Chapter 18

In the morning, Marion didn’t understand.

“How did I get here?” She was refering to the bed.

“It was snowing and I was worried about getting snowed in.”

“So ... that doesn’t explain why I’m in the house.”

“You want the truth?”

Marion nodded.

“I have never seen anyone so obsessively determined, you were so wrapped up in the rifle that you never noticed ... or complained when I took your screwdriver. You were reaching for the instruction booklet when I picked you up and carried you ... through the snow ... to the house.”

Marion looked shocked.

“You had the booklet and were reading the next procedure.”

“I didn’t complain?”

“Not at all.” I gestured to the instruction booklet in her hand. She stared at it like it was a green alien. She hadn’t realized she had it.

“I slept with it?”

“I didn’t take it ... I tried ... not hard. I didn’t want to tear it.”

“Oh my god ... Mom said I had OCD. I didn’t believe her. I’m just me.” She took on a bleak look. “Is this dangerous?”

Rather than answer that I asked, “Have you ever caught yourself becoming aware of your surroundings?”

“You mean ... like... ‘I don’t know where I’ve been but I’m back?’”

“Just saying that means you have. I don’t like to call it ... but ‘normal’ people don’t do that. We generally have it spanked out of us when we’re kids.”

“Sometimes I feel like this is where I go when I need to get out of where I’ve been.” She needed to explain, “Where I’ve been is where I’m supposed to be ... and this is where my mind wanders to.”

“Have friends on the other side?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

“What?”

“The answer to your question.”

“What question?”

“Is this dangerous.”

“Ooo ... Mom said it was a problem.”

“You stopped telling her, didn’t you.”

“Yes ... I didn’t feel weird. I’m just me.”

“And WE are used to WE.”

“You do it too?”

“If I seem to be staring at you for a long time ... I’m probably somewhere else.

“That said, I like looking at you ... but looking and not seeing ... ah ... not so much.

“So where do you go when you’re gone?”

“Don’t laugh.”

“No promises. But I’ll try.”

“I’m splashing as I run through the shallows at a nude beach.” She blushed. “I AM the Center of attention.”

I broke out laughing...

She looked fierce and started to speak...

“I’m one of the starers. I was wondering where I’d seen you before ... and not the library.”