by Angie Kelly
“Ninth.”
“Hey, me too.” Jackie put her arm around Sarah.
The girls trailed the crazy lady, staying a good block behind her. As they walked Jackie filled her in on the Cat Lady legend. According to Jackie, at least three people had mysteriously disappeared from the town of Harrisburg, all of them victims of the Cat Lady curse. Sarah couldn’t help but be drawn in by the stories. There was the former grocery delivery boy, Gus, who delivered her groceries and never returned to the store. The next victim was the good doctor, who used to do house calls until he disappeared inside her house, and then last but not least, old lady Farnsworth who was discovered dead after a dispute with the Cat Lady.
Listening to her new friend drone on, Sarah watched the infamous woman wind her way home. She couldn’t help but notice how frail she appeared as she shuffled down the street. The poor woman didn’t look strong enough to make anyone disappear, let alone cause the death of a grouchy old lady.
The air was thick with humidity. Sweat formed on Sarah’s brow as she rounded the corner toward the Cat Lady’s place. Sighing, she wiped it away. How much farther do we have to go? Glancing at the huge oak trees lining the sidewalk, Sarah realized this was an old part of town just because the trees were so big. Sunlight dappled the walkway, leaving dark shadows as it forced its light between the leaves. No one roamed the streets; Sarah thought this was odd and her heart picked up its pace. Jackie’s stories are getting to me.
“Okay,” Jackie whispered, clutching Sarah’s arm. “We’re almost there.” Jackie stopped and cast a skittish glance around her. “Let’s cross the street.”
Strolling across the street, Jackie tried to appear casual by swinging her arms and whistling, but Sarah knew she was faking it.
Sarah stopped her when they reached the opposite sidewalk. “Okay, what are we going to do?”
“We’re going to watch her.”
“Watch her?”
Jackie pulled on one of her curls. “Yeah, see if she does anything...you know…witchy.”
Sarah furrowed her brow. “Won’t she see us?”
“Trust me.” Jackie winked.
Sarah followed her new friend to an old church, reaching it just after the Cat Lady disappeared inside her home. They scurried behind an old oak tree growing on the church’s lawn. With a thudding heart, Sarah hugged the tree. These stories are definitely getting to me. Feeling the rough bark of the tree calmed her. She was hidden and this made her feel safe. After all, what could happen in broad daylight?
Peeking out from behind the tree, Sarah stared at the house. It sat in the middle of the block on Jefferson Street in a state of disrepair. Ancient gutters sagged at one end, and it needed a fresh coat of paint. The front porch ran the full length of the structure, settling on the south side. It reminded Sarah of a drooping smile, the kind of smile she might get from someone whose mouth had been shot full of novocaine. Dirty windows, which resembled sinister eyes, peered at the girls with their unblinking stare. A chill ran down Sarah’s spine. It’s like the house knows we’re here. She noticed the grass hadn’t been mowed in weeks and the house appeared abandoned. Cats dawdled on the stoop, the only signs of life around the place.
“Go up on the porch,” Jackie urged.
Sarah raised her eyebrow and smirked. “You go up on the porch.”
Jackie shook her head. “No way.”
“Are you scared?” Sarah teased, grinning at her.
“Absolutely. I could go up on her porch and never be seen again.” Jackie’s solemn expression told Sarah she believed her own words.
The girls watched the house, waiting for a glimpse of the infamous witch. After what seemed like hours, there was still no sign of her.
Sighing, Sarah fidgeted. She was antsy, her legs cramping from staying in one position for so long. “Let’s go,” she said, doing a deep knee bend. “I’ve got to get home. My aunt and uncle will wonder where I am.”
“Okay, we can come back tomorrow.”
Just as the girls were about to leave, three rough looking boys swooped down the street on their bikes. Jackie grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her back behind the oak.
“It’s the Wykowski boys.”
Sarah didn’t move. She had no idea who the boys were, but from Jackie’s reaction she figured they were trouble.
“These guys are total creeps,” Jackie whispered as she peered out from behind the tree.
Sarah hoped they would ride past them and be on their way. Much to her dismay, they slowed and began circling in front of the Cat Lady’s house. She groaned. We’re never getting out of here. The three boys stopped circling and Sarah poked her head out to see what was happening. They were in the middle of the street whispering to each other.
Jackie pointed at a tall boy with dark, shaggy hair. “That’s Tim. He’s like the leader.”
Suddenly, Tim yelled at the house. “Hey! Cat Lady! Do you eat cat food with all your cats?”
The boys hooted with wicked laughter and then grew quiet. Sarah could tell they were waiting for a reaction from the withered old woman. When one didn’t come they took up their screams once again, yelling for the Cat Lady to come out on her porch.
After several minutes of ranting and getting no response the boys produced three huge, overripe tomatoes. They glanced up and down the street, and then hurled the tomatoes at the house. A couple of them hit with a loud splat, smearing red pulp all over the dingy siding. Sarah’s heart skipped a beat. This will definitely get the Cat Lady out of her house.
The rowdy boys took off on their bikes, laughing at their prank. Tim, the shaggy haired boy, rode ahead of the other two and jumped the curb, as if by coming closer to the house he dared the Cat Lady to come out. Glancing back he laughed, and the two other boys joined in. He didn’t pay attention to where he was going and Sarah watched as he smacked right into a stop sign. Yelping, he fell in a heap and his brothers stopped to help him. They weren’t laughing now. Climbing back on their bikes, the boys took off down the road. Sarah noticed Tim glanced back at the house, his expression filled with a mixture of fear and bewilderment.
“See, I told you she was a witch,” Jackie whispered.
“That kid ran into the stop sign all by himself,” Sarah scoffed.
“No way. He’s lived in this town all his life. He knew the stop sign was there. It was the curse of the Cat Lady.”
“Whatever.” Sarah rolled her eyes. “I have to get home.”
The girls waited a few minutes, and then left the safety of the tree. They ambled down the street away from the infamous house and all the secrets it held. Sarah stopped and glanced over her shoulder. She had a tingling feeling someone or something was watching them.
“I’ll walk you home,” Jackie said, linking her arm through Sarah’s and pulling her. “We can get together tomorrow and I’ll show you the willow tree.”
“Okay.” Sarah allowed Jackie to pull her forward.
They moved down the street and Jackie told Sarah all about the town of Harrisburg and its quirky characters. Sarah listened intently, forgetting the tingling feeling. Maybe being stuck here for the summer won’t be so bad.
Looking at the homes lining the streets, Sarah wondered what it would be like to grow up in such a tiny town. She lived in the city and enjoyed the hustle and bustle. Here everything moved at a slower pace.
Reaching her aunt and uncle’s home, Sarah made plans to see Jackie the next day. After she said goodbye, Sarah climbed the stairs to the large front porch. She plopped down on the swing hanging from hooks above the stoop. Sarah always thought of their house as friendly, with its yellow siding and ample porch. This could be a great summer after all. Exhaling a contented sigh, she looked forward to the next morning.
****
Sarah woke bright and early the next day. Bounding out of bed, she dressed in denim shorts and a yellow T-shirt. As Sarah brushed her hair, she realized she was excited about seeing her new friend again. Giggling, she remembered how much
she enjoyed Jackie’s dramatic flair. It was like Jackie was the ying to her yang. They went together like peanut butter and jelly.
Suddenly, Sarah remembered a song she had learned at Y camp a few years ago. The song drifted into her mind…Peeeanuuut, peanut butter….jelly. Peeeanuuut, peanut butter….jelly. First you take the peanuts and you smash them, smash them, smash them—. She had sung it with her best friend Melanie and they would swing their hips to the beat, pretending to smash peanuts with their hands. Sarah laughed at the memory and realized she clicked with Jackie, not quite the same way as with Melanie, but in a way that was still fun. Things are definitely looking up for the summer.
While waiting for her aunt to finish cooking breakfast, Sarah walked out into the backyard. She could tell it was going to be a scorcher, because it was only eight o’clock and already the dew had dried on the grass. Smiling, she turned her face to the sun, enjoying the heat.
Sarah listened to the sounds of the morning, the twittering of birds, the buzzing of insects, and the occasional bark of a dog. She loved this morning melody and her body tingled with anticipation.
Jackie arrived right after breakfast. Lacey beat Sarah to the door, and when she met Jackie she insisted on being included. Sarah didn’t put up much of a fight and the three girls sat on the stoop making plans for the day.
Jackie studied Lacey. “Hey, you guys could almost be twins.”
Sarah laughed. “No way.”
“Way,” Jackie insisted. “You guys have the same blonde hair and green eyes.”
“But, Lacey’s taller than I am and her hair goes all the way to her waist,” Sarah pointed out. “Mine stops at my shoulders.”
“Yeah,” Lacey agreed.
“Besides, our personalities are like night and day.”
“So, where does it say twins have the same personality?”
Sarah rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”
“We should go to the willow tree,” Jackie said, pulling on one of her curls.
“What? Bored with the conversation already?” Sarah teased.
Jackie cracked a wide smile. “Yeah. Let’s go to the willow tree.”
“Where’s the willow tree?” Sarah asked.
“It’s down by the creek.” Jackie stood and descended the stairs. “I know. We can play truth or dare. Have you ever played?”
“I have.” Sarah stood to follow Jackie.
“How do you play?” Lacey asked.
Jackie explained the rules of the game as they walked to the creek. Sarah tuned her out and focused her attention on the world around her. Listening to the neighborhood as it came to life, she heard the roar of a lawnmower as a neighbor fired it up to mow. She heard the spish, spish, spish, of a sprinkler as it watered someone’s parched lawn, and then the buzz of a bee as it flew by, searching for flowers. When she felt the sun’s prickly heat on her skin, Sarah realized she loved summer.
The Cole girls followed Jackie to the end of a cul-de-sac. Beyond it, Sarah spied a sandy trail stretching through the weeds like a discarded shoelace, long and skinny. Walking single file behind Jackie, Sarah winced when the weeds clutched at her calves.
When the girls reached the creek, they continued to follow their new friend. She walked along the bank, chasing the current downstream. The scent of wild flowers wafted past Sarah and she took several deep breaths. Her chest loosened as her lungs filled with the heady perfume. Sarah cracked a smile as her body tingled. This summer is definitely better than I expected.
The smell of wildflowers mixed with the sound of the water making its way to the ocean sent shivers of delight down Sarah’s spine. It surprised her to find the creek only a few blocks away from her aunt and uncle’s house. In the city, there wasn’t a body of water within walking distance of their home. Even finding a mud puddle is a rare occurrence.
Walking along the bank, the girls came to the large willow tree and quickly claimed it as their secret hiding place. Creeping beneath the pliable branches, Sarah sighed, happy to be out of the sun. Jackie sat down on the ground and started playing in the soil with a stick. Sarah and Lacey plopped down next to her.
“Okay, Lacey why don’t you start,” Jackie said.
“Okay…Jackie, truth or dare?”
“I guess…truth.”
“Oh, you big chicken,” Lacey whined, a disappointed pout on her face.
“I’m not chicken. I just think you’ll give me a wimpy dare,” Jackie said thrusting her nose in the air. “So, truth.”
“Okay, would you ever French kiss a boy?”
“Oh, what a lame question,” Sarah grumbled. “I can tell this is the first time you’ve played this game.”
Lacey shrugged. “So what if it is? Just answer the question, Jackie.”
“Boy, you can tell you’re only fourteen,” Sarah said with a superior air.
“Ooooh, you’re a whole year older.” Lacey rolled her eyes. “Okay, Jack, answer the question.”
“All right,” Jackie studied the toe of her shoe for a moment. “It depends.”
“On what?”
“On whether or not he chewed tobacco.” Jackie nodded. “Yeah, if he chewed tobacco, no way…but if he didn’t then I’d think about it.”
“What a lame question.” Sarah gazed at Lacey and raised her right eyebrow, and smirked. This was her infamous ‘are you brain dead?’ look.
“Be nice, it is her first time,” Jackie said, smacking Sarah on the arm.
“Whatever.” Sarah rolled her eyes.
“Sarah, truth or dare?” Jackie asked, a mischievous smirk playing on her lips.
“Dare.” Sarah pulled her hair behind her ears and she sat up tall.
“Okay,” Jackie laughed. “You have to go up on the Cat Lady’s porch and ring her doorbell.”
“Who’s the Cat Lady?” Lacey asked as she pulled on the grass growing beneath her and tossed it in the air.
“She’s a witch.” Jackie whispered the words as if the mere mention of the woman would conjure her up.
“Holy Cow!” Lacey chortled. “You’re history now!”
“No way,” Sarah scoffed.
“Way.” Lacey threw a handful of grass at her sister.
“Well?” Jackie asked. “Are you going to do it, or wimp out?”
“I’ll do it.”
“Are you sure?” Jackie wheedled. “You know, she’s a witch.”
“Yeah,” Lacey piped up, relishing the teasing. “I bet she casts evil spells.”
“You remember what I told you about Mrs. Farnsworth, don’t you?” Jackie continued.
“Knock it off.” Sarah crossed her arms over her chest. “I know you’re just trying to freak me out.”
“What happened to Mrs. Farnsworth?” Lacey asked, taking the bait.
Jackie deepened her voice. “It was a long time ago.”
“I’m not going to listen to this.” Sarah stood and brushed the dirt off her shorts.
“What? Are you scared?” Jackie teased.
“No, I’m not scared,” Sarah said as she glared at Jackie. “But this is the hardest dare in the history of this game.”
“Yeah, it is,” Jackie snickered. “Are you up to the challenge, girlfriend?”
“Yep, let’s go.” Sarah turned, and began walking out from under the green canopy. The willow branches stroked her face and arms as she moved through them.
Lacey and Jackie stood and followed her.
Sarah squinted and shaded her eyes against the sun as she waited for the other girls to catch up.
“So, what did happen to Mrs. Farnsworth?” Lacey persisted.
“She used to live next to the Cat Lady. They were always fighting over something,” Jackie began.
“So what,” Lacey shrugged. “A lot of neighbors argue.”
“Let me finish,” Jackie scolded. “Anyway, the biggest feud they had was over the Cat Lady’s apple tree. Every year it dropped a ton of apples in Mrs. Farnsworth’s yard. They made a huge mess.”
“I bet M
rs. Farnsworth was totally ticked,” Sarah said.
“Yeah, it bothered her so much, one day when the Cat Lady wasn’t home, she hired someone to cut down her tree.”
“Oh, I bet the Cat Lady was so-o mad.” Lacey frowned and twirled her hair around her finger.
“She sure was.” Jackie nodded. “The story goes, the Cat Lady was so angry she cast a spell on Mrs. Farnsworth. She got some mysterious illness and died a week later.”
“I don’t know if I believe that story.” Sarah shot Jackie a skeptical look.
“It’s true,” she insisted. “She died with huge warts all over her face and body.”
“Oooh, so-o gross.” Lacey grimaced and subconsciously wiped her hands on her shirt.
“Yeah, it was. They were oozing yellow pus.”
Lacey gagged. “Gross! She had some horrible disease, the kind you get from an evil spell.”
“Did you actually see the warts?” Sarah’s upper lip quivered with suppressed laughter.
“No.”
“Then how do you know it’s true?”
“I just do,” Jackie asserted. “They were green and oozing yellow pus.”
Sarah hooted with laughter. “Come on, Jack. You don’t believe that, do you?”
Jackie glared at Sarah. “Yes, I do. Everything I’ve told you is true. Remember what I told you about Gus Baker?”
“Yeah, I remember, but I don’t know if I believe that, either.” Sarah gave her the raised eyebrow smirk she usually gave her sister.
“Stop looking at me like that!”
“Come on. You don’t believe those stories, do you?”
“Do you have any evidence they’re not true?”
“No, I don’t,” Sarah admitted. “But we don’t have any evidence that they are true, either.”
“You mean Mrs. Farnsworth’s wart-covered body isn’t enough for you?” Jackie demanded. “What about Gus Baker?”
Sarah sighed and shook her head.
“So tell me about Gus Baker,” Lacey said.
“Not now,” Sarah interrupted. “We’re here.”
The girls stopped and Sarah noticed the sun vanished behind a cloud. Suddenly, the atmosphere around the house changed. Without the sun, it appeared dark and foreboding. Sarah stood across the street and stared at the Cat Lady’s place, looking for signs of ominous danger.