The Old lady in the House

Trigger Warning: implications of death and Mental Health issue.

You might think this is creepy. Actually, you will think this is creepy, so I am not gonna tell you. Yet.

The old lady lighted up the stove as usual. Burning woods sends out warmness into the almost freezing room. The sparks spirals up like the snow flowing down out side the window. Thick, thick snow, with no footprints as she would expect. She took a kettle and filled it with water. She wondered what to eat. She put the kettle above the fire. Maybe some bread would do, she thought.

Knock. Knock.

“W..” She cleared her throats, “Who’s there?”

No answers.

She got a little mad and a little scared. Could it be just bird, or a rabbit running from a fox? She thought and she hoped. She wrapped herself up with a dark red scarf even though she had four layers of cloths and a big fur coat. She wouldn’t want to catch a cold. She could die from that, and that’s not what she wants. Maybe.

She said to herself, “if no-one’s there, that would be the best, maybe there’d be a frozen bird. It broke it’s wing and fall to my doorstep. It used it’s beak to hit my door. But it couldn’t make it, or I would have to feed it. I will take it in still and see what type is it. Maybe a quail or a dove. Have I seen them in the forrest? It’d be a nice dinner. If there is someone, I would have to share. That wouldn’t be pleasant.”

She finally reached the door. She was wearing mittens she knitted more 10 years ago, when her son and grandson still visit her once a year. She put her left hand on the door knob and turn. The sound of an old joint. The door stuck.

“Oh, I must fix it some day. Maybe when the weather’s a bit better. Andra, no. Anty, no. Andy, yes, Andy used to fix those things. And he would be like, mama, stop breaking those. Annoying little kid. It’s better that he’s not here.”

She pulled the door again. Still as a rock.

“This things broken. Better yet, would no one come in from it. Maybe I will go out another day. If there’d be anyone or anything, it’d make noice. Yes they all make noice.”

She gave up, walking back to the stove.

Knock. Knock.

“Oh my dear god!” She turned back to look. “It better be something worthy. I don’t think it will be any bird. Must be some weird human. Andy always go like, Knock. Bang. Bang. Knock. Knock. The last two are quick. Little Joe have a serious of the little ones that made me want to pace. I fell once on my way. Oh, I miss hearing sorries, but never from those two. Well, you must..you better say it, who ever is outside! Hear me?”

She reached the door again. She tried to pull back. It back with her a little but still not opened.

“Lend me a hand, secret person! Oh so much I have wish you were never here, now I’d like you to be here. Like I used to wish for Fred every time I open this dumb door. And Little Andy would be there with his eyes closed, wishing him to come by. But not the summer rain nor the winter snow are wishing wells. Now I just hope he’s dead!”

One strong pull, she opened the door. A great force pushed in. It pushed her onto the ground like a over excited big puppy. It was the wind and snow. She fell over on her butt.

“Christs!”

She stumbled up. She got back on her feet. She flapped on her clothes and looked outside. No one was there. And no footprints due to the constant snow.

“You got to be kidding me. No one was here the whole time. Or even if they were, they are long gone. What is the point to open the door and suffer from the cold. I knew no human should be trusted and cared about. If it were a man finding a place to hide from the snow, let him freeze to death; If it were a man seeking for food to eat, let him starve to death. For I will not open this door again!”

She kicked at the thick snow on front step. She kicked on something hard. It was not a rock. It was a box. She saw the corner of the wet, Christmas colored wrapper.

“Oh, a nice wrapped gift! For me? That would be too good. Who is it? I would like to thank you if it is not a bomb.”

She bent over and picked it up.

“Eww. Cold and wet.” She picked it up. She shook off the snow. She closed the door and took it in. It was a small box about the size to fit in a small bowl. She sat in her cozy armchair that had been there forever. She put the box on the small table in front of her. She took off the socked paper and opened the box.

“Oh a mixtape!” She was surprised. “To My Love.” She read the words written on it. “Awww… Is it for me? Let me take the player.”

While she gone of to the room to find the player and realized she hadn’t had breakfast, let me talk to you. Though I can’t tell you what is it, I can tell you there is nothing to expect from here, I hope. I can just say I knew that old lady for long enough to know that she don’t have a secret lover. At least not a one who play with old mixtapes. And now she’s back, humming some 70s love song.

“Baby~Hmm, da la da. Oh~ Who could have send me this~ We will find out, baby~” She sat back into the arm chair. She put the tape inside and ran it.

“Yeah, bumpy noice, um-hmm. Expecting a scream. Um, nope. Rolling. Umm, Next? Weird noises, what’s wrong with this old thing!” She hit on the player a few times, angrily “Oh no, it’s not breaking, is it? Oh nooo, don’t do this to me.”

There was smoke. There was sparks. There was fire.

Have I ever mention the house was mostly wood for some reasons? It was really hard to get in without making the floor squeak, and it is even harder to set up the wires, ‘cause, you know, I need electricity. Anyway I never see her again after the fire. I guess that concludes this.

~The End~

From: Danielleperatt.1236@gmail.com

To: Yolandacafferimo@gmail.com

Subject: Re: The Investigation on The Impact of Past Memories on the Present Feeling of Loneliness

Date: 17/01/2024 10:34

Hello Yolanda,

You should know that this is a late response. However the title looked very interesting, so I did take a look at your research. The topic you chose is very fascinating and is destined to make a huge impact. You have put a lot of effort into the experiment that took more than just a few years, and I hope you can continue. I suggest you to apply for the founding program and find more volunteers to participate. That would give you more diverse results.

Over all, Great Job!

Best Regards

Dr. Peratt