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Hearthville Serial: Book 8 Chapter 8 – Scene 3

Title: Waiting Is The Hardest Part

Tommy shook his head. “I don’t know. Did you know Bachus?”

“He was at the Bingo home one day. I think he was friends with Bess.”

“Well then I am sure I would have hated him because I totally hate Bess. How could Billy have such a God awful sister?”

“She is not so bad,”

“Yes. She. Is. And if you argue with me about it then I am going to tickle you until you cry.” Tommy grabbed his brother and started tickling him. Then Tommy notice something going on off the garage that was set back away from the mansion. “I wonder what is going on over there. Let us go over there and check it out.”

Any Truth, Proper Grammar, or Correct Spelling is totally coincidental if not accidental. All characters are fiction. This story is fiction. This story makes no claims about any real person.

By Charles Peters Copyright 2022, 2023 All Rights Reserved

Chapter / Episode List of the Heathville Serial

Tommy and Jimmy Harris had not gone into the Bare Mansion with Maureen and Bess. They had waited at the car that was parked in the circular driveway, in font of the long colum porch, steps, and walkway.

While waiting Tommy got out of the car. Jimmy followed his older brother. Tommy pulled out a cigarette from the package in his shirt pocket. He pulled a book of matches from his pants pocket and struck a match. He lit the cigarette and shook the match out as he eased the book of matches back into his pants pocket. He took a deep drag on the cigarette. Jimmy watched his brother.

Tommy asked, “What is keeping them?”

Jimmy shrugged.  “I don’t know. How would you like to live in a mansion like this.”

“I wouldn’t. I don’t want to be a slave to money or what it can buy.”

“So what. You would like to just be a hobo riding the rails.”

“You watch too many old movies, but if that were still a thing yeah. I’d have my nap sack on a stick and everything.”

“Well you know, being poor and homeless and dying frozen under a bridge is still a thing.”

Tommy pointed to some people walking down the driveway. “Yeah, those four don’t look like they will ever have to worry about that. They are dripping wealth.”

The older woman, Myrtle Claven stopped at the car. She took Tommy’s cigarette. He thought she was going to stomp in out in a fit of anger. Instead she started smoking it. “Times like these were a horrible time for me to try to stop smoking.”

Her son, Kane Bishop, smiled. He winked at Tommy. Tommy shrugged and gave an expression like he had missed the joke, if there was one.

Myrtle’s daughter, Linda Webster, looked at Tommy and Jimmy. “Are you two friends with Nat?”

“We are friends with the Bingo family. We are going on a nature hike through the Hotville swamp.”

Linda’s son, Steve Webster who was around Billy and Jimmy’s age said, “I hear there is a demon lose in that swamp that took over the dead body of Bachus Wilcox.”

Kane Bishop laughed. “A cannibal demon that will eat your flesh. That is the story I heard.”

Myrtle shook her head and rolled her eyes. “Stop trying to scare the boys. I am sure the demon has already transformed and has rented an over priced condo somewhere. Say Linda, how would you like to have that decorating job.”

Linda shyly smiled. “At least it would be a job. I haven’t been getting too many lately.”

Kane looked at Tommy. “So who the hell is the Bingo family and who the hell are you?”

Jimmy reached out his hand. “I am Jimmy Harris and this is my brother Tommy. Billy is a cousin to Nat.”

Myrtle’s mouth fell open. She dropped the cigarette but Tommy caught it. He quickly started smoking on it.

Myrtle said, “Oh my, I am not presentable. I am totally not dressed good enough to meet a God. We need to go.”

Jimmy lowered his hand as he questioned, “God?”

The four of them quickly turned and started back walking down the driveway. Jimmy and Tommy saw them fade and become invisible.

Jimmy asked, “How did they vanish?”

Tommy laughed. “Weird shit is always happening when Billy Bingo is involved. And I only remember part of it through dreams. And you never remember any of it.”

Jimmy asked, “Do you believe what they said about a demon taking over the body of Bachus?”

Tommy shook his head. “I don’t know. Did you know Bachus?”

“He was at the Bingo home one day. I think he was friends with Bess.”

“Well then I am sure I would have hated him because I totally hate Bess. How could Billy have such a God awful sister?”

“She is not so bad,”

“Yes. She. Is. And if you argue with me about it then I am going to tickle you until you cry.” Tommy grabbed his brother and started tickling him. Then Tommy notice something going on off the garage that was set back away from the mansion. “I wonder what is going on over there. Let us go over there and check it out.”

“Maureen told us to wait here.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t want to keep waiting here. We can watch for them from over there.”