The Closet Downstairs

Cole's Story

I wake up, and find a familiar face staring at me, but I can't recall who it is. I slowly lift myself up off my pillow and get into a sitting position. He just stares. It begins to creep me out. I clear my throat to break the silence.
"I'm sorry!" He shook his head and chuckled. "Got lost in my train of thought I guess." His deep voice, his dark brown, almost black hair, his cheesy smile - could it really be him?
"Cole?" I ask.
"Well yeah! Who'd you think it was?" Cole chuckles and slides a hand through his hair, spiking it up. Then he smooths it down gently. I frown.
"You've changed so much. I didn't recognize you."
"Well so have you," he says softer. "I mean, it has been what? Four years?"
Already four years? Cole and I have always been as close as cousins can get. When we were little, we would always do everything we did together because we lived so close. Then, my Uncle Harry - Cole's Dad - died. He was in a car accident. My Aunt Frieda moved the family far away so it didn't bring back painful memories. I hadn't seen Cole since then.
"Well yeah, but you've changed a lot," I say. "What's with those glasses? And that haircut?"
"I came to see how you were doing," Cole says curtly. "I did not come in here to ask you your opinion on how I like my hair." I smile. He was so confident now, not as shy as he used to be. He had more muscle, and his hair was darker. I like him a lot more than I can remember liking him before. But, I just can't stand those thick-rimmed glasses. I can handle the haircut.
"I like you better this way," I tell him. "But I just don't see Cole's eyes when I look into those glasses." To my relief, he laughs and sits down by my side on the edge of the bed.
"Well, if that's the case, then maybe I could lose the glasses, but only if you lose all that hideous make-up."
I stare at him in shock. "Hideous? Have you seen my mom do make-up?" Cole smiles, but nothing more.
"Do we have a deal?" he asks me.
"Fine!" I grumble. We shake hands. "I'll fix it later though. Right now, I want to know about you. What's been going on?"
"There are three things you should really know," he says. "But first, I need to ask you one question: where is your dad?"
"He had to work back home," I say. "Now back to the three things I must know?" Cole laughs. I love hearing it. It fills the empty room with a sort of warmth.
"Okay then! First: Mom got remarried."
"What?!?" My eyes almost bulge out of my head. "To who?"
"He's an older chap. He came out to greet you guys as you came in."
"Him?!?" I fall back on my bed. "The fake blind dude?"
"He's not faking it Rhia!" Cole cries. "And he's a very kind man. He loves me more than my dad ever did."
"Really?" I feel terrible for what I said to him. "I'm sorry. He just stroked my hair and it scared me really bad." Cole bursts out laughing. I am surprised but join in. "You have a stranger stroke your hair and see how you feel!" He laughs harder. We laugh until tears come to our eyes. It feels so good to laugh that hard again.
Once we calm down, Cole continues. "Second, we've only lived here for three weeks. I can see by the look in your eyes you think we are a lazy bunch but I swear to you that it has been busy around here! We haven't had lots of time for unpacking." I grin. He knows me so well. I wish I could read his expressions.
"And third is the most important: never go into the closet downstairs. There is only one on the entire first story and it is a terrible closet. Just don't go in it." Now, I'm curious.
"A scary closet huh? Does it have monsters?"
"You don't believe me do you?"
"You played a trick like this on me when we were younger remember? I believed you for months and I couldn't go into my parents' room."
"We were seven!" Cole yells. "And this is real. This is not a joke. That closet is bewitched. I can't even explain to you the things I saw and heard. It was the most terrifying moment of my life."
For a moment, I believe him. His face is so serious, is almost pleading with me. But he has played so many pranks on me, I know it's a joke.
I give a teasing smile. "Sure Cole. I believe you." I hop off the bed and pull his hand. "Let's go eat something. I'm starving!"