A NIGHT TO REMEMBER
By: Daniel J Whittaker
Copyright 2012 Daniel J Whittaker
It was Halloween night. Steve, a man I've been taking care of was bedridden for almost 10 years. I got in good with the family through his daughter, Victoria, whom I've been dating for almost 3 years. His wife and Victoria went to party the night away. His son, Sam, was working late. I was alright alone that night, wasn't much of a partier. Plus, I had just cooked a delicious meal. I got done eating, followed by Steve. I had to get up and let the dog out to do her business. There wasn't much to look at as the sun was setting already in this cold October weather in Michigan. It had tried to rain the other day, succeeded a little then back to cold wind. No beautiful colors, or even any leaves that tussled around on the porch which I had swept off the other day.
I didn't feel any dreariness, except for the cold wind that made me shiver. The darkness closed in quickly that night. I closed the door to go back inside. I never believed in anything that Halloween offered, except for the candy. However, I had to stay away from that. I still couldn't see my toes even if I sucked the bulge back in. I looked back outside through the large sliding door in the living room. The darkness was becoming a plague now. I wished the light above the driveway worked. I would be able to at least see more of the front yard. Hearing the dog bark, snapped me back and I went out to let her in. Steve smacked his lips together, the only way he could get attention when he wanted to say something. I slowly read his lips. He asked about the cross above the back door of the house. The disease had pretty much taken over this body, but he was a fighter.
"Yeah, it's still above the door." I replied. He smiled again and said a few more words. "Don't worry," I assured him, "I'll make sure it doesn't fall off."
I stepped outside and slowly opened the door, the wind was getting stronger. I called for the dog, Cinderella. She stood up and slowly walked toward the end of the porch. She looked intently into the dark, emitting a low growl from her throat. This was unusual.
"Cinderella!" I said. "Come!" She walked over, keeping her eyes pointing towards the area. I closed the screen door and locked it followed by the inner door, keeping the porch light on. She walked into the living room and slid herself behind the curtains. A particular habit for this watchdog I didn't like, especially right now. I took the curtain and closed it around her, so I couldn't see outside. I finished feeding Steve, cleaned the dishes, and then put a movie on for him, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. I sat back down at the computer and played a video game.
The wind kept getting stronger, I could hear the table umbrella outside, knocking away on the glass door. I decided to go outside to withdraw it before it broke the glass table. The dog growled again, standing up, I could see the hair rising on the back of her neck and hind-end. I walked over to her and threw open the curtain. Nothing is there. Yet I did see the trash cans on the porch. I know I didn't move them up there.
"Cinderella, knock it off. It's just the wind throwing things around." The porch light went out. "Shoot." I said. "Now I have to get a bulb for that." I looked over at Steve. "I have to take care of a few things outside. The wind is throwing stuff around." He smiled and nodded, then went back to his movie. I grabbed a bulb from under the kitchen sink. Only after turning on the kitchen light, did I find the back screen door wide open. "Well that's odd." I said out loud. I replaced the bulb and went outside to take the trash cans to the side of the house and took down the umbrella placing it there as well.
As I walked back to the door, I felt something under my shoe. I lifted it up and looked down. It was the crucifix Steve had placed above the door years ago. I picked it up and placed it in my pocket, reminding myself to replace it later on. I wasn't getting on a ladder in this weather. I relocked the doors again, and closed the curtains. The crazy dog stayed behind them, starring unblinkingly out.
With only a few houses around when you live out of town, especially on a cold dark night, one's imagination can run away quickly. There were no trick-or-treaters out this way, and the only lights were from down the road, and the major light from the nearby town. At least I had a few flashlights on hand Steve's wife bought the other day. They magnetized on the refrigerator and had little hooks so you could hang them on your shirt. At least I thought they were cute.
I kept my phone close as I went back to playing the game. An hour passed slowly by, the scene in Steve's movie was on where Rain Drops was playing as one of the characters rode around on a bicycle with that woman of his. The phone ringing broke me out of my playing. I picked it up, putting the game on pause.
"Hello?" It was Victoria.
"What's going on?"
"Not too much. Wish you were here." Her voice sounded broken up, but at least I could make it out.
"Me too, are you outside? You sound broken up, I can make out a little of what you say."
"No, I'm inside. You sound fine. How's dad?"
"He's doing good. The wind is getting stronger, so I had to take down the umbrella and throw the trash cans to the side of the house. For some reason the dog seems to be getting a bit to guard doggish tonight. She keeps growling and her hair keeps sticking up."
"Probably some stupid Woodchuck. She's been getting like that all week." She was right, she has been. That's why we've been keeping an eye on her. Either she runs toward the big pine tree behind the house or towards the barn that a big wind had blown down several years ago. "So what are you doing to keep yourself busy?"
"Gaming on the computer. Your dad's watching a movie and we both just got done eating."
That's cool. I'm going to get off of here and get back to the party. Have fun!"
"You too. Bring me home some candy." She laughed then hung up A loud banging came from the kitchen.. I got up and ran towards the kitchen door. The screen door had flown open again.
"I locked you." Then, the light on the porch blew out again. I dialed Victoria. She answered quickly. "I need you to bring home some bulbs. The last one just blew. I had to replace it earlier tonight and now this one went out." She responded then we said our goodbyes. I at least had the kitchen light on and so I stepped out in boldness to close and latch the screen door. There was the light from the living room flowing around the closed curtains, shinning onto the porch. A heavy gust of wind blew the trash cans from the side of the house up onto the porch again. At least that's what I wanted to believe. I couldn't let my imagination run wild tonight. I ran back in and grabbed the flashlight off the refrigerator I couldn't help but grab a knife too. Cinderella was at the door, barking.
"No! She quieted down some and backed away a little. "Get back." She backed away more from the door. I remembered that I could open the curtains from the living room, which I quickly did. The light from the kitchen helped when I walked through the enclosed porch. I slowly swung open the screen door, holding onto the handle so it didn't swing open on me. I closed it, pulling the handle to make sure it was latched. The porch lit up from the light of the living room well enough, but it didn't help any past the edge of the glass.
I turned on the light and walked my way across the porch to the edge of the light. I grabbed the trash cans and hauled them back to the side of the house, shinning the light long enough to give me a clue where to toss them. Not seeing anything, I threw them back into the dark, and then just as soon as I heard them land, they were thrown back at me, almost knocking me off my feet. I heard the dog barking madly. The sound of clattering on the wooden porch caught my attention, but I didn't bother to look. I turned myself towards the door and quickly ran. Throwing the door open I heard the clattering closer behind me. I slammed the door behind
me, the panes of glass shaking. A thud landed on the door. Throwing my back against it, I locked the door at the knob then at the bolt, not even bothering to turn around and look.
I slid myself back onto the floor, trying to keep my cool. Cinderella walked into the kitchen and stopped in front of me, her head tilted to the right. She sat down, her eyes dashing back and forth, they seemed empty for some reason, she looked lost as to what was happening. I took out my phone from my pocket and went into the camera mode. Turning it to the front facing view, towards me, I quickly snapped a picture through the window, then went into the gallery and held my breath. There was nothing there-- just an open screen door. I slowly stood up, moving myself away from the door. I just remembered the knife. I