The Misunderstood

Sam

Miranda's POV

After Carlton came home the family enjoyed their supper together. Levi helped his mother clear the table and clean the kitchen before getting his shower. Carlton also got cleaned up and then went to bed. He had an early morning to look forward to and would need the rest. Miranda worried that her husband was pushing himself too hard. But appreciated his every sacrifice he made for the betterment of his family. Miranda made her rounds, making sure the house was tidy and ready for tomorrow. When Levi came out of the bathroom headed for his bedroom she called out, "Goodnight son. I love you. I'll see you in the morning. Go to bed. Don't stay up all night watching tv. You have school in the morning." "Yes ma'am", was his only response as he entered his room and shut the door.

Miranda stood there alone in her living room her mind on the morning. She remembered that she hadn't taken the chicken out of the freezer to thaw for supper the next day. Carlton and Levi loved fried chicken, especially hers. Carlton said it reminded him of his grandmother's fried chicken. Which gave Miranda a sense of pride. She loved to cook for the ones she loved. Both of her grandmothers were amazing cooks. She had spent countless hours with both her grandmothers in their kitchens. Watching and learning, assisting them once she was old enough.

Miranda had been blessed to have two very loving and patient grandmothers. It was from them that Miranda learned how to be a good wife and mother. She would have been lost without them. As her own mother had no care for her.

She never told her Grandmothers of how her mother abused her. Always making excuses for any bruises or scratches she couldn't hide. They always seemed to accept whatever lie she told. Because she was always such an honest and obedient child. It would have broken their hearts to know the ugly truth. And Miranda couldn't bare to hurt them that way. She didn't like lying to them either. But she figured it was for the best. To spare them the truth was a kindness she owed them for all their love.

She had been fortunate to have them in her life for so long. Having just lost the both of them last year. At the age of 39 years old she knew most people were not as fortunate to have their grandparents around for as long as she did. Miranda counted herself to have been very lucky to have been able to care for each of them prior to their passing. And to have been their when they crossed over. Their deaths had been very peaceful. She really missed their love and advice though.

Miranda went into the kitchen and pulled the chicken out of the freezer. Legs and thighs. Legs were Levi's favorite and Carlton preferred thighs. As she was heading back into the living room she heard the buzzer for the dryer. "Might as well fold those towels", she said aloud to herself. As she entered the laundry room she saw him standing beside the folding table. She quickly averted her eyes and chose to ignore him. As usual the old man addressed her, "Hello Miranda, how are you this evening?"

Miranda proceeded to clean the lint filter on the machine and unload the towels.Completly ignoring Sam's presence. Usually, he would just go away and allow Miranda to go about her business unhindered. But this time he stood right there, watching her every move. As she picked up her last towel and began folding it Sam spoke again. "Miranda, I know you hear me. And I know why you ignore me. I'm not offended in the least. Can't say that if I found myself in your shoes I wouldn't do the same. But ma'am we got to talk. Its important and it involves your son. I believe he may be in some kind of trouble." Miranda froze upon hearing the last part. Her heart skipping a beat. "Just what kind of trouble do you think my son is in old man?", Miranda demanded as she set the folded towel down on top of the others and turned to face Sam.

"Thank you", Sam began. "He's a good kid. You've done well with raising him, Miranda. But he's just as hard headed as you." Sam continued. Miranda couldn't help the smile that formed on her face at Sam's words. She turned and took the colored clothes out of the washing machine and put them into the dryer. She considered starting the white clothes, but decided to hold off until the morning.

"Ok, so spill it. What danger is my son in? You have my full attention, sir." Miranda said, pulling the laundry room door shut. So that if either one of the guys woke up and wandered into the kitchen, they might not hear her speaking to herself. Crossing her arms, head c****d, and leaning against the wall, she looked intently at the spirit in front of her.

Sam pursed his lips and took his hat off. He rubbed the top of his head, slicking his hair back. Then replacing his hat before beginning, "Miranda, I've watched your little family this past year. You have something special. Worth fighting for. I lived my whole life on this property. I died here. I have to admit that when my no account, free loader of a son rushed to sell the family land I was more than a little angry. I inherited this land. Was born on it, used to be an old shack down near the woods. We called it home for a long time. What I'm getting at is that in all the time I've been here, dead or alive, I've never seen anything like this thing here. Its dark and mean and I believe it wants your Levi. There's been times I tried to check in on the boy at night and can't. No matter how hard I try, I can't enter his room. I've seen the shadow. Watched it crawl along the walls and disappear. I'm not the only one. Mostly we ghosts stick to ourselves, but I've been told by the others that they have seen it too. I'm worried for Levi. I care a great deal for that boy. He admits he's aware of something going on. I told him just tonight, that he ought to talk to you about this thing..."

Miranda's eyes flew wide and she threw her arms down by her side as she interrupted Sam, "You spoke to my son and he heard you?! He talked to you?! Does he see you?! She bent over grabbing her stomach. Eyes wide, staring at the floor. Feeling sick to her very core, Miranda hit her knees. Her thoughts ran wild. "OMG! My baby... I should have known." Miranda spoke to herself outloud. This was the last thing she ever wanted for her son. She felt fear for Levi. Most spirits were harmless. But would he know how to handle his abilities. Then her heart broke for him. He had been alone with this. How many times was her baby boy afraid. How often had he needed her. She felt horrible, she had failed as his mother to protect him. And OMG, what if people found out he had the ability to see and hear ghosts? Not only that, but could speak with them!People fear what they don't understand. People are cruel when you are different. "Oh my poor boy," she said softly as she sat there on her knees on the laundry room floor.

After a moment, Miranda, willed herself to pull it together. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed onto the folding table and pulled herself back up on her feet. After one more deep breath, to steady herself, she turned to Sam and demanded to know everything.