A Gathering

Something pulled me in —something inexplicably. I was already heading up to the house when I heard a crackling sound from behind.

Crackle!

The branches gave way under obvious feet.

Crackle! Crackle!

"Who's there?!" I screamed in horror.

Crackle!

A figure emerged from behind the trees, moving towards me. In this case I'm supposed to run but it's better to not let whatever that is to know the location of my house. There was a heavy branch at my feet. Not realizing quite what I was doing, I grabbed it and, barely lifting it, hit the mystery person over the head.

"Ahh! What are you doing?! That hurts!"

I instantly recognized the voice. "Bobby?"

My childhood friend rubbed his head, stunned and angry. "It's me! Who else would it be?"

"I don't even know... you scared the crap out of me!" I said slightly relieved.

"So you came here too...I thought I was alone."

I smiled at this. "I thought I was, too."

There was silence. We looked off in different directions, as if we had met in a store, like you were pretending like we didn't know each other. I decided to break the silence. "Well...I have to go. I accidentally wandered here. Nice to see you."

I turned around to leave but Bobby grabbed my arm. "Come on, we both understand why we came."

"We do?"

"Well, of course. Since we're here, let's take a look in there. What do we have to lose?"

I thought about it for a while and truly we have nothing to loose. "Perhaps we should! But only for a couple of minutes—just take a quick look. I don't want to be here for long." I looked around before whispering quietly. "It's creepy here."

"Yeah, I know the feeling. This whole city...is just..."

"Yeah, I know. Let's go. It's cold."

We walked into the house. 'it's as if I've returned to the past...' Everything was as it was long ago. It even seems like the things I have abandoned the last time I was here, lay resting in the same place.

Same sofa, same pillows. Same light scattered mess. Bobby looked around and frowned. "Why are there lit candles...here?"

I looked around and indeed there were some lit candles. "Yeah.. that's weird." Out of the corner of my eyes, I noticed something moving. "Who's there."

Someone's hand took hold of the candelabrum and brought it to their face, revealing who stood before me. "What a gathering." Candy said with a smile.

Bobby shrugged. "It was worth the wait."

"Was it, I didn't expect to see you." Candy said to Bobby.

"Since we all came to the funeral of Mrs. Hill, how could we not end up here, right?"

Candy grinned. " Yeah, it's a sweet little house."

"You know what's weird though? When was the last time we all came to Saintfour?"

Everyone was silent at Booby's question. Then I quietly added: "A long time ago.

Bobby turned to me and frowned slightly. "And what made you come this time? Was it the news of poor Mrs. Hill? Tell the truth...did you get a letter from her too?"

"Yes.."

Everyone was quiet again, not finding the words or reason to leave. The rain intensified , the wind howled harder and harder, gusting through the window. It felt like cold air was bleeding through the window frames.

Soon a real downpour began, there was no cell connection, and it became clear to everyone that we could noteave the house until the rain subsided.

"I found a couple of blankets here, they seems warm and comfy . It's cold. Take one." Candy passed me a blanket.

"Thank you." Bobby sat at the table, pondering, Candy and I settled down on the you couch.

"Well...so how are you?

"From the moment I got here, I don't think I'm doing all that well." I said with a small laugh.

" I think we all feel it..."

Everyone was silent again. I wanted to leave but I stayed put. It was evident that the others felt the same way.

"If we're syalk here can we talk?" Bobby said with an helpless look. "This silence is killing me."

"What about?"jo

"I don't know. It's just that we all seemed to have changed so much since..."

"OK. Let's not talk about the past. Expecially in this atmosphere!" Candy cuts him off rudely.

I shrugged . "Well, beside the past, we have nothing in common."

"Sarah, you're not Saintfour, right? You and your parents moved here when we were in highschool." Bobby pointed out.

"Yeah, that's right, you're from Connecticut." Candy said.

" I'm from Baltimore, actually." I can't believe they don't know where I live.

"Where do you live now? "

"I'm back in Baltimore."

Candy laughed at this. "After Saintfour, any other city seems livable."

Bobby once again turned his attention towards me. " What was your first impression of Saintfour? I can only Imagine the horror! Haha..." We all laughed.

"Haha.. Yeah! I remember my parents fussing around with the move, unpacking things, and I didn't even want to help them. I just sat on the porch, and thought about what kind of a hole this was..."

That was ten years ago. It seems like an enternity has passed and at the same time as if it just happened yesterday.

"Sarah, Let's go into the house, you can help." Mom said.

"I don't want to be here!" Mom sat beside be on the step.

"Oh, come on, now. Towns like Saintfour are great places to spend the last of your school years—to make some lasting memories. After that, you can go wherever you want. We're not going to keep you here. No need to be grumpy about it. Tomorrow is the first day of school —go and meet all the boys. You won't even notice this happening as this city becomes your family."

" But what are we supposed to do around here?" I asked stubbornly.

"Well there may not be so many things like Baltimore, But still...back in the city you just sat around in bed doing nothing. And here...just look how beautiful it is here! And that air? mmm!

Seeing how happy she was I don't want to make her sad. "Well I think I'll get used to this quickly. Don't worry."

"Really? Do you like it here?"

"Yes, it's alright I guess.

"Ok, honey." Mon hugged me and kissed the top of my head. "Dan got in trouble in Baltimore. But here he will not have those problems out here...if you don't want to help unpack things, you can go for a walk. You love nature. Have you seen the forest here? Just fabulous!

"OK, I'll go for a long walk. Just stop trying to sell me this city."

"Alright, alright...But don't stay out too late! Got it?"