Thursday Night

Rain pattered on the roof of Grandma’s house as Christine settled in after Thanksgiving dinner. She sat on the plush carpet and started playing solitaire on the coffee table. Mom was hollering at the football game, but Christine was doing her best to tune that out. Grandma was in the kitchen finishing the dishes. 

Dinner itself had been the usual stuff: turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, green beans. It was a nicer, heartier meal than Christine usually ate. Now she was pleasantly full, enjoying her cards and the relative peace and quiet.

“Why are the Lions attempting a field goal?!” Mom roared, jumping up. She bumped the coffee table and fell back on to the couch. The game went to commercial.

Christine sighed heavily, picking up her fallen cards. 

“Sorry, kid,” her mother said, rubbing her sore knee. “You know how it is.”

Christine nodded. It was always like this with football - and true crime, for some reason. She was glad it was only Mom here being noisy instead of the whole family.

Grandma stepped into the living room, wiping her hands off on a towel. She hung it on the back of one of the wooden chairs at the little dining table, on the opposite side of the room from Christine and Mom.

“I wish you’d let us help you,” Mom said. “Dishes would’ve been done a lot sooner.”

“No, no,” Grandma said. “After being away for so long, I almost missed doing my own dishes. Besides, there weren’t that many.”

“I tried to get the older kids to come,” Mom said. The game was back on, so her eyes were on the TV as she spoke. “But they had other plans. In-laws, I guess. And you know how dad is.” With this last remark, she gave Christine a joking slap on the shoulder. 

Christine was glad her father and siblings weren’t there. When they all got together they talked too loud and it would get too hot and they would pick on and embarrass her. No, she much preferred this little get-together.

“I keep telling you it’s fine,” Grandma said. She sat on the opposite end of the couch so that Christine was between them. She smiled at Christine. “It’s kind of neat that we have three generations here.”

Christine nodded, smiling.

“Touchdown!” Mom yelled and jumped up again, narrowly avoiding the coffee table this time.

Thud.

“Oh, for the love of-” Grandma cut herself off. “What did you knock over this time? I hope you haven’t broken anything.”

“Shhhh!” Mom held a finger to her lips and whispered, “That wasn’t me. I think it came from outside.”

Grandma leaned back on the couch and put her feet up. “Probably just the rain then.”

“Right,” Mom said. She seemed unsure, but she sat back down and was quickly reabsorbed in the game.

Christine hesitated, card in hand. “Grandma,” she asked. Her voice always came out softer than she expected. “Are you sure it’s nothing?”

“Of course,” Grandma said proudly. “After a month of running around Europe, staying in all kinds of places with all kinds of people, these little noises don’t frighten me anymore.”

“Was it scary in Europe?” Christine asked. She had to repeat the question because of Grandma’s hearing and Mom’s hollering. When she finally got the question, she answered:

“Oh, no. I had a few near misses, but that happens anywhere. Actually, I think you should go some time. You’d like it.”

Christine smiled and went back to her cards. She had only placed two cards down when she heard another noise. 

Crash.

Her head whirled toward the sound. She noticed Mom and Grandma do the same.

Mom muted the TV and looked back at them. “You heard that too?” she asked in a hush.

Grandma nodded. 

Mom patted her pockets. “Ugh, must have left my phone in the car,” she said. She looked at Grandma. “Where’s yours?”

“My cell phone?” asked Grandma. “You know I can’t keep track of that thing.”

Mom looked to Christine. Christine slid her phone out of her pocket and held up the black screen. “Why do you think I’m playing solitaire?”

Mom dragged her hands down her face. 

“Oh, don’t be so dramatic,” Grandma said. “It’s probably nothing. I’ll go take a look.”

“No,” Mom said. “You stay here with Christine while I go take a look. Do you still have my old baseball bat by the door?”

Grandma rolled her eyes and gestured to it. Mom picked it up and gripped it tight. She tossed on her raincoat and bolted the door. “You two stay here. I’ll have a look around the back.”

“Be careful,” Christine said. 

Mom laughed and ruffled her hair. “I will.” She kissed Christine on the top of her head and went through the kitchen and out the back door.

It was silent as they waited, listening.

“The house isn’t that big,” Christine said, wringing her hands. “How long could it take to look around?”

Grandma wrapped Christine up in her arms. “Your mom’s just being dramatic, dear,” she said. “She’ll probably go out and search the whole woods before she’s satisfied.”

“What if there’s something out there, like a bear or a vampire or a maniac with an axe?” Christine cried into Grandma’s shoulder. 

Grandma shook her head. “Christine, where on earth would you get ideas like that?”

Christine pushed Grandma away and plopped down onto the couch. “I know it’s ridiculous. I’m just worried about Mom.” After a pause, she added, “And you know the only thing she loves more than football is true crime. I was practically raised by Keith Morrison.”

Grraaaaaggghhh…. Urrraagghhh…

Christine and Grandma looked at each other, confirming to each other that they had both heard it: an unearthly groaning. It sounded close. Christine shot up from the couch.

“Something’s happened to Mom, I just know it.”

Grandma grabbed her arm. “Don’t be rash, dear.”

Christine suddenly wished the rest of her family were here. No wild animal or axe murderer would attack such a large party. She wasn’t sure if the same could be said for supernatural creatures, but maybe her sisters or brothers or father would know what to do about them.

Christine tugged her arm free from Grandma’s grip. “I’m going after her. You can come with me if you want. What were we thinking, splitting up like this? That’s how they always get you in horror movies.”

Christine pulled on her rain coat, flipped up the hood, and flung open the door. 

Lightning cracked. On the porch, a figure was silhouetted against the storm, carrying Mom unconscious in its arms.

Grandma cried out and rushed forward. Rain instantly soaked her to the bone. Christine ran out after her to help.

“Wait!” the stranger said. It was a man. “Stop!”

“Give me back my daughter!” Grandma shouted. She and Christine kept pulling on his arms, trying to free Mom from his clutches.

“Dorothy!” the man cried out. 

They all paused at the mention of Grandma’s name. 

“Finally,” the man huffed. “Can we go inside so I can explain?”

“Oh, Sean, I’m so embarrassed,” Grandma said. They were all back in the living room. Mom was laid out on the couch with a compress on her head. Christine and the man, Sean, were sitting at the dining table. Grandma placed a steaming cup of tea in front of Sean.

“I didn’t recognize you,” Grandma continued.

Sean chuckled. “I don’t blame you. Anyone would be nervous in this situation.”

“Excuse me,” Christine cut in. “But, uh, who are you? And what happened to Mom?”

“Oh,” Grandma said. “This is Sean, dear. I met him while I was in England. He saved my life!”

“She’s exaggerating,” Sean said.

“Not so,” said Grandma. “He pulled me out of the way just as I was about to be hit by a bus!”

Sean sipped his tea demurely.

“I told him he could come by for a visit anytime,” Grandma said.

“I tried to call, but I never got any answer. I remembered she doesn't use her cell phone, so I decided to surprise her,” Sean explained with another little chuckle. 

“Oh, well, thank you for saving her,” Christine said. “And Mom?”

“I found her just in front of the porch. She must’ve slipped off the step and hit her head.”

Christine sipped at her own tea, feeling silly. She was glad the whole thing was over.

Thud.

Christine, Grandma, and Sean all looked at each other. They had all heard the noise.

Uuuggghh…

Christine looked at Mom. She had rolled off the couch and was groaning as she climbed back up onto it.

“Anyone know who won the game?” she asked.