Ghost Granny

by Carol Colbert

  She wondered if Max and his family were dealing with autism, but also wondered how Cody would know so much about Ryuu after only a few days in his new school. As if reading her mind, Max looked at Catherine and said “I am not autistic, I just enjoy social skill games, don’t you?” He seemed to be challenging her.

  “Games of any kind can be fun and useful, Max.” Catherine said, adding “As long as they do not hurt anyone or cause them extra work.”

  She was glad they had finally reached the hill.

  Chapter 8

  Hugo watched as the wagon made its way over the wooden bridge on its way to the hill. The majestic white tailed deer raised his head from the water and walked to the house.

  “Are they over the hill yet?” Caramel asked.

  “Yes, Sebastian won’t be back for a couple of hours. What was all that smoke about this morning? I could smell it all the way over by the bridge.” Hugo said, shaking his massive antlers.

  “Thelma burnt Catherine’s Halloween costume.” Zippy said. There was a sudden gush of wind, swirling around in circles on the ground forming a blue mini tornado funnel from which Luna appeared.

  “What did you do, Thelma?” Luna asked. Thelma stretched and grew to her full height of five foot one. “I dragged it into the fireplace and burnt it, the hat too.” She proudly exclaimed.

  “Why did you do that?” Luna asked her sister. “And who does she think did the deed?”

  “Don’t know, don’t care. She made a witch costume, a witch! I can’t abide by that, not in my own house!” Thelma said, patting her white hair into place.

  “Our house.” Luna reminded her. “You have to be more careful, Thelma, we don’t want give Catherine any ideas about leaving here.”

  “As if she could” Hugo said.

  “Never the less, Hugo, my dear, we have to make sure Catherine stays the full year. It will ruin everything if she starts to kick up a fuss now.”

  “Just can’t help some people.” Caramel said.

  “Caramel, are you ready to kick things into high gear the way we talked about?” Luna asked the little caramel colored miniature horse.

  “Yes, and to that end, I guess I should get to it.” Caramel answered, trotting away.

  “We all should.” Hugo said, and walked over to the barn to retrieve a basket. “Wait up, Hugo.” Luna said. “We need to talk.”

  Chapter 9

  Catherine opened the door to Thelma’s Chocolates and kissed her son and told him to have a good day. She went inside and made the coffee in the three massive coffee machine containers. She then took out the product from the refrigerator that was to be sold that day and put it into the display cases.

  Nothing to do now, but wait. Catherine felt uneasy. She understood that their lives thus far has been much better than they had been before coming here. She didn’t know why she felt that nagging at the back of her mind. How did my witch costume end up in the fireplace? Why did my witch costume end up in the fireplace?

  The bell above the door rang and an older lady with white hair and very bright blue eyes came in. “Good morning, welcome to Thelma’s Chocolates. What can I help you with today?” Catherine asked, smiling.

  “Oh, I am just looking for a tall cup of chocolate coffee this morning. Had a long night.” The lady said with a twinkle in her eye.

  “Would you like a scone or muffin with your coffee today?” Catherine offered.

  “Would those be the muffins that Cindy made? She is such a beautiful young woman, any man would be lucky to get with her.” The woman said.

  “As far as I know, a lady named Isabel bakes all the muffins and makes the chocolates, but I haven’t been in town all that long, so you might be correct. Which would you like?” Catherine smile stayed on her face.

  “Just the coffee. How do you like living at Thelma’s?”

  Catherine was finding it a bit odd how everyone knew everyone else’s business in this village. She considered it both a blessing and a curse that people were so involved in other people’s lives.

  “The house and land surrounding it are out of this world beautiful. We haven’t met Thelma, but her sister Luna has been a big help to my son Cody and myself since we got into town.”

  “Thelma is nicer than her sister Luna, much better looking and younger too. By the way, where is Cody’s father?”

  Catherine was saved from trying to answer the lady’s out of line question when the door opened and a good fifteen children, Cody included, ran in. Isabel was with them.

  “Happy Halloween Catherine! We respectfully request that you leave the shop for at least ten minutes, we have work to do!”

  Cody’s eyes were shinning bright and he looked very happy as he stood there holding a full bag of something Catherine could not see. In fact, all of the kids had the bags. Catherine glanced at the clock and said “Well then, I guess I will be leaving then. Just going to get an outfit for the party so right across the street.” Catherine said, winking at her son.

  She turned to ask the lady with the coffee if there was anything else she could get her before she left, but the lady had apparently left when the children came in.

  Catherine went into the department store and headed right to the costume area. “I hope you are not all sold out.” She said to the sales lady.

  “Nice to meet you, Catherine. I am Lynn. Oh no, we still have quite a few choices. People just driving through town sometimes see the flyers about the party and decide to stay, so we always keep a good supply on hand. What type of costume were you looking for?”

  “A witch dress and hat, do you have any left in adult sizes?”

  “We don’t carry….” The saleslady started to explain, but then noticed a swirl of dark blue behind Catherine and she amended her answer. “I mean, that is the one item that we are out of, sorry. What would be your second choice?”

  Catherine was disappointed and she knew that she didn’t have time to search through all of the garments or try any on. It wouldn’t take that long before the children were done decorating Thelma’s Chocolate Shop. She grabbed a Tinkle Bell adult sized costume and hoped she would not look ridiculous in it.

  Catherine checked her watch. She didn’t want the children to leave and the shop be open with no one in it. When she was crossing the street to get back to the shop, Catherine looked up, amazed.

  She was expecting to see the usual, glitter pumpkins, scary jack-o-lantern cut out of construction paper, a witch or two on brooms, that sort of thing. There in front of Thelma’s Chocolate Shop were bales of hay, a full sized scarecrow, and three large uncut perfect round pumpkins. The white lights in the shop name were now orange. Catherine walked into her shop and had to do a double-take to make sure she was in the same establishment she had left a mere fifteen minutes ago. There were now orange and black tablecloths on the four tables and the chairs had back fabric with pictures of chocolate candy on them. There was a big black stuffed spider sitting on the cash register and bats and pumpkins on the walls. The entire place looked as if they could hold the Halloween party in the shop, if it were bigger. She wondered how the kids could have worked so quickly and done such a fantastic job.

  Catherine’s thoughts replayed in her mind. The lady with the white hair and nosy question. Catherine had been very lucky that the children came in right at that moment, because she honestly would not have known how to deal with the lady’s rudeness.

  But was it rude? Catherine had to admit that perhaps it was an honest question, but being asked by a complete stranger was what made it jarring. She had not been expecting such a personal question, but then, the entire town seemed to know each other well. Perhaps I need to do some serious thinking for the next time questions of that natural are asked.

  The little bell above the door rang and Catherine looked up to see the most beautiful young woman she had even seen. She was about Catherine’s height and her hair was a couple of shades darker than Catherine’s blond hair which Catherine wore in a braid. She had wanted to kee
p her hair out of her eyes while working around food. This girl had many curls cascading down her back. Catherine could not help but stare. The young lady smiled, showing pearl white teeth.

  “Hi, you must be Catherine. I am just checking to make sure the kids were on schedule. Looks like they did a great job in here. Oh, by the way, I am Cindy, from the school.” She said.

  Of course you are. Out loud Catherine said “Nice to meet you, Cindy. Yes, the kids really gave this place the WOW factor and in such a short time too. I am very impressed.”

  Cindy’s eyes were chocolate brown and large. She had long black eyelashes and a beautiful complexion. Catherine shook herself out of her stare. “Can I interest you in a hot cup of chocolate coffee?”

  “Why, yes, thank you, Catherine. I think I have time for a short cup. Can you take a break and join me?”

  Catherine poured them both a cup of the hot chocolate coffee, put a couple of cookies on a plate and walked around the counter to join Cindy at a table.

  “How do you like our town, so far?” Cindy asked.

  “Beautiful town, beautiful scenery and very nice people.” Catherine answered her honestly. My son, Cody, seems to really like his new school. I understand from him that you are the lunch lady there?”

  Cindy laughed, her beautiful face looking even prettier while laughing. “I was helping Sebastian one day handing out subs for lunch. I think that must be the day I met Cody and that is why he thought of me as the lunch lady.”

  “So, what is your position in the school?” Catherine asked politely.

  “Cody seems like a very good boy and he has excellent manners. Sebastian has mentioned that he and Max play together well, so it’s nice that they have each other and living right next to each other too.”

  Two mentions of Sebastian without me even saying his name. This young lady is doing her best to either let me know she is interested in him or that he is interested in her. Cindy looked like she had a charmed life. Beautiful face, beautiful figure, perfect teeth and hair, she didn’t even look as if she had any make up on and yet her complexion appeared flawless.

  “Catherine? I was asking if you were going to attend the party tomorrow. Everyone will be there, even the shops will be closed.”

  “Oh sorry. Yes, Cody and I will be there. We are going to be baking and making candy tonight with Isabel in fact, making treats for the party.” Catherine said as Cindy stood up and placed her empty coffee cup on the counter.

  The bell rang again and Sebastian walked in with a big smile on his face. “There you are! The kids did a terrific job in here and all over the town.”

  Catherine did not know to which lady he had addressed his remarks, so she just stood there and smiled at him. If she dared to answer him and then realize that he had been speaking to Cindy, she would have been mortified.

  “I have to get going. It was nice visiting with you, Catherine. See you tonight.” She said and then immediately looked as if she wished she hadn’t said that.

  Sebastian and Catherine said goodbye to her and Sebastian gave Cindy a little hug and then she was out the door. Catherine was surprised that Sebastian hadn’t followed her out that door if she was being honest with herself. Cindy just glowed and she was too nice not to like her, no matter how perfect she was.

  Sebastian put his arms out wide, but he was just gesturing to the entire room. “All of this, it really is amazing what the kids have done. The whole street looks like a party. They decorated every store on the block, both sides of the street too.”

  Sebastian took one of the cookies left on the plate and smiled at Catherine.

  “I was wondering if Cody could help me and Max haul in baskets of apples and pumpkins after school to the Recreation Center for the party tomorrow. We have barrels and the kids will be able to bob for apples and we also have a game where the apples are used, other than for bobbing. There is also going to be a pumpkin carving contest for the older kids, and a lot of other fun, exciting things that the kids can participate in. All ages should have fun, even the adults.”

  “That sounds like a good time. I have a camera in the van I keep forgetting to take out. I want to make sure I bring it tomorrow to capture the festivities. That was the first time I have met Cindy.” Catherine said, admitting to herself that she was fishing for information. “She seems like a lovely person.”

  “Cindy is the whole package! She is the heart and soul of that school, they are very lucky to have her.”

  Uh huh, O.K. then. “Sure, you can have Coby help you and Max out. I am sure he will want to. The party is all he has been talking about.”

  Just then they heard the sound of the school bells so Catherine said “I will walk with you over there.”

  Sebastian and Catherine walked up the school doors and Cody ran out to his mom. “Cody, you and the other kids did a wonderful job decorating for Halloween, very professional! Sebastian asked if you could help he and Max haul some apples over to the Rec Center, are you up for that?”

  “Sounds good to me! Cody said, turning around looking for Max. “I don’t know where Max went off to, he was here a minute ago. I thought I saw him talking to Mr. Lucky.”

  “He might have run on ahead, he didn’t know I would be outside the door today. Don’t worry about the kids, Catherine. I’ll make sure they eat something before we head back home to do the baking and chocolate stuff.” Sebastian said.

  Chapter 10

  Catherine walked back to the shop. She wondered why she wasn’t feeling upbeat with all the pretty decorations surrounding her. Sebastian had said that Cindy was the heart and soul of the school. Cody’s father had been the heart and soul of her life.

  David and Catherine had married young, just out of high school. Cody joined them a mere ten months later. Cody had only been two years old when a knock on her door changed their lives forever. There were two men in marine uniforms, there to inform her that her husband had been killed in Iran.

  Cody never had the chance to know his father. Catherine didn’t have any pictures of their wedding. Neither David nor she could afford a wedding with a photographer or catered meal. She and David had been married by a justice of the peace. The few times they took pictures, they took them of Cody.

  It hurt too much to think of David and she had been successful in putting that part of her life behind her. For whatever reason, Cody had never questioned her as to why he had no father like the other kids did. Catherine started to worry that she was doing her son a disservice by not mentioning his father to him. It was just easier for her to not bring it up, so she hadn’t, to anyone.

  Most people didn’t seem to care. Cody’s teachers, their neighbors, not even Cody’s babysitter ever asked where Cody’s father was. Come to think of it, that seemed a big strange to Catherine now. Maybe they were just being polite. It is not a question I would ask.

  Catherine had never had much interest in dating and could not have afforded a babysitter even if she had wanted to go out. Mrs. Roans, was that her name? Catherine’s memory was fuzzy this morning. Her neighbor had watched Cody for her while Catherine was at work until Cody was old enough to attend school full time.

  Cody is ten years old now, ten. Where did the time go? She had watched Max with Sebastian and she knew that Cody needed a male influence in his life. She could not be everything to him, although he was everything to her. She wondered where Max’s mother was.

  Seems like everyone here has a lot of questions, but no one has any answers. Why is there no telephone in Thelma’s Chocolate Shop? Why have Sebastian and Isabel ignored my request for their cell phone numbers? Why did Cindy blow off my question about what she does at the school? Why would Sebastian, Max and Isabel not be in the big house that she and Cody were in instead of the smaller living quarters behind the house? Had they lived here all of their lives? Who destroyed my costume?

  “Hello.”

  Catherine was jerked out of her thoughts by the voice coming from the kitchen. She jumped up and saw Luna coming
in the back door.

  “Oh, hello, Luna, you startled me. I’m afraid I was daydreaming.”

  “That is O.K”. Luna said. “Some dreams are too good to wait until the night. The kids did an excellent job in here. I brought you a special present.”

  “You did? Thank you, what for?” Catherine said.

  “Just for taking such good care of Thelma’s shop. She can be a very picky person.”

  “I hope I get the chance to meet her someday. Is Europe her main home, or is the house on Enchanted her prime residence?”

  “In Enchanted.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “You said on Enchanted. The name of this village is Enchanted.”

  “I don’t know how I missed that. Enchanted certainly is. But who in the world does not like Halloween?”

  “When I was little, Thelma and I made "punkies" out of large beetroots that we carved a design into. Then, we would carry our "punkies" through the streets while singing the "Punkie Night Song" and we would knock on doors and asked for money. Thelma, Hugo and I would put our turnip lanterns on gateposts to protect homes from the spirits who roamed on Halloween night. It was fun. No one sings anymore for Halloween, but people like to go door to door around Christmas singing Christmas Carols.”

  Is Hugo your and Thelma’s brother?” Catherine asked, pleasantly surprised that Luna had opened up as much as she did.

  Luna handed Catherine the small beautifully wrapped box and said “Hugo is my husband. Here, these were made especially for you.”

  Catherine ate two chocolate truffles from the brightly colored box and finished her chocolate coffee. By the end of the hour she was humming to herself and looking forward to Isabel’s bake and make that evening.

  At five p.m. Catherine put the left over candy and muffins back into the refrigerator, cleaned out the coffee pots and made sure everything was clean and locked up. Tomorrow was Saturday, but the shop would be closed because of the Halloween party at the Rec Center and the Chocolate Shop was not opened on Sundays. Catherine picked up her purse and the Tinker Bell costume she had bought that morning and started to walk towards the hill.