Blair Bathory

The idea of the shadows was frightening enough without putting faces on them. I know it. That's how I know the shadows are good. She peeled off a sliver of apple and thumped it into her mouth. What does he say when he comes? Nothing. He just stands there and smiles. Her grandmother couldn't help but smile at the thought of his visits. That bothered Barbara more than she knew

I see him dressed in his finest suit suit and hat, as clean as he can be. He looks like he did when we used to strut up and down the avenue after church on Sunday. A fine man he was, a fine man. She started to rock in her chair. Addie Mae shut her eyes and smiled again, seeming to smile at him. It could just be a memory, Barbara cut in nervously.

I see him dressed in his finest suit suit and hat, as clean as he can be. He looks like he did when we used to strut up and down the avenue after church on Sunday. A fine man he was, a fine man. She started to rock in her chair. Addie Mae shut her eyes and smiled again, seeming to smile at him. It could just be a memory, Barbara cut in nervously.

I see him dressed in his finest suit suit and hat, as clean as he can be. He looks like he did when we used to strut up and down the avenue after church on Sunday. A fine man he was, a fine man. She started to rock in her chair. Addie Mae shut her eyes and smiled again, seeming to smile at him. It could just be a memory, Barbara cut in nervously.

The darkness that filled the sky outside seemed to creep in around her. Her grandmother's eyes opened fast. They looked at her with a mixture of sorrow and anger. I know the difference between a memory and a vision, missy. I ain't out of my head yet. Blushing, Barbara hurried. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound... But Grandma, you're talking about seeing ghosts. I know it. I see them.

The darkness that filled the sky outside seemed to creep in around her. Her grandmother's eyes opened fast. They looked at her with a mixture of sorrow and anger. I know the difference between a memory and a vision, missy. I ain't out of my head yet. Blushing, Barbara hurried. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound... But Grandma, you're talking about seeing ghosts. I know it. I see them.

The darkness that filled the sky outside seemed to creep in around her. Her grandmother's eyes opened fast. They looked at her with a mixture of sorrow and anger. I know the difference between a memory and a vision, missy. I ain't out of my head yet. Blushing, Barbara hurried. I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to sound... But Grandma, you're talking about seeing ghosts. I know it. I see them.

Addie Mae lifted her head proudly. Her eyes skimmed the ceiling, but there was nothing there. And so were you, she continued. Just wait and see. Your granddaddy ain't the only one who comes to see me. My mama and daddy have come before. My sister Sue comes from time to time. I expect more of them will come when my time gets closer. Like I'll come to you when it's your time.

Addie Mae lifted her head proudly. Her eyes skimmed the ceiling, but there was nothing there. And so were you, she continued. Just wait and see. Your granddaddy ain't the only one who comes to see me. My mama and daddy have come before. My sister Sue comes from time to time. I expect more of them will come when my time gets closer. Like I'll come to you when it's your time.

Addie Mae lifted her head proudly. Her eyes skimmed the ceiling, but there was nothing there. And so were you, she continued. Just wait and see. Your granddaddy ain't the only one who comes to see me. My mama and daddy have come before. My sister Sue comes from time to time. I expect more of them will come when my time gets closer. Like I'll come to you when it's your time.

Doesn't it frighten you? It sure frightened Barbara to hear it. "'Nah,' she said, peeling off another slice of apple and shoving it into her mouth. Some of the juice dripped over her lip and down to her chin as she spoke, but she made no effort to wipe it away. "'It's how they wake you up from the nightmare.' What nightmare? Barbara would always ask.

Doesn't it frighten you? It sure frightened Barbara to hear it. "'Nah,' she said, peeling off another slice of apple and shoving it into her mouth. Some of the juice dripped over her lip and down to her chin as she spoke, but she made no effort to wipe it away. "'It's how they wake you up from the nightmare.' What nightmare? Barbara would always ask.

Doesn't it frighten you? It sure frightened Barbara to hear it. "'Nah,' she said, peeling off another slice of apple and shoving it into her mouth. Some of the juice dripped over her lip and down to her chin as she spoke, but she made no effort to wipe it away. "'It's how they wake you up from the nightmare.' What nightmare? Barbara would always ask.

Her grandmother's musings were always interesting to her, even though she could never back anything up with any solid evidence. Faith was always her answer. Faith in yourself. This one. Her grandmother would inevitably answer. This is the nightmare. This? Barbara asked, not wanting to know what she meant, but knowing somehow she would need to one day.

Her grandmother's musings were always interesting to her, even though she could never back anything up with any solid evidence. Faith was always her answer. Faith in yourself. This one. Her grandmother would inevitably answer. This is the nightmare. This? Barbara asked, not wanting to know what she meant, but knowing somehow she would need to one day.

Her grandmother's musings were always interesting to her, even though she could never back anything up with any solid evidence. Faith was always her answer. Faith in yourself. This one. Her grandmother would inevitably answer. This is the nightmare. This? Barbara asked, not wanting to know what she meant, but knowing somehow she would need to one day.

Usually Barbara's grandmother didn't answer the question, but on that day, 79 years ago, she did. Laugh, child, she said. Her eyes set firmly on Barbara, looking into the child as though she could see the intricacies of her very soul. Life is the nightmare? Barbara asked her grandmother why she thought that way, asked her to stop talking like that.

Usually Barbara's grandmother didn't answer the question, but on that day, 79 years ago, she did. Laugh, child, she said. Her eyes set firmly on Barbara, looking into the child as though she could see the intricacies of her very soul. Life is the nightmare? Barbara asked her grandmother why she thought that way, asked her to stop talking like that.

Usually Barbara's grandmother didn't answer the question, but on that day, 79 years ago, she did. Laugh, child, she said. Her eyes set firmly on Barbara, looking into the child as though she could see the intricacies of her very soul. Life is the nightmare? Barbara asked her grandmother why she thought that way, asked her to stop talking like that.

No child wants to hear their grandma talking about death, their death. Barbara already wondered what she would do if her grandma ever left her. She was her playmate, her historian, her model for proper etiquette, her confidant. She was the moon, the stars, the sun, and the clouds. Death wouldn't dare lay a hand on her grandma's silver gray hair, not as long as she could help it.