Creepy Short Stories

Mary

Mary

Allen hurriedly gulped down the last of his milk when he heard the doorbell ring.

"Mom! Chad and Mike are here, I'm leaving for school," he shouted at the ceiling of the kitchen. He grabbed his backpack off the counter and headed for the door.

"Wait!" His mother rushed down the stairs, half stumbling in the process, stopping him just as he grabbed the door handle. She looked haggard and a worry line creased her brow. Red rimmed eyes gave testament to the fact that she had been crying for some time. His mother absentmindedly adjusted Allen's scarf with a nervous, shaky hand. "Remember to hurry straight home today, okay?"

"I know, Mom. Mary's coming today." At the mention of Mary a choked sob escaped his mother's throat. Not wanting to see her so distraught Allen tried to cheer her. "Look, why don't I just stay home today?" he ventured.

"You can't, honey. You know the rules," she managed to squeeze out, fighting to quell even more tears. "Now hurry and go." With that she gave Allen a quick hug, and opened the front door with a sharp jerk, much like yanking off a Band-Aid so as not to prolong the pain. With a forced smile she ushered Allen out into the cold. As she shut the door behind him her sobs returned unbidden. She collapsed against the door, unable to support her own weight. She slid slowly to the floor, the whole time murmuring through her tears, pleading, "Please don't forget...please don't forget..."

***

The brisk fall air sent an immediate shock to Allen's system. He pulled his coat tighter around him, watching his breath curl away in wispy tendrils before turning his eyes to his fellow 3rd grade buddies.

Mike was wearing his usual cocky grin and the ever present glint of mischief was in his eyes. He was the trouble maker in the trio, and as such he was always up for an adventure. By rights of being younger ("Only by a month!" as he was always quick to point out) he was the defacto second in command behind Allen.

Then there was Chad. The kids at school had many names for Chad. They ranged in creativity from "Stupid-head" to "Chard the Tard", but they all expressed the same point. Chad was slow. Allen's mother had once told him the technical term for it. To the best of Allen's recollection it was "high function-something idiot something". The kids at school chose to focus on the idiot part. What mattered the most to Allen and Mike was that of all the people in Willow Falls, Chad was the most sincere, the most innocent. They took care of him like a younger brother.

"Chad...your shoes are untied again, man!" Allen cast an exasperated look towards Mike. "Why didn't you help him out?"

Mike, looking hurt and indignant at the same time, responded, "I tried, but you know he only lets you do it."

Allen let loose a sigh that clearly stated how heavy the burden of the world weighed on his shoulders and bent to tie Chad's shoes.

"Loop once, loop twice, and it all looks nice!" Chad sang his shoe tying song as Allen went about the work. "Friends to the end," he rhymed again once Allen had finished. Most people found Chad's chosen manner of communication irritating, but to Allen and Mike it is was one of his more endearing qualities.

"Chad buddy, you really need to learn to do that on your own. I might not be around to help next time." Allen's gentle admonishment was met with a warm smile and enthusiastic nod of Chad's head. "Alright, Triumphant Trio, off to school!"

"I'm not a fool, I go to school!" chimed Chad as he fell in with the others.

Together the three youngsters made their way down Birch Lane heading for Willow Falls Grade School. Willow Falls was a quaint little town, no more than 100 families, and thus the walk from Allen's house to school was relatively short. The boys made good time, all the while chatting about whatever it is that interested boys of their age. Chad would chip in with a well-timed rhyme causing all three to laugh. Considering what day it was, the boys were in rather high spirits.