MicroHorror

“Come outside, and help me work in the yard.”

Twelve-year-old Em looked up from her desk and saw her dad in the doorway. His face was pale, and he was wearing a coat that was too thick for this time of year. “But you said I had to finish my homework before I did anything else.”

“Don’t argue,” Dad said and walked away.

She wondered if this had to do with Susan, her step-mom. Nobody could make Dad change his mind like Susan could. He’d do about anything to keep her from nitpicking at him.

Em got up and slipped on a jacket. She walked through the house, caught a glimpse of Susan scowling at her from the living-room couch, and hurried outside.

It was rush hour, so many cars sped by on the highway. She saw Dad blowing leaves at the far end of the side yard. She walked over to him. He saw her and shut down the machine.

“Is your homework done?” he asked.

She was confused. “No, I just told…”

“Then you shouldn’t be outside yet,” he interjected.

She started to argue, but then she noticed something weird. His face was no longer pale, and he was not wearing a coat.

Just then, she heard a terrible screeching noise and turned to see a semi swerving to miss an idle car. The monstrous machine crossed the lanes of traffic, went through the front yard, and slammed into the house.

“My God!” Dad shouted. “Susan is in there!”

He ran toward their mangled home.

Em stayed back. “I don’t know if you can hear me,” she said. “I’m not talking to the Dad trying to save his dead wife. I’m talking to the one who let her die.” She got a chill and had to stop for a few seconds. She took a deep breath. “I guess you knew the truck was coming, and I guess you knew Susan had been hitting me when you weren’t around.” She watched Dad search frantically through the ruins. “I guess he doesn’t know yet, but I’ll tell him soon enough. Thank you.”

Em walked toward the Dad she could see.