Evil Heights, Book II: Monster in the House

by Michael Swanson

  "They grow up quick, don't they?” Maggie was starting to look better. She had pulled her straggly hair back, and color was returning to her face.

  "What's the matter with your blouse?” Miss Laura squinted and cocked her head. “Is it on inside out?"

  Maggie looked down and pulled at it. Her mouth was open as her face came back up. She began shaking her head. “Now how'd that happen?"

  Ted stood up stretching out, arms toward the ceiling. “Hey, Ed, when I was by Patterson's picking up Lee's new bike I noticed they had a poster up for that new Alfred Hitchcock movie, Psycho, it starts showing here on Monday. It's been a while since we double dated at the movies. Why don't you find a baby sitter this coming Thursday and the four of us can go and get the bejeezus scared out of us? It'll be fun."

  Uncle Ed grinned his familiar grin. “Sounds good. It's been a hell of a long time since I had a good scare."

  Lee couldn't believe what he was hearing. For a moment he thought maybe he should enlighten everyone as to why Maggie's blouse was on inside out and why Uncle Ed had a smear of pink lipstick on his neck. Maybe he should say something about what had gone on during the wrestling match. Just as he was on the verge of opening his mouth he noticed the sticky tips of his fingers, the onion dip. Suddenly reconsidering his position he thought, to be truthful, he didn't feel just right about now like he could believe anything he thought he'd seen or heard tonight.

  "Laura? What do you think, honey?” Ed, carefully avoiding even looking at Maggie, had started to work his way to the door.

  "Sounds like fun to me.” She had Charlene over her shoulder, and the diaper bag in her hand. “I think it was my little history lesson is what's got y'all in the mood for a scary movie."

  She stepped around the sofa and walked over to stand by Ed who was at the door. Mary followed along sleepily, sucking her thumb. Ed had Belinda by one hand and reached over and pinched Laura on her behind with the other. “You know,” he said slyly, “I'm in the mood."

  Miss Laura slapped his hand away. “We'll see,” she said her tone a little strained. “I think you'd be a bit spent."

  Uncle Ed dropped his smile.

  "Thank y'all for having us over,” Miss Laura said ever so sweetly. “I think the house is going to turn out right nice, Maggie."

  Maggie kept her eyes to the floor. “Thank y'all for coming."

  Lee stepped up and asked hesitantly, “Didn't you still want to see my bike?"

  Miss Laura looked questioningly at Ed and then back to Lee. “I don't think so, hon.” She honestly looked confused and a little placating. “What would ever make you think I was interested in bikes?"

  "Nothing,” Lee came back. “I must have been ... I just ... I don't know."

  "You get yourself some good rest,” she offered sweetly as though she might have been talking to Patty. “I think it'll do you a world of good, Lee, hon. Y'hear?"

  Ed opened the screen door. “Don't forget to call Southern Power."

  "I won't.” Ted followed them out onto the porch and let the screen slam behind him. “I'll call you guys on Tuesday or Wednesday and firm things up about the movie."

  "Sounds great.” Lee, who'd stayed inside could hear Ed's voice trailing off as he crunched down the gravel to his car. “Have a happy Father's Day tomorrow. Don't drink too much beer."

  Ted called out. “Did you leave me any?"

  Lee heard a door slam and then Uncle Ed's voice call out jovially, “That's one of those issues that falls under the category of your problem."

  Lee's dad stepped back inside and shut the screen door, then the front door, causing the attic fan's insistent whirr to change pitch. “Damn the bugs are getting thick out there.” He wiped at an arm. “Look at those stupid June bugs.” He pointed at the large front window. “I don't think I've ever seen so many."

  "I'm going to bed,” mumbled Maggie, getting back to her feet. “I'll clean up in the morning."

  "We're not going to church?” Lee asked brightly.

  Maggie shot him a terrible glance.

  "I guess I'd better be hitting the sack too.” Ted's wily grin suddenly reappeared. “I think I feel a little mood coming on myself."

  "Mamma,” Patty called out, following her mother down the hall. “Can I sleep with y'all tonight? I really did have a bad dream."

  "Sorry baby,” Ted replied following the two down the hall. “Not tonight, mommy and daddy need to be alone."

  "Yes you can, baby,” Lee heard Maggie say. “Mommy's all tired out. I've got a bad taste in my mouth. You can come in the bathroom with me and go potty while I brush my teeth."

  Lee watched them all disappear down the hall. He still couldn't sort things out. He went over to the window and found himself looking out into the darkness as Uncle Ed's taillights floated by. Realizing he was standing all alone staring out into the dark he became conscious of the idea that the eye was somewhere here in this room, probably looking at him.

  "What did happen?” he wondered. “Were Uncle Ed and dad just goofing around to fool me; if so, it was pretty convincing. What about Miss Laura? What about the voice? What about the smell?” He rubbed his fingers together. They were still slightly sticky.

  Thinking about it all, Lee got down on his hands and knees and started looking for the eye; the events of the evening racing through his mind. The tips of his sticky fingers stuck to the floor and the freeze burn, or lamp burn, in the center of his palm nagged at him.

  Sitting back for a moment and rocking back on his heels, he looked at his right hand. It was a mess of scrapes and thorn cuts along with a couple of dried blisters, worn from the shovel. But there in the center of his palm was a brand new puff of skin, a dime sized blister. It stung, and the fleshy bubble creased whenever he moved his fingers. Strangely, as an after thought, he brought his hand to his nose and sniffed the tips of his fingers. They smelled like onion dip, and maybe it was just his imagination, but a hint of Miss Laura's lavender as well. That led him to wondering again about Miss Laura and from that to what had happened in the caboose. The memory of the caboose reminded him of being chased. Then he though of the presence he'd felt here in this room and then again in the kitchen. Suddenly he felt very alone.

  "Lee you better get your butt to bed!” his dad called out. “I know you're looking for that eye! But we've got a big day tomorrow."

  Lee got up from his knees and took one last look. The room looked strangely larger. Weaving through the furniture he turned off the lights one by one. Pulling the chain on the ceiling fan's lights he found himself in the dark again. And then, for the first time since he was a very little boy, he was terribly conscious of that alone and afraid sensation, and though embarrassed about it, he wasn't so embarrassed that he didn't run down the hall to his room, gaining a sense of relief when he'd snapped on the light.

  THE END OF BOOK TWO OF EVIL HEIGHTS

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