"She Waits" by Lorraine Carey

She Waits

by Lorraine Carey

It was a breezy night as eight year old Mary Jane Eden sat in the rocker on the top floor of the old house.It had the best view on the island. The sun was just about to set as she watched its golden rays spread over the azure waters as if to illuminate and warm the sea. She smiled and felt at ease as there was not a cloud in the sky this late September evening. The mahogany wooden floor creaked as she rocked back and forth. The grounds people had left for the day. The tourists had been sparse lately and she had wondered who would show up tomorrow. Maybe someone who would want to stay.

She wandered around the three tier plantation checking to see if anyone was still there.She peered out of the louvered shutters once again checking the night sky for any hint of a storm. She went from room to room. It looked just the same as it did that day in 1877. She decided to sit on the wooden rocking horse as she rocked away until she became very sleepy.

*

“Now please,please, stay with your guide,” urged Mrs. Taylor. “If you get lost then it will reflect on

Source: Wikipedia Commons

Grand Island Elementary and we will never get to come back to visit.”

Mrs. Taylor had been taking her second grade class to Pedro St. James Castle for the past five years. It had been the old plantation house that was the home of democracy for Grand Cayman in the Cayman Islands.

“Students, as you know in 1831 this island signed its first democracy papers and the government had been formed,” raved a tall elderly man who was the main docent for the tour.

“ My name is Mr.Dalton. You will watch a movie on the history of the castle in the movie room and then we will begin our live tour.”

The lights all went out. There was blackness as the big screen rolled down from the ceiling. Mrs. Taylor’s students began to scream.

“SSh!” fussed Mrs. Taylor.

“But, Mrs. Taylor, I’m scared and I don’t like this place,” said Jessa Franklin as she clung to Mrs. Taylor’s sleeve.

Dana Benson had her arm around Jessa as they were best friends. “It’s okay, Jessa. It’s just a movie.”

“I can walk her outside,” offered Mrs. Ebanks, one of the parent volunteers.

“I will be okay, Mrs. Taylor,” said Jessa.

“The movie will be over soon and then we will be out in the sunshine,” stated Mrs. Taylor.

When the movie screen rolled up, the lights came back on and everyone clapped, especially Jessa.

“Okay, students, now that you know the history of the plantation you will get a tour from our guides, said Mr. Dalton.

“I’m glad, that’s over, huffed Jessa as she wiped the sweat off her forehead while they walked outside. The bright sunlight hit their faces like a strobe light causing all of the students to squint.

“Mrs. Taylor, can I use the restroom?” asked Dante Reed.

“Sure, and you know, I think we’ll all take a break before heading on with the tour,”she added. “Please stay with your group. We’ll meet out by the main house when you are done.”

“ Ya know, Dana,for some reason this place really gives me the creeps. Do you believe the stories of the slaves they kept in the basement and all that went on here?”

“Yeah, and I kinda like it,” commented Dana as she smoothed her long black hair in the mirror.” I especially like the story of how the Eden family moved out right after their daughter was struck by lightening on the stairs in 1835.”

“You’re weird, girlfriend,”

“No, I just love old places, and I’ve been here before with my mom. There’s just something about it. It makes me feel good.”

“Well, it makes me feel sick,” added Jessa.

Source: Wikipedia Commons

As all of the students gathered at the front of the steps to the main house they listened to each tour guide give explicit instructions.

“Some of the rooms have been sealed off due to preservation,” said Mrs. Kline, who was dressed up as a former housekeeper from the 1800s in traditional Caymanian style. She wore a long red checkered dress, a white apron and had a scarf tied around her head.

Mrs. Kline explained to the children and told them to respect and not touch many of the items as they were original and actually some of the real toys that had belonged to Mary Jane, daughter of the Eden family.

Mrs. Ebanks had a tight hold of Dante Reed’s arm as she knew he was a real pistol.

Jessa and Dana were fortunately in the same group. They followed Mrs. Kline up the steps to the first level where the old kitchen was and a room with a long dining room table.

“Would you look at this wooden table!” exclaimed Dana.

“Yeah, I’m looking at it,” mumbled Jessa’

“ You’re still afraid, aren’t you? “asked Dana

“Just a bit, it’s better now that we got out of that dark movie room,” said Jessa.

“Just try to relax and enjoy yourself,” said Dana as she put her arm around her friend.

As they now made it up to the second level a slight breeze picked up. It was a refreshing break from the heat of the midday island sun.

“The rocker - it’s moving!” shouted Jessa.

“Of course it is, silly, it’s the wind,”said Dana.

Jessa and Dana followed the group to peer into the master bedroom where an old rocking horse sat. It was also rocking back and forth.

“Now, you’re gonna say that the wind is causing this too!” cried Jessa.

Source: Wikipedia Commons

“Of course all of the shutters are open and the breeze is going to make it rock” countered Dana.

“Ya know, Dana, I think I’m gonna walk downstairs to get a drink and wait there for the rest of you. I will tell Mrs. Kline.

“Okay, if that makes you feel any better,” said Dana.

*

The wind was picking up pretty hard now and some dark clouds were rolling in. It seemed Cayman was about to get another one of its squalls.

“Okay, everyone now gather round and hurry downstairs to the main floor. We will all walk back to the bus. Please stay with your guide,” sternly said Mrs. Taylor.

Dana was the last one in line as she heard the creaking of the old mahogany floor. She turned around to see the rocking chair was moving faster than ever.

She couldn’t take her eyes off it as if she was locked in a trance. She was oblivious to the calls from the guides down below as they called the children's names and doing a head count. She stood for a moment frozen in time.

She began to shake off the weird feeling and began to walk away when a voice called out softly,”Where are you going?”

She turned around to see an apparition of a small girl rocking in the chair. She froze in her steps.

“Can you please stay a little longer?” asked the girl. “Please, don’t leave.”

She was wearing a long blue dress with a white apron that was torn and dirty. Her hair was blonde and stingy as it blew in the breeze across her face.

Dana’s feet felt as heavy as bricks but she managed to force herself to get away as fast as she could without looking back.

Just as she made it to the bottom a crack of lightening struck and the storm was rolling in very quickly. She could hear Mrs. Taylor calling her but it sounded like a faint echo.

All of the students were running for the bus as strikes of lightening were bolting down. The rain was coming down in sheets.

“Dana Johnson, where are you?” called Mrs. Taylor.

“I think she’s still in the main house, Mrs. Taylor. “She’s my friend and we’ve got to go and get her!” cried Jessa.

“No, Jessa, you stay here. I will go and look for her.

Mrs. Taylor covered her head with a plastic bag and ran in the storm over to the house. There she found

Dana standing on the flight of the stairs in the rain, lightning striking like crazy.

“Come child, grab onto me.”

Image by Fallen-Studio

She was able to pull Dana off the stairs and they got to the bottom of the landing. A giant crackle came and they turned around to see a little girl on the stairs being stuck by lightening.As the lightening hit a large glow appeared and then she was gone.

Mrs. Taylor put her arms around Dana as they hurried back to the bus.

“What’s wrong, Dana?” “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” ranted Jessa.

“No, Jessa, I just saw history and you know how much I love this place."