Chapter 2 The Nightmares
917 Words
"Momma Beth! Momma Beth!" I screamed out into the night. I heard foot steps racing up the stairs. I shifted into my wolf and hid myself under the bed. The light flickered on. I pressed my body up against the wall.
"River? River, are you under that bed?" I heard the old woman's voice and I released the breath I had been holding. I slinked my body out from under the bed.
"Oh, Wolfy girl..." I shifted back into human form and grabbed a t-shirt from the dresser. I had been here three months and the nightmares never stopped coming. I climbed back into the bed and Momma Beth climbed in next to me, wrapping her warm arms around me while tears creeped out of my eyes.
"Was it the bad man again?" She asked me.
"Yes, ma'am." I sniffed.
"Wolfy girl... who's scarier than the bad man?" She asked, looking down at me with her soft, coffee brown eyes.
"You are, Momma Beth." I smiled.
"That's right. And would Momma Beth ever let anything happen to her Wolfie girl?" The old woman questioned.
"No ma'am." I smiled up at her.
"That's right. Now, go to sleep... and dream sweet." She ran her dark finger down my nose and I smiled softly. She started to get up but I clung to her. "Please don't leave just yet, Momma Beth." I pleaded.
"How abouts I sing you a little song and then I'll go? Hmm?" I nodded, laying my head on her chest. I could hear the gentle beat of her heart and it soothed my anxiety as her angelic melody flowed through the room.
"I was born by the river, in a little tent
Oh, and just like the river
I've been running ever since
It's been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will
It's been too hard living
But I'm afraid to die
'Cause I don't know what's up there
Beyond the sky
It's been a long
A long time coming
But I know a change gonna come
Oh, yes it will"
As Momma Beth continued to sing I felt my eyes grow heavy. I reached my hand up to cup her face and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
"Wolfie girl! Get up! You gotta get ready for school!" I opened my eyes and glanced at the clock on my night stand. 7:00am. Momma Beth had insisted that since I was staying at her house I would have to attend school. I had no identification documents to speak of so Momma Beth had whipped up a spell to fool the school system. I was now her niece from out of state and my parents had died in a car accident.
It was fine with me. I had always wanted to be normal anyway and in a human town that was now possible. Everyone here knew Momma Beth so they didn't question her for a second.
I crawled out of bed and threw on some jeans and a loose fitting pale pink t-shirt. I went into the bathroom and brush my teeth and comb my hair. I glanced in the mirror. My face had filled in a lot in the last few months since coming here and my once muddied blonde hair was now platinum once again. I smiled at my reflection before turning out the light, grabbing my bag, and heading down stairs.
"Wolfie girl, flip that bacon for me." Momma Beth said before disappearing down the hall. She reappeared with her check book.
"Here's money for the lunch for the month. Sit down and I'll braid up your hair." I smiled lovingly at Momma Beth and sat down just as Sadie waltzed into the kitchen wearing a black power suit and a red blouse. "Granny, did you give River lunch money?" Sadie smiled down at me before kissing my forehead.
"Yes, now don't kiss on the child. You'll get that lipstick on her. Sadie, take that bacon off the stove and make a plate. Now, look at you Wolfie girl! Pretty as a picture!" Momma Beth smiled down at me.
"Thank you, Momma Beth." I hugged the old woman before sitting down and eating the breakfast they had prepared for me.
"Granny, you gotta stop calling her Wolfie... its insulting." Sadie scolded at her grandmother.
"I don't mind Momma, really." Sadie looked down at me fondly before grabbing her purse.
"Alright... well it's going to be a late one tonight. Mr.Thompson is coming in and he's bringing his son. They want to go over the numbers before the end of the year. You know, I think that boy is getting to be almost eighteen now. He might be taking over the business soon." Sadie saids as she grabs a biscuit and races out the door.
"Eighteen is a little young to be taking over a lumber yard." Momma Beth saids, under her breath. I don't think much of it as I throw my bag over my shoulder and start out the door.
"Wolfie girl?" Momma Beth stops me. I turn around.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"What you want for your birthday?" She raises an eye brow at me.
"Can we get a puppy Momma Beth?"
"What you want a puppy for?" She looks confused.
"To play with..." I say shyly.
"We'll see." She saids. I turned to walk out the door but I catch her mumbled under her breath. "We already got a damn puppy."
- Writer
