THE SECRET GARDEN OF MARTHA GRIM
by Richard A.Lopez @
page 17

Callie McDeal had been living across the street from Martha Grim, since her parents had moved to Porters Crossing
when she was a child, and in that time she had seen many a strange thing at the Grim house, but none so strange as what she had just witnessed today. She had known the Grim's before they "died", and that was a word she used with much suspicion, as she had never really been to the funeral, nor had she heard her parents speak of ever going.
She just remembered coming home from summer camp one August, to find out from her Mother that the Grim's had passed, and that Martha's maiden Aunt would be coming to stay with her.
Callie had hardly seen Martha in all the time she had been growing up, and could never remember a day she had seen her at school, or ever having her in any of her classes. "Home Schooled", her Mother had called it, said that her Aunt was the executor of the Grim's will, and had used the money to care for Martha, and maintain the family home.
"Guess that money pays for fine tutors, too" Callie's Father had commented, one evening, after seeing a young man of a bookish nature, call on the Grim home.

Even after Callie had returned from College, to stay with her mom, after dad died, she often wondered about Martha and her Aunt. Mom had said that the Aunt had passed away some years back, or so she assumed..not having seen the woman.
"How do you know, Mother?" Callie had asked.

"Well she must have," Mrs. McDeal had replied, "The woman was eighty if she was a day, and very pale. With that garden, you'd think they've gotten more sun."

"Maybe they had a Gardener?" Callie said.

"Lands no!" Mrs McDeal frowned, "Only one around here is that disgusting Cole person..Ooh! he creeps me out! He's a nasty little shit he is."

"Mother!" Callie replied in mock shock at her mother's choice of words. "Such language. Did dad know you talked like this?"

A playful smile lite up her face at the thought of Mr.McDeal, "Who do you think taught me, dear?"

"Mother, you're absolutely terrible" Callie said with a sly grin.

They were in front of this very window having that conversation, two years ago. Six months before her mother started to tell her about the strange things she had seen, the car that would come and go in the night. The animals that would go into that garden, and never come back out! Callie had written it off to her mother missing her father.
Hell, they'd been married thirty-five years, and when he died, mom was devastated. It was normal for animals to wander into gardens and not come out the same way, wasn't it?
But what about the people? She had said that she'd seen people go in as well. That drifter. The panhandler. The two bible people.
No, this was not one of those movies, gardens don't swallow people up. Do they?
Not until today.
Poor Sarge. Her poor cat. He never hurt anyone. Everyone in the neighborhood liked him. Even Cole. But she saw it, saw those vines entice and then grab and snatch him like some Kraken of the old sea tales her father so loved.
And the horrible way he was twisted, and then dragged into the tangle of leaves. It was inconceivable, and she would not have believed it, would have thought it a waking nightmare, had it not been for little Tommy! My God! That poor little boy had witnessed the whole thing.
WHERE WAS HE! His bicycle was in the street, but he was nowhere. Then she remembered, Rudy! He was frantically waving at Rudy Infano, and then drove off with him towards town. Town meant John. She knew John and Ann were no longer together and the thought of that sent an odd warm spark through her heart, which she quickly pushed aside. She couldn't think of that right now. Now was the time for action. She knew that little Tommy would have the devil of a time convincing them of what he saw was indeed true. He would need validation. She would help him!
She could back his story, she saw what happened, hell it was her cat!
She could see John, tell him what his son was indeed fact. Invite him back for coffee, ask him to dinner...
WHAT THE HELL WAS SHE THINKING!

"This was serious, Callie!" she said aloud, "but I have to get the car."

Callie grabbed the key's and her purse and ran out to the car. Keeping a wary eye on the ominous garden across the street, and drove towards town.