The Lightning Sphere

Chapter 4

Almost everyone else had already been seated in the big dining room when Maggie’s parents had entered. There were 21 spaces set, with one missing a chair and another with not a chair, but a highchair fit for a toddler. Maggie was sitting next to the spot missing the chair, with Katrina on the other side.

    Maggie’s parents went over to her, her mother sitting beside the empty space with her dad soon filling it in.

    More people trickled into the room, vacant chairs becoming filled. Maggie’s aunt Amy, a single mother carrying a shy two year old girl in her arms was the last to enter. She had light brown hair that reached her shoulders and wore a light purple blouse. She had on a pair of black dress pants with deep black eyes to match. She walked carefully over to the table, with the young girl resting on her shoulder, thumb in her mouth.

    After they had seated, grandma came walking into the room followed by a tall Asian man in a tuxedo with a trolley. On top of the trolley sat lodes of food. There was a ginormous ham, a bowl filled with mashed potatoes, a small boat of gravy, Turkey, a wooden bowl of salad and another with slices of fancy bread. The Asian man stopped the trolley near the table and started placing the food on top.

    After numerous relatives had helped the man set the table, he nodded at Grandma and exited the room. Grandma walked up and sat at the end of the table.

    “I am so glad to see all of you after such a long time. Though it may not be for a very pleasant reason, at least we are together, and Sam is at home with the LORD.”

    Everyone’s expressions faltered. Grandma started to speak again.

    “The funeral will not be held until this weekend, so even though Sam may not be here with us, let’s at least try to enjoy ourselves as though he were here right now.”

    Maggie tried to picture herself enjoying the stay as if Sam was there. Playing tag in the field, chasing nobody and being caught by nobody. She imagined getting thrown in the pool by nobody, being scared by spiders by nobody, making smoothies when nobody took the lid off midway just to get her all messy and hugging the air as if someone was actually there. Her grandmother was wrong. They can’t still do the same things as if Sam was still there. It just didn’t make sense.

    “Now. Who will like to do the honors?”

    Maggie’s Aunt Sara raised her hand up, volunteering to pray. Grandma nodded at Anna, and everyone joined hands and bowed their heads.

    “Dear Lord, please bless our bodies as you have done with this food. Amen.”

    And in unison everyone else repeated. Amen.

    Hands immediately shot forward into the bowls and plates of food. Maggie had very little food on her plate compared to the others at the table and to her usual appetite. She only had one slice of ham and turkey, one small spoonful of potatoes and half a slice of bread, while the others at the table had mountain loads of food piling high on their plates. Maggie just didn’t fell like eating. She just wanted to head back to her room and go to bed.

    By the time Maggie had finished, everyone else was still eating, except for her Aunt Amy. She was trying to get Jenna to eat a mouthful of potatoes, but the toddler would not cooperate. She kept turning her head in the opposite direction that the food was coming in. And no matter what Amy had tried, Jenna would not eat.

    As Maggie was watching, someone had tapped on her right shoulder. Maggie turned her head towards her mother as she spoke in a soft whisper.

    “You’re finished already? You usually eat more than this. Are you sure you don’t want anything else?”

    “I’m fine mom.” Maggie replied, telling a small lie. “I’m just not hungry right now.”

    “Why don’t you get down from the table and get some fresh air.” Her mom suggested. Maggie nodded and hopped down from her chair and turned the corner that led to the front door.

    As she walked down the hallway t, she heard voices coming from the door leading into the office. Maggie couldn’t help eavesdropping, and stood a few centimetres in front of the door, cupping her left hand over her ear. 

    “It’s still there. I checked. The last protector left it and I have stuck to my duty. She should be able to find it.”

    Protector? Maggie thought. What the heck are they talking about?

    “Yes, yes I will explain everything to her when the time is right. We don’t want her freaking out. Remember what happened with…” But before Maggie could hear the rest of the conversation, a terrible feeling overtook her, and suddenly let out a loud sneeze. Whoever was in the other room had stopped talking. Maggie heard footsteps and ran down the hall, opened the front door and slammed it shut behind her.

    Who could that have been in the room? Everyone else was in the dining hall. Maggie turned around to look through the window, and staring right back at her was the tall Asian man in the tuxedo.