The Misunderstood

A Bad Mother?

Miranda's POV

"Levi! Son, I told you to walk the dogs. And have you finished with your homework?" Miranda questioned her almost 13 year old son. The boy's head seemed to be anywhere but on his chores lately. But she reminded herself that she couldn't in all fairness be too hard on him. After all her mind had been wandering lately too. She was dealing with the fact that her only son would soon officially be a teenager! 13! Where had the time gone? Miranda was feeling a little worried for him. Things were happening around him. Things that caused concern. But she didn't know if Levi was even aware. It made her think back to her childhood. Her earliest memory was of her being about a year and a half. There had been a kind old man he always came over when she and her family were in their backyard. Miranda assumed that he was a neighbor. Once she had thought about him as a teenager and asked her mother about him. Lynn acted confused. She didn't recall an old man. She was shocked when Miranda was able to describe the house and yard in great detail. Miranda had been so young she should not have remembered that place. The family had moved from there before Miranda turned 3. It frightened Lynn and she became agitated with Miranda. Which ended with Lynn calling her names and beating her daughter again. Lynn had steadily become more abusive with Miranda. She had tried so hard to be a good daughter. But she was never good enough. She never understood why her mother seemed to hate her. She was obedient, doing as she was told. A good student, loved to read, always studying. Never had to be reminded to do her chores. Miranda looked after her little sister and brother. Helping with their homework, doing their chores, taking the blame when her brother did things like throw a ball in the house and breaking his mother's trinkets or a lamp. Her mother was always angry with her. She learned early on not to acknowledge people or voices no one else seemed to see or hear. She didn't ask for this ability. And she believed whole heartedly that it was part of the reason her mother hated her. She wondered if she was handling being a mother the right way. She knew from her mother how not to be a good mom. But she constantly questioned whether she was getting it right with Levi. The boy seemed more withdrawn. Was it normal preteen behavior, or was there more to it? Miranda's greatest fear was failing her son. She literally lived for this kid. But she questioned whether she was getting it right. She feared him inheriting her curse. She didn't know how to talk to him about it. When the boy was 2 years old, there had been an incident at there old house. Something happened that she didn't dare discuss for fear of it returning. She had done what she had to to get rid of it. And Levi had mostly appeared to forget about it for all these years. He seemed oblivious to the spirits around him since then. But lately she had been feeling, hearing, and seeing more activity. It seemed to be centered more around Levi. She wanted to talk with her son about the matter. But she didn't want to say something and scare him if she was wrong. She wished the boy would just open up. She considered trying to ask the others. But it had been so long since she had spoken with them. If at all possible she went out of her way to not even acknowledged them. What if it opened the door to another bad experience? Or worse, Carlton found out her secret? Would he leave? How would it affect her son? She walked back into the kitchen to finish supper feeling like a horrible wife and mother. She wondered if she might have been a better mom if she had been loved by her own mother. Or if she at least had been born more normal. She felt a waive of sadness and confusion flow over her at the thought. Then quickly reminded herself that the past was behind her. She had escaped it. There was no going back. She would continue to love her son and be the best mother she knew how to be from here on.

Levi's POV

Levi smiled smugly at his mother as he walked past her and called the two little dogs outside. Of course he hadn't finished his homework or walked the two chihuahuas. Mom just shook her head and walked into the kitchen to finish supper. He had more important things on his mind lately. His birthday was in three days. The most beautiful girl he'd ever known, a friend since he was four years old, had recently told him she liked him. As more than a friend! Football is life! And then there's them. Mom keeps asking questions. Wanting to know if something is bothering him. But he convinced himself that there's no way she would understand. So Levi has tried hard to focus on everything else. He tries to act normal for Miranda and his dad Carlton. But how normal can you really be when you see and talk to the dead. It had been happening on and off for as long as Levi could remember. Some were friendly enough. Others not so much. But either way it terrified the boy. He tried to ignore them. But some wouldn't let him. He tried to be a man about the situation. After all you can't run to mom and dad over the boogie man when you are a teenager. So most nights Levi opted to sleep with the tv on for light and noise. Or to sleep with his ear buds in. He even wore his ear buds during the day when he could, to help drown them out. The family had moved into their current home almost a year ago. The activity here was far less than their old home. Levi didn't like to think about the old home too much. The new house was a lot better. There was a dark haired middle aged man. He mostly stayed in the guest bedroom. Not bothering anyone really. Once when Levi had gone down the hallway behind his mother, he almost thought mom had seen the guy. The guest room door was left open. Mom reached to close the door, and she gasped suddenly. Levi saw the man just inside the door. The man looked his mom directly in the eyes. But instead of acknowledging the ghost, mom reached down and grabbed a football. Then she reminded Levi not to be playing in the guest room or anywhere else in the house with a football. Which he hadn't done. Things just appeared in the guest room. Maybe the dead guy had been a klepto in life? Who knows? Maybe the ghost just wanted attention. Levi didnt ask. He really just wanted the guy to just disappear. He had never said anything to Levi. Always just staring. Maybe that's why he kind of gave Levi the creeps. But he was there and Levi was on his own with the situation. There were other ghosts around too. The young woman in the yellow dress out by the old barn and of course Sam. Sam was the old man that had owned the property previously. His family sold the old farm in pieces upon his heath. Levi's parents had bought the ten acre, partially wooded property with the house and barn on it.

He couldn't open up about to his folks about what he saw here and have his parents think him crazy. It would just worry his mom to death. And he was pretty sure there was no way dad would ever believe him! Dad would probably just drop him off at a mental hospital somewhere and forget he even had a son. He'd seen plenty of movies to prove that theory. Levi was deep in thought when he was rudely snatched back to reality by the shrill barking of two ferocious chihuahuas! He looked up to see them barking at HER! Levi hadn't talked to her since the day before on the phone. And now here she stood at the side gate grinning with those perfect teeth. Looking at him with those beautiful green eyes. That amazing red hair gently blowing in the fall breeze. Paige.

Miranda's POV

Standing at the kitchen sink, staring out at the woods, Miranda was deep in thought. When she noticed the movement at the edge of the tree line. A doe walked out into the open to feed on the thick grass. She watched the doe. A smile forming at the corners of her mouth. She did love this place. She thought of how proud her husband had been when he found it and brought her to look at it. This was to be their forever home. As she watched the deer she suddenly felt a heaviness in her chest. A sense of foreboding. She focused on the deer and felt her breath catch and heart skip a beat as a dark shadow rose up out of the woods to the left of the deer. A body-less shadow. She watched as the deer flinched. The doe looked right at the entity and ran head long, disappearing into the woods. It looked like the shadow turned and looked in Miranda's direction! As if such a thing could happen! Then as she looked on the thing seemed to slide back into the trees and was gone. Only then did Miranda release the breath she'd been holding. The knock at the front door almost gave her a heart attack!