Folklore | Henry Creel

-1.3-

It was a very sunny Saturday in Hawkins, and most of the children in the neighborhood had decided it was a good day to ride their bikes and run around outside.

But inside of the Anderson house, Evangeline found herself in her usual spot, a plush chair next to her mother's bed. She was facing away from the older woman, her Lord of the Flies book in hand. Her Mama's fingers were raking through Evangeline's long brown hair as she read, "the subsoil beneath the palm trees was a raised beach and generations of palms had worked loose in this the stones that had lain on the sands of another shore."

"You've got such beautiful hair, My Evangeline," her mother said suddenly. "I think you should never let anyone touch it. Keep it like this forever."

"I won't, Mama," Angie promised. "Can I continue?" Mary simply nodded, and the young girl looked back down at her book. "Roger stooped, picked up a stone, aimed, and threw it at Henry- threw it to miss. The stone, that token of per-post-ster-stus- Mama? What's per-post-ster-stus?"

"Preposterous," Mary corrected. "it's something absurd. Something ridiculous."

Evangeline hummed, dipping her head back down to look in the book again, "time, bounced five yards to Henry's right and fell in the water. Roger gathered a handful of stones and began to throw them."

"Evangeline?"

"Yes, Mama?"

"Can you promise me that you'll keep your hair long?" Her mother asked.

Evangeline's eyebrows quirked, "I just did, Mama. I won't cut it, I promise."

Mary nodded slowly, shutting her eyes tight for a second, but put on a smile as soon as Evangeline turned to look at her, "keep reading."

Angie turned around again, "Yet there was a space round Henry, perhaps six yards in diameter, into which-" Her words were cut short by loud knocks coming from somewhere in the house. Evangeline looked at her mother, who waved her off to go see who was at the front door.

"I'll be back!" She yelled when she was halfway down the hall, book still in her hand. She raced down the stairs, skipping a few steps until she reached the bottom. She skipped all the way until she got to the door, unlocking it and opening it with a harsh pull.

Standing on the other side was a small blonde boy. His bright blue eyes met with Evangeline's as soon as the door allowed him.

"Henry?" Angie's face lit up when she recognized him. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you," his cold and monotone voice was nothing unusual for her anymore. "You scared me yesterday. I was worried about you."

Her mind pictured flashbacks from yesterday, when she had to leave Henry's house early. Earlier than she would have liked, "oh. You shouldn't worry. I told you... I told you that I had to go home, I didn't want to worry you."

He looked around, examining the inside of her house for what he realized was the first time.

She noticed his curious eyes, "oh! I'm sorry, you should come inside."

Angie opened the door wider, allowing Henry to step inside. "I've never been inside of your house before."

She became hyper aware of the fact, her face lighting up, somehow, even more, "you're right!" Her doe eyes looked up at him, slightly taller than herself. "Come to see my room," she demanded, turning herself around in one swift motion, beckoning him to follow after her.