Free Pall in the Family by Dawn Eastman

We’ve tried so many times,” Mom said, and wiped a tear from her cheek.
    â€œMaybe
we c
ould get Sara to come,” whispered Vi. “You could do it, Clyde, if you wanted to.”
    So this was the reason for the pot roast.
    â€œI don’t . . . ,” I began.
    The lights flickered as lightning flashed outside.
    â€œDid you see that? It’s a sign!” said Vi.
    â€œA sign?” asked Seth.
    â€œI think that was the storm,” I said.
    â€œCan’t you feel it? Sara could be here right now, trying to tell us who killed her,” said Vi.
    â€œCut it out, Vi. You’ll scare the boy,” said my father. He chugged the last of his wine, and glanced at the ceiling.
    I couldn’t help but look up, too. The room glowed with lightning. We all sat there for a moment, looking at the ceiling. I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. A loud crash of thunder shook the house. And then the lights went out.

7

    â€œWicked,” said Seth.
    â€œOh, for Pete’s sake, not again,” said Dad. Despite his complaints, he loved it when the lights went out. He imagined himself as Mr. Fixit and had the whole electrical system in the house rigged with his own brand of circuit breakers. The fact that the house was almost one hundred years old and had switches that hadn’t worked since his mother-in-law and her family moved in didn’t bother him one bit. Between the wiring of the house and his police scanner, he was always off somewhere puttering, which conveniently kept him out of Vi’s way. He jumped up and went to find one of the emergency flashlights he had stashed all over the house.
    It was gloomy in the dining room with the storm outside and night approaching, but not completely dark.
    Taking a stack of plates, I followed Vi to the kitchen and hoped that would be the end of the plea for spirit contact. But persistence ran in the family.
    â€œWhy won’t you even try, Clyde?” Vi said as she took the plates from me and rinsed them.
    â€œShe’s always been stubborn,” said Mom, as if I wasn’t standing right there.
    â€œWell, she’ll come around someday, Rose. Don’t you worry.” Vi patted my mother’s hand with her own wet, soapy one.
    I opened my mouth to reply, but they weren’t done.
    â€œI don’t think she will. Ever since mother died she’s been dead set against all of this.” Mom spread her arms to encompass the whole room and possibly all of Crystal Haven.
    Just as Vi finished putting the dishes in the dishwasher, the lights came on and we gave my father perfunctory applause for saving us from darkness once again.
    Since I wasn’t part of this conversation about my flaws, I went to the dining room to check on Seth and scan for any remaining dishes. I could still hear them in the kitchen.
    â€œMy cat clients have been very worked up about something. You know how they get when trouble is brewing. Whether it’s a storm, a divorce, or teenage angst, they sense it. The aloof ones get all sentimental and the affectionate ones withdraw. It’s like they can feel the emotional shifts and they don’t know how to deal with it. Plus, remember the robin that flew in here last week? It was a sign,” Vi said to my mother.
    â€œI don’t know . . . ,” Mom said.
    â€œAnd the bat this morning. And now this storm . . . ,” Vi said.
    I lurked in the doorway, eavesdropping.
    â€œSara is trying to tell us something. Do you really think Tommy Andrews and Mac are going to be able to solve this?” Vi hissed.
    â€œWhy wouldn’t they be able to solve it?” I asked.
    They both spun to look at me, and were not quick enough to cover their guilty expressions.
    â€œThey’ll be collecting evidence and samples and interviewing people, hoping to find a connection or uncover a lie,” Aunt Vi said, not bothering to hide her sarcastic tone.