Speculos

Chapter Three

7:30 PM: sleepily scheming myself to dreamland.

8:00 PM: going over the details.

9:00 PM: wide awake.

10:00 PM, and I give up hope on falling asleep and start to get dressed.

As it happens, I've never been a "night out on the town" kinda girl.

Especially when "doing the town" in Doily actually translates to "McDonald's and the bowling alley." Needless to say, I've never had a curfew at Ruby's. She happens to be one of those ungodly morning people, so I'm not too worried about running into her.

Not that I'm sneaking out. I'm just being as quiet as possible while leaving the house in the middle of the night. No big deal.

The shock of the November's first cold front rolling in hits me hard. It feels a bit ominous. And cliche. This is the start of how many scary movies?

With my teeth chattering,  I run back inside to grab a scarf and one of those stupid little hats with the fuzzy balls on the top.  Texas girls like the cold just enough to wear a cute coat a couple times, then they're done with it.

 I wrap my coat tighter around myself and start the mile long walk to my house... through the woods. Who's idea was this again?

The path through the woods is a mile, but around the woods is four so on I trudge. I take my cheap little flip phone out of my pocket to use it as a flashlight, but it only really lights up enough for me to realize how stinking dark it actually is.

Snap!

I spin around quickly, knowing I had heard a branch break. Of course I see nothing. I couldn't see a pink elephant five feet in front of me, and I'm doubtfully hoping that is what the noise was. I look all around me, but all I can hear is the cool fall breeze tearing through the woods.

We don't have bears... but one kid a couple years ago stumbled upon a cougar tearing a deer apart and got a nasty little scar for intruding.

Not really a comforting memory to pop into my head at that particular moment.

I walk a little bit faster down the barely there path. I'm not sure if I am brave or stupid, but I feel like those paths usually cross somewhere. Leaves crunch underfoot and my breath puffs out in little clouds in front of me. All my focus is on the path ahead of me and the noises I hope to high heaven I'm leaving behind me.

I see my neighbor's back porch light and surge forward. While closing in on the house, my frozen fingers fumble with the key ring in my pocket. I unlock the door and it creaks open, slow and creepy like. I flick the light on but nothing except darkness and the long shadows cast by the neighbors porch light greet me.

Of course, the electricity bill. Great.

The wind howls so gutturally that I jump, almost sure it was a coyote. With one last glance across the darkened woods that are my backyard, I take a few steps into the house.

It is small, dumpy, in need of repairs, and I'm pretty sure we've got squirrels in our attic. But I've kept it as clean and comfortable as possible these past few years.

I dig through the junk drawer, the one filled with all of the stuff you don't know why you keep but can't seem to make yourself throw away. I smile as my hand finds its intended target, a little crank flashlight Sheriff had gotten me for my ninth birthday. I start to crank it up and the light gets brighter and brighter, until it actually lights the room up quite nicely.

The wind blows through the loose window glass and noisily makes its presence known. I shine the light towards it, slightly worried I'll see a face looking back at me. I don't of course.

But it sure as heck feels like I'm being watched. A shiver goes down my spine and to my toes.

With one long glance at the back door, I shiver and decide I should get started. I'm not even really sure where to begin. I walk towards the closet to grab another coat.

If I were keeping some deep dark secret from my daughter, where would I hide it?

I start walking to her bedroom. It is tiny, more like a closet than a bedroom. Every surface is worn and threadbare, but it is surprisingly well kept considering the more-often-than-not-drunk who currently occupies it.

I walk to her closet and begin looking, which is much easier when you actually know what you are looking for. A couple of old baby photos of me, a kindergarten art project or two, a copy of that same old yearbook Ruby had...

Nothing is jumping out at me. I don't know what I was expecting to walk in here and stumble upon, but this isn't it. Just as I'm about to start digging in the bottom of her closet I hear a noise.

I quickly turn off my flashlight and stand as still as I can. I try to still my breathing, but I can't. I'm wheezing like an asthmatic nerd trying to catch his breath while running the mile in gym class.

The back door moans as it slowly creaks open, and I desperately try to remember what to do if someone breaks in. I saw this on Good Morning America one time... Hide in a pile of laundry, that's it!

I desperately scan the floor. What was yesterday, laundry day!? Where's a pile of laundry when you need one? Thanks for nothing mother!

Footsteps echo down the hardwood hallway, directly towards the bedroom.

I throw myself under the bed and start mumbling a quick "If you can hear me God..." prayer. The bed moves with the weight of someone sitting down.

I hold my breath and clench my eyes shut.