by RS Anthony
Steven sat staring at his plate for a long time. “What did Dr. Simmons say?” he asked after a while. He had a feeling his momma’s sudden transformation had something to do with her visit to Dr. Simmons’s office today. Dr. Simmons had probably found out about his momma’s behavior and given her some sound advice. That was why she had been talking to everyone he knew. But he felt queasy, as if something didn’t quite add up.
Steven’s momma took a deep breath and rested her fork on the plate.
“Nothing much. She asked some questions.” She paused, again considering asking Steven about Pork. But the last thing she wanted to do was mess up Dr. Simmons’s carefully crafted plan. “She made me realize a few important things…” His momma trailed off and she smiled.
“I don’t think I want to see her anymore. She costs money and she’s not helping my grades go up.”
“Well, let’s give it a go for a few more sessions and then we’ll see, okay?” She smiled again.
It was unbelievable to Steven. He was able to actually talk to his momma without her going crazy on him. Maybe the bad days are over, he thought as he finished the last piece of meat on his plate. Maybe finally, she can love me.
After dessert, Steven’s momma washed the dishes and put the leftovers in the refrigerator. Steven took a shower and went to bed.
***
When he woke up the next morning, he was late. His momma had just come back from Winnie’s and she was making coffee. There were a few slices of toast on the kitchen table, which Steven stared at for a few moments, bleary-eyed. So I didn’t dream last night. Momma really has changed. He got dressed quickly and rushed out the door with a slice of toast between his teeth. He had promised to meet Sandy at the main street at eight, but it was already a quarter past.
***
Steven’s momma was exhausted from her all-nighter, but the thought of confronting her son and Pork at the ground house with Dr. Simmons kept her adrenaline pumping. She took a seat, drank her coffee, and had two slices of toast, trying to imagine what to expect. She wanted with all her heart for Dr. Simmons’s plan to work, and she was prepared to do everything necessary to make sure her son was normal again. It was her fault, really, for treating him the way she did after his pa left. But then, it had been a difficult time for her too, trying to make ends meet while coping with her husband’s betrayal. The fact was, she had neglected herself and Steven long enough. It was time to make things right again.
A car honked in the front yard and Steven’s momma shook the crumbs off her fingers. She picked up her handbag, locked the front door, and got in Dr. Simmons’s car.
***
Sandy seemed distracted when Steven met her ten minutes later. She was lost in her own thoughts and hardly paid any attention to him on their way to the ground house. When he could no longer stand the troubled look on her face, he confronted her.
“What is it, Sandy? Why do you look all weird? You were weird yesterday and you’re weird now. What’s going on?”
“What are you talking about? I’m not weird.” She kicked a pebble, not looking at him.
“Yes you are. You’re never this quiet. It’s obvious you’re not even listening to me.” Sandy picked up her pace and bit the corner of her lip. “What? You’re not happy I’m letting Pork stay there? Is that it?”
“No.” She kicked the dirt path again. “It’s just… I have to tell you something, Stevie. I’m sorry, but I broke my promise.” They both stopped walking. Sandy looked as if she was about to cry.
“What are you talking about?”
“It’s just that she was so convincing. And Mrs. Thatcher said she could only help you if I told her everything.”
Steven’s eyes grew wide. His heart was pounding. “What are you talking about? Who? Who was convincing?”
“Dr. Simmons. Do you know her?”
“Yes, I know her. She’s my counselor. She spoke to you too?”
Sandy nodded.
“What did you tell her?”
“I didn’t know she was a shrink! Mrs. Thatcher said you needed help and that she could help. But only if I told her everything. She told me she’s been talking to you too. And that you knew—”
“What did you tell her, Sandy?” he asked again with wide eyes, his voice desperate.
“Everything. I told her about the tree house, Pork—”
“God! Sandy! How could you do that? You promised!”
“Look, she asked about Mildred, so I assumed you had already told her about the rest of it. She asked me where Mildred was and who looked after her, so I told her. It’s your fault. You didn’t warn me about her.”
Steven punched the air in disappointment and cursed. He looked manic, and Sandy was getting scared. She added quickly, “But then I freaked out, so I didn’t tell her Pork was abused by her dad. I’m sorry, Stevie.” Sandy started crying.
“Okay, okay. It’s all right. It’s not your fault. I’m sorry too.” Steven took a few deep breaths to calm down. “All we have to do is hide Pork when Dr. Simmons comes to visit. If we can do that, I can lie to her. I can say Pork has gone back home and that she’s never coming back again. Don’t worry. We can still fix this.”
Sandy wiped her tears with her hands and nodded. They walked the rest of the way in quiet contemplation, both of them nervous.
***
“Steven just left home,” Steven’s momma said to Dr. Simmons as she drove. “I think we should slow down a bit just to make sure we don’t overtake him.”
“Oh,” Dr. Simmons said, slowing down.
“Have you treated a lot of young patients like Steven?”
“Unfortunately, yes. But remember what I said, Mrs. Walthurst. Steven’s case is not hopeless.” Steven’s momma nodded. “Are you nervous?”
“Extremely.”
***
By the time they reached the small bridge, Sandy had calmed down and was wondering how he’d managed to build a house so quickly after the fire.
“Did you build the house by yourself, Stevie?”
“No. I had Fenton help me build it. I helped here and there.” Steven shrugged.
“Fenton from Bob’s Garage?”
“Yeah.”
“How much did you pay him?”
Steven shrugged again. “He wouldn’t take my money.” He hopped across the wooden bridge and offered his hand to Sandy. “So, this is it,” he said, spreading his hands.
“Wow!” Sandy said, admiring the house from afar.
“Do you like it?”
“Yeah, it’s really nice.” Sandy smiled and looked around before asking, “Where’s Pork?”
“Maybe by the creek, feeding Mildred.”
“Can I go in and take a look around the house?”
“Yeah, sure. I’m going to check for Pork by the creek. I’ll be right in.” He had a bad feeling. Pork usually ran from the creek with Mildred in her arms to greet him at this hour. But he didn’t see her anywhere today. He approached the creek slowly, keeping an eye on the tree line.
Sandy had already bolted toward the house, her braids swinging against her back. She opened the front door and called out so as not to startle the little girl. “Hello? Pork? Are you here?”
She looked around, avoiding a few empty juice bottles on the floor. Moldy sandwiches were piled on the floor by the door, and plastic bags were stuck between wooden panels. Dirty paper cups and plates were everywhere. Sandy grimaced when she caught a whiff of the pungent odor that permeated the air. Pork didn’t seem to be into housekeeping. Sandy crossed over to the window, shaking her head, and saw a bird’s nest on the ledge. It had to be Mildred’s. But where was the bird? Was it with Pork?
When Sandy picked up the nest, she noticed the twigs and straw looked fresh—almost as if it had been made recently. She placed it down again and a curious frown formed on her face. It was definitely not the same nest she had seen at the tree house when she first came to visit. But why had they made a fresh one? And then it struck Sandy: Por
k had the bird with her when the fire started, but the original nest would have perished in the fire. So Steven probably made a new one after that. Sandy was dissecting this in her mind when she heard Steven’s voice carrying sharply on the wind.
“Pork!”
Sandy looked up through the window and saw Steven standing by the creek, screaming at the woods. She looked for Pork, but leaves and branches blocked her view.
“Pork! No! Please don’t!” Steven screamed again.
Sandy left the window and ran toward the creek. But she stopped halfway there when she saw a car pull up just before the bridge. Although he was about twenty yards away from her, she could tell Steven was oblivious to the car.
Steven’s heart was racing, and tears poured down his cheeks. Pork stood on his side of the creek, pulling the corner of her t-shirt. She stared at her pa, who was aiming a shotgun at her from between the elm trees on the other side.
“You bitch! How dare you run away from me?” he screamed at Pork. The man was in a pair of corduroy pants, rolled at the hips, his beer belly hanging over the fold. His grey hair was unruly, and his eyes protruded from a wide, bearded face. “I’m going to kill you!” he threatened.
Out by the bridge, car doors opened, and Dr. Simmons and Steven’s momma stepped out. They crossed the broken bridge but stopped before the clearing, where they hid behind an elm tree about forty yards away. Dr. Simmons motioned for Steven’s momma to be quiet. Meanwhile, Sandy was rooted to the spot and alternated looking at Steven, who was screaming madly, and his momma.
“No!” Steven screamed again, waving his hands in front of him. He wasn’t sure if Pork understood what was happening, but she stayed quiet. “Pork, run!”
Steven’s momma rushed forward toward her son, but Dr. Simmons stopped her with one hand and a stern, silent shake of her head. Steven’s momma stood back and watched as her son screamed at the woods. Just behind him, she saw Sandy, looking anxiously at Steven.
“Steven!” Sandy called from behind him. Breathing was becoming increasingly difficult, so she retrieved the inhaler from her pocket. Steven didn’t turn. He probably hadn’t even heard her.
The man glared at Steven and took unsteady aim at Pork again. “I fed you and I clothed you, you little beast!” Pork’s pa screamed. “And this is how you repay me?” He looked out of control, his body shaking with spasms. Now I’m going to make you pay!”
Without warning, Pork let go of the corner of her t-shirt and ran along the creek, away from her pa.
“Pork!” Steven screamed, running after her.
“Steven, no!” Sandy screamed but he hardly heard her voice. She felt better after taking a puff of the inhaler, but she couldn’t imagine going into the woods again. She glanced at Steven’s momma and Dr. Simmons, watching all of this from a distance. Steven’s momma had both her hands cupped to her mouth. Sandy couldn’t tell, but she felt sure his momma was crying.
Pork’s father aimed the shotgun at her one more time and pulled the trigger. It hit a tree, the sound ringing through the woods. It startled Pork and she covered her ears, but she kept running, cutting into the woods. She zigzagged through the thicket and disappeared from Steven’s view.
Steven couldn’t believe what he was seeing and paused in the creek. Pork’s pa took aim once again and fired. This time, Steven heard Pork’s unmistakable cry from the woods and the crunching of dried leaves, as if she had fallen to the ground.
“Oh God!” Steven said, collapsing into the steady stream of water while the man traipsed after Pork. “Oh God, he got her! No!” Steven wailed as Pork’s pa disappeared into the woods.
“Steven! What’s wrong with you? Why did you run into the creek?” Sandy asked. She stepped into the water too and stared at him, utterly confused. He was cowering in the stream, his clothes and face completely soaked. He was shaking and crying uncontrollably, snot dripping from his nose. “Steven, say something.”
“I’m sorry, Sandy,” he said, his voice quivering between sobs. “I should have listened to you. I am so sorry.”
“What are you talking about?” Sandy was perplexed, and was using her hand to try and deflect the rising sun reflecting off the water.
Dr. Simmons motioned to Steven’s momma, and they approached him cautiously. She placed a finger over her lips, requesting silence. She wanted to hear the exchange between Sandy and Steven without interfering. They hurried over to the creek.
“Didn’t you see what he did to her? That was Pork’s pa. He found her. He shot her, Sandy. He shot her and it’s all my fault,” Steven wailed, crying into his hands.
Sandy sat next to him in the stream and watched him as he heaved and sobbed, consumed with grief. Their clothes were wet and they were both shivering. Steven’s momma and Dr. Simmons stood quietly about three feet behind them.
“Steven, what are you talking about? There was no one there. You were screaming at the woods but there was no one there. No girl, no man, no gunshots, nothing,” Sandy said.
Steven stopped crying and looked up at Sandy’s face. His momma was standing behind Sandy, crying silently, and Dr. Simmons was standing beside her.
“What? Didn’t you see—” Steven stopped talking and frowned.
“There was no one there,” Sandy repeated. “You were screaming at nothing, Stevie. I was right here, watching you the whole time.”
Steven’s momma, for the first time, was truly terrified for her son. She had no idea what to say, and repeated Dr. Simmons’s words in her head. She didn’t want Steven to build a wall and retreat behind it. Her mind kept telling her she should let Dr. Simmons do the talking, since she was the one trained to handle situations like this. So she kept quiet, allowing the tears to flow down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry, Steven. But Sandy’s right,” Dr. Simmons said emphatically, crouching by the creek. “I saw it too. There was no one there.”
“But I saw her. I saw them.”
“I’m afraid your mind has created a character and named her Pork, Steven. Quite possibly, your mind created the father as well. But there’s no one there,” she said, glancing at the woods.
Steven’s eyes followed hers. “But if Pork wasn’t real, what about Mildred?” Sandy asked. “I mean, I saw the bird when I came to the tree house before it was destroyed in the fire.”
“Did Pork save Mildred from the fire, Steven?” Dr. Simmons asked.
“Yes, she did,” Steven said.
“I believe Mildred was both real and imagined. The Mildred you saw before the fire was real,” Dr. Simmons said to Sandy. “But the Mildred Steven saw after the fire was imagined. In other words, Steven created an imaginary Mildred after the fire to replace the real Mildred that died in the fire.”
“Oh my God.” Steven’s momma whispered, her first words since she’d arrived.
“But you don’t understand. I saw them. I saw her,” Steven said again. “She was with me. I saw her eat, I saw her drink, sleep, smile. Those broken teeth. How could I have imagined her if I saw it all so clearly?”
“I understand how you feel, Steven. It can be frustrating to realize the things you believe to be true are not. Some people develop a condition where they have difficulty distinguishing between what is real and what is imagined. It affects about one percent of people in the world. But the good news, Steven, is that I can help you cope with this.” Dr. Simmons cocked her head and looked at his face hopefully. “Will you let me help you, Steven?”
Steven blinked and looked up to stare at the sky, narrowing his eyes against the bright light. Slowly and deliberately, he nodded, as his momma took him into her tearful embrace.
THE END
About the Author
Rosemary Anthony writes suspense fiction with a twist. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Management from the University of Science Malaysia and recently made the jump from writing official documents to writing fiction novels. Blessed with 17 nephews and nieces, she finds the world of young adults to be a thrilling source of inspiration for
her books.
Rosemary lives in a small town in Malaysia and travels as often as possible to learn more about foreign cultures. You can find out more about her books, giveaways, and new releases on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/rsanthony.author/
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If you enjoyed Pork, I’d be very grateful if you’d post a short review on the page where you bought this book. Your support and help in spreading the word really does make a difference.
Thank you again, for your support!
RS Anthony
Coming Soon
HALVERSHAM
RS ANTHONY
With his mother dead and his father jetting off on yet another business trip, fifteen-year-old Andy Monaghan can’t stand the thought of spending summer alone in the city. Instead, he seeks a few weeks of solace in the place his mother loved the most: the rural town of Halversham where his father was raised.
No sooner does Andy arrive in Halversham than he hears stories of strange incidents occurring in town, including a few too close for comfort. Before long, Andy is reluctantly reeled into a chain of events that quickly darken the rose-colored glasses he’s been wearing for his mother’s beloved country getaway.
Finding out who’s responsible for Halversham’s many tragedies becomes Andy’s main priority. As he reconnects with his father’s family and dives deeper into the mysteries surrounding the town, he finds that even his own may not be safe from trouble. Is he willing to risk everything to uncover the truth of Halversham’s dark secrets, and protect the people he loves?