THE THING IN THE WOODS

SPARK

                                                                        

                                                                   

As they pass by neighbor southwest Matt swifts his glance from the road, feeling his dad’s eyes on him, so he takes a deep breath, smile he says to himself, he has to smile, when their eyes met, Simon Petersen’s lips curves in a brief grin, they are now just a few towns away from Windswood, and a few hours from Portland, they used to go to Portland in Christmas’ eves with Seth and his parents, and walk down the streets, get presents for everyone, watch the fireworks in the night sky.

Smile

he says again in his mind, as his dad fixes his avocado eyes right back on the road, Doctor Petersen is 42 nowadays, yet he never seemed so old as now, in matter of months the time has come to take away his smile and replace his young fair skin for a wrinkled and reddened one, eyes tired by the road, by his work and sleepless nights that carved deep hollows below them, Smile Matt thinks almost aloud.

Before they realize are already driving into Windswood, Matt likes that place, reminded him so much about the good times, about being the quirky and socially awkward youngster, getting in trouble with Seth anytime, breaking into the abandoned mill by midnight and drink booze to survive the winter cold air, maybe that’s why come back seemed like the best choice, Matt has a lot of friends back at home but maybe change the environment, and be with Seth could help him to come back to be the awkward boy, the problem is that Matt is not quite sure if he wants to, in other hand he knows his dad’s worried about him and at the same time he’s worried about his dad. His grandparents’ home is set downtown near to the school and the forest’s line, when they come out of the car he take a quick glimpse toward Seth’s place next to his new home, the sky is greyish and the air dry and cold, maybe that’s the reason why the curtains overlay the windows.

“Let’s go, inside” Says his dad as he put a jacket over his son’s shoulders, Matt snorts briefly with a smirk on his lips and look at the weathered red bricks of the façade, and opens the black wood door. The first thing they notice when they come inside is that grandpa’s Parkinson didn’t let grannie time to take care of the house, as they exchange glances Matt can almost read his father’s mind, This was a bad idea he is written in his eyes, and maybe his father is right, swap home with his father’s parents seemed like a good thing for everyone, but maybe just maybe they should have stayed and take care of them.

In other hand Matt thanks he has a lot to do, so he can have an excuse to not go to Seth’s, he hasn’t seen him since the funeral and the things are being awkward since them, Seth thinks he can find a magical word to take all the pain away, and Matt keeps getting into uncomfortable silences when he’s with his best friend.

“Why don’t you…- His father begins but Matt is faster.

“I think I’ll better stay and clean up a little” Matt hints, as he walk to the stairs and picks up old mail’s envelopes.

“Actually I was going to say you to go change and them we could have dinner outside” His father suggest.

“Why don’t you go and bring it home? This gonna take a while” Matt explains as he look for the broomstick in the hallway, and start to brush the messed and opaque wooden floor.

“You can do that tomorrow” His dad suggest with some concern in his voice.

“Tomorrow got School and I’ve missed several weeks already” Replies as he sneeze, there is so much dust in there.