Cole didn’t know exactly what he wanted to say about his meeting with the dark stranger or his chance encounter with Red so, he talked idly about the strange kid who was “gardening” alongside Calkins Road. He noted that he believed the kid’s family was rich and that he’d ended getting caught up hanging out with him until almost dark but he stopped his story there. He wanted to tell her everything but, he still wasn’t even sure if he’d sorted out the events in his own mind.
“That’s it? Did you do anything else?” Laila asked to push the conversation forward. She noticed Cole seemed to fidget and began to speak but seemed to think better of it. “
“Not much,” Cole replied somewhat sharply. He was never a good liar and he knew it showed. He could feel his cheeks burning and kept his eyes averted from hers as they walked but, that didn’t stop Laila from grabbing his hand and stopping them both abruptly. “What’s up?” he asked turning to her. He couldn’t rightly turn away now.
“Something’s bothering you.” She said, her eyes holding Cole’s. He looked utterly distraught and confused. Something wasn’t right and she knew it. She just didn’t know what it was. “What is it?” she coaxed gently.
Cole knew he should say something, anything, even if it was a lie. She hadn’t done anything wrong and saying nothing seemed to be frustrating her. Still, he didn’t want to sound completely insane. At least not this early on. He shrugged, “nothing interesting really.” He offered. Although weak, it was at least an attempt at an answer.
She turned away from him and sighed heavily. “Look, if you don’t want to tell me you don’t have to.” She said feeling like her simple question was quickly becoming an elaborate lie. ‘Why?’ she wondered.
“I don’t know if I know the truth of what really happened after I left last night.” He offered causing her to spin back to face him. He could tell that she was angry. ‘Why wouldn’t she be angry? It sounds crazy to me and I’m the one saying it.’ He thought.
“Try me then.” She said feeling like he had treated her like a child being told that she simply ‘wouldn’t understand.’ Despite her ire, she softened her tone a bit but held his eyes firmly. “Are you ok?” She asked pointedly. Her eyes bore into him like accusing daggers and Cole couldn’t deny her the truth any longer.
“Where do you want me to start?” He asked after a long moment feeling nauseated. He could lie to her and lose her or, he could tell her the truth and possibly lose her when she thought that he was crazy. He liked neither prospect but decided that faced with the two choices, he would be honest and face whatever consequences that resulted.
“Start wherever you like. I want to know.” Laila offered losing some of her previous intensity.
“Bear with me. I’ll tell you what I think I remember.” He began keeping his eyes level with hers as he spoke. “I won’t lie to you but,” he sighed, “I don’t think you’ll believe me.” He continued before telling her of the events the night before. When Cole, at last, finished his story about the dark stranger sneaking up on him, passing out, meeting up with Red who gave him a ride home, and the fight between he and his mother he waited for her to take it all in.
“You’re right, a lot of it’s hard to believe.” She admitted at last. Still, she felt that he hadn’t lied to her. He seemed so sure in his recounting of what he believed had happened but, it was still an odd story nevertheless.
Cole said nothing. He was waiting for Laila to call him a lying psycho and run away yet, she put her arms around him, resting her head against his chest before speaking.
“It’s strange but, I know you aren’t lying to me.” She confided, rocking with him in her arms. “Can you show me where it happened?” she asked wanting to afford him a measure of respect.
“I don’t know…” Cole began but, he was cut abruptly short.
“I promise we can make it quick.” She offered, at last, grabbing his hand and leading him back to Calkins Road.
During the daylight hours, Calkins Road was the same as any other country road, quiet and desolate with ranches and homes with enormous properties. Neither Cole nor Laila saw or felt anything out of the ordinary as they made their way back to where Cole had encountered the shadowed figure.
“This is it.” He directed once he saw the group of horses that seemed aware of the stranger’s approach even when he hadn’t the night before. ‘Thank you.’ He thought watching them as he passed. Whatever had happened, he knew without them, Red may not have found him the night before.
Laila noticed the closest house to the horses was some distance behind the horse corral and she looked at it with more than a passing interest.
“Do you think that house over there is where that Red guy said he lived?” she asked.
Cole nodded knowing that it had to be the house even though he hadn’t been able to see it in the darkness. Laila surveyed the line of birch trees off to her left. “
Maybe he didn’t sneak up on you” she speculated walking over to view them more closely. “Could he have been waiting for you in these trees and hiding there afterward?” she asked him, her demeanor suggesting that she felt she may have found an answer to how the stranger had snuck up on him so easily. If truly there’d been anyone at all.
He wanted to tell her that she was right in her findings, that maybe the person had been lying in wait for him, however, he just couldn’t believe it. “I don’t think so.” He moving to stand beside her. Cole put his arm around her hips and kissed her on the forehead for nothing more than reassurance as he recollected the single pair of eyes that had been staring at him from these same trees the night before. He felt incredibly uncomfortable.
She looked further down the road noticing that each property was lined with horse fences and she shrugged. “I just don’t see how anyone could climb those fences without you at least hearing them.” She stated evenly.
Cole considered the darker events that occurred. He remembered his body being lost to him as the stranger approached, his mind had grown numb and he had been unable to respond to any commands of his own which made him wonder if there was some sort of magic or hypnosis involved. “Couldn’t be,” He said aloud causing Laila to eye him curiously.
“You sure you didn’t hit your head last night?” she asked playfully but, when Cole didn’t reply she became serious. “Couldn’t be what?” she asked him and he looked away briefly.
“It was like I was hypnotized. I didn’t just plain pass out.” He remarked wondering if he sounded as foolish to her as he did to himself.
“What are you saying?” Laila replied with concern etched on her face as she spoke.
“I don’t know, I left Matt’s and…..” Cole began but, she cut him off.
“Where does he live?” She asked believing that somehow whatever happened had to be linked to the encounter with the strange boy. “Just let me meet him.” She pressed making it obvious that she wouldn’t back down even though Cole’s protests were evident in the way he held himself.
Reluctantly Cole looked passed her down the road. “Alright but, he’s stranger than me.” He said hoping to dissuade her, however, that only seemed to make her even more determined.
“Stranger than you? I gotta see this.” She said throwing him a wink.
He didn’t want to risk having Laila with him should the dark stranger return again so he stipulated that they would have to leave Matt’s house way before nightfall if she was so intent on meeting him.
“Done. Let’s go.” She offered immediately back-stepping. “Come on. You at least have to keep up.” She teased spinning away from him. She didn’t miss how sick Cole seemed to look so she promised herself they would leave long before nightfall. For his sake at least. ‘Besides, it’s still early.’ She thought as Cole finally caught up with her.
* * * * *
“His house is huge,” Laila remarked as they walked up the driveway towards Matt’s home.
Cole felt a twinge of jealousy course through him seeing Laila so awestruck and w
ondered if he would ever be able to provide her with that same sense of amazement. ‘Oh well.’ He thought stoically pretending that he wasn’t even phased.
“Don’t tell him that you think he’s rich in any way,” Cole told her as they rounded the final bend in the driveway coming to within full view of the Victorian architecture.
“Don’t tell me what I can or can’t do,” she said sharply. She immediately felt guilty for jumping at Cole but, she was her own person after all.
“Laila, he doesn’t like people mentioning it. I was just letting you know up front okay.” He replied defensively causing her to stop her stride.
“I’m sorry….” She began but, the sound of the front door opening caused her to pause mid-sentence.
“What’s up Cole?” Matt asked from the open doorway eyeing Laila curiously.
“Ummm. Hey Matt, this is Laila, my girlfriend….” He stopped himself wondering if maybe he crossed some boundary that he and Laila hadn’t yet discussed but, she continued his sentence for him.
“I’m his girlfriend. We stopped by because I wanted to meet you.” She offered walking over to shake Matt’s hand.
He looked at it seemingly confused for a few brief moments, taking hers into his only after he seemed sure that it was safe to do so. “You two can come in if you want.” He said at last opening the door wide for both of them to enter his house.
“Kind of dark in here,” Cole remarked noticing that all of the shutters were drawn tight on the windows allowing only the faintest hints of light to reach between the slats.
“My sister’s here,” Matt remarked absently as he moved for the living room with the big screen television. “You guys coming or what?” he asked at last drawing Laila away from her private contemplation of living in such a house someday.
Cole walked with her as they followed Matt to the living room which was equally as dark as the rest of the house.
“So why are all of the shutters closed on your windows again?” Laila asked drawing an angered look from Matt who shifted uncomfortably.
“It’s my fault the house has to be like this, I’m sorry.” A soft female voice spoke up from behind Laila and Cole. Both turned in unison to look upon a very young girl wearing a pink frilly dress. She was short, at best, the crown of her head barely coming to the bottom Cole’s chest. She had gotten very close without any of them having the slightest idea.
Cole jumped from the proximity of the little girl and Laila eyed him flatly, laughing as he stumbled to his feet.
“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you.” The girl apologized fidgeting with her brown, shoulder-length curled hair. She almost looked lost.
“What are you doing out here Marissa?” Matt scolded her seemingly worried.
“What’s your name?” Marissa asked ignoring Matt’s question, her piercing ice blue eyes fixed unwaveringly on Laila.
Laila couldn’t help but feel sympathy for the pale young girl, so intent on being part of the older kids conversation. In many ways, Marissa reminded her of the little girl she had been before her brother had left for the service. “I’m Laila.” She replied sweetly.
Marisa smiled wide. “I like that name.” she complimented taking Laila’s hand. “Come on let me show you my room.” She said sovereignly and Laila looked over at Cole who still stood staring at the young girl. He seemed as if he would burst.
“Come on silly why are you being so jumpy?” Laila teased him. She was a little girl and he was being way too jumpy she thought.
Cole shrugged and looked to Matt for reassurance, however, he just kept watching Marissa with a look that Cole believed to be a mixture of fear and intense hatred. ‘Must be a brother-sister thing,’ he thought brushing off Matt’s apparent malice.
“So you must be Cole,” Marissa noted casually.
He couldn’t find any words to say. Not even a simple ‘yes’ was forthcoming so he nodded dumbly.
“He’s just shy is all,” Laila answered for him more than a little annoyed. She knew Cole could be nervous at times but, the way he was acting was just plain rude.
“Oh yeah, I’m sorry. You’re right, I’m Cole. Your brother must have told you about me?” He responded shakily, feeling absurd for how awkwardly he had reacted to her sudden appearance.
“That’s right he did.” She agreed readily. “Pleased to meet you,” she finished before returning her attention fully to Laila. “So want to see my room?” she asked again.
Laila didn’t want to disappoint the young girl so she accepted the offer with an exaggerated excitement. “Sure, we’ll let the boys play out here,” and within an instant, the two were already heading towards the back portion of the house.
Matt and Cole watched them until they were out of sight before either broke the silence that had recently ensnared their conversation. “Sorry for being so jumpy I just didn’t hear her,” Cole admitted to Matt who seemed to have momentarily lost himself in his own little world.
“It’s ok. She does that.” Matt responded keeping his attention averted as he spoke. “Why’d you come here today?” he asked and Cole was taken aback by the simple question.
“Why go to anybody’s house?” he said waiting for Matt to respond to the leading question, however, when he didn’t, Cole finished the sentence for him. “Because we figured you’d be a good friend.” He said unsure if he was ready to admit the first reason the two had come over. Matt afforded him a look that seemed to be full of depression before saying anything.
“You want to be my friend….?” he asked rather doubtfully.
* * * * *
Dolls were everywhere about Marissa’s pink room. Anywhere there was an open spot they sat, staring through their lifeless eyes. Some were on chairs; others rested casually on an oaken dresser, and more still were strewn all across the four post canopied bed. Many were propped up on the floor leaving very little open space to maneuver.
“This is your room?” Laila asked amazed by the ornate splendor the ten-year-old girl had at her disposal. She wondered if the little girl even realized how many girls would have given their eye teeth to have such a space at her age.
Marissa replied nonchalantly to the question with a simple “yes.” She walked over to pick up a small Raggedy Ann looking doll. She held it tightly against her chest before promptly handing it to Laila. “She’s my favorite” she beamed.
Laila could tell that the doll had an almost antique look about it donning two black button eyes, a button nose and an incredibly faded smile that had turned from what she believed had once been the color red to an off orange. It’s once thick head of dark red yarn hair seemed to be balding and what hair remained also shared the same fate as its smile. “Where’d you get all of these? Did your mom buy them for you?” Laila asked trying to make small talk with the young girl.
Marissa’s eyes wandered throughout the room before returning her attention to her guest. “Some of them.” She said at last before pushing a few of the dolls off a small chair beckoning for Laila to sit. She was utterly fixated on this new older girl.
The chair was small. Probably meant for someone Marissa’s size but, she offered no complaint. She would have given anything to be noticed by the older kids when she was Marissa’s age and she empathized with her. For a long moment, Marissa didn’t say anything and Laila couldn’t help but notice how the little girl was looking at her. She couldn’t say why but, it made her uncomfortable regardless. “What is it?” She asked.
“I love your hair. It’s so pretty. Can I brush it?” Marissa asked with a curious innocence.
Although Laila felt apprehensive, she didn’t want to disappoint the curious little girl. “Ok. Just for a bit.” She offered.
She didn’t hide her excitement. “Oh, can I? I’d really love to. All I have are brothers and I never have the chance to do anyone’s hair besides my own.” She pouted briefly.
‘How could I even begin to refuse?’ She thought as Marisa opened a small drawer from her small desk that held a very
large vanity mirror.
“I haven’t used this one yet,” Marissa announced producing a fine hairbrush. “Turn towards the mirror,” she said, at last, making a turning motion with her hand.
Laila obliged. She watched in the mirror accepting the first few strokes with some trepidation however, it was stripped away quickly. She took a deeper notice of the brush. She’d never seen another like it. The handle itself looked of polished silver with intertwining leaves making up a grand design. Its bristles were the softest she’d ever felt but they ran through her hair perfectly. The younger girl seemed to take every stroke with great care. “You know I have an older brother too,” Laila stated and Marissa was quick to take up the conversation.
“Is he nice?” she asked, her curiosity obviously peaked.
“He can be,” Laila replied honestly.
“I wish my brothers were nice to me,” Marissa said pausing only briefly before continuing with gentle measured strokes.
Laila knew how she felt being a younger sister herself. You were either always in the way or too busy being bossed around to feel any sense of really belonging.
“I always wanted an older sister,” Marissa admitted coming around from behind Laila to look at her face. “It’s so unfair.”
Laila couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. “What’s unfair?” Laila questioned wanting to give Marissa the outlet she felt the young girl deserved yet, Marissa seemed to shy away from the question moving behind her again to continue with her brushing. “Ok. You don’t have to tell me.” Laila rescinded hoping she hadn’t made the young girl uncomfortable. “What about your friends?” she continued trying to keep the conversation light-hearted with the young girl, however, her heart sank when Marissa simply replied,
“I don’t have any friends. I’m not supposed to leave the house. Doctors say the sunlight’s bad for me. I can’t play outside so I really don’t know anyone.” She admitted sadly.
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