The Devil's Due
Page 12
one side. She wore bright pink furry bunny slippers.
Mrs. Beckerman was holding two small rectangular boxes in her hands. "Thank you so much Mrs. Beckerman, if I can sell five more boxes of cookies, I could win a brand new bicycle. It has real neat pink streamers on the handlebars." The young girl announced excitedly to the woman in the flat down the hall, she must have purchased some of her cookies. The older woman smiled warmly at the young girl. "Now Trisha Marie, you know we have to meet your father soon, we will go out again selling tomorrow honey."
"But Mom, Sally Dearmont will win the bicycle, she always wins everything." The young girl exclaimed.
"Please Mom, just one more door, pleassssssssssseeee?"
The older woman shook her head back and forth, fully knowing she would give in. She tilted her head at the young girl in the way that only a mother can do, as if to say "you know you are pushing your luck, but I will give you a break this time around"
As she pulled her mom by the arm, while waving goodbye to Mrs. Beckerman, the young girl approached my door. She began to knock feverishly as if she had to beat the clock. My heart went out to the young girl in her plight to win the bicycle, as a child I had lost out in similar contests to another lad who just seemed to be lucky at everything in life. I knew the feeling of defeat was very unpleasant to one so young.
I thought of the events that had just taken place in my living room and like Charles Dickens story, “A Christmas Carol”, I felt like Scrooge, I began to take a whole new look at life. I decided that I would purchase the last five boxes she needed to win the bicycle. Looking down at my clothing in such a state as it were I quickly threw on my smoking robe, brushed my hair back with my fingers and opened the door.
"Well hello there young lady!"
"Good morning sir, I’m sorry to disturb you so early in the day, but would you be interested in buying some bear scout cookies, they’re the best tasting cookies in the whole wide world…honest." She said peering up at me through Doe like eye’s.
I placed one hand on my chin, squinting and slightly tilting my head upward, as if pondering over the question. "Well it just so happens that I have to go to a party today, and I have nothing to bring." I said
"Oh, cookies make a great party favor sir, don’t they Mom." looking up at her mom for approval of her statement. The older woman smiled at me warmly, shrugged her shoulders and looked at me as if to say “Hey I’m only the mom here!”
"Well maybe a few boxes just might do the trick." I said.
"I guess I can take a few off your hands. Let’s see, can I purchase say five boxes from you young lady?" The young girls eye’s almost popped right out of her head with excitement at my words. Tugging over and over again on her poor mothers arm, I thought for a moment it would become detached from its socket. "How much are they?" I asked.
"Just two dollars a box sir, a real bargain in today’s world wouldn't you agree?"
I had to laugh out loud at that remark, as in today’s marketplace it was not far from the truth indeed.
"OK, I’ll be right back with your money, so don’t run off and sell my cookies to anyone else while I’m gone.”
"Oh nooooo, I would never do that sir."
I walked quickly over to my desk, retrieved my wallet from the top left drawer, and returned to the door. Bending down, stooping on one knee, I handed the girl the money. She took the money and gently touched my hand, as if to say thank you. Looking at her small angelic face, I could see she had the most beautiful blue eyes, and long golden hair. I gave her the biggest smile I could muster, in as long as I can remember. Watching her and waiting for her response.
I noticed that she had stopped smiling now, and her face was very serious. Startled, I flinched and looking closer at the young girl, noticed that there was something odd about her face. It was something I had not noticed before. I felt dizzy, my heart started to pound like a bass drum in my ears, as I saw that there at the sides of her temples, were orange-yellow streaks of hair.
I quickly remembered the last words of the glowing ball of light. It told me the power of my wife’s necklace, it was warning me. "Keep your faith close to you at all times." I swirled my head around to the spot where my golden crucifix had fallen on the floor, it was gone….vanished…the only thing I could hear from behind me was the little girl laughing.
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