Chapter #29Final Instructions (Don't) Prevent Firm Suspicions by: Nostrum   “Alright,” Mrs. Wilson sighs, addressing the three of you. “Jimmy, I’m starting with you.”
“Why?”
“Because the last thing I want is for you to take this as an excuse to do what you want.” She turns towards Julia – her clone, for a given definition of one – to emphasize her point. “If she gives you an order, it’s an order. I don’t want you to disobey it because of how she’s acting. And you’ll cover up for her attitude with Heather, you hear?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Jules?” Her next address had a hint of Vanessa in her tone. “I know you must be confused, but while I’m dealing with Bradley, you keep an eye on the kids.”
“I don’t see why that’d be a problem,” the clone responds in the same monotone as when she realized the truth.
“The tone, for one. If Jimmy or Heather start disobeying you, call me and I’ll straighten them up. They’re your kids as well.”
“You heard her,” the clone warns your friend, but there is no menace on her tone. “It’s gonna be as usual.”
“I’ll be in touch, in any case. But since I need someone trustworthy...” Finally, the new Vanessa turns to you. “David?”
“David?” The clone makes a double take. “I thought she was Heather.”
“We needed to convince Bradley. I’m surprised you didn’t figure it out.”
“I thought David was going to convince Heather of our plan.” (As monotone as it is, it’s creepy to hear how the clone seems to take the real Mrs. Wilson’s words off her mouth.)
“Not really,” you clarify. “Just convince her that it’s Saturday. So when she wakes up, don’t tell her anything about the pens or what we did.”
“You know me,” the clone affirms. “My lips are sealed.”
“That’s good,” the real one tells her before addressing you. “What I wanted to tell you was to keep an eye on everyone. I’m not saying that you’ll basically be Jimmy’s dad, but I want to make sure he’ll be responsible.”
“Sure,” you tell her.
“Which makes this next request a bit easier.” Though she tells you that, Mrs. Wilson doesn’t sound very convinced. “I’m giving you permission to slip inside Julia and Heather while I’m gone.”
“You’re sure, Missus Wilson?”
“Not really, but you’re my only choice. I insist that, just like I told Jimmy, you don’t abuse of that privilege.”
“To be honest, I’m surprised you’re not asking me to not abuse the other privileges...”
“Which?” You shake Dennis’s pen case. “Oh, that. Yeah... I thought about keeping them, but I desisted.”
“Why?”
“I know it’ll sound silly, but I feel you’re mature enough to know what to do with them.” She grabs your case and borrows the purple pen. “I will keep this one, though. It’s... too dangerous for anyone.”
“And that includes you?” You feel Jimmy staring at you, making you step back. “I mean, you said it’s dangerous--”
“It’s alright, David. I won’t lie, though – now that I know what it does, I’ll always feel tempted to use it. But I’m more concerned of what would happen if it’s in your hands. I don’t want you to feel disappointed by learning this, but--”
“We get it, Mom.” You see how Jimmy squirms. “To be honest, I’d also feel tempted by it. And I could always leave it with David, since I know he wouldn’t abuse of it, but then I’d know it’s there. I don’t feel disappointed that you don’t trust us with it – I mean, you’re trusting us with all the other pens, no?”
She snickers. “True! I suppose you’ll use it for some pranks, but that’s what you boys do. All I ask is that you’re careful – this isn’t a toy. This can be a tool, but it can also cause a lot of harm.”
You notice how Jimmy shirks, but you feel the need to double down. “Think of what your dad wanted to do with your uncle.” You look at Mrs. Wilson, wincing. “Not like we’re any different, but at least we’re trying to have scruples.”
“I get you,” he answers. “Like, we could have some fun but put things back in their place. And maybe... I dunno, use it for something positive?”
“Exactly!” the new Vanessa answers, instinctively hugging her son and nephew. “If I thought you weren’t mature enough to consider this, I wouldn’t leave you the pens Dennis brought in. I trust you won’t abuse them, and I trust David will make good use of them.”
“They are tempting,” you confess.
“Now, as I was saying... I want you to keep an eye on everyone. If Jimmy gets too unruly for Julia, give me a call and I’ll straighten him. If Heather gets too unruly, I’m giving you permission to give her a time-out. And if you feel Julia needs a little more emotion,” she says as she rubs her clone’s hand, “slip into her and make her a little bit livelier.”
“You’re telling him to wear me,” the clone flatly replies.
“Yes, honey, but I also want him to respect you as he respects me. If you feel like there are too many unexplained blackouts, give me a call. I just want everyone to know that no one’s above us, alright?”
“Understood.”
“Good.” With a sigh of relief, the new Vanessa stands, storing the purple pen in her purse. “I’ll be with Bradley for a week to see how he’s doing. If I feel comfortable replacing Vanessa, I’ll let you know. Otherwise, I’ll be back next week.”
“Mom?” Jimmy approaches her, holding her hand. “I know it sounds weird, but you’re gonna like it. Uncle Brad’s a good man.” Then, he hugs her, tears flowing from his eyes. “And I’ll love you no matter how you look.”
“I want you to hug and kiss and love Julia just as you love me. She’s just as much your mother as I am, alright?”
“Um...” He looks at the clone, attempting to appear normal, and nods. “I’ll try.”
“Good.” Then, she kisses you in the cheek, almost as if you were the real Heather. “Take her off as soon as you can, alright? Doesn’t have to be now, though.”
“I think I had enough Heather for a week,” you confess as you rip off her face off yours. “Or anyone’s skin, to be honest.”
“I’m sure you’re saying that because of everything that happened, but I’m sure you’ll be slipping into someone else in due time. Just remember – they're people. Try to solve any issues with them as people do. Be mature, alright?” As you nod, you notice she relaxes into a very haughty pose. “Well, kids, I need to leave. Tell Heather to feel better.”
“We’ll handle it,” you tell her. “Try to enjoy this new opportunity in life.”
“I’ll try, my dear. Oh, and try to visit Marie during the week, Julia. She’ll appreciate it.”
“I’ll see what I can do,” the clone replies obediently.
“Good. Bye!” As Mrs. Wilson departs – to borrow her sister’s life for a week – you notice the clone sighs in strange relief. It seems the real one’s pep talk stirred her into something, as though she still acts robotic, there is motivation in her actions.
“I suppose I must cook now. David, I want to be there when Heather awakes. I want to see how you do it.” She taps your shoulder, giving the creepiest leer you’ve seen from her – wooden, but still holding a hint of Mrs. Wilson’s playfulness. “And you heard Nessie – I better know what you’ll be using me for before I allow you, alright?”
--
It’s been only a couple of days, but Jimmy and his family haven’t left your mind.
You woke Heather half an hour after Mrs. Wilson left, while Julia tagged along. (It’s easier to call Mrs. Wilson’s clone by her first name, to make things easier for you to distinguish them.) She’s proven to be helpful, as despite her low-energy mood, she helped you convince her “daughter” that she should be more careful with her help.
Your stint at the Wilsons, however, brought some trouble at yours. Tina went hard on you Saturday night and Sunday morning, harassing you about being at Jimmy’s house for far too long. “What’s so important about him that you must be at his home every day?” she argued.
You ignored her, but when your mother asked nicely, you revealed something. “Missus Wilson has had some issues lately,” you tell her. “Her sister helped her with a job and she had to leave for a moment, and she asked if I could keep an eye on them.”
“Why didn’t she tell me anything?”
“It was spur of the moment, Mom. She wanted me to help Jimmy with the situation, keeping him company, but she returned after a couple days because of something that happened with her ex-husband.”
“Is that so?” You notice your mother’s shocked. “She barely talks about him.”
“For good reason,” you mention as you explain how you met Dennis. (Or, rather, spun a story about how Dennis appeared out of nowhere and revealed to Jimmy and Heather that they’re his children.) “Jimmy wasn’t taking it well, so the missus asked me if I could stay and help him with it.”
And even though it was based on a lie, you unwittingly nailed Jimmy’s feelings. He appeared well on Monday, suggesting how to use the pens, but you know – somehow – that he’s faking all that excitement. Or, rather, that while he’s genuinely excited by the idea, he’s using it to distract himself from something else.
And you confirm him as you explain why you haven’t been able to visit him recently. “Tina’s been on my ass because I’ve been on your home for too long.”
“So your big sister’s also bothering you?” You feel how he relieves emotionally as he asks you.
“It’s just for a couple days. No biggie. What’s the matter with Heather, though?”
“She’s suspecting something. It started with a couple questions about... well, Mom’s odd behavior. I said it was because of stress, but she’s not biting.”
“Did you tell your ‘aunt’ about it?”
“Yeah, but that’s not helping. You don’t mind helping on that one?” You have the following choice: 1. Continue |
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