The neighbors were drawn by the crying.
"Oh my, what's wrong?"
Annie saw grandmother holding me, saw my parents and brother collapsed on the floor. Her eyes darted around.
"Crying like this... could it be..." Her voice carried a hidden, cruel curiosity.
Mother looked up sharply and glared at her.
"Get out!" mother screamed. "Get out!"
Annie flinched, stepped back, but quickly leaned in again, standing on tiptoe to look into grandmother's arms.
"Oh my, is it really Jeff?" She clicked her tongue twice, shaking her head. "Poor thing. Only sixteen, right? What a fate. He barely made it to his birthday, but still didn't make it..."
"It's not Jeff," grandmother said suddenly, her voice eerily calm.
Annie froze.
"Not Jeff?" She blinked and leaned closer. This time she finally saw my fac
