Swamp Magic

Aloysius Delacroix sat in a dark room. The only light came from the sun outside. His forgotten plantation home had been without power for at least a decade. But he didn't mind. When everyone complained about the heat of the Louisiana Bayou, Aloysius didn't mind. He always felt cold these days. Sometimes he'd find himself wrapped in one of her knitted blankets. Her name was Mary. She was a warm soul who never turned anyone away. Not like they got many visitors. Aloysius enjoyed the solitude though. So living in the 'Haunted House' wasn't a burden to him. 

He once lived in the world. He fought in a war, fell in love with a woman, and watched as his life broke in front of him. In his later years he retreated back to his home. For so long it was just him and his sister. She was comfortable out in the world. She'd go to church and return with stories. He missed her now that she was gone. More so, it was almost a constant reminder that his time would soon come to cross over. 

Staring out the window he heard the familiar sound of a boat. But this time it was different. The engine stopped. Aloysius slowly got up from his chair to get a better view. He couldn't see the boat because of the levee. But what he could see was the tall grass bending as someone made their way to the house. This happened from time to time. A salesman or whatnot would come looking for the Delacroix fortune or to swindle him out of something.

Aloysius knew how to handle trespassers. He opened the closet by the door and pulled out an old double barreled shotgun. It hadn't been loaded in years. But nobody had to know that. The knock came at the door and Aloysius came to attention. Aloysius readied his gun and was about to open the door when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. 

Glancing back toward the drawing room, he saw the apparition of Mary standing in the doorway with her hands on her hips. She was giving him that look she always gave him when she didn't approve of his behavior. Seeing Mary didn't surprise Aloysius. His family was touched, as they say. A second knock echoed through the house.

"Alright, alright, hold on. I'm Coming", he yelled through the door.

He looked at Mary through squinted eyes and laid the gun against the door jam.  Aloysius opened the door to find a young girl standing on his porch.

"I ain't buying no cookies", he said.

The girl looked confused at first. Then, she shook her head and held out her hand.

"Um, no mister. My friend found this on your property. I think it belongs to you", she said.

Aloysius opened the screen door and took the small object from her hand. It was small key. Looking at it closely he recognized it. It was the key to Mary's jewelry box. He hadn't been in Mary's room in a few years. But he had a suspicion as to how the key got out.

"Alright, thank you. You have a good day", he said as he turned back toward the door.

Mary was now standing in the way. Still staring him down. Aloysius looked at her for a moment.

"I think she wants you to invite me in", said the girl from behind him.

Aloysius turned back to look at her, his forehead wrinkled in surprise.

"Who", he asked.

"The lady standing there trying to set you on fire with her eyes."

This made Aloysius laugh.

"Yea, she does do that."

"I'm Kelly, I live up the river."

In mock defeat Aloysius held out his hand.

"I'm Aloysius", he said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Aloysius", she replied shaking his hand. 

 "Did I say 'Mr. Aloysius'? No, just Aloysius."

"Yes, sir."

He looked crossly at her for that.

"Aloysius", she added.

"I guess we best sit down or she's not going to leave us be", he said.

Kelly and Aloysius sat down on two rickety old rocking chairs on the porch.

"So what is it you think she wants from us", he asked Kelly.

"I don't know. She's the first ghost to follow me home."

"So you've seen others?" 

"Yea, I don't talk about it much. I used to get teased for it."

"Yea, people do that. They don't like different"

"How long have you been... different?" 

"Oh, both me and my sister have been this way our entire lives. My mother used to say the family was gifted." 

"Some gift, huh?"

Aloysius smiled at her.

"It's not all bad."

He reached over and pulled a dead flower from a small vase sitting on the table between them. Kelly watched as the petals began plump and turn red. He reached out and handed her a perfect rose.

"How'd you do that?"

"Swamp magic."

"Can I do that?"

 "I don't know, don't see why not."

"Maybe you could teach me?"

"I have a feeling I don't have a choice in the matter", he said looking back at the window behind them.

In the window Mary stood with a big smile on her face. Kelly looked at her and smiled back. Mary reached up and dragged her finger along the dirty glass and looked at it with exaggerated disgust.

"And in return I could tidy the place up a bit?"

"Looks like we ain't got a choice in that either", he said slumping back into his chair.