Chapter7 The Bad Man

Anna was sound asleep before being awoken. She rolls over. "Hi, Mary." "Hi, Anna," Mary asks, "where were you today? I waited at the barn for you." Anna sits up. "Sorry; I went to the city with my mom." "That's okay; sounds like fun. I use to go to the city with my parents, too…before they went away." "Where did they go?" "Away; that's all. So; where did you go?" "First, we went to the library…" Mary interrupts, "The library?" "Yeah. After that, we went to see my dad at his work; and, then we went out to dinner." "You're lucky; you get to go places and do cool stuff." "Maybe you could go with us…" Anna stops; remembering her mom doesn't want her playing with Mary anymore. "No. I can't leave this place." Mary picks up one of Anna's dolls off the bed and starts brushing its hair with her hands. Anna feels a little relieved now that she's off the hook from inviting Mary to go with them; but, she's also confused. "Why can't you leave?" "I just can't." There's silence for a moment, then Mary asks… "So; what did you do at the library?" "I looked at some books. They had this really neat one about kittens." Mary sits there brushing the doll's hair; avoiding looking at Anna. "And; what did your mom do there? What was she looking at?" Now, Mary looks up and turns to Anna, awaiting her answer. "I don't know; she went to a different part of the library." "What part of the library?" "I don't know. She said she had to look up something; and, told me to wait for her in the kids section." With an angry tone in her voice, Mary snaps, "What was she looking up?!" Anna's shaken up by Mary's outburst. "I…I…I don't know. She didn't say." "Oh." Mary goes back to the doll. Anna's confused; Mary's never been angry with her before. "What's wrong, Mary?" "Nothing," she puts down the doll and looks at Anna, "I just missed playing with you today. I was lonely." "I'm sorry." "That's okay; we can play tomorrow, right?" Anna gets up and goes over to her dresser. She's trying to think how she's going to tell Mary she can't play with her any more. Mary walks up behind her. "Anna, we can play tomorrow; right?" Anna speaks softly under her breath, "I can't play with you anymore." "What?" Mary moves in closer. "I didn't hear what you said. Anna?" A little louder, but still speaking softly, "I said I can't play with you any more, Mary." She turns and faces Mary. "My mom doesn't want me playing with you anymore. I can't go to the barn either." Mary spins around and charges towards Anna's bed; diving on it face-first, crying. Anna goes to her friend. "Please don't cry, Mary. I'm sorry. I want to play with you…It's my mom; she says I can't." Sobbing, "Why?" "I don't know." "It's not fair! All my friends go away! Why?" Mary collapses, face-first again, back into the mattress crying. Anna strokes Mary's hair. "Don't cry; I'll still be your friend. I'll play with you…Just not at the barn." Mary sits up sniffling as she wipes her nose. "Then where?" Anna looks around. "Why not here, in my room?" "Okay. Thank you, Anna." Mary hugs Anna. Mary gets up, walks over to Anna's bedroom window and looks out at the barn. Anna stays on the bed watching her; worrying about what her mom will do if she finds out she's disobeying her orders. "Anna; I think I know what your mom was looking for at the library today." "What?" "Bad things happened in this place….Very bad things." Anna stands up, staying beside the bed. "What?" "There was a bad man….A very, very bad man. He did things to people around town….And, in this house." Anna walks towards Mary; stopping halfway. "Did he do bad things…to you?" Mary's silent for a minute before answering. "Yes." "What did he do?" "I can't say. He may come after me." Anna moves a few steps closer. "He's still around?" "Yes." Anna nervously looks around. "Does he ever come back here?" Mary looks at Anna, but doesn't say anything; then, turns and looks out the window again. Anna runs up to Mary and, grabbing her by the back of her arms, spins Mary around to face her. "Does he come back here?" "Yes…sometimes." Anna solemnly walks back to her bed, picks up her teddy bear and presses it into her chest while tucking her chin down. Then she looks up. Mary's gone.