by Molly Snow
“Hello?!” Idis called out. All she heard was her own voice bouncing off the box she laid in.
Idis’s thoughts flickered around a series of frightening memories. She remembered a giant black cat—so large it barely fit in her living room—with fangs like swords. That caused her to shiver. Then, she remembered sitting on her broom stick, holding to it so tightly with her eyes closed. It soared through the air like a torpedo, her bum feeling the heat of the bristles’ blazing fire. Her last memory was seeing a bunch of teenagers at Revere Park down below. Then, her mind when blank.
Skitter… skitter… sniff… sniff… squeak!
I know that sound anywhere! Idis panicked. “Rats!” She clawed at her bag until she found an opening. She banged on her metal container until it suddenly sprang forward. “Ew!” She jumped out the large drawer and slammed it shut. “There, now you are stuck in there and I am out here.”
Now she could see a little bit more of where she was. A full moon cast enough light through half-open blinds into the sterile, hospital-like room. Rows of metal drawers, like the one she was just in, were against a wall. She felt the cold, hard floor against her bare feet. A sheet was pinned around her shoulders and waist and there was a tag on her ankle. Spotting a mirror hanging on a wall, she rushed over to it to see her reflection. It was not what she expected. “Aaaaaah!”
Surla was sound asleep when she suddenly twitched, then clawed at her covers.
“What?” Cathy said, waking up.
“I had an awful nightmare…” She blinked.
“Really, what was it?”
“Idis was alive again!”
“Surla,” Cathy sat up, “don’t worry. Remember you saw for yourself, Idis in a body-bag. She’s dead, from that fire.”
“I know. I know,” she responded, not convinced.
“What happened in your dream?”
“I was at a 7-Eleven, about to get my Slurpee.”
“Yes, and?…”
“There she was… at the register… wearing a turban and a false mustache. I knew it was her, though. Her green eyes and huge nose can’t be mistaken for someone else.”
Cathy smiled.
“I didn’t know what to say, because I was so scared. Idis gave me an exaggerated smile and said, ‘Hola.’ But she said it really creepy and slow, like, ‘Holaaaaaa.’”
“Hola?” Cathy narrowed her eyes. “But Spanish…”
“Yeah, you’re right, but this is Idis, remember?” She huffed. “The next thing I know, she grabs me and starts stuffing me into a bag!”
Cathy let out a little giggle.
“What?!”
“I know you are scared, my friend, but that sounds like such a ridiculous dream.”
“Yes, well, I can see it happening. That is how ridiculous Idis is. You don’t know her like I do!”
“You’re right. I’m sorry. If you want, I can visit the morgue on the way back from the fishing trip next weekend. It might help you.”
“To confirm she’s dead?” Surla had some hope.
“Yes, I’ll do that. Okay?” Cathy scratched under Surla’s chin. “Everything will be all right.”
Feeling Cathy pet and massage her little tense neck eased her for a moment. “You’re right. I’m just paranoid. It was a traumatic experience you and I went through. I’m just a little scared I guess. After-shock.”
“That’s right. Now let’s get some sleep. Idis is gone… forever.”
Meanwhile, Idis was making her way down a long, dark hall. The place was gloomy and there was a strong smell like rubbing alcohol. She thought of her home, with her green velvet couch. For a moment, she imagined herself plopping onto that favorite piece of furniture. How she longed to relax there and clip her toenails—one of her favorite pastimes.
She heard someone’s footsteps from around a corner up ahead. A flashlight beamed from that direction. Idis flattened her body against a wall, spread out like a chicken about to be basted.
The stranger from the corridor cast a long dark shadow along her wall. A woman’s voice called out, “Hello! Who’s there?”
“Like I am going to answer to that,” Idis blurted. She slapped her hands over her mouth and thought, That wasn’t supposed to be out loud!
The witch spotted a door with an exit sign several feet away. She clapped and rushed for it. As she busted through the door with a hard knock of one bony shoulder, she exclaimed, “Booyah! I’m outta here!”
Her glee was short-lived, when she heard the woman yell, “Halt!”
Idis ignored the demand, her neck protruding forward like a turtle as she dashed away. She momentarily turned to see who was chasing her.
The woman wasn’t any resemblance to the shadow. She was very short and very round. Her hair was pulled tight into a bun, and a night security uniform accentuated her belly rolls.
“Go away!” Idis yelled back. “Suck some donuts!”
To her surprise, the little woman could run! Idis, try as she may, could not gain ground. In fact, her run started to have a hobble to it. Sticks and stickers incessantly poked at the soles of her bare feet. They were in the middle of a natural field, surrounded by trees. Idis tripped over a stone and, like a baby, grasped some wild grass and cried out.
Crunch! That was the sound Idis’s back made when a sudden force slammed against her.
“Don’t move. Hands up!”
Idis’s left cheek was against the cool dirt. She lifted her long neck to see the security guard had her pinned. Idis forced herself with every ounce of energy onto her knees to try and escape. The woman wouldn’t let go, even when Idis bucked like a wild horse; little legs gripped either side of the witch’s back.
“I didn’t want to do this!” said the security guard. “But you leave me no choice!”
In fear, Idis stopped and cranked her neck to see. The woman had a stun gun in her hand. She pointed it dramatically to the sky. The voltage zigzagged like blue lightning. Idis was frozen in fear. The woman hopped off and pressed the weapon against the witch’s right buttock.
Chapter 2
The following Friday, Washington High was holding their Homecoming dance in the gymnasium. Cathy was sitting on the stage, wearing a sash with four other girls. Surla snuck into the dance at the right opportunity. She couldn’t and wouldn’t miss the announcement of who would be crowned. In her heart, she knew Cathy would win. Seeing her friend’s face when the winner would be announced, was something she was not willing to miss.
When Cathy first found out she was nominated, she bolted through the front door, calling Surla. “I’m nominated for Homecoming Queen!” she sang, picking up her friend and swinging her around in her arms.
It was easy to get inside the dance, although Surla had a nagging worry that someone would kick her out, since surely animals were not allowed. Luckily, she was just in time.
A teacher announced, “The winner of Washington High’s Homecoming Queen title is… drum roll! Miss Cathy Phillips!”
Cathy’s jaw dropped as she put her hands over her mouth. As her crown was pinned on her straight brown shoulder length hair and her bouquet of roses passed to her, tears came down her cheeks.
Surla had a twinkle in her yellow eyes. She watched further as Todd was announced as the king. He, being the star quarterback, was handsome as ever with his dark brown hair and dashing smile.
Sure enough, when it was time for the king and queen to dance together, a chaperone picked up Surla. She turned her head to look back at her friend, beautiful, holding her boyfriend close. She was then dumped out back by the trash cans with an order to “Stay out!”
As Surla walked the quiet wet streets alone, she wondered what it would be like to be a teenage girl again, to be able to hang out with Cathy like normal best friends. As a cat, she couldn’t go to the movies, go dancing, eat at a restaurant or shop at the mall. There were so many restrictions placed upon their relationship. What was left to do? They could stay in with a rented movie or go out to a park, and that was
about it. The black cat sighed, passing by Revere Park.
That night, when Surla drifted off to sleep, long before her friend came home from the dance, she dreamed she was playing tug of war against Todd. Cathy was in the middle of the rope, watching. Gripping the rope with her teeth and pulling with all her might did no good. Todd had so much strength. She knew he was just being his nice self at the other end. If he wanted, in one swift yank, he could take her down into the mud. Instead, he smiled and waved to her, like a good friend, not pulling much at all. Cathy suddenly turned her back to Surla and started walking toward Todd, no longer in the center. With every step, Cathy was further and further away. Surla dropped the rope out of her mouth and mewed sorrowfully.
Surla wasn’t the only one with worries. Idis’s troubles worsened since she tried running from the security guard who zapped her into submission. She had been placed into a facility for the mad—Mercy Mental Hospital. Idis can’t say that she was innocent, when the first thing she told the police was she was a witch and her cat tried killing her. That was a quick ticket to a padded cell, or at least a small space called a “room” shared with Ruthie. Luckily for Idis, psychologists were able to soften her diagnosis from Psychotic to an extreme case of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. They knew she was declared dead at the park, because of the coroner’s report; they figured with enough pills and sessions with doctors, she would awake from her delusions.
Her Friday evening centered around Mercy Mental Hospital’s talent show. The residents were invited to share a talent, no matter how kooky, with the others. There were a lot of participants who thought they could sing and Idis took it upon herself to be judge.
“You sound like a turkey!” she said to one. “Who let the dogs out?” she said to a quartet. “You sound worse than barking dogs!”
A nurse warned her that if she didn’t stop, she would have to go back to her room.
Ruthie went up and showed how she could click her thumb back and forth, like it was broken and then fixed, broken and then fixed.
“Now that’s talent!” Idis stood and clapped in seriousness. “That’s my roommate!”
It was then Idis’s turn to go up. She made an announcement before she started—“Hello, fellow funny farmers. My name is Idis and I am a witch.”
Some of the residents made faces like they believed her.
“I know, some of you don’t believe me. That is how I got myself in here in the first place. I blabbed to the wrong people! I have a black cat, too. Or, I did… But anyway, I can fly on brooms, I eat some pretty strange stuff from caldrons, perform spells, and—best of all—I have a real talent, like Ruthie!”
An old man, grasping his walker in excitement, said, “Let’s see it, honey!”
“Thanks for the encouragement, Hermie…” She saluted him. “Now, if you have ever known any witches in your life, then you probably know they have this amazing ability to shake their eyes really, really fast. Come close and behold!”
Her glowy green eyes bounced around, just as she said they would, very fast.
She received some oohs and ahhs. Herman put his hand over his heart. “I’ll follow you anywhere. Better yet, let me take you to the mother ship.”
Idis sat back down. Herman took a seat next to her. He lowered his voice. “People have been talking.”
“There’s all kinds of babble going on in this crazy house,” Idis responded.
“But I know you want to break out of here; make a run for it.” He licked his dry lips, moving closer to her.
“Yes, I do. Do you have some insider information for me? Like an alarm code, or the night shift nurses’ schedule? If not, then you can’t help me, geezer.”
“Idis, my dear, what if I told you I don’t really look like this?”
“What do you mean?”
“This is just a disguise. The false teeth, toupee, and everything. It’s not me.”
“I would say you are a nutjob.”
“But, really, I am tall, dark and handsome. Back on planet Ploton, we look like people on earth, only everyone is beautiful.”
“Oh, really?” She sighed and looked at her long fingernails.
“Yes, I am told I resemble the Count Dracula character.”
Idis perked up. Even if she knew he was full of hot air, the story now interested her. “Really? Do you have black hair, sharp incisors for drinking blood and pretty pale skin?”
“All of that. Only, I can’t drink blood. I am not a vampire. They don’t have those where I come from.”
“So, Hermie—who really looks like Count Dracula under this amazing disguise of wrinkles, dandruff and hearing aids—tell me what interests an alien man from Ploton to be with a witch like me.”
“To be blunt, your magnificent vessel that breathes in oxygen and exhales carbon dioxide.”
“My beak-nose, you mean?”
“Yes… May I touch it, sweetie?”
“No!” She slapped his hand away.
“Alright, alright. Just hear me out, dear… I can walk through walls. If you hold my hand, we can walk through walls together.”
“Uh huh. Whatever. Why haven’t you already escaped, if it is that easy for you?”
“I was just here for a temporary study of Earthlings. Mental hospitals are filled with people who are different, like us, but are not understood or trusted. I trust you. I know you are a witch.”
“And how’s that?”
“Your trick you just performed.”
“Uh huh.” She wasn’t buying it. “Well, listen to me, little man. If you can really walk through walls, then tomorrow morning I expect you to wake me up at 5 a.m. sharp from my slumber. Because you would be able to walk to my room from yours, it should be easy for you.”
“Yes?”
“And, then, after you wake me up, we will walk out of my room to the open field outside.”
He nodded. “I will notify the mother ship.”
“You do that.” She stood up and walked off.
When Cathy told Surla she was going fishing early the next morning, she meant early. It was still dark out, around 5 a.m. Her movements around the room awoke Surla to the point that she couldn’t go back to sleep.
“Are you sure I can’t come? I love fish! I won’t be in the way and maybe I could help you catch some.”
“Sorry, Surla. You know I love you, but I think Todd and I would like to have a date alone this time.” Cathy wore a fisherman’s hat.
Cathy’s new cell phone rang. Todd bought it for her, and even signed them up with a family plan and unlimited texting. “Hello… Hi! Yes, I’m ready… You’re here already?… Okay… I’m coming now. See you soon.”
She hung up and turned to Surla. “Good-bye.” She kissed her on the forehead and said, “I’ve gotta go.”
“Okay.” Surla put up a paw to wave good-bye. She watched her friend exit the room. “Miss you,” she added after the door shut.
Surla had a sudden bright idea. She jumped to the windowsill, where the window was ajar. Just then she had a flashback of Idis’s window sill, with old paint peeling off, and a Hydrangea bush just outside. She had slithered through that opening not too long ago, and had jumped over the flowers at tremendous speed, so excited to finally have freedom. Surla’s flashback finished and she stepped out onto Cathy’s roof. Today, she had a different plan.
The black cat walked to the edge and peered down. She had a good view of the truck’s bed. She saw a duffle bag and fishing gear.
She heard Cathy greet Todd. “Hi! I’m so excited.”
“So am I.”
She saw Todd, wearing his red letterman jacket, approach the truck. Without another thought, Surla leaped down on top of the duffle bag, which was pretty soft.
“This is going to be great,” said Cathy.
“Our first fishing trip,” Todd said. He threw Cathy’s bag into the bed of the truck, accidentally whacking Surla on the butt.
Idis was sleeping away when she felt a light tap on her shoulder. She
rolled over and opened her eyes. It was Herman with his usual walker.
She popped up. “How did you get in here?”
“It’s time, dear.” He reached out a hand.
Idis raised her eyebrows, staring for a moment. “You just walked through my wall?”
“Yes. The mother ship will be arriving soon. Stand up.”
She threw her hands in the air. “Alright. What do I have to lose? I’m willing to try anything.”
Herman scooted himself to the wall that faced the outdoors. He watched Idis grab a pair of shoes. She was wearing her sheet nightgown.
“Boy, I must really be crazy.” Idis turned back to see her roommate still sound asleep. “Well, let’s get this show on the road. See if you are who you say you are.”
Idis watched in amazement as Herman disappeared through the wall. A wart-spotted hand reached back through for her. She didn’t feel anything unusual as she grabbed his hand and walked through to the outside.
“Oh my word!” She knew she was not dreaming; the morning chill was too real. It was dark out, and she could see the millions of stars shining above them.
Like little children, they ran as fast as they could across the open field and into the woods. Herman did a good job, pushing his walker through all the underbrush. Idis wasn’t sure what direction he was taking her; she was too ecstatic to care. They soon came upon a clearing and Herman stopped, looked up, then down to his watch, and back up again.
“Don’t tell me the mother ship is real, too!”
He didn’t say anything. He just continued looking into the night sky. Idis thought she saw a shooting star, but as it came closer to the earth, she saw it was an oval spaceship, casting a blue glow underneath. When it landed, a small door opened and a ramp lowered to the earth.
Herman grasped Idis’s hand. When he went to move forward to the ship, there was resistance.
“You are crazy if you think I am getting on that thing.” She pulled her hand away.
He cocked his head to the side, gazing at her. “It is time to go. I must board.”
“Then go! Get outta here!” Idis stomped a foot and crossed her arms. “I don’t need you anymore!”