The Wild Things COMPLETE

Chapter Five

Sam's father was the first to die... and it was our fault.

My mother took Sam home on the night of the aborted séance rang the Kleinburg doorbell until a disheveled and sleepy Kathy Kleinburg answered holding a baseball bat.

Mom explained what had happened and the two women commiserated with each other over what rotten children they were raising. After my mother left, Sam got a thorough dressing down to go along with the one she had received at my house. Unfortunately, Sam felt this was entirely unfair and that's she got angry.

"I can't believe you would do this to me Samantha... embarrassing me in front of Mrs. Brown!" Kathy yelled slamming her hand down on the dining room table. The pepper shaker went over spraying black dots over the white table cloth.

Sam rounded on her. "Oh yes, it's all about you isn't it mother! You're embarrassed... but you haven't even asked my side of the story, have you?"

"I don't need to hear your side of it, you snuck out what more do I need to know. The Brown's will never trust me again. Don't you even think before you –,"

"There it is again, 'me, me, me' that's all you ever think of! You're so selfish!" Sam was crying now but she armed the tears away angrily and turned towards the stairs and her bedroom.

"And just where to do you think you're going, young lady? We're not done talking about this, so get your butt back here!" Kathy started after her, her slippers flapping loudly on the hardwood floor.

"We're not talking! You're yelling and I'm leaving!" Sam shot back, storming up the stairs and missing a step in her haste. Her knee slammed the edge of the fourth step and she cried out in pain.

"Sam, get back –," Kathy started just as Sam fell.

"Oh, shit... are you all right?" She asked hastily, reaching out to help Sam up.

Sam batted away her hands. "What the fuck do you care!" she said through clenched teeth trying to ignore the pain.

"I do care! I just –,"

A huge lump was growing on Sam's knee and she rubbed at it furiously.

"You 'just' don't trust me!"

"How the Hell am I supposed to trust you if you go off sneaking around behind my back!"

"Well you are the expert on sneaking around, aren't you Kathy? Maybe I should leave. Then you can have the house to yourself and fuck some more of the neighbours!"

Kathy slapped Sam's face. She didn't mean to do it. Didn't even think of doing it... in fact, her brain was still trying to make sense of what Sam had said when she felt her palm strike her daughter's cheek with a resounding 'whack' that echoed up the stairs and through the house.

Sam's eyes flew open in shock. She was so surprised she didn't even register the pain of the slap. Slowly her hand rose to her cheek and pressed against the place where a red handprint was beginning to bloom.

"You hit me," she said in a calm quiet voice as if simply stating the fact.

Kathy's own hands came up to cover her mouth in anguish, they were shaking.

"Sam... I'm... I'm sorry... I just –,"

"You... bitch..." Sam whispered with pure hatred.

"Sam –."

"I'm calling Dad." Sam pushed past her mother, went to the kitchen and picked up the telephone.

Kathy watched, too stunned to speak and slowly sat down on the stairs. Tears began to trickle down her face and she put her head in her hands.