SweetChocolateEcstasy.PDF by Ing

Author:Ing [Ing]
Format: epub
Published: 2010-02-13T06:57:37+00:00

CHAPTER 5

On Wednesday, Craig returned at closing time to tutor Alicia just as he’d promised. Madison remained in her office going over the supply orders, listening to Craig’s deep voice as he explained math concepts. Alicia’s higher pitched voice rose excitedly each time she understood what he was telling her and proved on paper that she could do it. When the half hour ended, she heard Craig leave through the front door and the click of the lock as Alicia secured it behind him. Then Alicia appeared at the office door.

“My brother’s here to pick me up. I’ll see you in the morning,”

“Thanks, and good night.”

Waiting until she was sure they were both gone, Madison let herself out the alley door.

Turning toward the Miata after she’d locked the door, Madison froze at what she saw at the end of the alley. It was still daylight, but the figure standing there threatened her just by its presence. 62

SWEET CHOCOLATE ECSTASY

It was the Funny Woman.

She’d first appeared when Madison was about three, but it had been years since she’d last seen her, and Madison didn’t think she’d changed. The woman was of medium height and wore her long, white hair in a braid down her back. Huge, dark-rimmed spectacles covered her face, and for no reason that Madison had ever been able to figure out, something resembling five long feathers stuck up out of the back of her hair. They were narrow and fluffy: from some bird Madison had never been able to identify. The Funny Woman was always dressed in a multicolored peasant skirt and blouse with a print vest. Her legs were covered with cotton stockings that had green and white horizontal stripes. Black pointed shoes with thick heels completed her costume. As a little girl, Madison had been scared of her, but the figure had always seemed benign. This evening, though, she glared with a look so filled with anger and malevolence that Madison shuddered. Madison closed her eyes and rubbed them, hoping to see the apparition gone when she opened them, but the woman was still there. Madison didn’t know what to do. “Who are you? Why are you here?

What do you want?” she called out.

Silence.

For a time she waited for the Funny Woman to do something, to do anything, but she didn’t. Finally, heart pounding, her mouth dry with fear, Madison turned to get in the Miata. Remembering Carol’s warning about someone hiding in it if she left it unlocked, she thought she might pass out as she looked. The car was empty. Taking a deep breath, she climbed in, hurriedly locked the doors, rolled up the windows, and slowly drove toward the woman. The Funny Woman disappeared. There was no other way to describe it. She just disappeared.

Relieved yet still tense, Madison thought about her early experiences with the apparition while she drove. She’d been so young it 63

SWEET CHOCOLATE ECSTASY

took a while for her mother to realize her daughter wasn’t talking about the imaginary playmates some children create when they’re lonely.

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