SGDHS * Taste the Words.

'Twas The Eve Before School

By JENNI KALYN

The day Kevin Tucker nearly killed her, Molly Somerville swore off unrequited love forever. Molly was a woman of thirty. She was a kind, gentle and caring soul, who wouldn’t hurt a fly. She had one child born out of wedlock. Molly wasn’t married. Never was, never will be, or so she told herself. That was until she met Kevin. He had moved in next door to Molly in June and she fell for him instantly. It was love at first sight, even though she had to love him from afar. He was nice to her. He always nodded hello and they would speak to each other over the fence once in a while. Kevin seemed to be the perfect neighbour.

After two months of living next door to each other, Molly felt that she knew him well enough to ask him out on a date. Her idea was to invite Kevin over for a nice home cooked meal by candlelight. Molly’s daughter Susan, 16, would be sleeping over at a friend’s house that weekend. On Friday afternoon Molly got dolled up and headed for the backyard where Kevin was doing some yard work.

“Hi,” Molly said nervously as she reached the fence.

“Hi,” Kevin replied as he stood up and wiped the sweat off is brow with the back of his hand. He looked Molly in the eyes and smiled brightly. Molly blushed, her cheeks turning a light shade of crimson. Kevin had been working in his yard all morning. His muscular bronze chest gleamed in the afternoon sun. This magnificent sight took Molly’s breath away.

“Um,” Molly began trying to tear her eyes away from the seemingly perfect specimen that stood before her, “I was wondering if uh, you would like join me for dinner tonight.” Molly could feel she cheeks turning an even brighter shade of crimson. She quickly looked away from his steel blue eyes. Kevin’s smile widened into an almost seductive grin.

“Sure, I’d love to,” he replied, “shall we say seven-ish?” Surprised, Molly looked up and met his alluring gaze. Once Kevin’s answer had sunk in, she smiled, hardly able to contain her excitement.

“Uh, yeah. Sounds great. I guess I’ll see you then.” Molly could feel her cheeks reddening. She flashed Kevin a quick smile, said goodbye and headed back inside. She spent the rest of the afternoon cleaning the house and trying to decide what to wear. She finally decided on, a red satin dress, that hung down to mid thigh. It was and off the shoulder type with a scoop neck. Molly was also able to find a pair of red, open toes heels that complimented the dress perfectly. She wore her hair in loose curls that cascaded down her back and across her shoulders. Molly looked stunning.

Once she was dressed with her hair styled and make up applied, she went down to the kitchen. She opened the pantry in search of something to cook for the special occasion. She soon realized that she had the makings for a great spaghetti dinner. ‘How romantic!’ She thought, ‘Italy is one of the most romantic countries in the world.’ Molly sighed deeply, ‘It could be like Lady and the Tramp’ Excited, Molly took a package of spaghetti noodles and two cans of tomato sauce out of the pantry. She then took out a package of ground beef, one red, one yellow, and one green pepper, and one single large onion. Once the sauce was finished, she put a large pot of water on the stove to boil. The doorbell rang loudly throughout the house. Molly walked briskly to the front foyer and, with one last look in the large oval mirror, she opened the door. On the other stood of the door stood a snappily dressed Kevin Tucker holding a single red rose.

“Come right in, dinner is almost ready.” Molly said welcoming him warmly into her two story Spanish style home.

“What a nice home you have here, Molly.” Kevin said admiring the architecture and the decor.

“Right this way,” Molly said smiling and gesturing towards the dining room. Kevin took a seat at one end of the long mahogany table. Minutes later, Molly appeared with a basket of fresh garlic bread, a bottle of wine and two glasses. She uncorked the bottle and poured a splash of wine into each cup, filing it halfway. “Just a few more minutes then we can eat.” Molly said smiling shyly. Kevin smiled back; his perfectly white teeth sparkled in the soft glow of the chandelier.

“No need to hurry.” Kevin said slightly easing Molly’s tension. Retreating again to the kitchen, Molly checked on the boiling pasta. Soon the table was complete; two large plates of spaghetti, candles, wine, and of course the finest cutlery Molly could buy. They ate and talked for a long time. After the meal was eaten, the couple talked a while more.

“Did you want dessert?” Molly asked slowly rising from her chair.

“No, not at the moment, thank you.” Kevin replied with a laugh. Molly began to clear the dishes when she noticed something strange. Kevin’s once youthful face had turned the colour of ash. His chiseled good looks fading as quickly as his smile. Molly put the dishes that she held in her hands, down on the table. Kevin stopped laughing abruptly, his face serious. Molly looked at him quizzically, raising an eyebrow. Kevin stared grimly at his empty plate. His lips moved but no sound came out. Then Kevin screamed, “NO!” Startled, Molly gasped loudly and jumped back. “No,” he grumbled sternly through his teeth, “no I can’t. I care for her, NO! I refuse to. Not here, not now!” Kevin clenched his hands into fists around his ears. Molly was baffled by this behaviour. She had never experienced anything like this before. Rocking back and forth in his chair, Kevin continued to cry out.

“No! I said No!” Sobbing, Kevin said, “Go away. Just go away!” Molly slowly walked towards her date. When she reached his side, she put a shaky hand on his shoulder.

“Shhh,” Molly whispered in his ear, “It’s ok –“ Kevin cut her off.

“NO! No it’s not ok!” Kevin jumped up from his chair and swept the dishes onto the floor. Molly straightened up instantly and stepped back away from Kevin. He lunged forward and grabbed Molly by the shoulders and flung her onto the table. He leaped up on top of her to keep her from getting away.

“You’re hurting me!” Molly cried,

“Shut up!” yelled Kevin. He slapped her across the face leaving a large handprint on her cheek. Molly brought her hand to her cheek. Tears of fear burned under her eyelids.

“What is wrong with you!” Molly said through gritted teeth.

“What’s wrong with me? What’s wrong with me! I’ll tell you what’s wrong with me! Your voice,” he slapped her, “your questions,”

Slap.

“Your face!”

Slap.

“I’m not going back! NEVER!” He slapped her across the face again. Something warm trickled out of the corner of Molly’s mouth. Blood. She knew the metallic taste of it. Kevin had split her lip open. Tears streaked her pale now pale face. Her eyes once full of life and happiness were now lifeless and filled with fear. Kevin slapped her again, this time harder than before.

“STOP IT!” She shrieked, “GET OFF OF ME!” Molly tried to push him off and hit him in the face but he grabbed her wrists. She wriggled and squirmed under his weight trying to get free. She twisted and turned her wrists in an attempt to wretch them from his grip, but Kevin was much too strong. Molly screamed for help at the top of her lungs in the hopes that someone would hear and come to her aid. Kevin wrapped his large hands around her neck.

“Shut up!” Kevin smashed Molly’s head off the table, “I can’t go back. I won’t go back!” he smashed her head off the table again. Molly’s eyes began to cloud over. She stared into his eyes. Such hatred. Such malice. His steel blue eyes had turned as dark as night. Molly seemed to be able to see right down into his soul. His deep, dark, empty soul. Molly’s face grew purple, then blue and began to swell. Her trachea was on the verge of collapsing under the pressure Kevin applied to her throat.

The front door opened almost silently and Susan entered the foyer, closing the door behind her.

“Mom?” Susan called. Kevin stopped grunting and slamming Molly’s head off the table to listen. “Mom?” Came Susan’s voice again, this time it was closer. Molly tried to speak but could not find the breath or the strength to utter any words of warning to her unsuspecting daughter. The last thing she saw before she blacked out was the malicious look in Kevin’s eyes as he slowly and quietly climbed off of Molly and headed for the foyer. On his way out of the dining room, he stopped. Instead of going straight to the foyer, he made a pit stop in the kitchen. He searched each drawer in turn until he found just what he was looking for. He pulled a large meat cleaver out of the top drawer.

Susan entered the living room in search of her mother. “Mom?” She called again. Getting worried, Susan exited the living room only to come face to face with the cleaver wielding Kevin. Susan screamed and ran back into the living room. Kevin followed close behind. As she ran she upset the furniture in an attempt to hinder the crazy man, but to no avail. Susan ducked into a closet in the den and quietly closed the door tightly behind her. In the darkness of the closet, she opened her purse and rummaged around until she found her cell phone. Listening intently for any sound of the maniac, Susan turned on her cell phone. Remembering that it played the jingle of the phone company she was signed up with, Susan stuffed the phone back in her purse to muffle the sound.

“Come out, come out wherever you are. I promise I won’t hurt you,” Kevin called trying to coax the girl out of hiding, “much.” He added with a sneer. Hearing this, Susan refrained from dialing until she was sure he had left the room. Kevin wasn’t giving up that easily. He headed for the closet in which Susan hid. He flung the open the door.

“Surprise,” Kevin growled. Susan swung her purse as hard as she could, cuffing Kevin in the face. As he stumbled backwards, Susan ran for the front door. Screaming, she dashed out into the night. As she ran she dialed, 9-1-1. A woman answered.

“911 emergencies,”

“Pl-please help me!” Susan panted into the phone, “there is a cr-crazy man after me… and he has a knife! H-He wants to kill me and my mother may already be d-d-dead!” she zigzagged through the streets running as fast as she possibly could. “ I need the police NOW! “

“Okay calm down, what is you name honey?”

“My-my name is Susan Somerville,”

“Where are you calling from?”

“I am on my cell phone running for my life, but right now I am on the corner of Fifth and Maple. I need someone to get to my house, an ambulance, a police car, SOMETHING !”

“Ok Susan, try to calm down now. What is your address honey?”

“909 George Street.” Susan was getting tired now. “I can’t keep running much longer.”

“I’m sending an ambulance and a few squad cars to your house right now, but I need you to do something for me okay?”

“Wh-what?” Susan said chancing a glance over her shoulder. Kevin was in hot pursuit.

“I need you to stay on the line with me until an office gets to you ok?”

“I-I can try, but I don’t know how much longer the battery is going to last.”

“Okay honey, where are you headed right now?” the woman asked.

“I’m in Wilbur Avenue now, I’m heading towards Gree-Greenfield Park” Susan was panting harder now. Her chest was burning, he lungs felt like they were going to explode.

“Okay, I am sending a squad car your way right now. Just try to stay on the li-“ Susan looked at her phone. She looked over her shoulder again. No sign of the cleaver flailing psycho. She looked back down at her phone again. The batteries had died.

“Damn.” She said to herself. She looked over her shoulder once again. In hopes that he had given up chase, Susan slowed to a stop, breathing heavily.


***

Kevin had stopped chasing Susan. “She’s got to come home sometime.” He said to himself. He walked back to the Spanish style abode in which Molly lay unconscious on the dining room table. He entered the house and closed the door so as not to arouse suspicion. He walked into the dining room positive that Molly was still there for the killing. When he rounded the corner he realized there was something missing, Molly. Shocked, Kevin ran into the kitchen, he was just about to open the pantry and begin the search for his hostess when he heard it. Sirens wailing in the distance but getting closer by the second. Kevin panicked and ran for the back door. He whipped open the door, darted across the yard and hopped the fence into his own yard. The police entered Molly’s home and called, “Las Vegas Police!” as a warning to anyone inside the house. The LAPD searched the house, room by room. They found Molly ashen faced, huddling in a corner of the den, behind a Lay-Z-Boy recliner with a knife in hand. Two officers escorted Molly out of the house and into a waiting ambulance.

“Julio, there’s no one else in the house,” Reese Sharp said. Julio Hernandez nodded and walked towards the rear of the ambulance where Molly sat wrapped tightly in a blanket provided by the paramedics.

“Miss, my name is Julio Hernandez, I’m with the Las Vegas Police. I have a few questions for you if you don’t mind.” Molly’s pale face was stained with tears, but she nodded regardless. “Do you know the name of the man that attacked you?”

“Kevin. Kevin Tucker.” Molly said. She bowed her head as she worried silently about the safety of her daughter. “Do you know where he lives?” Julio asked quickly. He had a note of panic in his voice that Molly could easily detect. She raised a shaky hand and pointed towards the back of her house. “He… He is your neighbour?” Julio said in a mix of disbelief and astonishment. Molly nodded and lowered her hand. “What was he doing over here?”

“I invited him over for dinner,” Molly said quietly very much embarrassed.

“Dinner?” Julio was puzzled. “Didn’t you know? “ A police car rolled to a stop in the middle of the street right next to the ambulance. Two officers climbed out. One of the officers opened the rear passenger side door.

“MOM!” Came a cry. Susan came jogging towards the ambulance with her arms opened wide. Molly looked up and saw her beloved daughter. Tears of joy now replaced the tears of terror that had slid down her soft cheeks only moments before. She cast off the warm blanket and met Susan’s embrace. They held each other tightly not ever wanting to let go. After relaying the information Molly had given him to his commanding officer, Julio and seven other police stormed Kevin’s house.

Reese walked over to Molly and Susan, “ I think you both should hear this. Please, have a seat,” he said gesturing to the back of the ambulance. Molly and Susan took a seat on the back bumper, and Reese stood in front of them. “Kevin Tucker is a very dangerous man. He was institutionalized in the Sunny Dale Psychiatric Hospital when he was thirteen. He had killed his older sister and attempted to murder his parents as well. He pleaded guilty by reason of insanity, and as a result. He was admitted to Sunny Dale. He suffers from severe multiple personality disorder. He hears voices that tell him to hurt people or break things or what have you. Due to the progress he was making in Sunny Dale, he was released on a trial probation period.”

Molly and Susan gapped open mouthed at Reese. Molly then began to shake uncontrollably as reality sunk in. The mere thought that she invited a person as deranged as Kevin was, into her house was unnerving. Sirens blared and a police car drove by quickly. Someone was in the back seat of the vehicle. As the car passed, Molly watched it cautiously. Her eyes caught his. She stared into Kevin’s lifeless eyes for as long as she could until the car had passed by completely. She stared after the cruiser until it rounded the corner out of sight.

“Thanks for all of your help,” Susan said to Reese as she hugged her mother tightly, “ If it weren’t for you and Julio, neither of us would be alive.” Reese put a hand on Susan’s shoulder

“It’s you who that deserves the thanks, Susan. You were the one who called us and informed us of what was happening.” Reese smiled at the girl. Susan smiled back at the handsome, young officer. “ You have been thoroughly checked out by the paramedics?” He asked turning to Molly.

“Yes,” Molly said nodding.

“You don’t need to be admitted to the hospital tonight?”

“No, I’m fine. I’m just a little shaken, but I think I will be alright.”

“Okay then, we’ll leave you two to talk then. No doubt you’ll want to recap and tell each other your sides of the story.” Reese said preparing to leave.

“Thank you again officer.” Susan said breathing a sigh of relief. Reese tipped his hat to the ladies and climbed into his cruiser. He watched from behind the wheel of his squad car as Molly and Susan climbed the front stairs and entered their house. Once the door was closed tightly behind them, Reese started the engine and followed the ambulance and three other police cars out of the street.

Molly paused in the foyer after the door was closed. She turned around and locked the door. Molly and Susan then proceeded to moved throughout the house locking all the doors and windows that led outside. Molly made a put of coffee while Susan retrieved a box of cookies from the pantry. The sat in the living room, enjoying the coffee and cookies, late into the night. Then, Once the sun began to peek over the horizon, Molly and Susan climbed the stairs to bed leaving the mess behind.

Posted 18 JAN 05 in Fantastic Fiction

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