Mystic Sisters of Charlene Place

chapter 2

  “I’m telling you Natasha Petrova is going to win Prom Queen based on her looks and the Russian Accent alone, bet.” Tigg said with great confidence. “Who cares, I am not even going to be there, so its dumb to think about it.” she could sense the boredom in my voice.  “No ma’am, we are going to prom, we are not going to remain the chicks who acted like H.S dances are just social gatherings for superficial Barbie doll fakes who thrive on “hearts” from guys on their i********:. We are going to rock this Senior year like we are waking up from a 3-year coma. My dad’s facial expression in the rearview mirror was priceless, deer in the headlights of what Tigg could possibly be meaning by all this. “Chill dad, she is just saying we need to get out of our comfort zone.” Tigg and I laughed as his posture and face loosened up, “I get it, go out with style” he said slightly amused and less concerned, for now.

 Ok, we are at our first stop. He pulled into the towns Hardware store, the only one available unless you feel like driving 2 hours to the next town. We do not have a Walmart if that can give you any clue as to how small we are, Yea, small. “What are we here to pick up?” asked Tigg as we get out of the car on my side. “Paint that I ordered last week”, He held the door as we walked inside. “We are going to walk around, while you pick up the paint", I said as we walked to the opposite end of the shop to look at the different items on the shelves. Tigg picked up a roll of Caution tape and said, “I’m going to put this in my brothers stocking this year, when he asks, “why did Santa give me this?”” I am going to say, He probably feels you need to put this on your bedroom door, as a safety warning for anyone who enter.” I laughed at her and said, no both of our brothers need it. “Caution, being friends with us may or may not cause bodily harm.” We laughed together. Dad walks up with two large paint cans, “Ready girls?” We piled into the car and head to the next stop.

Dad, are we going to be painting or gardening or both? I asked peeking behind me to the items in the back of the jeep. “As a matter of fact, we are,” he said with a smile. Tigg let out a shriek of excitement, “I love painting.” “I have a feeling your idea of painting and his idea of painting are not similar, I looked at her wearily. He laughed and said, do not worry I think you both will have fun with it. “I don’t know”, I was highly skeptical. We pulled into the driveway of a house I was not familiar with, my anxiety started to rise. “Whose house is this?” I said nervously. Tigg was in her element, loved everything unknown, genuine explorer. I told her one of these days her exploring was going to land her in a tight spot, she hit me with, “sure if I go caving someday.” I laughed at her response, but I was being serious. I worry about her all the time. “This is the home of an elderly lady from the town’s counsel, we are going to be doing some work in her backyard today. Her husband was the Fire Chief of our fire department, being that he passed away from cancer couple weeks ago, I offered my assistance in helping with her yard and garden until she makes plans with a local lawn company. “That’s sad about her husband”, Tigg looks downhearted as she said it, as though it was a grandparent of hers.

   “Yes, but he is no longer suffering, that is what matters most, dad said sympathetically. Let us not go into this with pity and sadness, lets show her happiness and kindness by making her backyard beautiful, He said in attempt to cheer up the mood. “Let’s do this!” Tigg jolted back to her happier self.  Holding a crate of sunset colored flowers, I asked him what her name was. “You may call her Mrs. Whitmore”, he handed Tigg a crate of flowers. I looked at Tigg and she had this confused look on her face, as though she was searching for something in front of her. “You okay?”, I asked still looking at her. She shook her head and blinked her eyes, she looked at me, “I don’t know I feel like I just experienced De Je vu.” We stood there for a minute then followed dad to the backyard gate. “Dad, don’t you think we should knock on her front door and let her know we are here, just to be polite?” I looked at him in confusion. He unlocked the lock and opened the door to the privacy fence, “She is not here Marebear, she went to stay at her daughters for a short time, as to not be alone.” “Alright that makes sense, I don’t know why I thought she would be here”, feeling a little dumb. “No, you are right, it would be the proper thing to do, if you were not aware of whether she would be home or not”, I am proud of you for taking that into consideration.

 Tigg stepped into the backyard first, “Oh my gosh.” I looked at the ground as I was walking in behind her, “What?”, I looked up and froze. “Yeah, it is something isn’t it?”, dad said in such admiration. The backyard looked like a wedding venue, Large Beautiful walkways, three water fountains, stringed lights, a nice French patio set, large trees that provide just enough shade but does not cut the sun completely out. The back door to the house was large double glass doors. The front of the house looked like an average house, but the back of the house resembled one of those glass houses you see in movies. You can see every room in its entirety from the outside. “I am amazed yet terrified of the lack of privacy, I couldn’t do that.”, I said pointing to the glass walls of the house. Dad laughed,” they have a controller that can change the glass to where you cannot see through it. “I like everything about this house, no lie, Tigg said in her excitement. “It’s like an undercover house.” “What are you talking about girl”, I nudged her in the side. “Think about it, the front of the house looks like it’s just your normal average house, boring and expected. Then you go in the backyard and it is the complete opposite, hidden gem.” “I agree with you on that”, chimed my dad.

  “How on earth are we supposed to make something that is already amazing, better? I asked in disbelief. “She requested for something to be painted and flowers added, we are going to do what she asked for.” Tigg walked down one of the paths and passed the water fountain that was to the far right of the yard.” “I think I found what you are talking about Mr. Ochan.” Dad and I walk to where Tigg was standing, it was a small cottage, it had no paint and the flower bed lining the small cottage was empty of flowers. “Yes girl’s, this is it, he put the paint cans down.  I stood there staring at the cottage, putting both my hands together and holding my index fingers up to my lips, “I’m going to make an educated guess and say that she plans on living in this and keeping the house for her guests.” “yes, she plans on turning her house into a bed and breakfast, originally, she was going to sell it and move into the elderly community homes, but dreaded it, fear of making her feel older. One of the ladies in her Sunday school suggested she build a small cottage in the back and turn the house into a bed and breakfast.”

“That is an awesome idea, Tigg beamed. “Sure, if you don’t mind the uncertainty of strangers just hanging out in your home, hopefully not stealing your stuff or I don’t know maybe burning your house down when you’re out for bingo, I looked at Tigg with absolutely no enthusiasm. Tigg looked at my dad, “I really don’t think that comment spawned from your genetics sir.” I smacked Tigg in the arm, “Hey lady, that’s not nice! My dad looked at me and said, “no at that moment she was channeling her mother.” My mouth dropped and my hands flew up, “Is betrayal everywhere?” They both laughed, dad put his arm around my neck and said, “no kiddo, let’s go get the rest of the stuff from the jeep and get started, ok, you guys have a movie to catch remember?” I shrugged and said,” yea I guess.”

“Does Mrs. Whitmore have any pets?” Tigg asked staring at the back door. “I asked her if she had pets to be looked after and she said no.” My dad replied stirring paint. “Come help me put up this plastic over the windows”, I looked at Tigg with my arms struggling to hold up the heavy plastic. Tigg walked over and lifted the plastic up with no hesitation and laughed, “what would you do with out me?” “Not cover these windows apparently”, I snickered. Tigg stuck her tongue out. We put up plastic over all the windows and her Doors. Dad had the paint rollers ready for us, “Alright, lets getting this going.” Picking up his paint roller and applying the first layer of paint. I grabbed my roller on my side of the cottage and began painting, Tigg did the same. “So what movie are you guys wanting to see?” “Tigg usually picks the movie and I pick the snacks”, I said concentrating on the section I was painting. “Wait, so you two do not alternate who picks the movie?”, my dad seemed shocked. Tigg laughed saying, “We tried that, I fell asleep in the movie, Romance movies are not my thing.” “That is the point though, friendship is about doing what each other likes, even if its not exactly what you like.” Dad looked confusingly at the wall he was painting. I chimed in, “Unless you have figured out a way to remain compatible, for us, I pick the snacks and she picks the movie.” “Because you care more about food than the film duh, said Tigg smiling. “See dad, she gets me” I laughed and scrunched my nose at her. “Alright, alright I will leave your formula for friendship alone”, he gave a defeated sigh and laughed. “To answer your original question Mr. Ochan, we will probably go see an action movie.”

   Few hours later we finished painting the cottage. “Listen girls, I will plant the flowers tomorrow, Its already 3pm. I will run you both home to shower and change into clean clothes. We will head to the theater to buy your tickets for a later showing and then go to dinner, Sound good?”  Tigg and I both replied, “Yes sir.” We cleaned everything and packed up the jeep to leave. Tigg leaned up against the vehicle staring at the house with her arms crossed. “What is the matter, you have been acting a little weird ever since we got here?” I asked looking between her and the house. “Marla, I cannot tell you because I don’t know, she said concerned. “Ok, try me", I spoke in a serious tone. “When we pulled up to the house, I started feeling sad, I had no reason to, I did not know someone passed away that lived here until your dad said something,” she said shrugging. “I’m sure there is sad energy surrounding this house right now, putting my hand on her shoulder I continued, “It’s okay, and you are okay, I promise.” Tigg gave a forced half smile, but I know it was bothering her. I open the back-driver side door and point to the opening, “Let’s go get cleaned up for a great night out.”

“Dad, would it be ok if Tigg stayed the night at our house this weekend, starting tonight?” I asked looking at him in the rearview mirror. “Being that it is Thursday, her parents might say no, but I am fine with it, I know your mother won’t mind, He said while waving to a neighbor on the sidewalk. We stopped at Tiggs house and we both piled out of the car, “If her parents want to speak with me, come back out and get me,” he said while rolling his window down as I shut the car door. “Ok”, I said in a hurry as we shuffle to her front door. Reaching in her pocket to get a house key out, I looked at her strangely “Are your parent’s home?” “Yes, they just prefer to keep the doors locked, since people are not scared to go into houses in broad daylight to kidnap kids.” “I was not expecting that answer”, I said wide eyed.” We got inside the house, her parents were in the living room watching a movie and eating popcorn. I wasted no time, Hi Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, I was wondering if Tigg can stay at my house this weekend starting tonight, my dad is outside in the jeep if you need to speak with him.” “Hello Marla replied Mrs. Reynolds. “Tigg come downstairs for a minute please”, shouted Mr. Reynolds.

  Tigg shot down the stairs and stood in front of her parents. “yes sir?” she looked at her dad with smile. “Have you washed all of your laundry and is your room clean?” “Yes sir, I did my laundry yesterday and my room hasn’t been dirty for a long time.” Her dad laughed, “I know, but I still like to ask while you live here.” Mrs. Reynolds smiled looking at her husband, “I think your going to take her going to college harder than the rest of us.” “She’s always going to be my little girl", Mr. Reynolds said holding back tears. “Awe come on you guys, not the time to get all gushy about college, it’s just Marla’s house”, Tigg said laughing at her parents. I stood there laughing with her. Mrs. Reynolds looked back at me, "Yes, Tigg may stay with you this weekend, please be a dear and tell your mother I will stop by this weekend with her vintage wine, It arrived at my store yesterday. "Yes ma'am", I said while nodding my head. Tigg grabbed my arm in a swift motion, "Ok let's go up to my room so I can grab some things."