Macabre

Southern Beau

*I meant to have this up Sunday, but it was a crazy weekend. I hope all, like three of you, reading this enjoy! Likes and comments are appreciated!*

It was well into the month of June and the southern heat was becoming too much for me already. I usually made it to at least June before kicking on the air conditioning, but this year I'd had all I could take. This morning I woke up drenched in sweat, my thin sheets sticking to my arms and legs. I marched right to the thermostat and switched on the A/C. Mother would be angry I'm sure, but I'd sooner listen to her gripe than die from a heat stroke.

The house, which belonged to mother, has been in the family for generations. It was old and large, colonial style I believe is what they call it. It didn't have those funny pillars out front though, instead there was a nice wrap-around porch. We had potted plants and an old wooden swing out there. The inside was two stories, three if you count the attic. We don't go up there much though, it's all storage anyhow. There was a large archway above the front door, it opened up to the foyer and straight ahead was a grand staircase. Now it was no mansion, just a bit fancier than your average home.

I started my morning in the kitchen. Today was the day I cleaned the inside of the house, tomorrow would be the outside. First though, I had to close all the windows. The last thing we need is for the electric to go through the roof. I decided to skip mother's room for now. We'd had a bit of an argument last night and I'd imagine she's still cross.

As I made my way from room to room, I began to notice an odd smell. It was definitely not a good one either. There was a foulness to it that I believe only death could bring. I started in the living room and followed it throughout the main floor. It started to get stronger the closer I got to the stairs. My first thought was perhaps a possum got stuck in the attic. It's happened before, but I don't remember it smelling like this. I raised a brow and made my way to the first step, I was about to head up when a loud thud hit the door.

I jumped backwards, nearly falling straight on my rear. When I regained my balance I tip-toed over to the front door. There was only one person who would be here this early, and I was not in the mood to deal with her. I peered through the peep hole and saw a figure retreating down the front steps. Thank the lord she was leaving! I let out my breath and turned back to the stairs, time to find that god awful smell. I'd just reached the steps again when there was another knock, this time from the side door. With a sigh I walked through the kitchen to answer the damned thing. I could see her shape through the screen well before I reached it.

"Miss Charlene! How good of you to come by." I smiled as wide as I could at the woman as I jerked the screen open.

She was our neighbor and mother's favorite church buddy. Charlene was big and loud and opinionated. I couldn't stand the beast, but mother seemed to love her.

"There's my favorite boy!" She hollered as she waddled in through the doorway, pie dish in one hand, purse in the other. "Now what took you so long to answer the door, I'd liked to have died of heat exhaustion waiting on you."

I hated when she called me "boy". I'm a grown man. "Well I was just on the other side of the hou-"

"Oh nevermind that, here take this," She thrusts the pie towards me with a huff. "It's pecan, your mama's favorite."

I took the glassware from her chubby fingers. As much I disliked the woman, I had to admit she could bake one heck of a pie.

"Thank you, I'm sure mother will just love it." I said quickly knowing full well she had no problem cutting me off.

She wheezed a bit more as she took a seat at the kitchen table. "Where's your mama anyhow? I have been dying to see her. Tried calling last night but got no answer."

"She's still in bed, I don't think she's feeling too well." I left out our fight, Charlene would blow it out of proportion for sure.

I sat the pie down on the table and headed to the fridge, it didn't look like she was moving so I might as well make her a glass of tea.

"Oh well that's a shame, I'll just stick around for a bit and see if she gets up then." She craned her neck around to watch me. "I'll take lots of ice with that, and sugar too. You're such a good boy, didn't even have to ask and you're making me a drink. You know I don't think your mama knows how good she raised you. I was just telling her the other day how I wished my son was half as thoughtful as you."

She carried on and on but I stopped listening. I handed her the glass of tea and mother's little sugar bowl and cringed at the amount she shoveled into the pink glass. It's no wonder she was so overweight. A few minutes passed with her running her mouth before something she said caught my attention.

"My word. What is that god awful smell?" She waved her hand in front of her face as she spoke.

I lifted my head to the doorway, the smell had gotten stronger. It now drifted through the framework, filling the kitchen with its bitter taste.

"I think something got stuck in the attic, maybe a possum or a coon." I began to slowly walk out of the kitchen.

I heard Charlene's chair scrape along the floorboards, then her heavy breathing on my neck. Did she have to follow me? She could at least have the decency to give me some space.

We'd made it to the stairwell when she gagged.

"Dear lord, how is your mother sleeping up there? That smells like death warmed over."

I ascended the first step. "It is."

I made it up the stairs with ease, Charlene, however, barely got half way before she gave up.

"I'll just stay here." Her words were spaced out between pants, I thought she might fall over at any moment. Then we'd have two dead things to deal with. "Tell me what you find up there."

I nodded and reached for the fire poker we kept next to the stairs. The ladder for the attic was the type that had to be pulled down from the ceiling. I glanced to my left before stretching my arms up. Mother's door was still closed. The smell was so bad up here my eyes began to water. Maybe it wasn't just one possum, but a whole family of rodents.

The hook caught the string and I pulled it down. I always had trouble with these steps, they liked to stick, especially in the summer when the wood swelled. The ladder dropped and I heard huffing behind me, Charlene must have decided to try her luck with the rest of the stairs. I was expecting the smell to get worse when the attic was opened, yet it didn't. It was odd but I made my way up anyway.

"See anything?" Charlene hollered below me.

I scanned the room, the sun pouring in from the little window gave me enough light to see that there wasn't an animal up there.

"Nothing."

"You know it almost seems like it's coming from your ma's room. I think I'll have a look to be sure."

My heart stopped.

"You really shouldn't go in there."

"It'll be fine, the old woman needs to get up anyhow."

"No!" I nearly screamed as I looked down.

She was gone. I heard a doorknob click and practically jumped down the ladder. Mother's door was wide open, the smell too strong to bear.

My mother lay still in her bed. Her mouth forced open, face twisted in terror. The knife I'd wielded last night wedged deep in her chest, blood rusted all about her.

"What in god's name?" Charlene whispered from the doorway.

I stood behind her, the poker still gripped tight in my hand. She turned to look at me wide eyed as I raised the metal above my head.

"Now I told you not to open that door."