Eilise, God, And The Witches [Fake Tattoos #2]

It's Hard to Believe

"You mean praying?" Mother asked.

"No," said Eilise, "I'm talking to God."

"Is he talking back to you?"

"Of course," said Eilise, "I'm not just talking to myself."

"And you can hear him... Out loud? Not just in your head?" Mother asked.

Eilise giggled at the corner of the room.

"I can see him too!" She said.

Mother turned and looked to where her daughter was looking. She walked over to the corner of the room and waved her arms around.

"Where?" Asked Mother, "Over here?"

Elise laughed again.

"No, he moved out of your way."

"Are you playing a game with me young lady? Because if you are..."

"No!" Eilise cried. "It's true. God's real."

This was a predicament. Mother knew there were things beyond what mortal men and women know, but she couldn't help but wonder if her husband's Christian strictness had finally broken poor Eilise.

"Alright then... What does God look like, Eilise?"

"What? No you don't. Fine, I'll tell her," said Eilise to God before turning to her Mother.

"He says he looks like Grandfather, your father... But he doesn't look like Grandfather at all. He's young, thick black hair..." Eilise laughed again. "He has this really thick Irish accent. It's funny. Oh... He says I should tell you... He has a secret about his shirt."

Mother's heart felt as if it would stop beating. She put a hand over her mouth.

"He says his shirt isn't really white... It's blue."

Mother fell to her knees and tears rolled down her cheek. That was their secret. When they were on their way to church. Her father's Sunday best dress. He thought the shirt he bought in the store was white, but when the sunlight hit it in just the right way, it was really a light shade of blue.

My God... Thought Mother. Could it be?

"He says you're wrong," said Eilise.

"What?" Asked Mother.

"It's not Grandfather's ghost," said Eilise. "It's God, he just looks like Grandfather."

"Are you serious?" Bethany crossed her arms.

"Bethany, will you please be quiet? I need to talk to Eilise right now. Seriously, I mean it." Whatever was happening, it was important. Mother could feel it in her guts. "Okay, Eilise... What does he want with you?"

Eilise looked to her right.

"But I already told her that... Alright, I'll tell her, but she's not going to listen... Fine..." Eilise turned back to her mother. "He just wants to talk."

Mother stared at her daughter's nonchalant gaze, searching for some sign that she had become unhinged, but there was nothing there other than the little girl she had always known. She reached out and took her daughter's hand.

"But why you, Eilise? Why not anyone else? Why not me or Bethany?"

Eilise turned to listen to God and looked back at her mother.

"It's because I listen to my heart and... He says it's because I'm special... The third daughter of the third daughter."

That was enough to convince Mother.

Mother... No... My name is not Mother... It is Lahrlin...

"Okay my, Dear." Lahrlin kissed Eilise on the forehead. "But please finish up soon, your sister needs to sleep."

"Mother!" cried Bethany.

"Not a word, Bethany. You let your sister do what she has to do to get to sleep tonight and I'll talk to you tomorrow about possibly getting your own room. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Mother!" Bethany said with excitement.

"And not a word to your father about this, neither of you, or it will be me giving the lashing. Understand?"

The girls both nodded.

"Alright then," said Lahrlin, "goodnight... But keep it down! I mean it."

"Mother..." Eilise said. "Thank you for listening to your heart."

Lahrlin climbed into bed. John sat there silently waiting for an explanation.

"Girl stuff..." Lahrlin said as she turned off the lamp on the nightstand.

"Well..." John said, scooting under the covers, "if I won't ever understand the hysterics of women."

"Goodnight, John," said Lahrlin.