Saving Cicadas by Nicole Seitz

than Janie the last time she saw this house. Give her some space. Priscilla honey, take all the time you need. I’m right here for you. We all are.”
    Of course, I knew all these things, and tears burned my eyes at the thought. I knew how happy my child was here. How content all of us were. The car was quiet except for the hum of the engine burning the gas Priscilla couldn’t afford. I turned around and watched Janie assessing the house. Her eyes traveled up and rested at the windows up top, dark and shrouded with curtains.
    â€œDidn’t you say the house was haunted?” she said. “Why’s it haunted, Poppy?”
    â€œOh, honey, that’s just . . . when your Grandma Mona and I lived here, she used to swear she could hear footsteps, voices, and such. My mother heard it too, though I never heard a thing. So if you ask me . . .”
    â€œIt was the ghost of your Aunt Gertrude, Grayson,” I said. “She would move things. And throw spools of thread. I saw it with my own eyes.”
    â€œOh now, that’s enough. Don’t scare the poor girls before they even go in.”
    â€œGracious, let’s just—”
    â€œLet’s go find a motel room,” said Priscilla, changing the subject. “Maybe have us a nice supper. I bet tomorrow I’ll have the nerve to go in. I bet I will. What do you say?”
    â€œTime go work,” Rainey said. “Need get my apron on.”
    â€œOh, I know, baby. I know.” Priscilla sighed long and controlled.
    â€œYou’ve got to be kidding,” I said. “Again?”
    â€œYou know your granddaughter, Mona. Don’t act like you’re so surprised. I expect every day of this trip will be more of the same. Not to mention, you should be proud she’s got such good work ethic.”
    â€œI’m not complaining,” I told Grayson. “I know who my granddaughter is, thank you very much. And I’m very proud of her, but . . . listen, how about just open the door and let me out here.”
    â€œDon’t pout, Mona.”
    â€œI’m not pouting; I’m just tired of being in this car, is all. Let me out, Priscilla. I’d like to walk around and get a feel for the old place. See if there’s anybody here I still remember.”
    â€œI’ll go with you, then,” said Grayson.
    Rainey unbuckled herself and pushed on the door. “Open, Mama.” “Honey, we’re not staying—” she said, but I unlatched the door from the front and Rainey stepped on out. Grayson followed her. Rainey stretched her legs and her arms way up to the sky. Priscilla gave her a minute, then said, “Come on back in, Rainey. We’re going to try and find you a grocery store. Would you like that?”
    â€œYeah, ’cause I scared-a ghost.”
    â€œThere’s nothing to be afraid of, honey,” said Priscilla. “Come get up front with me.”
    I slipped out of the car when Rainey came in. I grabbed Grayson’s hand and squeezed it tight.
    â€œY’all go do your fun and we’ll be waiting here for you,” he told them. “On the front porch, maybe. Suppertime.”
    â€œDon’t be late,” I added.
    So Priscilla, Janie, and Rainey drove off, my girls, leaving Grayson and me in front of the old house. We needed to see who was still around, see what all had changed. And we needed to spend time alone, away from our loved ones, to pray and prepare and wait for what must come.

Chapter Sixteen

THE SECRETS OF MOCKING BIRDS
    {Janie}
    The Snooze ’n Eat Inn in Forest Pines was just like Mama’s pancake house back home, but with bedrooms sticking off behind it. She went ahead and paid for a room, slipping her change purse out and digging like there was gold in there and she didn’t want anybody to see it. She set her money down, ran her hands through her hair, and turned back to look at us. She smiled on thin lips and said,