To Death. IO Spears

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      A good Life

      Mrs. Willow has thought long enough, and the curiosity is just too great! She has to know who the strange man is that walks about the Morgans' home but remains unknown. Mrs. Willow knows every family that has ever lived on Phinemore street and is always formally greeted. She cannot fathom why Katie Morgan is reluctant to introduce this unfamiliar fellow. Katie Morgan and her 6-year-old son Timber moved into the home less than a month ago. Still, Mrs. Willow thought that surely a month was more than enough time for at least acquaintanceship with all three of the residents. Mrs. Willow thought to herself, Is it me, but she quickly jostled that thought aside. No, no, that can't be it. I welcomed Katie and Timber to the neighborhood with my best pumpkin spiced cheesecake!

      Mrs. Willow sat on the edge of her waist-high porch, staring intently at the Morgans' home. Anticipating seeing either the stranger or the Morgans, she decides, Today will be the day! She will walk right over and ask Katie about the strange man. Mrs. Willow sat lightly, tapping her fingers on the wooden porch rail, thinking about how the conversation would go. Then suddenly, he appears—walking from behind the small quaint house with a pair of trimmers ready to prune the dying leaves from the hedges that line the front of the house beneath the windows. Mrs. Willow stands up quickly, catching herself off guard with her speed. She holds steady to the porch railing so as not to fall, putting an end to her mission before it even begins. Noticing her movement, the stranger turns around and faces Mrs. Willow's home, and then it happens. They lock eyes!

      The coldness and focus of his stare makes Mrs. Willow stumble backward and nearly trip and fall back onto the porch. She tries to maintain eye contact with the strange man, but the intensity of his glare almost feels like fire to her own eyes. Mrs. Willow wonders how she could ever face off with this stranger if she can't even look him in the face for more than a second. It is a fact that she has lived many more winters than most residents on Phinemore street. Still, Mrs. Willow considers herself hearty, and her longevity is proof. It was nearly 6 pm, and Katie and Timber Morgan will arrive any minute. No time to reverse course now.

      Just then, Mrs. Willow can see the family's car approach the neighborhood's entrance. Like clockwork, as he has done each day, the stranger walks inside the open garage. Mrs. Willow watches as the stranger pulls on the rope to the attic door; the ladder unfolds, and the strange man climbs slowly to the top, dragging the ladder up into the attic behind him. The attic door closes just as Katie and her son pull into the driveway.

      Mrs. Willow scuttles hurriedly across the street to the Morgans' driveway. Just as Katie opens the driver door to step out of the car, Mrs. Willow approaches, startling Katie in the process. Katie gasps in surprise, but she is relieved straight away to see Mrs. Willow standing there. Katie greets Mrs. Willow with the warmest smile she has seen in all of the years since her husband Bill passed away. Mrs. Willow feels a peculiar connection to Katie, and a sense of protectiveness overtakes her at this moment.

      Lost in the charm of Katie's cheerful face, Mrs. Willow doesn't realize the solemnity of her own countenance. Mrs. Willow watches as if in slow motion, the smile abandons Katie's face. Katie is now looking back at Mrs. Willow with a grave and troubled expression. Katie's lips part and appear to mutter words, but for some odd reason, Mrs. Willow can't make them out or hear her. Then, suddenly, a rush of words pour into her consciousness. "Mrs. Willow! Mrs. Willow! Is everything okay? Mrs. Willow! Are you alright?" Katie said, nearly shouting. With her hands on Mrs. Willow's shoulders, Katie lightly shakes her as if trying desperately to awaken her from the grave, an imminent slumber promised to humankind. Suddenly, Mrs. Willow springs forth with the vigor of a child not ready for bed or an older person fighting off another round of prescriptions.

      "Yes!" Mrs. Willow shouted. "Yes, Katie, everything is fine!" Mrs. Willow wastes no time, not even for Katie to help Timber from his booster seat in the rear of the car. "Katie, I have to ask you something, and I don't mean to pry, but you never told me that you were married. I'm curious to know when I'll get to meet your husband," Mrs. Willow asks. Katie steps back slightly, releasing her grip on Mrs. Willow's shoulders. Katie's mouth sat agape, with a look of utter confusion about her. It is 6 pm on a busy weekday, but silence seems to cascade over Phinemore street like morning dew. Now, Katie, shaking her head, begins to reply, "But, Mrs. Willow..." Mrs. Willow interrupts, "Now Katie, you come right out and tell me if I'm prying too much. It's okay to tell me such, but since you and Timber have been living here, I've noticed a young man walking about your home, trimming the hedges, and watering the plants."