My sister was walking down the sidewalk naked. I ran down the street past manicured lawns and white picket fences, blessing the early darkness of autumn. She was walking slowly as if just going for an evening stroll. I touched her shoulder and said, "Gawd Margorie! Come back inside!"
"No, I'm going out. Why don't you come with me?", she looked at me with those big doe eyes of hers.
Jeezus, I thought, not again. "I'm not dressed to go out. Why don't you come back and help me get ready?"
"Ok, I think you'll really like the lights tonight", she said dreamily and started to walk back to the house.
I let out a big sigh of relief and followed her. I quickly and firmly put her to bed and locked her door. Then I looked down the hall to the back bathroom and narrowed my eyes. I could hear the shower going. I stalked to the bathroom door and pounded on it, yelling, "Brian! Let me in! I need to talk to you!" I heard the water shut off and crossed my arms, expecting to face a recalcitrant young man, but instead I heard the door that leads from the bathroom to the backyard open and close. Goddammit! I stomped down the hall muttering about old houses with too many doors and swept my way into the backyard from the second back door. He was around the corner of the house, bent over a table, shoulders shaking. I walked up to him and saw tears dropping onto the table. I fumed. "You have to make a choice!", I managed to get out through clenched teeth. My fists were balled up against my side and I wanted to hit something, but I managed to keep my hands tight against my thighs. He didn't say anything or even look at me for a full minute and I was afraid I would do something I might regret. I made a loud sound of disgust, threw up my hands, and stomped back into the house. I flopped down on the couch and lit one of my homemade cigarettes. It helped calm me down a little bit, but I was still tapping my toes nervously when he came into the living room. He stood in front of me, looking guilty. I took a drag on my cig and looked at him. I raised one eyebrow questioningly; I knew my annoyance still showed. "All right", he mumbled, "I'll do it." I smiled in satisfaction and opened my arms to him. He came to me and laid his head on my chest. "That's right, baby", I purred, "Everything will be ok."
That was the night that Margorie disappeared.
