scary stories

nothing

"What do you want for breakfast, Jan?"

"Nothing, mom, I'm already late. Nothing, thanks."

Alison's daughter hurried past her mother, snatching up her school books from the kitchen table. "I have a late class this evening, my English final. I'm meeting Barb for some last minute cramming." She yawned and grabbed a breakfast bar.

"You really shouldn't stay up so late studying. You need your rest, and your nourishment."

Jan kissed her mother's cheek. "You worry too much about nothing." She headed out the kitchen's wooden screen door then paused, "Hey... I'm eighteen... invincible! I need nothing... except to pass this final. By the way, happy birthday! You and dad have a nice time up in Montreal."

The silk blue bow at the end of her braided brown ponytail bounced against Jan's sun freckled neck as she bounced down the single step leading to the driveway. Alison watched her daughter climb into the passenger seat of Barb's green Mustang. As the convertible drove off, she was startled by a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey, you're as jumpy as a cat. I hate it when we argue. Do you still feel the same as last night?" Alison's husband tried to kiss the back of his wife's neck but she pulled away.

"I told you, Bryan, I don't want to discuss it."

"You're not making any sense, Ali. But like you said, 'There's nothing to discuss, nothing!'" Taking a large drink from a mug inscribed World's Best Daughter, Bryan jumped and cursed.

"You know that coffee's hot. I just poured it for Jan." Alison began to wipe the counter where Bryan had slammed down the mug.

"Nothing goes right in the morning when you go to bed angry... nothing," Bryan muttered.

"What was that?"

"Nothing... I'll call you from the office later, Ali, to see if you've changed your mind," Bryan replied. He strode off to the living room for his brief case, then out the front door.

Alison sighed, stooping to mop some coffee off the floor. 'Maybe he's right,' she thought. 'Maybe I'm just being silly. After all, it is my birthday. Jan can take care of herself. There's no reason we shouldn't go.'

As she rose, the sound of the wooden screen door slamming shut made her jump. Moving to the sink to rinse the coffee soaked rag, she could see Jan through the window.

"That's odd..." she said aloud.

She watched as her daughter climbed into the back of Barb's red Mustang. A girl Alison didn't know sat in the passenger seat. As the convertible pulled away, Jan's red bow bounced in the breeze.

Alison felt a kiss on the back of her neck. Her husband Bryan smiled as she turned. "Good morning, beautiful." He handed her a single yellow rose. "Happy birthday... this is for last night."

Alison looked puzzled. She took the flower and put it to her nose. The sweet fragrance flooded her brain, making her feel dizzy.

"Are you alright, honey?"

"Yes, fine... just one of those crazy feelings of déjà vu. You're not mad about last night?"

"Mad? Why would I be mad?" Bryan studied his wife. "You sure you're ok? You don't remember last night?"

She shook her head. "No... yes... I mean... I don't know..."

Bryan slipped an arm around his wife's waist pulling her to him. "Hey... that's no way to treat a guy's ego." He kissed her ear. "I may not be as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was!" He laughed at his own joke as he always did and reached for the mug inscribed World's Best Daughter.