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Second Sight

RoseMary McDaniel a.k.a. Amy Hayle

Published: 2012
Categorie(s): Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Short Stories, Occult & Supernatural, Gothic
Tag(s): "old house" "mysterious mirror" "fruithills suspense
series"

Second Sight
Creakkkkkkkk .was the sound of the opening door.
Good heavens, what an awful noise! You really need to oil
that, Samantha exclaimed as she and her college friend
Brooke entered the old house, looking about the room, filled
with furniture, some shrouded with sheets.
Nobodys lived here for a while, Brooke replied. It only
figures that some things need work.
Well, your to-do list is obviously going to be a long one,
Samantha said with a touch of scorn. Are you really going to
keep this place?
I dont know yet, Brooke said, closing the door behind
them and squinting in the bright early morning sunlight that
poured through the uncovered bay windows across the room.
Samantha promptly sneezed and shook her head. This place
is a dust pit.
Brooke walked across the room to a darkened corner. Gee,
thats funny, this is the only spot in the room where the light is
dim. She shivered. And its cooler over here; actually downright cold.
She stopped in front of an ornate wooden frame that surrounded an old mirror on a floor pedestal. The glass was a bit
wavy, likely due to age, but it was unbroken and undamaged.
Samantha stood across the room with a frown on her face.
So this was your great-aunts place? She was what, a hundred
years old when she died?
Yes, it belonged to Aunt Lydia, and no, she was only 85, but
the house has been in our family for at least a hundred years.
Her father came here to the Fruithills area years earlier.
Well, it is brick and seems to be built pretty well. But youll
be lucky to sell it in this market climate.
Im not sure I want to sell, Brooke said in a somewhat wistful tone. But really, its not just up to me. She left it to all
three of us. My brother Bill, and my sister Maddie will be here
later today. Theyre arranging for a local realtor to give us an
appraisal. Aunt Lydia never married, and we were her only
great nieces and nephew. Our mother was pleased that she left
it to us, rather than to her.

Brooke reached over to straighten the mirror so that she


could better see herself. She was surprised that she looked as
well as she did, after the fierce March wind theyd fought coming in from the car. Her casually styled strawberry blond hair
was the same, and hazel eyes peered back at her above that
crooked smile others found endearing.
Then she looked closer at the reflection of Samantha, who
had moved nearer as she examined a cushioned rocker and
then a huge tiger oak sideboard by the window.
This looks like it might be worth something. Are you at least
going to sell the furnishings? You ought to get something for
your trouble, Samantha told her.
Brooke was astonished to see Samanthas image appear in
the mirror. Rather than the face of a young brunette woman
with blue eyes who took great pride in her appearance and was
always perfectly made up, Brooke saw instead the face of a
haggard looking woman with bedraggled hair, wearing a frown
and an unpleasant harsh glare in her spooky pale far-away
blue piercing eyes.
Near-sighted Samantha who vainly refused to wear the
glasses she needed for any distance clarity, obviously couldnt
see it. Quickly Brooke flipped the mirror over to expose the
back. There on the wood was pasted a faded sheet of paper
with a bit of verse inked by an old-fashioned hand. It read:
See your friends, and share the mirth;
Learn your enemies, and decide their worth.
If the face is good and kind, nought but joy, shall ye find;
But if foul the countenance there; tis no friend, thus beware.
Uhh, yes, I guess well be selling the furnishings too, eventually, Brooke replied, anxious that Samantha not see the
poem. Acting quickly, Brooke pulled a sheet off a nearby table,
righted the mirror and draped the sheet over it.
Samantha looked up, and Brooke hurried on to explain, Just
want to keep the dust off the glass. She waved her hand in
front of the stream of sunlight from the window and made the
dust motes scatter.
Youre right, she told her friend. Its way too dusty in
here.

Im glad youve finally come to your senses, Samantha said.


Lets go to Starbucks. Ive had about all the history I can take
for today.
Brooke followed her out, relocked the door and got into the
car, and following Samanthas suggestion, she drove to the
nearest Starbucks to endure a long half hour over coffee while
Brooke made negative comments about each customer who
came into or left the store.
Shed never thought about it before, but underneath the surface beauty of her friend was a unsettling streak of meanness.
Brooke wasnt one to make waves, and had never chastised
Samantha for some of the comments shed made about those
absent friends or even teachers on whom Samantha cavalierly
passed judgement.
Now Brooke felt ashamed that shed not stood up for those
who had been maligned by Samantha. She guessed she hadnt
thought it mattered, but lately the comments had become more
pointed, and she also had the feeling that Samantha might
have been making some of the same sort of remarks about her
to her other friends.
She already had realized that part of the reason that Samantha even hung out with her was that Brooke had a car, and
Samantha didnt. Suddenly, Brooke was sorry that she had given in to Samanthas request to see that estate your relative
left you, and now felt that she preferred to be alone to wait for
her out-of-town siblings to return to the old hometown, where
Brooke and their parents still lived.
It took fifteen minutes more minutes and a second cup of coffee, but Brooke was able to use a real headache she had as the
excuse take leave of Samantha and to drop her off at her own
home. After that, she headed back to her aunts house to await
arrival of the others.
Once inside, she went to the straight to the mirror, removed
the sheet that covered it, and lay it aside, swiveled it, and reread the verse.
See your friends, and share the mirth;
Learn your enemies, and decide their worth.
If the face is good and kind, nought but joy, shall ye find;
But if foul the countenance there; tis no friend, thus beware.

She returned the mirror to its proper position and tried to


recall what Aunt Lydia had told her about the mirror when
Brooke was just a small girl. Then she remembered.
Its a Snow White kind of mirror, Aunt Lydia had said,
after shed read the fairy tale to a young Brooke. When
someone good is reflected, the mirror presents them in their
true pleasant demeanor. But when a wicked person peers into
it, they show the face they have earned - an ugly one to be
sure.
Brooke had forgotten that long ago conversation, and over
time, the mirror in the corner had just been another piece of
furniture to her. But she was sure that the faded verse on the
back predated her Aunt Lydia, whom she never recalled having
such exquisite penmanship.
Suddenly she felt tired, and sat in the old rocker and closed
her eyes. She hadnt meant to fall asleep, especially after all
the coffee she had drunk, but she did. A knock at the back
door startled her awake, and she stood up and went to answer
it. A man shed never seen stood on the steps. He was smiling
broadly and quickly flashed a ID card.
Im from the gas company, he told her. Weve had a leak
in the neighborhood and are checking all the nearby homes.
May I check the basement?
Well, I guess thats all right, Brooke said, just as the front
door bell rang.
I can find my way, he told her. That the basement? he
asked, pointing at a door in the next room.
Distracted by the insistent bell, Brooke nodded and hurried
off to unlock the front door. Her brother and sister stood there
grinning, and both gave her a hug as she ushered them inside.
Bet you were napping, her sister teased.
Brooke blushed and nodded her head.
Thats all right, Babbling Brooke, her brother said, using
his affectionate nickname for her. As the baby of the family,
you are officially entitled to take as many naps as you like.
Her sister had shed her coat and moved further into the
room.
Wow, so many memories here. All the family parties we had
every holiday, and the marvelous food. Aunt Lydia made the

best chocolate chip cookies. When I got married and moved


away, the thing I missed most were those cookies, Maddie
said.
Not us? her brother tried to imitate a hurt tone of voice,
but then laughed. Oh, well, at least Brooke and I had some
peace and quiet until I went off to college.
Brooke laughed; both her siblings were more than 10 years
older than she, who was the mid-life surprise for her parents,
and she was well used to their teasing.
So, sister Maddie questioned. What marvelous treasures
have you found?
Brooke moved to the mirror. Do you remember this?
The Magic Mirror, her sister exclaimed. She grinned and
peered at her reflection next to Brookes. I still think Im the
prettier sister.
Bill stepped behind them and smoothed his hair, now beginning to thin on top. Brooke was relieved to see that the two of
them looked just as shed expected to see them - kind and
normal.
She was just about to tell them about the verse, when suddenly another figure appeared behind them. It was the man
whod said he was from the gas company, standing there.
However, his face as reflected in the mirror had an ugly scowl
and a very threatening look in his eyes.
But the most startling thing was Bills reaction to him. He
swung around and addressed the man. Who are you and what
do you want?
The man took his hand out of his coat pocket and pointed a
small black gun at the siblings. Just take it easy, and nobody
gets hurt.
He said he was from the gas company, Brooke burst in.
Not likely, Bill said. On our way over, we stopped at the
realtors to see when hed be available to come over this afternoon, and he warned us about a series of thefts in this neighborhood lately. Id venture to say, this may be who he said the
police are looking for.
Doesnt matter what Im here for, just give me your jewelry
and cash and Ill clear out now.
But before Bill and his sisters could comply with his demands, the front door was thrown open and two policeman and

another man came in. The officers had their guns trained on
the robber, who dropped his quickly.
The officers subdued him without incident, said a few words
to the man who had accompanied them, and led the thief away.
The man then went over to the group who now stood facing the
front door.
Thanks, Mr. Harris, Bill said. Then turning to Brooke, he
continued. This is one of gentlemen from the realtors office
that we went to see. His partner Mr. Collins told us that there
had been some thefts in this neighborhood and that the police
were currently investigating, but I had no idea theyd be so
close.
Actually, they werent, Mr. Harris said. Since our office is
just down the street, Id walked over from my office and was
taking some outside measurements while you were talking with
Mr. Collins. I saw that man enter the house earlier, and was
suspicious enough to call the police. I was just ready to come
in myself, when they arrived.
We sure are glad you did, Maddie told him.
What do you think about Mr. Harriss office doing the appraisal, Brooke? Bill asked her.
Brooke turned slightly, catching out of the corner of her eye
the reflection of Mr. Harris in the mirror behind them. His image was just of a middle aged friendly man in the glass - exactly how he looked when Brooke moved forward to shake his
hand.
I know hell do a fair job, and a good one, she answered.
But were keeping the Magic Mirror, she added smiling.
Anything you say, Sis, Bill said. He turned to look in the
mirror, patting once again the bald spot on top of his head.
But if this thing is magic, I would have hoped it could have
given me a little more hair.
She said it was Magic, Bill, Maddie explained. She didnt
say it worked Miracles.
Their mutual laughter helped to ease the tension in the room.
How about a late lunch before we get down to business,
Mr. Harris said. Theres a great sandwich shop next to our office. My treat.
Bill and Maddie followed Mr. Harris to the door, but Brooke
still stood by the mirror.

Coming, Brooke? Maddie asked.


In a second, she replied, picking up the sheet and placing it
carefully over the face of the mirror. With something that precious, it was important to take good care of it, she thought, and
with a smile, she turned to follow the others.
THE END
Book 8 of the Fruithills Suspense Series
Authors note: Although the stories have been inspired by
some actual places and events in history, they are all a product
of the author's imagination and not intended to represent any
persons, living or dead.
Look for other Feedbooks Original Books in this Series:
Book 1: An Old Flame
Book 2: Beckoning Bonneyville Mill
Book 3: The Christmas Jester
Book 4: New Year's Evil
Book 5: Tie a Know and Hang On
Book 6: Last Chance
Book 7: February 29
Copyright 2012 RoseMary McDaniel

www.feedbooks.com
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