The Sexton House

Episode 8

“Who’s Anna?” My mother’s words
replay in my head. What am I supposed
to tell her? That she’s a ghost who
happens to live in my attic? Hell, no. I
can’t tell her that!
“Harry, are you listening to me?” No,
Mother, I’m not. She must have said
something that I didn’t hear. “I asked
you who Anna is. Does my big boy have
a girlfriend he’s not telling me about?”
Why would she think I have a girlfriend?
I’ve just moved in here. “Well, do you?”
she has one eyebrow cocked up, now;
her hands on her hips.

“I…something must have fell. I’ll check
up on it later.” There is no way I’m going
back up there right now. The last time I
saw her she made it pretty clear that she
didn’t like me.

“Well, if you did, I wouldn’t be
upset…although I really don’t like the
thought of another woman in your life,”
she tries to tell me, her voice cracking
like she’s about to cry or something.

God, I hope not, I’m really not in the
mood for dealing with my sap of a
mother. She can literally make any
situation sad or cry-able. “I’m just afraid
you’re going to find somebody and forget
about me. Harry, you’re my only child,
it’s hard for me seeing you grow up. You
moving here to broke my
heart.”

She is practically sobbing by the time her
little confession is done, and being the
good son I am I embrace her, telling her
I’ll never forget her. “I love you, Harry,
now give me a kiss.” She turns her face
so her cheek faces my lips.

I love my mother dearly, but there’s no
way I’m going to kiss her. I’m twenty-
one years old, she’s lucky I even hugged
her. “I think I’m good, thank though.” I
pull back from her.

“Fine: I get it. You think you’re too old to
give your mom a kiss it’s, I understand.

It’s not like I gave birth to you or
anything. That ten hours of labour didn’t
really feel good, but I get it!” That’s
another thing: my mother is good at
making you feel guilty till you give into
whatever she asked; or apologize for the
rest of your life.

I groan, giving in and placing a quick
peck to her cheek, wiping my mouth off
right afterwards. “You’re still a Momma’s
boy.” She smiles and pinches my cheeks.

I swear if she doesn’t start treating me
like an adult I’m going to have to go find
a condom and throw it at her, reminding
her I’m not five anymore.

“My boy is so handsome. I think I did
pretty good.” She smiles, examining her
work.

“Mother, that’s a bit weird,” I call her out
on her weird way of complimenting
me…Or maybe she’s complimenting
herself. I’m not really for sure.

“Hush or I’ll put you in timeout,” she
warns, pointing a finger at me and
chuckling to herself. She knows this
drives me insane, that’s why she does it.

She asks to watch a movie.

The next morning, I wake up and take a
shower before heading towards the
kitchen. I need to work today, so I’m
hoping my mother won’t be to upset.

When I enter the kitchen she’s sitting at
the counter with a cup of coffee in her
hands. “Did you sleep well?” She’s the
first one to speak.

“Yeah,” I lie. I slept horribly. He filled
my dreams, causing me to wake up in
the middle of the night; sweat gathering
at my forehead.

“That’s good.”
I pour myself some coffee and grab an
apple off the counter before biting into
it. I should probably tell my mother I
have to work today, I already know she
won’t be pleased, but she can get over it.
“I have to go to work today, so you can
hang out here or go into town,” I tell her.

“You’ll probably want to go to town, it’s
pretty boring here.” Actually, Mom, it’s
not boring here at all, I just don’t want
you and Ghosty seeing each other.

“I guess I’ll check out the stores, maybe
they will have some cute little antique
shop.” She folds her hands in front of
her.

“Maybe,” I whisper back, sipping on my
coffee. Suddenly there’s a knock on the
door.