Mommy's Little Girl
"Happy birthday, dear Savannah! Happy birthday, to you!" A gathering of her mother Joann, her aunt Marie, twin cousins Benjamin and Andrew and her grandmother Rose. All were singing to Savannah, for her sixth birthday. Savannah's long, straight, dark brown hair swayed as she rocked side to side with excitement, for she only had one thing on her mind. The wish she was going to make, when she blew out her candle. Something Savannah had wanted desperately for a couple years now; a sister.
"Make a wish, sweetie." Savannah's mother, Joann gleefully called out to her as she took dozens of pictures.
"Yeah, blow out the candles Vanny! We're ready for cake!" Benjamin, one of Savannah's annoying twin cousins barked at her.
"We want cake! We want cake! We want cake!" Andrew chanted and banged his fist upon the tabletop, like a barbarian in training.
"Ben! Drew! Cut it out right now! Or you won't get any cake!" Savannah's aunt Marie yelled at her boys, as she seemed to always do now.
"Grandma!" Benjamin and Andrew called out to their usual rescuer, simultaneously.
"Oh boys. How bout you be grandma's little angels and settle down for a spell. You'll get some cake." Savannah's grandmother seemed to have a special touch in handling Benjamin and Andrew. Far more effective than their mother, Marie.
Savannah closed her light green eyes tightly, to drown out the calamity and concentrated on her wish. She took a deep breath and blew out the candles. A chill suddenly ran up Savannah's spine, causing her to shiver and sneeze.
"Awwweee nnnooooo! Vanny sneezed on the cake!" Andrew pointed and mocked Savannah.
"Eeewwwww! She sprayed her girly cooties all over the cake!" Benjamin chimed in.
"Drew! Ben! Stop it!" Marie muttered with a stern voice.
Savannah just sat in her chair and smiled, for when she opened her eyes she saw a little girl smiling at her, outside the dining room window. A lovely little girl with bright blue eyes and long, curly, golden blond hair.
That night Joann tucked Savannah into bed.
"Did you have fun today, sweetie?"
"Yes! My wish came true!"
"It did?! Well that's great, sweetie. Okay. Time to get some rest. Daddy should be home, tomorrow. And I'll bet he has an awesome gift for you." Joann kissed Savannah goodnight and went downstairs to clean up the rest of the party.
As she finished loading the dishwasher and wiping down the countertops, Joann thought she heard the pitter-patter of little feet and giggles of a little girl.
"Savannah, it's way past your bedtime." Joann ventured into the living room where the sound was coming from, but no one was there.
"Hmm. I must be really tired."
Just then, Joann's phone rang startling her. She clutched at her chest, as if she was preventing her heart from jumping out.
"Hello. Hi, sweetheart. Oh, no she's in bed sleeping now. Yes, I took lots of pictures. Oh, just my mom, sister and the boys. Yes, she loved the doll. It looks just like her. What did you get her? What?! Don't you think we should've discussed it, first? But Daniel! A puppy?! I know it's for her birthday, but a puppy is a lot of responsibility. I don't know, Daniel. I just don't know. Okay. See you, tomorrow. I love you, too."
Joann felt a heaviness waft over her. It wasn't that she didn't think Savannah deserved a puppy. It was that Joann knew she'd be the one taking care of the dog.
The next day, Savannah woke up. She rolled over, rubbed her eyes and looked right into the bright blue eyes of the little girl she saw outside the window yesterday. Scaring Savannah, she yelped. Savannah immediately covered her mouth, hoping her mother didn't hear her. The little girl smiled, covered her mouth and giggled as little girls do.
"Hey. I saw you, yesterday. How'd you get in here?"
The little girl began to skip around Savannah's room, while humming a special tune.
"You wished for me, silly." The little girl informed Savannah.
Savannah was so excited, she could barely contain herself.
"Oh! My! God! Mmmmoo!" Savannah started to call out, but the little girl covered her mouth to stop her.
"No! You can't tell her. At least not yet." The little girl was quite insistent.
"So do you have a name? I mean what should I call you?"
"My name is, Emma."
"Emma. That's a pretty name. I'm Savannah. So how old are you? I just turned six."
"I know. I'm six, too."
"Savannah! Breakfast is ready!" Savannah heard Joann call out from the kitchen.
"Okay!" Savannah grabbed her robe to don over her favorite princess pajamas.
"Aren't you coming, Emma?" Savannah looked back, but Emma wasn't there.
When Savannah entered the kitchen, she found her mom placing a plate of blueberry pancakes, scrambled eggs and green grapes where Savannah usually sat. She also found Emma sitting in the chair next to hers.
"There you are!" Savannah exclaimed.
"And there you are, sleepy head." Joann answered while pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"I wasn't talking to you, mommy."
"Well who were you talking too, sweetie?"
"I was talking to Emma. My new sister."
Joann looked as if someone drained all the life out of her. All that was heard was the shattering of Joann's coffee mug crashing onto the floor.
"Mommy, what's wrong?"
Joann looked deep into Savannah's eyes trying to mask her terror.
"Where did you hear that name?"
"She told me her name is Emma."
After Joann cleaned up the mess, she rushed to her room and shut the door. Savannah didn't understand what happened. She just looked at Emma, shrugged her shoulders and continued to eat her breakfast.
After Joann cleaned up the mess, she rushed to her room and shut the door. Savannah didn't understand what happened. She just looked at Emma, shrugged her shoulders and continued to eat her breakfast.
"Emma, do you want my grapes?"
Emma just sat there, quietly with a grin on her face.
Later that evening Daniel came home towing his suitcase and carrying an extra special package.
"Daddy's home! Where are my best girls?!"
"Daddy!" Savannah squealed with joy as she ran and jumped into her father's arms.
"Hey, there's my birthday girl! How old are you, now? What are you 21, 30?" Daniel teased Savannah.
"No silly head! I'm six!" Savannah giggled and nuzzled at Daniel's neck.
"I have something special for you."
"Really?! What'd you get me?" Savannah couldn't contain her excitement. She bounced and jumped around with pure joy.
"Well, I saw this lil guy and thought he'd make a great friend for my lil princess." Daniel pulled out of a carrier crate, a tiny golden cocker spaniel puppy.
"Oh! He's soooo cute! Thank you, daddy! What's his name?"
"Well, that's for you to decide, princess."
Daniel was in awe of Savannah's joy. Then he realized someone was missing.
"Hey, Savannah. Where's mom?"
"I think she's in her room."
"Oh yeah? Well I'm gonna go find her. How bout you stay here and think of a name, for this little guy."
Daniel ventured to his and Joann's bedroom.
"Where's that beautiful wife of mine?" Daniel found the bedroom door was locked. The jiggling of the doorknob startled Joann.
"Hun, why's the door locked?"
Immediately Joann rushed to the door and pulled Daniel inside, locking the door behind him. Joann hugged Daniel tightly and he noticed she was trembling.
"Hun, what's going on? You're shaking like a leaf." Daniel was terribly confused.
"It's Savannah." Joann whispered.
"What's wrong with Savannah? Jo, tell me what the hell is going on." Daniel was growing frustrated as well as scared.
Joann sitting on the side of the bed with tears welling in her eyes took a deep breath.
"Savannah informed me that she has a new sister."
"Ooookkaayy."
"Daniel! She said her name was Emma!"
"Okay, so what. She created an imaginary friend, named Emma. Big deal." Daniel shrugged it off as nothing.
"Daniel! Don't you think it's strange for Savannah to all of the sudden create an imaginary sister, not a friend, but a sister?! Why now?! And why Emma?! Of all the names in the world, why that one?! Why not Sarah or Megan?! Why Emma, Daniel?! Why?!!" Joann was hysterical. All Daniel could think to do was hold her.
"Hun, calm down. It's just a coincidence. Emma's gone and Savannah doesn't know about her."
Little did Daniel and Joann know was that Savannah was listening outside the door.
Savannah picked up her new puppy and quietly scampered to her room. Closing the door behind her, Savannah found Emma sitting in her pink rocking chair.
"My mom and dad know you?"
"They did."
"When?"
"It was a long time ago."
"So what should we name our puppy?"
"I dunno."
"How bout Duck?"
"Duck? But it's a dog."
"I know. That's what makes it funny."
Savannah and Emma just giggled and Duck released lil barks and yelps as if he was trying to laugh with the girls.
Soon it was time for bed and Daniel went to Savannah's room to tuck her in. Just before Daniel entered the room, he could hear Savannah humming a familiar tune.
"Hey princess. You all ready for bed?"
"Yes, daddy. Could you read us a story, first?"
"Sure. I could read you and Duck a bedtime story. Which will it be?"
"Cinderella! Cinderella!"
"Okay. Cinderella it is."
After Daniel finished reading and turned off the bedside lamp. He leaned over and placed a loving kiss onto Savannah's temple. Just as Daniel reached the door, he heard Savannah's sleepy little voice call out to him.
"Daddy. You forgot to kiss Emma goodnight too."
Daniel immediately felt an icy chill flow up his spine. Daniel slowly turned around, praying that his eyes weren't conveying the terror he felt inside.
"Who's Emma, princess?"
"Emma's my sister. She's lying right next to me and you forgot to give her a kiss too."
Daniel remembered what he told Joann earlier. It's just a coincidence. As Daniel went to the other side of the bed, he prayed he was right. That it was all Savannah's imagination and a terrible coincidence. Daniel leaned over and kissed the pillow as if there was indeed a little girl lying there. The strange thing was, Daniel could've sworn he heard light breathing and the pillow held a slight metallic scent. Daniel just shook his head, like he was trying to shake the silly notion out of his head. Daniel went to leave the room and behind him he heard a little girl say.
"Lucky daddy. Now he has two lil princesses."
Daniel quickly turned around, but only to find Savannah fast asleep. Daniel decided against telling Joann, for the sake of not making things worse.
The next morning as Savannah was taking a bath and playing with her dolls in the tub, Joann could hear Savannah humming a familiar tune. A tune she hadn't heard for quite a long time. A tune that neither Daniel or herself taught Savannah. Joann also heard Savannah talking as if someone else was in the room with her. Duck was in Savannah's room playing with his chew toy; so who was she talking too?
"Okay, let's pretend they're beautiful mermaids and they're diving to find pearls."
Joann's feeling of dread came rushing back and overtaking her. Joann needed to get to the bottom of this.
"Ready to get out, sweetie? You don't want to get all pruney, do you?"
"Awe, mommy. Just five more minutes. Me and Emma are still playing mermaid. Pleeaasssee!"
"Sweetie? Umm, what made you choose to call your imaginary friend Emma?"
"She's not just my friend, mommy. She's my sister."
"Okay, your imaginary sister."
"What does imaginary mean?"
"It means something is not real. That it's made up."
"But mommy. Emma is real. She's right there."
Joann saw Savannah point opposite of herself, but there was nothing there.
"Mommy, she even taught me a song. Wanna hear it?"
Joann turned her back to get some aspirin from the medicine cabinet, for she felt a horrible headache coming on.
Savannah began humming that same tune. Joann's heart began racing.
"Sweetie, please stop humming that song."
Savannah continued humming.
"Savannah. Please stop that, sweetie."
Savannah's humming persisted and seemed to get louder.
"Stop it! Stop it! STOP HUMMING THAT DAMN SONG!!!" Joann slammed the mirrored medicine cabinet shut so forcefully, that it cracked the glass. In the reflection of the mirror, Joann no longer saw the long, dark hair of her daughter Savannah. Who she saw had long, soft curly, golden blond hair, matted with blood at the back of her head.
Joann couldn't believe her eyes.
"Nnnoooo!!! It can't be you!" Joann grabbed Savannah by the shoulder and shook her while screaming in her face.
"What's wrong, mommy? What'd I do?" Savannah began sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly Joann was looking into the face of her daughter, Savannah. Joann scooping Savannah up into her arms frantically ran out of the bathroom and into her bedroom, locking the door behind them. Savannah completely confused and crying. Joann called Daniel.
"Daniel! You need to come home! Now!"
"Jo! What's going on?!"
"It's Emma! She's here, Daniel! She's really here! I saw her!!"
"Jo, calm down! She's gone!"
"Daniel she's here! Come home now!!!"
Joann slams down the phone.
Savannah wrapped in a towel, her wet hair dripping down her back, began to feel cold.
"Mommy I'm cold."
Joann began feeling frigid herself. The room grew colder and colder. Causing Joann and Savannah to see each breath they exhaled. Joann went to unlock the door, but it wouldn't open. Savannah sitting on Joann's and Daniel's bed looked in the dresser mirror and saw the grotesque reflection of Emma. Only Savannah never saw Emma like this before. Emma looked greyish and her long, soft curly, golden blond hair was dirty and bloody. Savannah gasped.
"Emma! You have a boo boo! Mommy, Emma has a big boo boo on her head. Look!"
Joann turned to see the same grotesque reflection in the mirror.
"Leave us alone!!!" Joann screamed at the reflection.
Emma simply pointed accusingly at Joann. Joann dropped to her knees, sobbing hysterically.
"I'm sorry, Emma! I'm so sorry!"
Savannah slowly slid off the bed and stood over her mother. Looking into the eyes of Emma, Savannah simply nodded her head in agreement. That's when Savannah grabbed a snow globe that sat upon the dresser.
Daniel came home to find Duck scratching and whimpering at the locked bedroom door. Daniel rushed into the bedroom to find Savannah splattered with the warm blood of Joann all over her face. A bloodied snow globe still in Savannah's hand and a blank expression in her eyes. Daniel fell to the floor, convulsing with fear at the horrific display in front of him.
"Emma told me how mommy did a bad thing and she needed to be punished."
Savannah walked towards Daniel raising the snow globe high over her head.
"It's your turn, daddy."
Daniel ventured to his and Joann's bedroom.
"Where's that beautiful wife of mine?" Daniel found the bedroom door was locked. The jiggling of the doorknob startled Joann.
"Hun, why's the door locked?"
Immediately Joann rushed to the door and pulled Daniel inside, locking the door behind him. Joann hugged Daniel tightly and he noticed she was trembling.
"Hun, what's going on? You're shaking like a leaf." Daniel was terribly confused.
"It's Savannah." Joann whispered.
"What's wrong with Savannah? Jo, tell me what the hell is going on." Daniel was growing frustrated as well as scared.
Joann sitting on the side of the bed with tears welling in her eyes took a deep breath.
"Savannah informed me that she has a new sister."
"Ooookkaayy."
"Daniel! She said her name was Emma!"
"Okay, so what. She created an imaginary friend, named Emma. Big deal." Daniel shrugged it off as nothing.
"Daniel! Don't you think it's strange for Savannah to all of the sudden create an imaginary sister, not a friend, but a sister?! Why now?! And why Emma?! Of all the names in the world, why that one?! Why not Sarah or Megan?! Why Emma, Daniel?! Why?!!" Joann was hysterical. All Daniel could think to do was hold her.
"Hun, calm down. It's just a coincidence. Emma's gone and Savannah doesn't know about her."
Little did Daniel and Joann know was that Savannah was listening outside the door.
Savannah picked up her new puppy and quietly scampered to her room. Closing the door behind her, Savannah found Emma sitting in her pink rocking chair.
"My mom and dad know you?"
"They did."
"When?"
"It was a long time ago."
"So what should we name our puppy?"
"I dunno."
"How bout Duck?"
"Duck? But it's a dog."
"I know. That's what makes it funny."
Savannah and Emma just giggled and Duck released lil barks and yelps as if he was trying to laugh with the girls.
Soon it was time for bed and Daniel went to Savannah's room to tuck her in. Just before Daniel entered the room, he could hear Savannah humming a familiar tune.
"Hey princess. You all ready for bed?"
"Yes, daddy. Could you read us a story, first?"
"Sure. I could read you and Duck a bedtime story. Which will it be?"
"Cinderella! Cinderella!"
"Okay. Cinderella it is."
After Daniel finished reading and turned off the bedside lamp. He leaned over and placed a loving kiss onto Savannah's temple. Just as Daniel reached the door, he heard Savannah's sleepy little voice call out to him.
"Daddy. You forgot to kiss Emma goodnight too."
Daniel immediately felt an icy chill flow up his spine. Daniel slowly turned around, praying that his eyes weren't conveying the terror he felt inside.
"Who's Emma, princess?"
"Emma's my sister. She's lying right next to me and you forgot to give her a kiss too."
Daniel remembered what he told Joann earlier. It's just a coincidence. As Daniel went to the other side of the bed, he prayed he was right. That it was all Savannah's imagination and a terrible coincidence. Daniel leaned over and kissed the pillow as if there was indeed a little girl lying there. The strange thing was, Daniel could've sworn he heard light breathing and the pillow held a slight metallic scent. Daniel just shook his head, like he was trying to shake the silly notion out of his head. Daniel went to leave the room and behind him he heard a little girl say.
"Lucky daddy. Now he has two lil princesses."
Daniel quickly turned around, but only to find Savannah fast asleep. Daniel decided against telling Joann, for the sake of not making things worse.
The next morning as Savannah was taking a bath and playing with her dolls in the tub, Joann could hear Savannah humming a familiar tune. A tune she hadn't heard for quite a long time. A tune that neither Daniel or herself taught Savannah. Joann also heard Savannah talking as if someone else was in the room with her. Duck was in Savannah's room playing with his chew toy; so who was she talking too?
"Okay, let's pretend they're beautiful mermaids and they're diving to find pearls."
Joann's feeling of dread came rushing back and overtaking her. Joann needed to get to the bottom of this.
"Ready to get out, sweetie? You don't want to get all pruney, do you?"
"Awe, mommy. Just five more minutes. Me and Emma are still playing mermaid. Pleeaasssee!"
"Sweetie? Umm, what made you choose to call your imaginary friend Emma?"
"She's not just my friend, mommy. She's my sister."
"Okay, your imaginary sister."
"What does imaginary mean?"
"It means something is not real. That it's made up."
"But mommy. Emma is real. She's right there."
Joann saw Savannah point opposite of herself, but there was nothing there.
"Mommy, she even taught me a song. Wanna hear it?"
Joann turned her back to get some aspirin from the medicine cabinet, for she felt a horrible headache coming on.
Savannah began humming that same tune. Joann's heart began racing.
"Sweetie, please stop humming that song."
Savannah continued humming.
"Savannah. Please stop that, sweetie."
Savannah's humming persisted and seemed to get louder.
"Stop it! Stop it! STOP HUMMING THAT DAMN SONG!!!" Joann slammed the mirrored medicine cabinet shut so forcefully, that it cracked the glass. In the reflection of the mirror, Joann no longer saw the long, dark hair of her daughter Savannah. Who she saw had long, soft curly, golden blond hair, matted with blood at the back of her head.
Joann couldn't believe her eyes.
"Nnnoooo!!! It can't be you!" Joann grabbed Savannah by the shoulder and shook her while screaming in her face.
"What's wrong, mommy? What'd I do?" Savannah began sobbing uncontrollably. Suddenly Joann was looking into the face of her daughter, Savannah. Joann scooping Savannah up into her arms frantically ran out of the bathroom and into her bedroom, locking the door behind them. Savannah completely confused and crying. Joann called Daniel.
"Daniel! You need to come home! Now!"
"Jo! What's going on?!"
"It's Emma! She's here, Daniel! She's really here! I saw her!!"
"Jo, calm down! She's gone!"
"Daniel she's here! Come home now!!!"
Joann slams down the phone.
Savannah wrapped in a towel, her wet hair dripping down her back, began to feel cold.
"Mommy I'm cold."
Joann began feeling frigid herself. The room grew colder and colder. Causing Joann and Savannah to see each breath they exhaled. Joann went to unlock the door, but it wouldn't open. Savannah sitting on Joann's and Daniel's bed looked in the dresser mirror and saw the grotesque reflection of Emma. Only Savannah never saw Emma like this before. Emma looked greyish and her long, soft curly, golden blond hair was dirty and bloody. Savannah gasped.
"Emma! You have a boo boo! Mommy, Emma has a big boo boo on her head. Look!"
Joann turned to see the same grotesque reflection in the mirror.
"Leave us alone!!!" Joann screamed at the reflection.
Emma simply pointed accusingly at Joann. Joann dropped to her knees, sobbing hysterically.
"I'm sorry, Emma! I'm so sorry!"
Savannah slowly slid off the bed and stood over her mother. Looking into the eyes of Emma, Savannah simply nodded her head in agreement. That's when Savannah grabbed a snow globe that sat upon the dresser.
Daniel came home to find Duck scratching and whimpering at the locked bedroom door. Daniel rushed into the bedroom to find Savannah splattered with the warm blood of Joann all over her face. A bloodied snow globe still in Savannah's hand and a blank expression in her eyes. Daniel fell to the floor, convulsing with fear at the horrific display in front of him.
"Emma told me how mommy did a bad thing and she needed to be punished."
Savannah walked towards Daniel raising the snow globe high over her head.
"It's your turn, daddy."
Interesting
ReplyDelete