Chapter3 Mary's Home

Martin sits quietly at the kitchen table sipping on a beer, watching Beth frantically move things about; sometimes slamming an item or two in the process. "I'm not crazy." Beth vehemently declares, "I'm not. Someone was in this house. I swear, someone was in here, Martin." She continues shuffling things about in the cabinets. "I don't think you're crazy." Martin gets up, puts his arms around Beth, and starts to gently rock her side to side. "It's okay; it's over now." Beth starts to cry, pushing her husband away, "No! It's not okay!" Beth runs out the back door crying; then, stops to lean against a tree. Martin goes out after her. When he reaches Beth, he puts his hand on the back of her shoulder. Beth turns around and burrows her face into his chest, continuing to sob. Martin places one hand behind her head while using the other to gently pat her back. Not wanting to upset her anymore than she already is, he just stands there holding her without saying anything. Beth holds on tight crying. A few minutes later, Anna comes outside. "Mommy." Martin tells Anna, "Pumpkin, Mommy doesn't feel like talking right now; okay. Why don't you go back inside and watch some TV. We'll be inside in a little while." "No, it's okay; I'm fine." Beth lets out one last sob while wiping her eyes and cheeks dry, "What is it, Sweetie?" "I talked to Mary, and she said she decided not to use our bathroom." Anna continues, "She's sorry she had us waiting for her to come downstairs." "That's okay. Tell Mary it's alright; I'm not upset with her. Now, why don't you go back inside and watch some TV before bedtime." "Okay." Anna heads back inside; but, stops on the back porch, turns around and calls out to her mother, "Mommy." "What, Sweetie?" "Mary also said that she was sorry for upsetting you this morning." Confused now, Beth asks, "What do you mean, upsetting me this morning?" "With everything being moved. She said it was her when I told her you were asking me if I …" A totally bewildered Beth interrupts her daughter. "What? What do you mean she moved them? How? When? Anna, what's going on?!" "I'm sorry, Mommy;" Anna's upset, trying to keep from crying. "I didn't know she did it, Mommy. She said she just wanted to help by putting things the way her mom use to have them when they lived here. She said she just misses her mom…that's all." Anna can no longer hold back her tears; she bursts out crying, "Sorry, Mommy!" Beth runs over, gets on both knees and starts hugging Anna. "No, don't cry Sweetie; it's okay. Shh. Mommy's sorry for yelling at you; it's not your fault. No, no…no more tears Anna…shh." Anna stops crying; but, is still sniffling. Beth wipes the tears away from her daughter's face and strokes her hair. She smiles at Anna. Anna smiles back. Beth asks… "Sweetie; Mary told you she used to live here?" Anna nods. "Do you know where she lives now?" Once again, Anna nods. "Anna, Sweetie; where does Mary live now?" Anna raises her arm and points as Beth turns around to look. "There…in the barn." Beth's been sitting on the back porch for the past few hours. Some of Beth's questions were answered; but, many more have taken their place. One thing's for certain to Beth; they need to get away from that house. Martin looks out the back door and sees Beth sitting on the edge of the porch staring at the barn. He joins his wife. "You know;" Martin takes his wife's hand in his, "nobody's out there." Beth continues staring at the barn. "I know." "Okay." Martin pauses before continuing. "I asked Anna why we haven't seen Mary before. You know what she said?" Still staring ahead, "No; what?" "She said we couldn't. Mary told her that only she can see her." "Uh huh." "You know what that means; don't you?" "No, Martin; what does that mean?" "That means that Mary's Anna's imaginary friend; right? Beth?" Beth finally looks at Martin. "Anna's never had an imaginary friend before in her life; so why now?" Martin, caught a little off guard, struggles briefly to come up with an answer. "I don't know. She always had other kids around her before; but, now she's out here, kind of isolated, with no one around. Maybe she just needed to come up with a friend to play with." "I don't think so." "What do you mean?" "I mean; I don't think she's making up Mary?" Now Martin's totally confused. "What do you mean she's not making Mary up? Mary's an invisible person. She doesn't exist. I mean, come on Beth." Beth looks up at the night sky; then, back at her husband, "What about everything being moved in the kitchen? The knocking at the doors? The running footsteps? Who's doing that; Anna? What about the blood in the egg yolk…I suppose our daughter did that too?" "Wait a minute…hold on …What blood in what egg yolk? What are you talking about? You're not making any sense, Beth." "Martin," Beth's becoming agitated, "there was blood in the egg yolk this morning; but, then there wasn't. Anyway, that doesn't matter any more. Mary's been doing all of it, okay; she's not made up. She's real." "Real?" "Yes, real." "A real little girl; who no one else could see but Anna?" "Think about it; Anna said that Mary was arranging things the way her mom use to when they lived here…that she misses her. Any of this adding up with you yet?" "No; I must have missed math class that day. What are you saying, Beth? Please, enlighten me." "I'm saying; Mary's a ghost." Martin scratches his head. "A ghost?" "A ghost." "So, let me get this straight; the idea of Anna making up an imaginary friend is totally absurd…but, her playing with a ghost makes perfect sense…I see." "You don't get it, do you? Forget it." "No. No, Beth; I get it. I really do. Our little girl is hanging out with Casper…it makes perfect sense. Fine. Well then, now that that's resolved, let's go to bed." Beth slides away from Martin, crosses her arms and looks off to the side. "Don't patronize me, Martin." Martin moves in closer and tries to put his arm around her shoulder; but, Beth pushes it away. Martin pulls back and attempts to apologize. "Beth, Hon', I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off like that. I'm just a little confused about what's going on. I'm sorry, but it just doesn't seem possible to me that Anna's communicating with some sort of ghost; that's all I'm saying." Beth starts to calm down, and is now able to look at Martin while talking with him. "I know it's difficult to believe; but, that doesn't mean it's not possible. There are plenty of cases of haunted houses…" "Come on, Beth." "No, really; you hear about it all the time. I'll bet you that's why we got this place so cheap; because they knew it was…" "Whoa. Hold on. Beth, listen to what you're saying." "I am listening to what I'm saying. Are you listening?" "Beth…" "Martin, we have to leave." "What?" "You know I've had a really bad feeling about this place. We can't stay here." "What are you saying?" "I'm saying we can't stay here; we have to go." "Go where?" "Anywhere. Anywhere but here, Martin." "Beth, Hon', look…" Suddenly, the serenity of the night is broken by the screams of a child. "Anna!" Beth hollers, as both Martin and her charge into the house to get to their daughter. As they run to the staircase, the screams echoe throughout that overly spacious house. They race up the stairs, nearly stumbling over each other to get to Anna. The screams get louder as they near Anna's room; becoming deafening as they rush to her door. They bust through the door, nearly taking it off its hinges, as the last of the screams are heard. Beth and Martin, shocked at the sight, embrace each other and start to cry. Anna's in the bed…sound asleep.