by David Wood
“I know, Alan.” She turned toward him. “I'll ask.”
Alan nodded, his smile creeping back. “You'll tell Daddy I love him?”
“Of course.” She turned back to the coffee maker and then stopped. “Alan?”
He looked up at her as he put another spoonful in his mouth.
“Do you know what Daddy is supposed to protect us from?”
He opened his mouth to speak, then closed it, continued crunching, and swallowed. “The Ice Cream Man,” Alan whispered.
“Who?” she asked, her heart rate rising and thumping in her ears. “The Ice Cream Man, Mommy. Daddy doesn't like him.” Alan frowned. “I don't like him either.”
She stepped away from the coffee maker and sat down at the breakfast table. She thrummed her fingers on the glass surface. “You've never met the Ice Cream Man.”
Alan shook his head. “I saw him. When we picked up Daddy yesterday.” Alan frowned. “I don't like him.”
The Ice Cream Man.
Carolyn barely remembered the guy. She had driven the car as fast as she dared through the winding main drag of the subdivision. When she reached the intersection of Pine and Crystal, the ice cream van was parked at the side of the tree-lined road.
A few people stood around the white Econoline van. She pulled into the side street and parked the car.
“Alan, stay here,” she whispered and opened the door. She ran toward the van.
The man in the cream colored overalls stood at least a head above everyone else. He stared down at the prone figure at his feet, his white pie hat swept forward so that it nearly covered his eyes. He looked up at her as she ran toward him.
“Ma'am?” the man said in a high-pitched voice. “Are you the wife?”
She knelt down before Trey without looking up at the man in the overalls. “Yes,” she said. Trey lay on the concrete, eyes closed. “Trey?” she asked. His eyes fluttered. Blood trickled down his scalp from where his head had hit the ground. “Trey?”
“He ran at me,” the man said.
Carolyn glanced upward. She had difficulty making out the man's face beneath the shadow of the pork pie hat. His long nose and pouty lips were all she could see, besides his fat jowls. His eyes were perfectly hidden.
“He gave me quite a fright,” the Ice Cream Man said in a monotone.
She glanced back down at Trey. “How long has he been like this?”
“About ten minutes,” the man said in that same expressionless voice. “Lady? I have to go,” the man said. “I'm a little out of sorts.”
She looked up at him. The man rubbed his hands together, the friction against his palms sounding like sandpaper.
“Yes, of course,” she said softly. “I'll take him to the hospital. If you can help me get him to the car?”
“Sorry, ma'am,” the man said. “Hurt my back years ago. Can't help you there.” He looked into the crowd of people. “Can one of you help this lady?” he asked in that same flat voice.
“Yeah,” a young man said. “Here,” he stepped forward to Carolyn and grabbed one of Trey's arms. “I got him,” he said.
Carolyn looked up at the goateed teenager and smiled at him as best she could. “Thank you,” she said.
They lifted Trey by his arms, bringing him to his feet. Trey's eyelids fluttered again, enough for him to hold Carolyn's stare. His legs took some of the weight as they walked to the car.
Carolyn turned her head to thank the Ice Cream Man, but he was already in his van. The word “YUMMY” was spelled in bright, crimson letters on the back of the van. She felt a chill as it made its way up the street, a thin, broken line of blue exhaust spitting from the tailpipe.
She stared at Alan across the breakfast table. “Did you see something, Alan?”
Alan shrugged. “He hides his eyes,” the boy said softly. “He doesn't look like somebody nice.”
With a nod, Carolyn forced a smile. “You're a smart kid.” He'd smiled back at her. “Now hurry up and finish breakfast. We're going to be late.”
The drive to the hospital had been quiet and uneventful. She pulled into the parking lot and realized she couldn't remember the drive at all, only the thoughts in her head. Alan had kissed her goodbye as he left the car, making her once again promise to tell Daddy he loved him. The hospital sat before her, its lights visible in the darkness of the overcast day. The weather was finally supposed to break later that afternoon, but Carolyn could scarcely believe it.
She pulled out her phone, unlocked it, and found Kinkaid's number. With a tap, she brought the phone to her ear. It rang twice.
“This is Doctor Kinkaid.”
“Hi,” Carolyn said, “this is Carolyn Leger, I--”
“Carolyn,” the doctor's voice answered. She could hear the smile in the woman's voice. “I suppose you're calling about Trey.”
She nodded and said “Yes, I am.”
“Trey's okay. He's been quiet this morning. His concussion isn't as
bad as we thought. I haven't really had a chance to assess his state this morning, but the nurses say he's doing okay.”
“I'm here at the hospital,” she said. “I was hoping I could see him.”
There was a pause. “Okay. I'll, um, call the nurses' station in a minute and let them know.”
Carolyn frowned. “You sounded a little hesitant there. Is there a problem?”
“Um, not really,” Kinkaid said. “I just want you to be prepared. I know what kind of...hallucinations he's had. I assume he told you as well.”
“Yes.”
“Okay. Then I want you to be prepared that he may see those again. I'm just not sure what kicked them off. So do me a favor,” Kinkaid said, taking a deep breath, “let's try not to get him excited for the moment. Okay?”
“Okay,” Carolyn agreed.
“Keep the visit pretty short, please. I'm going to come in later this morning and talk to him.”
Carolyn felt a sob trying to break its way past her throat. She managed to choke it back. When she spoke again, her voice quivered. “Okay,” she sniffed.
“Carolyn? It's going to be okay. He's been resilient in the past and you and Alan have a lot to do with that.”
“I abandoned him last time,” Carolyn said, unable to hide the tears in her voice.
Kinkaid sighed on the other end of the line. “No, Carolyn. You didn't. If you'd abandoned him, you never would have allowed him back in your house. And I can't tell you how much courage that took.”
Carolyn stifled another sob.
“Carolyn? Be strong, dear. You're doing fine. He's going to get better and he'll be back home before you know it.”
“Okay,” Carolyn said, wiping her eyes. “Just a little visit.”
“Yes,” Kinkaid said back to her. “Just a little one.”
“Okay.”
“You all right?”
“Yes,” Carolyn lied, wiping at her eyes again. “I'm okay.”
“All right. Call me anytime, okay?”
“Yes,” Carolyn said.
“Good. I'll call the nurses' station and let them know, all right?”
“Yes.”
“Have a good visit. Trey loves you. Help him get better, okay?” Carolyn didn't respond. “Bye, Carolyn.” The phone beeped as the connection ended.
For a moment, Carolyn sat in the seat, the phone still held to her ear. She lowered the phone to her lap and stared at the hospital.
Short visit, she thought to herself. Short visit. Wasn't that like abandoning him all over again? Just walking in and saying hello?
“Christ,” she muttered aloud.
She unfastened the seat belt, opened the door, and stepped out into the humid winter air.
Chapter 27
Trey opened his eyes and immediately felt ice cold. The temperature in the room seemed to have dropped at least thirty degrees. The blankets wrapped around his legs were little protection. He'd come awake because of the sound near his left ear.
Click. Click. Grind. Trey turned to his left and
choked back a scream. It stood there, towering above him, its shadow swallowing him whole.
“What--” he asked in a breathy whisper.
The ghoul. Its misshapen jaws clacked together and then ground, the canines protruding from gray lips. Drops of saliva fell as its mottled tongue flicked in and out.
“I told you I'd come for you,” the thing said. It wore the ice cream man's uniform, cream colored overalls, pork pie hat sitting jauntily on its crusted and matted scalp. The yellow eyes danced with crimson in their centers, the color swirling like flame. “You didn't ask permission, boy,” the thing said.
Trey choked back another scream. “I'm sorry,” he whimpered. “Don't put me--”
The thing smiled and leered. It bent down, close to him, cutting off his thoughts, his speech.
“You're going back with me,” it breathed. “You're going back with me and this time I won't let you out.” The crimson pupils faded and turned black.
“No,” Trey whispered. “I won't--”
The thing laughed, its eyes turning green. “Yes, you will. You'll do everything I tell you,” the ghoul said, stretching out a taloned finger to scrape against Trey's chest. “Or I'll split you in half like I should have all those years ago. Bad boy,” the thing growled. “Bad, dirty little boy.”
“No,” he whispered. He closed his eyes. “You're not real.” He felt its hot, rancid breath against his ear. Its jaws clicked. A single drop of saliva wet his cheek, stinging his flesh. “You're not real!” he screamed aloud.
“You,” it tittered, “you are the one who's not real.”
“Fuck you!” his voice broke on the last syllable. He opened his eyes, his fists ready to strike, and stared into the ghoul's rotted face. “Fuck--” The overhead lights flipped on.
“Trey!” a voice yelled from the doorway.
Trey whipped his head around, fists still raised. Carolyn stood in the doorway with one of the many nurses that had checked on him during the night. “It's here!” he yelled and whipped back toward the left side of the bed.
There was nothing there. Nothing.
Carolyn and the nurse walked in. He turned around to face them. “It was right there,” he whispered.
“What was, Mr. Leger?” the nurse asked. She had reached the IV cart and picked up the clipboard at the base of his bed. Her deft fingers reached around his wrist, checking his pulse against her watch. “Can you tell me?” she asked softly.
“The--” He looked over the nurse's shoulder at Carolyn. Her face was ashen. Trey thought he saw a tear hiding at the edge of her eyes. “It--” He swallowed hard. “It was just a dream.” He let his head fall back into the pillow.
“You're very cold,” the nurse said, pulling the blankets back atop him. “You may have a fever. I'll come back in a few minutes and check your temperature,” she said, marking something on the chart. She looked at Carolyn. “Short visit, okay?”
Carolyn nodded to her and the nurse walked out of the room. She stared at Trey, a weak smile breaking through her deep frown.
“Hello, baby,” she said softly.
He smiled back at her, his forehead still covered in sweat.
Carolyn walked to the side of his bed and pulled up a chair. She sat down and placed a hand in his. He gently squeezed her. “You have a bad dream?”
Trey nodded. “Yeah. Bad dream.”
“Can you tell me about it?”
Trey opened his mouth, and then closed it. “No, honey, I can't.” He could have. He wanted to. But she had seen enough already. She didn't need to know he saw the damned ice cream man in the room. She didn't need to know that. Not now. “How are you?” he whispered.
“I'm okay,” Carolyn said with a smile. “Just worried about you.” She gave his hand a healthy squeeze. “Alan said to tell you he loves you.” She laughed a little. “He was very adamant.”
The smile on Trey's face didn't feel awkward or fake. He imagined the boy telling his mother that, face stern and serious. “You'll tell him I said I love him too. Won't you?” She nodded. “Okay, good.”
“He wants to come see you,” she whispered.
Trey broke her stare and looked down at the cast on his arm. “I don't think that's a good idea right now.” He heard her sigh and turned back to her. “Maybe in a day or two.”
She nodded. “Dr. Kinkaid said she's going to check on you later this morning.”
“I'm sure she will,” Trey said.
Carolyn giggled. “She's your girlfriend, isn't she?”
Trey snorted. “Yeah, I'm her centerfold for psycho weekly.” He watched her laugh, loving the way her lips curved upward and the sound of her voice. So many things he wanted to tell her. So many things. “She's a good quack.” Trey grinned.
She nodded. “Yeah, I like her, Trey.” Carolyn paused, staring down at their clasped hands. “I'm not leaving you.” She slowly raised her eyes to his. “You know that, right?”
“Yes, baby,” he whispered. “You never have.”
“Before,” she said, “last time. I stopped--”
Trey shook his head. “Baby? I-- I hurt you last time. There's no reason to--”
“I was afraid,” her voice choked. “I was afraid--”
“I know you were.” He squeezed her hand, but she didn't look at him. “Carolyn?”
She nodded, but didn't meet his eyes.
“Carolyn? Please look at me?” Slowly, she raised her head. He smiled at her. “It's okay, baby. I know you were scared. I'm just happy you brought me home again.”
“I will this time, too,” she whispered. She leaned over and kissed his damp forehead.
“Mrs. Leger?” the nurse called to her from the doorway. Carolyn turned around. The nurse tapped her watch.
Carolyn nodded to her and then turned back to Trey. “I'm being kicked out.”
Trey sighed. “I know. Goddamned nurse ratchet clones,” he whispered. He paused for a moment, and then leered. “You think they'd let us get freaky in the bed?”
She laughed. “Maybe later.” She kissed his forehead again. “Maybe I'll wear something more appropriate next time.”
“Sure, baby. Sure. We can try and find a use for the bedpan.”
“Eewww,” she said. “I'm not sure I want to come back after that!”
They laughed together. “Go on, get out of here.” He waved his good hand.
“Okay, baby. Call me when you have a chance?”
He nodded. “Assuming they don't put me in the rubber room, I will.”
Carolyn stood and walked to the door. She turned back to him. “Alan misses you, baby. And so do I.”
“I'll make sure to call you when I'm--” He swallowed hard. “When I'm ready to see Alan.”
She nodded to him and waved. With that, she left the room.
Chapter 28
As with the ride to the hospital, she barely remembered the ride back. The moment she'd walked out of Trey's room, his terrified and shocked face flitted into her mind. He'd looked so lost, so desperate. What did he see to cause that, she wondered. He'd told her what he'd seen, but she couldn't really imagine it. Not what it looked like through his eyes.
For years, he'd rolled about the bed at night, dreaming his dark dreams and muttering in his sleep. Every time she woke at night from his moans and whispers, she'd see that same terrified expression on his face. But with him awake-- Christ. What the fuck was so bad that it left him so shaken?
Carolyn pulled into the neighborhood and made her way down Pine. The tall pine trees, for which the road was named, swayed gently in the wind. She wound past Crystal, the intersection where Trey had collapsed. Carolyn forced herself to keep her eyes on the road. She didn't want to remember the blood on the concrete, or the crowd standing around Trey like he was some kind of circus attraction.
Alan had watched all that from the car. She choked back a sob. He shouldn't have been exposed to that.
As she turned on to Moss, she slowed to a crawl. The van. The white van was in front of her hous
e. Its back faced her, the scarlet word “YUMMY!” staring at her with gleeful malice.
She shivered as she pulled around the van. She didn't dare look through the darkened windshield as she pulled into the driveway. Once the car was off, she looked in the rearview mirror. There was no movement inside the van. Carolyn pulled out her cellphone, hands shaking.
She typed in the code to unlock the phone three times before she got it right and scrolled through the address book. She pressed on the phone's screen and put the phone to her ear. “Please be home, please be home, please be home,” she whispered to herself with each ring.
“Hey, Carolyn. How are you?”
“Dick,” she whispered.
There was a pause. “Are you okay, dear?”
“You home?” she asked.
“Yeah. Carolyn, you sound scared. What's going on? Something happen to--”
“That van is in front of my house.”
She heard Dick take a deep breath. “Where are you?” he said, his voice stern.
“In the driveway.”
“Okay, Carolyn. I'm coming, okay?” She heard the jingle of a jacket zipper. “Stay put and keep the car doors locked.” The line went dead.
Carolyn glued her eyes to the rearview mirror. The van sat silent at the curb, bright decals showing smiling children and pictures of candy and ice cream treats. There was a blur at the tinted driver side window. The tiniest movement.
She sucked in a deep breath. What if he was in her backyard? Or in the house? She shivered again. The idea of the tall man with the shadowed eyes hiding in her closet, under her bed, anywhere--
The van's door opened. The tall man stepped out. Carolyn sucked in a shuddering breath. The man closed the door and turned toward her. The ice cream man's clean, cream overalls seemed to glow in the dim sunlight. He stepped toward her, his hat slung low over his forehead, once again hiding his eyes.
As she watched, the man stopped and turned. Dick was walking across the street, a smile on his face. His blue windbreaker bulged at the side. Carolyn blew out a shuddering breath and unlocked the car door.
As she stepped from the vehicle, she heard Dick talking to the man. “How you doing?”