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Mary watched out the drapes as the old witch closed the door to her run down old house across the street, and began to make her way down the ragged concrete walkway to the road.
“What is that old witch up to now?” Mary questioned no one in particular.
The other women in the living room looked over at her questioningly. They sat huddled around the coffee table, talking in hushed voices over thier cups of coffee. It was a normal occurance, these midday gossip sessions. However, lately talk had turned exclusively to the old woman who had moved into the house across the street a few months ago. The house had seemed uninhabitable, and many of the townfolk wondered why it had not been condemned and torn down. The site of the little old woman moving her small moving van of her belongings into the house had been quite a shock for the neighbors.

Mary had gone over the day the moving van arrived to say hello and introduce herself (and glean some new gossip for her hash sessions she hosted), but the old woman had mearly looked at her, and turned away to take her things inside, never saying a word. Other people had attempted to be neighborly, but the old woman never answered the door, and when she was seen around the town doing her shopping or whatnot, she never replied to anyone. Rumors started that perhaps she was deaf, or mute. With her haggered look, and the way she kept her drapes and blinds closed at all times, people began to whisper about witches and dark arts. Of course, none of these had any kind of meat to back them up.. but people began to believe them as fact nonetheless.

Earlier this morning, though, Mary had noticed that the old woman’s upstairs window had been opened. It was such a strange sighting, and Mary had immediately dialed all of her gossip girlfriends and had them come over. Lucy and Susan had been required to bring their 12 year old daughters with them, because of the short notice. But this was too juicy to pass up! Luckily the two girls were friends, and were currently entertaining themselves in the back room.

“What is happening?” inquired Janet, peering outside to see what Mary was looking at.

“The old bat is going somewhere”, replied Mary, still watching as the old woman got to the curbside, and stepped off into the road, continuing across toward the house. “Oh, my.. it looks as if she is coming over here!” Mary exclaimed.
A chill went through the room, and everyone felt a dark forbodeing sense. Nothing was said, but suddenly they were all very afraid. They looked from one to each other. It was finally Lucille who half whispered, “We should hide”.

There was no argument from anyone. They all hid whereever they could, behind furniture and walls. Susan ran to the back and shut the door to the room the girls were in, closing them away from whatever was about to happen. The old woman reached the front door, and began knocking. The woman had some strength left in those old limbs, and the thuds revertebrated across the entire house, seeming to shake the very walls holding the place together. The knocking continued for a few moments, and then a voice filled the entire house, weathered but unwavering. “Mary! Mary I know you and your friends are in there! Come let me in!”

Mary looked towards the others, the fright well outlined in her face. Her large eyes buldged as she implored the others to help. What should she do?

Suddenly the lights all went out. It seemed a huge black cloud had covered the sun, and the house became cold and dark. The drapes and blinds all began to open and close, and somewhere a door banged open and shut. The girls came screaming out of the room, wondering what the heck was going on.

Again the voice filled the house. “Mary- I need your help. Please.” The lights came back on and the sun came back out. The house felt normal again, and there was just a weak knock at the door, and a wavering, old voice asking Mary if she may please come in.

The women looked around at each other, and stepped out from their hiding spots, and the two girls let go of their hold on thier mothers. One of the girls- Lucy’s daughter Megan, said “We should open the door.” The other girl- Jennifer- nodded her agreemnet. Lucy and Susan both exclaimed “no!” at the girls, looking at them as if they were insane. Again the knock came at the door. Mary looked at the others, and then walked slowly towards the door and opened it.

The old woman looked up at her, catching her eye and holding it for a moment. She was perhaps 5 feet tall, and was hunched over in the way the old people had. Her face was lined with wrinkles, and her skin had the look of parched leather. Her eyes, however, were a sharp green, burning with life, and seemed to be gauging the woman who stood before her. She nodded, as if deciding Mary would do, and began shuffling her way into the house. The group of women stood huddled in the living room, watching as the old woman made her way to the oversized couch and lowered herself down. Jennifer pulled away from her mother and went over to pour the old woman a cup of coffee and hand it to her.

“Thank you, my dear child.” the old woman said, patting Jennifers hand as she accepted the cup of coffee. She took a sip and then surveyed the others.
“My name is Annabelle Rosario. I am 84 years old. I am in need of your assistance.” she said, and then took another sip of her coffee. The others still stood, staring at her in shock. “Please, all of you, sit and listen to a story.” Annabelle said, sweeping her hand around in a gesture at the couches and chairs around the table.
The two girls were the first to move, sitting nearby the old woman, fascinated. The other women slowly followed suit, sitting themselves around, and fetching themselves some coffee as well.

(*** still being worked on ***)