This Old Man

part four

This old man, he's still here, but this time I told my mom. She said "baby it's alright". But I told her "mommy it's not safe". Then I went to school and when I got back the old man was watching me.
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After my friend had dropped me off at my mom's, I called my dad and told him I was home safe. My mom wasn't home yet, she was probably picking up my brother and sister from their after-school activities.

I went up to my room to shower and change into my PJ's, because let's face it, I wasn't going anywhere. After that, I went to the kitchen and got started on dinner.

It was a relatively normal night. Aside from the old man haunting my thoughts, everything seemed fine. There were no hauntings inside my house. No entities felt or heard. So I was sure the old man was human.

When my mom got home, I told my siblings to shower and change—just like I had done—and sat down with my mom to talk.

I told her about the old man and how I'd seen him three times—one of them being outside my school gate. I told her of how I felt about him and everything.

"Baby, it's alright," she said, "do you want me to talk to your psychologist to see you again?" she asked.

My expression was grim and dull. So I have a couple of breakdowns and a handful of psychological issues that suddenly everything I feel or see requires a visit to the psychologist? Why not just get me a psychiatrist mom?

The next day before my siblings and I left for school I talked to my mom. "Mom, it's not safe. Be careful."

"I'm calling Mrs. Jackson to see if she can fit you in her schedule," my mom told me.

With a grimace, I got in my car and drove my siblings to school. The day went by quicker than I imagined and I was relieved to go home. It was Friday and my crush and my best friend were coming home with me to chill.

As I reached my driveway, I glanced at the person standing on the neighbor's sidewalk from across the street.

Surely enough it was the old man. And he was watching me.