Chapter Twenty: Henry:

His name was Henry. He spoke properly and softly. I think he was about twenty years old when we first met him. Henry was soaked to the bone from standing outside of our house. He sat at the kitchen table, shivering. Doris had gotten candles out and lit them. I sat next to him, staring.

“Are you okay?” Grandma asked. The young man nodded.

“I wish I could give you something hot to drink, but the power’s out at the moment,” she said. He mumbled something in reply. Mama raised her eyebrow as she glared at him.

“What the hell were you doing out there in the rain?” she asked. Grandma smacked her on the arm.

“Ow!” Mama complained. Grandma glared at her.

“Watch your mouth,” she hissed.

“What? We’re all thinking the same thing,” Mama said. Grandma glared at her. Doris joined us at the table.

“I’m a transit,” the man said. “I came from down the road when the meat shop owner kicked me out.”

“So you’re homeless?” Mama asked.

“No, the world is my home,” he said.

“Homeless,” she said again. Grandma frowned before turning her attention to the man.

“What is your name?” she asked.

“Henry,” the man said.

“Nice to meet you, Henry,” Grandma said. “My name is Kathrine Moss. This is my daughter, Patsy. Over there is my old friend, Doris. And next to you is my granddaughter, Kinsey.”

“Hi,” I mumbled.

“Nice to meet all of you,” Henry said. Mama rolled her eyes.

“Where were you headed, Henry?” Doris asked.

“Wherever life took me,” he said. Mama snorted.

“Oh great, we enjoyed some hippie whacko,” she said. “Ow!” Grandma glared at her.

“Watch your tongue, girl!” she hissed. Mama rolled her eyes.

“You old bat,” she muttered. Grandma ignored her and turned back to Henry.

“Please don’t mind my daughter,” she said. “She acts like she has no manners, but I raised her better than that.” Mama stuck out her tongue and got up from the table.

“I’m going to bed,” she said. We watched as she walked down the hall. Doris shook her head.

“Honestly,” she said. “You would think that she was raised in a trailer park.” Doris paused and looked at Grandma. “I’m sorry, miss.” Grandma shook her head.

“None taken,” she said. Another flash of lighting sounded outside. I closed my eyes and screamed.

“Are you outside?” I heard Henry asked.

“No,” I said.

“She just a little bit scared,” Doris said. Suddenly, I felt a hand on my head.

“What are you doing?” Grandma asked

“Shhh,” Henry whispered. “Shhh. Shhh. Shhh.” The whole room went silent. My body relaxed as I opened my eyes. Suddenly, I didn’t feel scared anymore. I looked up to see Grandma and Doris staring at me.

“What happened?” I asked.

“I just ate your fears,” Henry said. I noticed his voice trembling. When I turned my head, he looked worried in the candle light. Then, the power cut back on.

“Oh, the power’s back,” Doris said. She leaned forward and blew out the candle on the table.

“Do you have anywhere to stay for the night?” Grandma asked Henry.

“No, ma’am,” he said. She stood up from the table.

“Well, I don’t know where you are going, but you can’t go back out there for the night,” she said. “I will have to put you up until I figure out what to do with you in the morning. I will not hear any arguments from you. The weather is saying you have to stay.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Henry said in a quiet voice.

“I’ll go get the room ready,” Doris said. She stood up from the table and walked down the hall. Grandma followed after her. When they were gone, Henry turned to me with a serious look in his eyes. What he said next chilled me to the bone to this day.

“That girl in your room is not really your friend,” he said in a low voice. “You have to cut your ties with her before she kills you.” He scared me there. How did he know about Miranda? Who was this man? Was he related to Mr. Grieves somehow?