The Crossroads

Judy and Zack sat in the breakfast nook, eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Zack had a tall glass of cold milk, Judy iced tea. Zipper lay patiently on the floor, dreaming about peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth.

“Your dad should be calling soon,” Judy said.

“I’m sorry I ran away.”

“You did the right thing.”

“Dad will just think I’m a scaredy-cat.”

“No, he won’t.”

“Do we have to tell him?”

“Well, I think he’ll want to know.”

“He thought I wouldn’t go into her room because I was scared to see her dying and all.”

“Your mom?”

“Yeah. She hated me.”

“No, she didn’t, honey. She had cancer and they were giving her all sorts of medicines and that can make people say and do—”

“Judy?”

“Yes?”

“My mother hated me before she ever got sick.” Zack fiddled with the crust on his sandwich.

“You want to tell me about it?” Judy asked.

“You won’t think I’m just making it up?”

“No.”

“Promise?”

“Cross my heart.”

“Okay. I never told anybody any of this. Not even my dad.”

“You can tell me.”

Zack realized maybe he could. “Okay. My mom said I made her life miserable and stole my dad away from her. And the cigarettes that killed her? She only smoked them on account of me. Cigarettes were the only pleasure she had left in her whole life, and the more miserable I made her, the more cigarettes she had to smoke. So I tried to stay away from her, honest, I did, especially when she got the cancer, so she wouldn’t have to smoke so much but she said even when I wasn’t there she could still see me because she had minions—these evil servants who spied on me. Like the Wicked Witch has those flying monkeys, my mom had her minions so she could always see what I was up to.”

“Did your dad know about any of this?”

“No. She told him I was a big baby who made up silly stories. She said I told fibs because ‘all liars are cowards,’ afraid of the truth. She’d tell him she was trying her best to be a good mother, but I just made it impossible.”

“What about your grandpa?”

“He never visited us in the city much. We mostly came up here, and Mom usually wasn’t feeling good whenever we did, so me and Dad came up without her.”

“Nobody knew?”

“You’re the second person I ever told.”

“Who was the first?”

“Davy.”

Judy smiled. “He’s a good friend, isn’t he?”

“Best I ever had.”

“Well, Zack, your mother is gone. She can’t hurt you anymore. I promise.”

“But she probably sees us right now even though she’s dead. She probably hears me saying mean things about her. And when I laugh and stuff? I know it makes her mad. When I hang out with Davy and Zipper and we go to our secret swimming hole and the sun feels so good, my mom gets even madder. She hates me having all the fun I stole from her. You know, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s the one who sent that plumber after us, like maybe she invaded his body and used him like a robot to come get us because she can’t do it herself anymore.”

The telephone rang.

Judy rubbed her moistening eyes with the back of her hand and picked up the phone.

“Hello? Hey! How’s Malaysia?”

Zack stared at Judy. He looked terrified.

“Us? We’re fine. Zack and Davy camped out in the tree house last night. Oh, they had a blast. Tonight he might spend the night over at Davy’s house. Say, have I ever thanked you for giving me such a great son? Well, thanks again. You want to say hi? Hang on, honey.”

Judy passed the phone to Zack. She nodded to let him know everything was going to be okay.

“Hey, Dad. Nothin’ much. Hanging out with Davy and Zipper and Judy….”

He didn’t mention the kerosene-soaked stump.

Or the box of Ohio Blue Tip matches he had hidden in his gym bag.