The Wall

69

Flower was already on the other side of the street, and she gave the signal. Thumbs up.

Moses still looked around cautiously before sprinting across the street and crouching behind the next wall.

“This house is empty,” Flower said. Moses saw closed curtains and a weathered facade.

“The person here died,” Flower said. “And now no one wants to live here.”

“Simply died?”

“I think so. Old people do that.”

“Old people do do that. Sure. Are there many empty houses around here?”

“Yes. Mommy says some of them use automatic lights just to make other people think they’re at home. Are you coming?”

They walked around the empty house.

“Now we have to be careful,” Flower said.

“Why?”

“A witch lives there.”

“Why would you think that?”

“Mommy says so.”

“Why does she say that?”

“I don’t know, but she’s right. Whenever we’re around here, she sees us.”

“Does she live alone?”

They were now standing in front of the house. No curtains. Grimy windows. Withered grass.

“Yes. Otherwise she wouldn’t always be looking out the window.”

“Do you think she’s at home right now?”

“She’s always at home.”

“Why is she a witch?” Moses couldn’t see anyone at the windows. But perhaps the woman was looking out on the other side of the house.

“Because she always calls someone.”

“Who?”

“I don’t remember.”

“The police?”

“I don’t think so. I think she calls the other people who drive around in uniforms.”

“And then? Do they come?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“Because no one believes her anymore. That’s what Mommy says. Because they all know she’s a witch.”

Moses stopped listening. Mommy and the witch? It would take a little time to think through all this and figure it out. But he wasn’t going to be able to pull that off right now. He was too tired.

And Flower still had a lot to learn.