Painted Smile: The Return of Jeffery Woods

A family reunion...

Six years later, six year old Bella was playing on the trampoline in the back garden of her home. Inside, her mother Becky was preparing dinner, pepperoni pizza. To her happiness, Becky hadn't seen Jeff for the past six years. She didn't think he was dead, knowing him. Bella didn't really have the nicest time at school. She only had a few friends whilst everyone else picked on her because they knew who her father was. 'Bella's father's the boogeyman. Bella's father's the boogeyman' was what they always said to her. But she had her friends there to support and stick up for her. Luckily the other kids, including Bella, didn't know that her mother was the sister of 'the boogeyman.' Bravely, Bella never let the other children get to her. She always pulled through. "Bella! Pizza's ready," shouted Becky. Bella took one last reach to the stars and climbed off the trampoline to have some of her favourite pizza. Every time Becky looked at her daughter, she always reminded her of herself, and sometimes Jeff. When she looks into her eyes, she sees her brother. But Becky knew that Bella was nowhere near like her father. "Mam, can we get a pet? I want a dog," Bella told her mother. Becky replied with a smile, "I promise, very soon we'll get a dog. I'll let you pick one out." Bella smiled and then took a big bite into her pizza, leaving sauce and a big piece of pepperoni around her lips. Becky also took a big bite and left the same edible mess around her mouth. Both of them started laughing, so much that Bella's stomach started hurting. "My stomach's hurting now." Becky replied, "Don't finish your pizza or you might end up sick. Go to the toilet and it might make you feel better." The young version of Becky pushed her chair out with her little legs, stood up, tucked it in and went upstairs to go to the toilet whilst Becky finished her dinner and cleaned her's and Bella's plates. Whilst scrubbing her plate with a cloth and bubbles, Becky heard the doorbell ring. She left the plate in the sink and wiped her hands, making sure the bubbles disappeared from her hands and headed towards the front door. Before she opened it, Becky realised that there was a letter on the welcome mat. After she picked it up, Bella flushed the toilet chain and ran downstairs. "Mam can I watch tele?" Becky stared at the letter, then back at Bella and smiled, "Of course sweetie," she replied. Bella smiled and merrily skipped into the living room. Becky made sure she was gone before she opened the letter, which was tightly sealed. She looked upon the words written on it. Written in black ink were the words, 'A promise is a promise. Like I said, you do something for me and I'll do something for you. Here's your long lost gift. Enjoy your life with it whilst you're still alive.' Nowhere on the letter was wrote who it was from. Nervously, Becky reached out for the doorknob and quickly opened the door.

She looked upon a black and white sheepdog. It was wearing a black, spiked collar with a dog tag in the shape of a bone and the long fur was in perfect condition. Becky spoke softly whilst kneeling down so she didn't startle it, "Hello there. Are you lost? You don't live here but I can happily help you find your home." The dog whimpered and lowered its head a little. Unexpectedly, the sheepdog rose up on its hind legs and spun around before falling back on all fours. Becky couldn't believe what this dog did. The dog then barked at Becky, but not aggressively. She then noticed what the dog tag said. It read the name 'Baxter.' Becky turned the tag around so she was reading the other side and couldn't believe what it said. It had her address and her phone number if he ever got lost. The girl then looked at the dog deeply into the eyes and whispered, "Baxter? Is this really you?" The dog then licked Becky's face and looked like he was wearing a happy smile. "Baxter! It is you! Look at you, you haven't aged a bit," exclaimed Becky with a bright smile on her face. She gave her long lost pet a huge hug and a kiss on the forehead. She stood up and told him, "Come on, let's go inside. You're living with me forever now." When both girl and dog were inside, Becky called Bella. The daughter gasped at the sight of Baxter but he was a little nervous as he didn't know who this girl was. "Baxter, this is my daughter Bella. Bella, this is my dog Baxter. I've had him since I was your age, well maybe younger," said Becky. "How is he still alive after all of these years," asked Bella. Becky smiled at her companion, "I have no idea. He hasn't aged since the last time I saw him. Now he's living with us forever now." Bella smiled and Baxter ran towards her, knocked her over and licked her face, causing her to laugh. Becky managed to say as she was giggling, "Oh yeah, you'll have to watch out for that. He did that to me all the time when I was young. Haha, now he's got a new victim." Baxter let Bella stand back up and received a kiss off her. Then Bella went back to watch the tele whilst Becky quickly whispered to Baxter before he followed the child, "I've missed you so much Baxter. I've been wanting this to happen for so long. Nothing's ever going to separate us again. I promise." Baxter licked her face and joined Bella on the sofa.

Once it was nine thirty, Becky told Bella, "Come on Bella, it's time for bed. Baxter can sleep in your room if he wants." Bella replied, "Yay, he can sleep on my bed." The mother, daughter and dog all went upstairs and into Bella's room. Becky tucked her in and Baxter was layed at the end of the bed. "Goodnight sweetie," Becky said as she kissed Bella on the cheek. "Night mam," replied Bella. Becky then closed the bedroom door and went back downstairs to continue watching tele. "Goodnight Baxter," whispered Bella. Baxter walked over to her on the bed and licked her face. He then layed down where her legs were. Both of them drifted off to sleep. Becky was layed on the sofa watching her favourite movie. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Who would be ringing at this time at night? With a sigh, Becky strolled to the front door and opened it. There was no one there. She observed left and right to make sure no one was really there. When she was about to close the door, she saw someone standing in the distance. She couldn't tell who it was since it was pretty dark outside. But she found out who it was when the anonymous person took one step into the street light. It was her brother Jeff. For six years and nine months she hadn't seen her brother again. The girl's breath shook when she breathed out. The wind suddenly got heavier and Jeff tilted his head and waved. Becky slammed the door, locked it and hurried into Bella's room, causing her and Baxter to wake up. "Mam? What's going on," she asked sitting up. Becky replied as she sat next to her, "Bella just listen to me. Don't go downstairs and if you hear the doorbell, don't answer it." Bella's breathing got heavier, "He's out there isn't he? The boogeyman is out there. He's gonna get me." Becky looked at Bella wiping the hair out of her face, "Listen to me Bella, he is not going to get you. He's not going to lay one finger on you. I won't let him." Bella hugged Baxter whilst he growled at the bedroom door.

Suddenly, all three of them heard the front door fly open. Becky quickly held her hand over Bella's mouth as she knew the noise would make her squeal. Becky did her best to quieten her down, but Baxter jumped off the bed and slowly approached the bedroom door. He started growling as the sense of Jeff filled his nose. Becky whispered, hoping not to attract Jeff's attention, "Baxter! Baxter, get away from the door boy. Baxter!" The dog ignored his childhood owner, his eyes were locked on the door. Motionless. Becky, Bella and Baxter then heard Jeff eerily ascended up the stairs. As he reached the top of the stairs, Jeff spoke which made Bella start crying, "Bella, come out come out wherever ever you are. Come and see daddy, he won't hurt you." Baxter, still growling at the door, trotted next to the bed in order to try and keep Bella safe. Jeff then continued, making Becky feel nauseous, "Becky, where are you? Come on, you can't hide her forever. She's my child too, remember? Or do you wish you couldn't remember? It doesn't matter, you can never forget what happened." Without thinking, Becky left the bed and opened the door, causing Jeff to stare at her. "You foolish girl, you can't still think you can kill me can you? After five years of thinking you did when you didn't," sniggered Jeff, grasping the knife in his hand. Becky replied as she glared at him, "You're never going to get her. You're not gonna touch her, not whilst I'm here." Her brother responded trying not to laugh, "Ohhhh, someone come and help me. My psycho sister is gonna stop me from seeing my child. Or should I say OUR child?" Jeff knew it weakened Becky every time he spoke about the incident. Unexpectedly, Bella yelled, "Mam! Mam!" Jeff pushed Becky out the way, not hard enough to make her fall, and hurried into Bella's room. The sight of him caused Baxter to bark and Bella to scream. Jeff flicked the light on with his free hand and gasped, "Look at you, you look just like your mother when she was younger. I'm gonna miss your frightened face when you're gone."

As he approached Bella, Baxter ran towards his left leg and bit him as hard as he could. Sinking his teeth in until you could see his cold, crimson blood. "MAM! MAM!! HELP ME! MAM PLEASE," screamed Bella as Jeff fell to the floor in pain with Baxter ripping his flesh. Becky rushed into Bella's room and grabbed her hand to pull her out of bed. They both rushed down the stairs and when they reached the bottom, Bella, quick as a flash, zipped up her purple coat whilst her mother yelled, "Baxter! Baxter come on! Leave his leg to rot!" In the blink of an eye, Baxter dashed down the stairs. Both woman and child didn't want to waste time applying the leash to his collar so all three of them sprinted out the house. Bella and Becky weren't concerned about Baxter's leash not being on as they both knew he wouldn't abandon them. Once they were pretty far from home, they started to slow down. Baxter trotted alongside Bella. At this moment, Bella was the one he had to focus on protecting. For Becky, this wasn't the best family reunion she had had. Seeing her brother again after six years wasn't pleasing to her. Right now she had a mission. What she needed to do, was to make sure that Jeff didn't get his hands on Bella. This would be the biggest thing she had to do. Instead of protecting herself from him, like she had to when she was thirteen, she had to protect someone else. Starting from tonight, Becky was going to do everything she could, as long as it resulted in Bella being safe.