Child of Darkness

by V. C. Andrews

  She widened her eyes.

  "She's coming from faraway in time. She's coming back to see you. She's grown up now, and she wants to see you very much. She hopes you'll remember her, if not today, then maybe the next tomorrow or the next. Do you know who she is?"

  She nodded and went back to her painting.

  "Can you tell me?"

  She didn't answer me. I sat there in silence for a while, and then, as if he were whispering in my ear to tell me what to do, I heard him hum, and I began to hum the same tune and then to sing it. It was something my grandmother sang to Celeste and to Noble and eventually to me.

  If you go out in the woods today, you're sure of a big surprise.

  If you go out in the woods today, you'd better go in disguise.

  For every bear that ever there was will gather there for certain because

  Today's the day the teddy bears have their picnic.

  She turned slowly and looked at me, this time long enough so that our eyes met and held.

  "Mama," I whispered. "I'm home."

  I reached for her hand and held it.

  "I need you to come too. Please, please," I begged, my hot tears now free to pour over my lids and trickle down my cheeks.

  As if she was looking into a mirror and had to mirror the image, she brought tears to her own eyes, and soon they were trickling down her own cheeks. I smiled through mine.

  "You want to come home someday soon, don't you?" I asked.

  She nodded.

  "When?"

  She smiled.

  "Tomorrow," she said, and showed me her painting again.

  "Yes, Mama. Tomorrow. I'll come every day until you see it in your painting. I promise," I said.

  I leaned forward and kissed her on the cheek.

  She looked troubled for a moment and then smiled and turned back to her painting. I stayed with her a while longer, and then I kissed her again and left.

  Pru was standing by her car, looking very nervous and worried, When I emerged from the building. I smiled at her.

  "How was it?"

  "It was good," I said. "It was a beginning."

  "Oh, that's wonderful, Celeste. I'm so happy for you."

  "Thank you," I said, and we got into the car and headed back to the faun. "I'll go to school with Brice on Monday," I said.

  "That's great."

  "I want to talk to Mr. Nokleby-Cook about getting myself a car. I need it now."

  "Oh, I'm sure something can be arranged quickly for you."

  "Yes, I'm sure," I said. "I'm sure about everything now," I said.

  She looked at me with a smile of astonishment. "Oh? Why is that?"

  "I just saw tomorrow," I said, "and tomorrow and tomorrow. It's a gift I have."

  "Really?"

  "Yes."

  "Who gave it to you?"

  "I suppose my grandmother, in a way, and of course my mother."

  I wanted to add someone else, but I knew she would never understand.

  I wanted to say most of all, Noble.

  But that was something to be forever locked in my heart, a secret I shared with no one.

  Someday, perhaps, I would share it with someone. I'd have to go back to Mama and look at her painting to see, I thought.

  Tomorrow.

  I'll look tomorrow.