Eye Bleach

by Paul E. Creasy

  Sylvia smiled and said, “Mine too.”

  “But, you have kindled the flames of curiosity in me now,” Heather said. “I have to know. You can’t really tell anything by the title.”

  “Homecoming seems like a pretty innocuous title,” Sylvia said.

  “Oh, don’t be fooled by that,” Heather said. “In fact, it has been my experience that the more wholesome, warm and fuzzy the title is, the darker and more twisted the content. Trust me on this. I watched a video a couple of months ago entitled ‘Brandon’s First Christmas’ and…, well…., let’s just say, I spent the rest of the day in the Eye Bleach Lounge. It was like the first time I ordered sweetbreads in a French restaurant. They were neither sweet or bread — yuck!”

  “I assume it was not about Christmas, then,” Sylvia said.

  “Not exactly…,” Heather said. “Although…, there was a pine tree involved.” Heather shuddered, and said, “honestly, where do people come up with this stuff?”

  “Well, I’m game,” Sylvia said. “Let ‘er roll.”

  “OK,” Heather said. “But…, be prepared to lose whatever flickering flame of hope you might still have for the dignity of the human condition.” She added, “I’m immune. That fire got put out years ago. I am fully reconciled to the reality people are absolute pigs.”

  “True enough,” Sylvia said.

  Heather reached over and pulled up the video, clicking the box to show it full screen. The two women shared earbuds and stared at the screen as the video began to play.

  After the first few seconds, Heather cocked her head. She was confused. This was not an ordinary video. First of all, the film was yellowed and had a brownish sepia tone. It was also silent, so the earbuds were superfluous. It looked to her like an old home movie that had been converted to video and uploaded to UVid. It was still in color, though, so it wasn’t that old, maybe from the late 60’s or early 70’s. It had that look. Something about it, though, seemed unreal, ethereal, almost like you were watching the scene play out through a thin haze.

  Two minutes into the video Heather was growing bored. The whole film consisted of just a long shot of a field of tall grass with rolling hills in the background. It was relaxing, in its own way, and off in the distance was an old white farmhouse, complete with green shutters and one of those old-timey aluminum screen doors on the front of the house. She could almost imagine hearing the creak of the springs as it opened. After another dull minute or so, a small figure opened the door and emerged onto the porch. The camera was quite a distance from the house, so nothing was clear, but, it looked to her to be a small boy. She squinted as she tried to focus, but details were hard to make out. The deterioration of the original film, along with the distance from the camera made everything out of focus. It looked like the kid was wearing some sort of costume. He started to walk down the stairs toward the field. The costume was blue and red. Suddenly, the film stopped.

  “Well, I don’t mind telling you, Sylvia,” Heather said. “That was possibly the most boring video I have ever seen. Why on earth the algorithms flagged it, I will never know.” She glanced over at Sylvia and paused. Sylvia was staring straight ahead at the screen, her eyes unnaturally opened wide. Her pupils were fully dilated. A single bead of sweat was running down her forehead and, most odd of all, although her mouth was open as if to scream, she was stone silent.

  “Sylvia? Sylvia?” Heather said as she shook her shoulder. “Are you OK? Sylvia!”

  Click… Click… Click…

  Chapter 4

  April 30th, 1976 - 15 miles east of Pikeville, Kentucky - 5:15 PM

  The little girl smiled as she ran her toes through the thick grass, her giggles echoing through the spring air. The grass, lying like a living carpet beneath her bare feet, felt so smooth and cool against her skin. It had been such a long winter — all heavy socks and rubber boots with endless grey days and lots of snow. Kentucky was like that. She loved snow, of course, and especially snow days when school was canceled. Mom would make hot chocolate and they both would build snowmen in the front yard. It was all such fun. But feeling the warm spring breeze on her bare arms and the bright rays of the April sun on her face, she knew she liked Spring, too. Because ultimately, that led to summer and no school.

  She rolled over onto her back, looked up at the sky and sighed. The clouds were so beautiful — especially at this time of day. She squinted her eyes as she studied the shapes. She could just spend hours and hours doing this. Today with the sun just starting to set behind Black Mountain, they were spectacular — a never-ending parade of big, fluffy pink clumps of cotton candy floating across a bright blue sky. Her mouth watered as her mind wandered. Cotton Candy, just like the kind Daddy bought her at the County Fair last fall. What a fun day. I wonder if we will go again this fall? Mommy thinks she will be too big for the Tilt-a-Whirl by then.

  A cool breeze brushed across her cheek and she sat up. She needed to be alert. The afternoon was ending and she knew any minute, Mommy would ring the bell. The rule was once Mommy rang the bell, she had to come inside. If she had to ring it twice, there would be no TV the next day. She couldn’t risk it. Tomorrow was Saturday, and Bugs Bunny would be on! So, she kept her ears open as she continued to play. Only time for one more adventure before Mommy called so she raised up on her knees and got ready. Fluffing out her doll’s long dark hair and straightening out its blue cape, she lifted the tiny doll’s arms up over its head and began twirling it on one of its red-booted feet.

  “Wonder Woman! Wonder Woman! Kee…Rack!” she sang as she tried to imitate the sound of thunder and lightning.

  “Sylvia! Sylvia!” Darlene shouted as she rang the bell. With a farm of at least thirty acres, this old-timey dinner bell was the best way to call her daughter in for dinner. Ironically, it worked on the dogs too. “Time to come in Baby!”

  “Coming Mommy,” Sylvia shouted as she jumped to her feet and began running up the long hill towards the house.

  It was a charming white clapboard, two-story house with green shutters and a matching green tin roof — desperately in need of a fresh coat of paint. It had a full wide-open porch on the front, complete with an aluminum-framed screen door and several hanging baskets of petunias. Pink ones to the south, purple ones to the north, just like Maw Maw always says. It was nothing unusual, just the standard, run-of-the-mill, farmhouse. God knows Pike County was full of them, but, to Darlene and her husband Joe, it was home. With four bedrooms, there was plenty of room, and, with a new baby on the way, Darlene was glad that little Sylvia wouldn’t have to share a bedroom like she did growing up in a house with five sisters and three brothers.

  Darlene shook her head as she watched her daughter rush up the lawn and clamber onto the porch. All legs and knees, just like she was at her age. Glancing over her shoulder to the large brass bell bolted into the side of the house, she had to admit, this was a good system. She never did have to ring it twice. The threat of TV revocation is such a good motivator, especially to a ten-year-old.

  “I made it in two minutes this time, Mommy,” Sylvia said as she panted and leaned over to grab her knees. “I think this was my best time yet.”

  “You are a born runner,” Darlene said.

  “Just like Wonder Woman, right? You saw how fast she can run on the TV show, right?” Sylvia said. She spun around and sang, “Ker-Pow! Wonder Woman!”

  As Sylvia twirled, Darlene grabbed her shoulder and stopped her in mid-spin. “Sylvia, just look at your pants. Were you rolling around in the grass down near the creek again?”

  “Uh…, maybe,” Sylvia said.

  Darlene bent down and lightly brushed Sylvia’s bottom. “Honestly…, just look at this mess. You are as dirty as one of Daddy’s stinky old hogs. What were you doing out there, rooting in the mud? You are filthy!”

  “Sorry Mommy, but…, you did say I could play until you called me in.”

  “Yes, I did,” Darlene said. “But I also said to keep yourself clean, too, right? Remember, we ha
ve everyone over tonight. I have been cooking all day, and now I have to deal with all of this.”

  “Is Maw Maw coming?”

  “She is,” Darlene said. “In fact, she should be here any minute. So, you need to go upstairs and—”

  “—Wheeee! Is she bringing ham biscuits? I love Maw Maw’s ham biscuits. She is bringing biscuits, isn’t she?” Sylvia said.

  “Of course,” Darlene said, “she always does. And a whole bunch of other stuff too…, but…, don’t you like my biscuits?”

  “Well, they’re OK…, but, they’re not the same as Maw Maw’s.”

  Darlene laughed as she shook her head. “You sure do know how to hurt a woman’s feelings, Sylvia.”

  “That’s OK, Mommy,” Sylvia said. “I still think your potato salad is the best! And, of course, everyone loves your pies better than anyone else’s.”

  “Well, that is good to know,” Darlene said. She wiped her forehead with the back of her hand and said, “And it’s a good thing, too — I have about a dozen of them out cooling on the counter.”

  “Oh boy, let me have a—” Sylvia said as she lurched for the screen door. She was yanked back when Darlene clutched her shoulder.

  “Oh no you don’t,” Darlene said. “As I was trying to say, you need to march yourself right upstairs and get in the tub. I don’t want you getting mud everywhere. It’s a special occasion, you know.”

  “It is? What is the—”

  The screen door opened, and Joe walked out onto the porch. “Damn, Darlene, how much food did you cook? There is enough in there to feed Cox’s army.”

  As he spoke, Darlene smirked as she spied a spot of merengue stuck on the end of Joe’s beard. “You didn’t eat any of those pies, did you? You know those are for company.”

  “What?” Joe said as his face brightened into a grin. “Me? Never!”

  Darlene knew that grin so well. And that devious, up to no good, devilish smile got her to do most anything. Hell, that is how we ended up with Sylvia, she sighed as she thought to herself. That and quite a few Jack n Cokes. She leaned forward and kissed his lower lip. “I think you are busted, Mister.”

  “Well…,” Joe whispered back. “What are you going to do about it?” As he spoke, he reached around her waist and ran the palm of his hand down the small of her back. She always looked sexy to him, but even more when she wore this thin cotton purple sundress. It was her favorite and showed off her womanly charms so well. Even now, six months pregnant, it still fit — although some of the flowers were starting to stretch.

  “Daddy,” Sylvia said as she yanked on his pants leg, quickly dousing the romantic moment.

  “Yes, Pumpkin?” Joe said.

  “Will you watch Gilligan’s Island with me?”

  “You bet,” Joe said. He looked down at his watch and saw the time. It was nearly 5:30. “You know, Pumpkin, I think today they finally get off the island.”

  “Really?” Sylvia said.

  “Yep, I read about it in TV Guide.”

  “Joe,” Darlene said as she shook her head. “You are being played.”

  “What?” Joe asked.

  “Slippery Sylvia is just as bad as you,” Darlene said. Glancing down at her daughter, she added, “she knows what she is supposed to do first. Don’t you, Sylvia? She always plays her Daddy like a fiddle.”

  “Yes Ma’am,” Sylvia said as she lowered her head. “But…, can’t I watch Gilligan’s Island first? I mean…, this might be the day they get off the island!”

  “See what you did,” Darlene said as she turned to Joe.

  “Please Mommy, I promise I won’t get dirt on the couch. I will stay on the slipcovers this time. I promise…, please…, please!”

  “Pumpkin,” Joe said as he squatted down on the porch and held her arm. “I think it is a safe bet that you aren’t going to miss anything big on Gilligan’s Island today. I think I misread that. You won’t miss them getting rescu—”

  “—But you said—”

  “—Take my word for it,” Joe said. “They aren’t going anywhere. At least not today. Now, go and take your bath like Mommy said.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Sylvia said as she dropped her chin to her chest and went inside. As the screen door creaked and slammed behind her, Darlene sighed.

  “Is it really 5:30? It is much later than I thought,” Darlene said. “This isn’t good.”

  “Yes, it is just now half past,” Joe said as he glanced down at his watch. “Do you have a cake in the oven or something?”

  “I should have started earlier!” Darlene said. “There is so much to do, and I am running out of time. Why do I always wait until the last minute?”

  “It’s what you do,” Joe said.

  “And everyone is going to be here soon! I am not going to make it. It’s all going to be ruined.”

  “You’ll make it,” Joe said. “You always do. The house looks great and the food smells delicious. I know everyone is going to have a great time.”

  Darlene said, “and this is the first time we have hosted Circle in ages. I certainly don’t want to embarrass myself, not with Father Ted coming and all. I don’t think we are going to have anywhere near enough to eat. I am such a fool, I wish I had—”

  Joe reached out his hands, cupped them behind his wife’s back and pulled her into his chest. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “You have gotten yourself all worked up into a stew. It is going to be all right. We have more than enough food. You forgot I got a big old pork barbeque simmering out in the pit.”

  “You picked a nice one, didn’t you?”

  “I did, ended up sacrificing two of the best we had today. One for eating and one for—” Joe said.

  “—Cornbread! Damn it, I forgot about the—”

  “You didn’t forget,” Joe said as he smiled. “Emma Jean told me she was bringing the cornbread. And besides, everyone is bringing a dish. You know it is potluck. And with all of your sisters and mine, coming — If anything, we are going to have too much food.”

  “Maybe, but we still need to set up the tables and get the—”

  “Shhh,” he said as he ran his hands down her back. He lowered his voice and added, “Why don’t you let me worry about all of that? Your mother is going to be here soon, and she can help finish off the entrees. God knows, she will have this house filled with fried chicken before you know it. I will take care of setting up the yard. Maybe you should go lay down for a bit? You know, with your condition and all.”

  “OK, Joe, maybe you are right,” Darlene said. “I must have a case of baby brain right now. You always did know how to calm me down.”

  *****

  Much later, Sylvia lifted her toes out of the water and wriggled them against the cool tiles above the tub. She was all wrinkly and pruned and starting to get cold, but she didn’t care. Mommy told her to go take a bath, and so she did. It wasn’t her fault she didn’t specify for how long.

  It was better in here anyway. Mommy always got kind of worked up when company was due, and today, with so many people coming to the house, she was in rare form. Sylvia was no fool. She knew best when to lie low. And what better place to do it but in the tub? She loved just lazing away the hours in the bath, splashing and playing, all the while daydreaming. Below her, she heard the house fill up with a horde of relatives and friends as her nostrils filled with the smells of all sorts of delicious goodies. There was the distinctly warm and cinnamony smell of apple pie, along with the unmistakable perfume of fried chicken wafting up the stairs.

  Still, even the siren call of Maw Maw’s fried chicken was not enough to force her to budge. It was so many people in the house — aunts and uncles and a whole bunch of cousins she never even knew she had. It was all too much. But soon, they would all be gone, and tomorrow Daddy promised to make her pancakes and watch Bugs Bunny with her on TV. Then, all would be back to normal.

  “Sylvia! Aren’t you out of that tub yet?” Darlene shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

  “
I’m getting out now, Mommy,” Sylvia shouted. She frowned. Fun time was over.

  “Well hop to it,” Darlene ordered. “I laid out the dress I want you to wear on your bed. Now hurry up, get dressed and come down. Maw Maw has been looking for you.”

  “Yes, Mommy,” Sylvia said. She got out of the tub and dried herself off with a big fluffy towel, before wrapping herself up like a terrycloth burrito and padding down the hall to her room. Upstairs was empty — everyone was either outside or down in the kitchen. She could hear her Mommy and her sisters cackling up a storm in the kitchen. That was good. She would be in a better mood.

  On her bed she saw a fine linen white dress waiting for her. It was beautiful, with a big blue bow around the neck and everything. She giggled as she put it on. I bet Diana Prince would wear this. If only I had some glasses.

  She glanced out the window and saw her Daddy and a couple of his brothers standing around a fire in the backyard. She squinted her eyes and then broke out into a broad grin when she saw what they were looking at. Barbeque! I can’t wait! I hope I don’t get any sauce on my dress.

  She slipped on her shoes and walked to the top of the stairs. She stopped when a loud voice boomed from below.

  “Now there is my Sweet Pea! Just look at you, pretty as a Princess.”

  “Maw Maw!” Sylvia cried as she rushed down the stairs.

  “Slow down there, Sylvia,” Maw Maw said. “I don’t want to spoil the big night by having you fall down and bust your head open, or something.”

  “Maw Maw, I am so glad you’re here,” Sylvia said as she rushed into the plump woman’s arms. Maw Maw smelled of biscuits and gravy and was all squish and plump, just like those delicious pots of mashed potatoes she always made. “Did you bring ham biscuits, Maw Maw?”

  “You hear that Momma?” Darlene said as she turned the corner and entered the hall. Turning to her mother, she said, “My little girl is just nuts over your ham biscuits. She says mine are ‘OK,' but, need a little work.”

  Maw Maw threw her head back and laughed. “Well, dear, serves you right.”