A Conversation

Suspense Stories | Apr 5, 2012 | 4 min read
224 Votes, average: 4 out of 5
"Uncle Edwin."

"Mmph."

"Uncle Edwin."

"Wha…Bebe…sumthin' the matter?"

"No."

"Why'd you wake me up?"

"I wanted to tell you something."

"What?"

"I watched you while you were sleeping."

"Hunh. Damn it, something bit me."

"You want some pink itch cream?"

"No, that's okay."

"Uncle Edwin why do you sleep on the sofa with your shoes on?"

"Oh…when I get home from work I'm so tired, sometimes I fall asleep before I can get up and put on my pajamas."

"You shouldn't do that. It gets the sofa dirty. You know Mommy doesn't like it when the sofa is dirty. It's bad. Daddy used to sleep on the sofa with his shoes on. He had to go away."

"I don't think that was why Daddy left."

"Yes. Yes it was. Daddy was bad and Mommy said he had to go. I helped him go away. I made sure he wouldn't…come…BACK.  SO NO SHOES ON THE SOFA!"

"All right. I'll remember next time. Uh, what do you mean you made sure he wouldn't come--"

"Good. You know, you sleep with your mouth open. There were spit bubbles on your lips. I put my finger almost all the way inside your mouth. I even touched your tongue. Blech. Uncle Edwin somebody coulda just sawed your tongue right off."

"Bebe--"

"I was real quiet Uncle Edwin. I sat on the coffee table for a while. Then I got up so I could get close to your face.  Like…this…"

"Got it. Now back up."

"You look funny when I get close to you. You squint up your eyes like I'm going to hit you or something. Daddy used to squint up like that too when I wanted to tell him I loved him. He was so funny. Even when he had to go. He put his hands up and cried. I never hit him. I wouldn't hit you, Uncle Edwin. You believe me don't you?"

"Of course I--"

"Okay, so I got hungry.  I made a peanut butter sandwich, and I sat on the coffee table and watched you some more. Your face is interesting. Your nose looks like a tiny map of Iceland."

"Bebe where's Nora?"

"Gone."

"When's she coming home?"

". . ."

" Don't just stare, answer me."

". . ."

" Shrugging's not an answer either. Why would your mother go out and not say something to me? She knows I don't like being alone with—"

"Uncle Edwin, I liked watching you sleep. "

"Okay good, Bebe. Go watch TV or something."

"Watching you is better."

"But I'm not asleep now."

"Unh-hunh…when I was watching you, I could see your pulse…on your neck. It made your skin move up and down like there was a worm under there trying to escape. "

"Bebe when you talk like…"

"Uncle Edwin."

"What?"

"When I talk like what?"

"Hunh?"

"You said, ‘Bebe when you talk like,' and then you stopped. You stared into space. I spelled Mississippi twice."

"You did? I feel…"

"Uncle Edwin, your face is going pink."

"…like I'm slowing down."

"You want some tea? I can make it for you."

"Tea. Yeah. Good. Tea is good. I probably need to move around. Shake this off. I'll make it myself. "

"Okay."

"Damn it, my arms and legs feel like they weigh a ton."

"Get up."

"It's too difficult."

"Try."

"I…can't."

"Try harder."

"Bebe…help me up."

"You're a grown up, do it yourself."

"Bebe…don't stand over there. Come help me."

"It's getting dark. I'm getting hungry again. You want a peanut butter sandwich?"

"Jesus. I can't…

"Mommy tried really hard to get off the bed."

"You…you said she was gone."

"She asked me to help her up, but I told her she was a grown up and to do it herself. She flopped around for a while then she stopped. Her eyes got real big and she stared at me for a long time until tears rolled into her ears but I won that contest. I watched the side of her neck like I watched yours, Uncle Edwin.  It thumped for a little while then it stopped. Mommy was very quiet after that."

"Bebe, what happened?"

"Know what? I'll make your tea."

"Damn it Bebe…what happened!"

"I don't know."

"Yes...you do. Tell me."

"Well…"

"TELL ME!"

"You're mad at me!"

"No…Bebe…come back. Please. I'm not mad…please. I just don't feel well."

"Yesterday morning after you fell asleep on the sofa, I went in your room and looked in your medical bag."

"I have told you…your mother has told you…never, ever go into my bag. Wait…my…bag was locked, and in my closet safe."

"It wasn't hard to figure out the combination. Grandma's birthday? Anyway I got the medical bag key out of your jacket pocket. There were so many interesting things to look at. Like the scalpels, the stethoscope, this little bottle of medicine…it's in my pocket…here, look."

"Oh no…"

"When I grow up I want to cut people open so I can look at their insides. What's it called?"

"Autopsies."

"Autopsies. That's what I want to do. So…I figured I would start to practice now, and I gave Mommy a shot."

"You…what?"

"I wanted to trick Mommy like the doctor tricks me. I practiced filling the needles from the little bottle early this morning in my room."

"Needles…?"

"Hey, you're sweating. Anyway, this morning Mommy was sitting on the bed, on the phone. When I went into her room, I hid her shot behind my back. After she hung up I pretended I wanted to hug her, and I stuck the needle into the side of her neck."

"You..."

"Oh, Uncle Edwin I was very careful. I took her organs out one at a time and made sure Mommy was good and healthy."

"No. God, no. This isn't a bug bite, is it?"

"Nope. I gave you your shot riiight there…"

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Reviews

Helen Chapman Jan 13, 2013

Oh. Now I find it. I love this one. You need to send stuff to real paying venues girl.

Belinda k Jan 16, 2013

HEEEYYYYY!!!!!!!!!! *runs full-tilt, tackles Helen C. to the ground* Thanks, bebe *wink*

Helen Chapman Jan 16, 2013

by the time you get to Nashville in August, you will have this one sold. Repeat after me: Sell this story. Sell this story. As the EST and Power of Positive Thinking people used to say, Name it, Claim it.

Gary Apr 26, 2012

Hey Miss Belinda. I've been reading stories on this site for awhile but have only just signed up today. I have to say that of all the authors, I enjoy reading you the most. You are refreshing and your stories are always well written. I especially loved th

Belinda k Jul 19, 2012

Hello Gary. I apologize for not thanking you before, but it's a little difficult to tell what's happening from the way the notifications are set up, and I didn'trealize you had commented until recently. Thank you for your compliment, and I look forward to

HiGHopes Apr 9, 2012

hihshaha .. this is a tiny little scoundrel story. a real kick in the ass. Good one. But this could have been great if the end wud be some thing else... rather then expected. But none the less.. great shot.

Belinda k Apr 9, 2012

I think at some point my brain wasn'teven capable of conjuring anything other than "expected." But...thank you for the "good one."

Jagrit Apr 9, 2012

Wow! that's really a creepy one... I think a short movie can be made on this... :)

Belinda k Apr 9, 2012

Thank you! I tried to imagine hiding behind the door listening to the conversation.

SmilingWoman Apr 8, 2012

Great job telling a story strictly with dialogue. Not an easy feat to do. I could just see something like this in "The Twilight Zone". What a wack-a-doodle little girl. Heh.

Belinda k Apr 9, 2012

do you know how HARD that was? I'll tell you. it was HARD. but thanks. I tried. I think I used some really important braincells that I needed and now I don'thave them anymore. :(

John Shea Apr 7, 2012

Great story! I'd like to know a little bit more about Bebe . . .

Belinda k Apr 8, 2012

Thanks John! I don'twant to be alone with Bebe to interview her for a bio, man.

Ethel Apr 7, 2012

Creepy. Just plain creepy. In a good way.

Belinda k Apr 8, 2012

That's a good thing. If you saw me in person you probably wouldn'tbelieve I write this stuff. I've definitely got a sort of...little librarian thing going on. Once, I met some online friends for dinner, one of whom I'd never met face to face before. She k

Seven L. Cooper Apr 6, 2012

Totally sick and wonderful! Love it! =)

Belinda k Apr 8, 2012

Thanks. I try, and sometimes I get it right or close enough. :-)

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