The Misunderstood

Breakfast at Angie's

Angie's POV

She woke to the sound of her alarm. Jumping up out of bed, she checked to make sure her husband's alarm was set to go off in forty-five minutes. Then she got busy. Angie quietly went to the kitchen to start breakfast. Carful not to wake her husband as she left the bedroom. Her husband would be up at 5:30 am. He liked to be on the road by 6am. She got two pots from the cabinet. As she stood up she felt the familiar feeling of soft fur rub across the back of her leg. Looking down, she smiled at her cat. The short haired calico greeted her with a soft meow. "Good morning Wicca, darling." Angie greeted her four legged friend as she sat the pots down and got the kitty her breakfast. Wicca thanked her with a melodic mew before settling down and eating her meal. Angie smiled and patted the cat on the head. Then got back to breakfast. She began by putting water in both pots. As she turned them on to boil she grabbed the fresh flat of eggs, setting them on the counter. Then she turned and grabbed the grits. She was startled and dropped the grits to the floor when she heard Wicca hiss. Turning to look at the calico she saw the cat staring aggressively in the direction of the side door. Ears back and growling, Wicca hissed again. Angie jumped when she heard the knock on the door. Then almost screamed when she heard her cat hiss loudly. And then watched as the animal ran off into the house, growling as she went. Angie already knew to trust her cat. One must always listen to their familiar. Cats after all can look into the other plain, having dual existence in both our realm and that of the dead.

She opened a drawer and took out a lighter and a white candle. Heart racing she quickly lit the candle to cleanse her house. Lit candle in hand, she slowly approached the side door. As she did she heard a scratching noise run down the door and down the side of her house. Pausing for only a moment as the noise moved slowly from the door, she looked out the diamond shaped window. And as expected she saw no one. Remembering Miranda's warning from years ago to never just invite someone in when a knock sounds at the door. A lesson her friend had learned the hard way.

She then heard Wicca yowling angrily down the hall near her two sons' bedroom. She quickly walked through her entire house, room to room, with the candle. Chanting a prayer of protection as she went along. She whispered as she went, careful not to wake her sleeping family. Then left the candle burning in the center of her house. Wicca came walking slowly into the room. As Angie watched her, the cat sat and looked around the area. Then turned back to Angie, meowed and started bathing herself. Angie took this as a sign that all was well and hurried back to her morning chores.

Returning to the kitchen she quickly finished cooking and started a pot of coffee. Thinking to herself, as she worked, that she needed to get to Miranda's house as soon as possible. Whatever was going on, it was definitely going to affect everyone negatively. The sooner it was handled, the better. She found herself filled with worry and a sense of urgency.

As she finished cooking she heard the alarm going off in her and Gary's room. Followed quickly by Gary groaning as he rose out of bed. She immediately set to work making his plate and poured him a cup of coffee. Setting it all at the head of the dining room table as she went down the hall and woke all the children.

As Angie coached the four children through there morning routine, Gary sat at the table and started eating. After all four kids made their beds and dressed for school she told them all to come and eat their breakfasts. Then quickly went and fixed four plates. As she sat them on the table Gary stood and kissed her goodbye. He was walking out the door as the kids gathered to eat their breakfast.

"What the hell happened to the side of the house?" Gary exclaimed as he walked back into the kitchen. Angie immediately joined him at the door and followed him outside onto the porch. She stopped short in her tracks as she turned and looked at the side of the house. Her eyes went wide and her jaw fell open as she looked at the backside of the door and the new siding Gary had just put up himself a couple weeks ago. There were deep gouges in the wooden door, slanting at a downward angle from just below the window. And then cuts and scratches running in an up and down manner along the side of the house all the way to the corner. "How did this happen?", demanded Gary. He stood staring at the damage, dumb founded. It was still pretty dark out. But the trees were waiving around in a very strong breeze. At the edge of the porch light and under the security lamp they could see some small branches and the outline of a few larger ones scattered here and there. The ground was also damp from the rain that had fallen the night before. There was a large puddle in the driveway. Angie knew exactly what had happened to the side of the house. But she also knew that her husband was a no nonsense kind of guy. He didn't believe in the existence of demons, spirits, or anything of that sort. And absolutely under no circumstance would he discuss such things. Typical of those who feared everything they don't understand. He did not indulge Angie in her "fanciful beliefs".

So, Angie said, "Honey, I think maybe the storm did it." Gary took one more look around and shook his head. "I don't have time for this right now. I have to get going. Tell the boys, if they have a minute before the bus comes, to gather the bigger limbs in a pile behind the shed. Maybe that'll keep anymore damage from happening to the house." And with that he turned and got into his work truck to leave. Angie watched as he crunk it up and headed off down the road.

Turning slowly back to the damage, she looked on at her home. She mentally tried to prepare herself for what was to come and then went back inside. Angie instructed her children to finish breakfast and then go wash up and brush their teeth. She also informed the boys of their stepfather's instructions before going to her room to get dressed and ready for the day. Noticing the time as she changed her clothes, she made a mental note to call Miranda after she finished feeding all her animals.

Angie came out just in time to rush the children out the door and down to the bus stop. They got there just in time, as the bus came rolling to a stop. Kissing and hugging each one of the four children goodbye, she watched as they loaded up on the bus. Angie told them she loved them and hoped they had a good day. She waived goodbye over and over as they disappeared down the road and around the corner.

Angie then went out into the yard to care for her animals. She started with giving hay and water to the cow and goats. Then moved on to giving feed and water to the chickens, turkeys, and Peafowl. Afterwards she made sure the dogs had fresh water and food too. As she worked she tried to keep her mind clear. Wanting to avoid inadvertently inviting any negativity to her property. Quickly finishing her chores she slipped off her muck boots at the side door and went back inside for her tennis shoes. As she entered the house the wind picked up and the rain began to fall. Such a dreary day made the task at hand all the more dreaded.

The phone rang as she was slipping on her shoes. Instinctively, she new before she even reached out to grab the device who it was. Picking it up and swiping the screen to answer, she said, without waiting for a greeting, "Hello Miranda. I'm just putting on my shoes. I'll be leaving her in just a minute." She heard the familiar chuckle of her friend on the other end. "Goodmorning Angie. I just wanted to let you know my guys are just leaving. And wanted to confirm that you are still coming. I've got hot coffee and cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. I'll see you in a few.", Miranda replied. Angie smiled. Coffee and cinnamon rolls sounded amazing. After all she fed her family, but as usual had completely forgotten to feed herself. The women said their goodbyes as Angie stood up and smoothed out her t shirt. Blowing out the candle she bid farewell to her cat and headed out the door. As she drove down the road she said a quick prayer for protection and strength for herself and her friend. Looking up at the over cast sky and the swirling dark clouds, Angie couldn't help but think of the incident this morning. She wandered what else was to come. She hoped that she and her friend could handle it.