone in school. Thanks for telling me how you feel and I’m kind of getting used to it now. Are you still hanging with Gladys?” Ann bit her tongue for asking that question. Why I asked him about her, she thought. But he is so cute and the school’s most athletic person and she wished she could see his face.

  “No, we broke up and I need to concentrate on my studies. If I remember right, you were hanging out with Jimmy last I heard.”

  “Not anymore. He is too immature. And now with this eyelid thing, it is doubtful any boy would be interested in a blind person.”

  “Well, Ann, I might be joining the club as my birthday is this Friday.” Ann thought she detected no big deal if he did have a problem this Friday. Maybe there is more to this guy than just being a jock, she thought again.

  Ann said, “If you want to, I’ll give you my cell number and if something happens, call me please.” Her heart in her throat, she waited for him to reply and as bad luck would have it, Alice came back struggling with two trays and almost spilled one across the table onto Brian. Brain jumped up and Alice told Ann later he had the biggest smile on his face and wanted to know what they had been talking about. Ann told her they were talking about his birthday coming this Friday and wanted to know how it felt to be blind. Now she wondered how she was going to give him her phone number without her friends suspecting anything. After lunch, as they were walking down the hall to the library, something was placed in her hand and then was gone. She felt a piece of paper and quickly stuck it in her jean pocket. She would wait until she got home with her brother to find out what it was.

  ***

  Across town, Tommy Tucker wished he had gone to school instead of to work with his brother. They sat in a smelly lunch room that had a mix of sweat and old sandwiches. In addition, it was a smoking area and had the permanent smell of stale tobacco overlying the food smell. The talk was rough. He felt very small and young. His brother had taken good care of him and he had done some things to help out, but knew he was not wanted around here. Some of the workers made fun of his eyes and asked him stupid questions, like, hey what is like to be blind? And the dumbest one of all was how do you see to piss in a toilet? Tommy wanted to go home. School was where he would work hard to learn now that he couldn’t see.

  He heard a man’s voice say to Hank, “Hey Hank could I see you for a minute in my office?” Hank jumped up and walked away leaving Tommy alone with no support at his side. He never felt more alone and what he really wanted to do was cry and run away from here. It wasn’t too long and Hank came back and told him they were leaving for the rest of the day. He didn’t tell him why or explain, but Tommy was thrilled to leave the place. Once in the car, after slipping and sliding on the icy parking lot, Hank told him that the boss thought it best if I took you home. “He’s a nice guy and he also told me he would pay me for the rest of the day. And here is the best part he gave us fifty bucks for dinner on him tonight!”

  Tommy felt better and then said, “I want to go back to school tomorrow Hank.”

  “Sure think little brother and I agree with you. Let’s stop by the school now and let me check with them about you coming tomorrow.” The rode in silence after that and the only sounds were the tires crunching on the snow and the sound of an old car laboring as it went down the streets.

  ***

  The last bell rang and school was over for the day. Glen and Terry hot-footed it out the door and walked as fast as they could through the snow on the sidewalks to continue their search for what happened to the kids of Remorse. Going around to the back door into the kitchen, so as not to soak the floor with snow covered shoes, the boys quickly shed coats and shoes; then passed through the kitchen without a snack, running up the stairs to Glen’s room and the computer.

  Terry said a little out of breath “Let me call my aunt and see what she has to say.”

  “Go ahead and I’ll boot up while you are calling.” Glen was tuned into the computer and didn’t hear what Terry and his aunt were talking about. He’d get an update soon and now he was searching for Jamaican Voodoo.

  On the same track, but in a different way, Dean’s father had run the gambit of black magic and Jamaican voodoo a few hours before that. The conclusion he came to was of disbelief and skepticism, but held out some thoughts as to having some validity. He was discussing this with Joan his wife eating lunch in his office. They’d sent out for soup and sandwiches. Now as he spooned the potato soup with bacon in it, he said, “Admittedly I am not a computer expert and especially a researcher of ancient studies on witchcraft; it would seem there is some substance to the idea of black
magic.”

  Joan took out some saltines and crushed them into her soup as when she was a child, she loved the thick soup and not thin: substance is what she wanted. Now after mixing her soup with crackers she took a tentative bite so see if the proper thickness was satisfactory to her particular taste. Satisfied, she said while about to take a bite of her toasted tuna and cheese sandwich, “I am not discounting anything and we both are educated enough to understand there are some things not explainable in life. If there is some connection to black magic, then the question is how do we break a so called spell?”

  “Damn fine question and only someone closely connected to witchcraft can or could answer it.”

  “Yes, I agree, but I’ll put my money on Dean and his research into the witchcraft slant and let’s see what he comes up with. Regardless of him being only twelve, he has a gift we as his parents don’t have.”

  “We are so lucky in more ways than most having a pair of kids that are well adjusted and by all standards, normal.”

  “It’s getting close to time for me to go to work. I’ll see you at home and are going to pick Ann up after school today?”

  “Yes, and if some of her friends want to come home with her, so much the better as I should return to the office after that.”

  Joan came around his desk and gave Roy a big hug and told him she would see him at home later this evening. Roy held on a little longer than usual and it felt good to have her with him at this time. She was a bit stronger than him, and it was her that kept the family chugging along, as best anyone could these days, when so much family trouble haunts so many people. He gave her a quick peck on the cheek and smiled at her as she left the office for the afternoon at the local bank.

  Joan’s job was only part time and that is what she liked. She only worked three days a week in the afternoons. Mondays was a catch up day from the drive through teller machines; Wednesdays she did paper work and some word processing that was needed by the presidents secretary; and Fridays usual were spent helping where she was needed as the citizens made ready for the weekend shopping.

  ***

  Terry turned off the portable phone and with words tumbling out of his mouth faster than snow ball down a mountain, said, “My aunt has translated the whole thing and has it on tape. She will send it via the net and we can listen to it right now if we want to.”

  “Cool and I’ll let you in to download it. I’ll run downstairs to grab some snacks for us.” While downstairs in the kitchen raiding the refer and cupboards for snacks, Glen heard the front door open and heard the voices of his father, Ann and Alice. Glen stopped what he was doing and ran to the front room to catch his dad before he left for the office. His dad was half way back to the street when he yelled at him to wait up. His father came back and listened to what his son told him about the translation of the diary. His father grabbed his shoulder and told him what a good job he was doing. Glen smiled and as the snow continued falling down on his head, said, “Thanks dad and I’ll tell you more latter when you come home.”

  Back in the house, Alice and Ann were sitting in the kitchen with some hot milk on the stove for hot chocolate. He quickly told his sister the news and grabbed the snacks and ran back up the stairs to his room.

  Terry was all set to go and they sat and munched on snacks while listening to the story of the missionary living with the Indians, along with the young white girl and two black people. Alice and Ann came in with Alice carrying a tray with four mugs of hot chocolate. The story was just beginning and Ann, along with Alice sat on the floor enjoying the snacks and drink.

  The audio began, “Terry and whomever else is listening, this, quite frankly, scares the pants off of me. If indeed these phenomena are linked to the events in your town, then God help us.” Then Terry’s aunt began reading and the kids were silent except for the crunching of dry cereal they were snacking on. Almost two hours later, the reading ending and the aunt added at the ending, “I think you need some expert advice as to where to go to find out if indeed a spell has been cast on the young people in your town. This is bigger than what seems on the surface and after some research on my own, it will take someone or a group of someone’s to reverse the spell. Terry, check your mail often as I will do more research and have some contacts at universities who might shed some light on this event. Good luck.”

  Glen was first to say out loud, “Wow, what a story and unless the guy was hallucinating then we have the real story.”

  Terry said, “Man what are we going to do now?”

  Ann replied, “We are going to find someone to help us.”

  Alice added, “We need some make this story available for all to hear and listen to. I say we find that Times girl and let her listen to the audio.”

  “That’s a good idea,” said Ann. “Let’s call the motel and ask her to come over. Oh, but wait a minute, we need mom and dad in on this first.” All agreed to wait and Terry told them he must go home now and will check in later. Alice too, left at the same time as Terry, leaving Glen and Ann to ponder a journey that lies before them.

  Chapter 11

  It was decided, after Ann’s parents had listened to part of the tape that more people should listen to this. The problem was, who to call and who not to invite. It was Glen who raised the answer and said, “Let’s do it at the church. It has speakers and we can hook up my laptop into their internet system.”

  Roy and Joan agreed and put a call into the Reverend Chris. Reverend Chris in turn called the mayor who in return called various others, and when all was said and done, an hour later the church was half filled. Of course Ed the Nose heard about it and Candice, with her camera man David, stood in the back waiting for the event to unfold. Candice had politely asked the Reverend Chris if she could record the audio and he saw no reason why not, but he would check with the mayor.

  Veronica was one of the last ones to show up and Candice saw right off that she looked stressed out. She was void of makeup and attired in sweats with a big green down coat and boots on. At first Candice thought she was being a little aloof and put out, but after talking to her realized she was just a person and mother of a young boy about to become blind in a few days. Her boss Jim had warned her not to become too attached to the situation and to stay focused and stay objective. She thought that a good idea and was trying hard not to become emotionally involved, but it was hard.

  After she asked the mayor to record the event, she was told that she supposed there would be no objection to her taping the meeting. Now as they turned their attention to the front of the church where the Reverend Chris was calling for everyone to be quiet and listen. The church and its people went silent. He said, “It’s come to us a written diary by a missionary, who witnessed some strange events, when held by some Indians back when the region was going through what is now known as the Salem Witch Hunts. A librarian from the capital has translated the diary and put it on a USB for us to listen to. I’m told, as I have not heard it, that various conclusions can be drawn from what is going to be heard in a few minutes. I’m also told this is about two hours in length so if anyone needs a restroom, now is the time to go.” Chris looked around and nobody moved so he motioned to Glen to begin the audio.

  Candice and her crew had the recorder going and as she looked around she saw many anxious faces and most of the women were sitting on the edge of the pews with their hands grasping the backs of the front pews as if to keep from falling or feinting. The sound came on and the voice of Terry’s aunt surrounded them.

  Over an hour later, with a break of a few minutes, the buzz of the church sounded like a bee hive that someone had just robbed the hive of their honey. Candice noticed that the good reverend took his accustomed place on center stage behind the pulpit with a microphone, to help his weak voice, from hearing what had been most shocking to him and to the rest of the folks listening. He said, “Ladies and gentlemen, we have heard what the diary said and I for one have no idea what or where to go from here. My belief is in God and the n
atural world we live in and not the world of black magic and supernatural phenomena.” His voice became a little stronger when he brought God into the conversation. All knew he felt God should take care of this problem and all knew this was probably out of God’s hand for the time being. Chris continued, “I think now is a good time for us to bow our heads and I will say a special prayer for our community and love ones; before we listen to the rest of the story”

  Leaving the church, Candice was followed out by Ed and he asked if they could chat a bit. Candice thought it prudent to not speculate at this time so she told him she would meet him for breakfast in the morning. He agreed and moved off as it was then Candice noticed it had quit snowing, but a bitter cold replaced the snow flakes. She wondered if it was the natural cold or the cold of what this community was going through that made her bones ache.

  On the way home Ann had her hands in her pocket of her jeans and found the paper someone had given her at school. She would wait until Glen was in his room and go see him to find out what it said. After listening to the diary the second time, Ann felt she was definitely the receptor of a spell and that made her feel both hopeful and sad at the same time. The idea of vengeance was real and she understood that part, but what she didn’t understand, was why it took so long for the spell to become active?

  She was sitting in the back of their SUV and when they got home, a cold biting wind was whipping the snow into frenzy. Her mother took her arm and they hurried into the house. Glen followed behind and once in the house, boots off, both kids made for their bedrooms with Glen helping Ann.

  Once in Ann’s room, she told Glen about a note she had and would he read it for her? She handed him the folded up paper and he sat down on her bed and unfolded it. He read it to her and it said, “Ann, this is Brian and here is my cell phone number. Maybe your brother Glen can help you call me when you have the time. I find you easy to talk to and would like to be your friend. No matter what happens to me on Friday, I want to share this time with you. Please call. Brian.”