Free Spirit Eyes by Lynn Hones Page B

leave.”
    Half asleep, he rose. “What now?”
    “It’s got to be some kind of gas leak or something.”
    Not saying a word, he staggered toward the basement.
    A few minutes later he walked out of the house and into the back yard. “What were you guys doing down there?”
    “Nothing,” Lotus said defensively. “We were listening to music and eating popcorn, then Pearl came down and a second later it started to smell.”
    “The dog won’t leave an area over by the furnace. Are you sure you didn’t do anything to make that smell?”
    “I’m sure. It all started when Pearl came down.”
    “Pearl?” Ruth asked in exasperation. “Where is she?”
    Lotus shrugged. “Still down there, I guess.”
    Ruth, in a nervous gesture, threw her hands in the air. “What!” She whirled round and headed into the house using every ounce of energy she could muster. Holding her breath, she made her way downstairs. Pearl lay on the couch, listening to an iPod with earbuds, seemingly oblivious to the chaos going on, and obviously unaware of the smell. Puddles, crying and pawing at a patch of flooring, ignored her.
    Pearl saw her mother and took the earbuds out. “What?”
    Ruth grabbed her arm and pulled her up, weakly.
    “Mom, what’s wrong?” she asked in serious shock.
    Ruth couldn’t answer her, and if she didn’t get upstairs and outside quick, she’d pass out from lack of oxygen.
    “Am I allowed to talk?” Pearl intoned.
    Ruth dragged her confused daughter behind her, hoping she’d make it before she fainted. She couldn’t stand it and took a much-needed breath and the stench was gone. She sniffed around but couldn’t smell a thing.
    Once in the kitchen, she called out, “Paul, girls, come back in, the smell is gone.”
    “It is?” Lotus opened the back door and popped her head into the house. “Thank God.” She turned toward her friends. “Come on, let’s see if it’s gone from the basement.”
    Like a herd of cattle, they made their way back downstairs. Lotus screamed up that all was clear.
    Paul walked in after the kids.
    “What is going on?” Ruth bemoaned in dismay. “What was that?”
    “Hell if I know.” Paul scratched his head. “But, it’s gone, so if there’s nothing else, I’m going to bed.” He grazed her cheek with his lips, turned and headed up the stairs.
    She turned her gaze toward her youngest daughter.
    “Didn’t you smell that?” she asked aghast.
    “Smell what?” Pearl declared levelly, looking dazed and confused.
    “That horrid smell.”
    “No.” She shrugged.
    “Why were you down there in the first place?”
    “I couldn’t sleep.”
    “Why?”
    “Cuz, someone was staring at me.”
    “Are you sure you weren’t just dreaming,” Ruth begged.
    “I was almost asleep, but someone tugged at my blanket. I opened my eyes and there was a lady standing at the end of my bed. I thought it was you at first, but then when my eyes saw better, it wasn’t. I didn’t know her. I know you don’t want me to talk about my people, so I ran down to Lotus. She told me not to talk about it in front of her friends, so I borrowed an iPod and listened to music.”
    “It’s okay to talk about it if it scares you. I told you that. I know Daddy said not to, but if you need me to hear about it, I’m here.”
    “Oh, okay,” Pearl answered, looking somewhat puzzled.
    “Can they hurt us?” Ruth blurted this out, unsure where that question even came from.
    Pearl shrugged. “I hope not.”
    Ruth drew Pearl close. She stroked her silky black hair, reveling in the comfort it brought her. “Okay,” she muttered. “Can you go to bed now? I mean…alone?”
    “Uh-huh.”
    “Pearl, is that everything? Do you want to tell me anything else?”
    “No, Mommy. That’s all.” She turned and walked away, Puddles in close pursuit.
     
    “Pearl?” The morning sun shone onto the breakfast table, as Ruth poured milk into her youngest daughter’s bowl of Crispy Crunch. They were alone in the