The Lonely House

Young Timmy discovers how amazing his grandma really is.

         It started early on Saturday morning. I had just come outside after breakfast to play with my sister, Linda. Linda was ten years old; I was twelve. My mom, Lois, and my Grandma Mary Joe lived together in Grandma’s three-story house. We had lost Pop three years before. Now, Mamma calls me the man of the house.
         Sunrise coincided with Earth’s tremor. The sirens were roaring downtown and in the distant city. As the people panicked, the streets quickly filled with people and vehicles. People were screaming at each other. The entire city was in chaos. Vehicle accidents were everywhere. Sirens blared and echoed against the buildings.
I ran to the house when Grandma called me. The ground continued to shake, slowly increasing. Grandma had everyone in the living room. In her calm, soft voice, she told us we needed to stay inside the house, no matter what. We would be safe if we listened to her.
         My family followed the directions. She insisted we stay put in the family home. I went up to the third floor, where my room was. I sat in the bedroom. Smoke from burning structures obscured the town, but the city remained visible. Crowds attempted to flee the town and the city. I did my best to stay calm. As the shake continued to increase. In the distance, I watched the high-rises begin to crumble and fall. With each passing second, I grew more nervous. I also wondered how Grandma could be so sure that staying in the house was the best idea. Grandma was always a mystery to me. She seemed so knowledgeable about everything. She was always calm and focused. To me, it seemed like she was the best Grandma I could hope to have. My thoughts suggested Grandma possessed more secrets than others perceived.
         Hour after hour, the shaking continued, and buildings continued to fall. Then, around midnight, the shaking stopped. I could still see the high rises crumbling in the city. Suddenly, the sky ignited with what appeared to be hundreds of meteorites raining down. That’s when I noticed a faint blue tint all around in every direction. I noticed the meteors changed direction when they met the blue tint. I wondered how that was possible.
         I made my way downstairs to find my grandma, but at first, I couldn’t find her. Then I heard the soft, rhythmic voice of my grandma from the front porch. Reaching the door, Grandma was standing outside, looking up, softly chanting. Balls of blue lights floated above her palms. Each ball of light spread into the sky, forming a dome around the house.
         I had more questions than one person should have. I stood there watching the display of the unexplainable play out before my eyes. Grandma was creating a blue barrier around the entire house, from the sky to the underground. This was protecting the house and us. My inner self desired retreat to my room, hoping to overlook what I had witnessed. The remaining portion raised many inquiries. I didn’t know where to start.
         The remainder of the family was absent. My sister Linda and my mamma were in my mamma’s room. I wonder if Mom knew about Grandma! Did Mom have the same abilities? If some strange gene handed it down, did I have the abilities?
         I watched Grandma for a few minutes, and then Grandma lowered her hands, but the blue was still there. The balls of light remained suspended in midair. Grandma turned, noticing my gaze, before I could even consider fleeing. In her soft, calm voice, Grandma said, “It’s okay, Timmy. Come sit with Grandma.” She pointed to the swing chair on the front porch. I was scared and shaking, but I obeyed her.
          We both sat on the swing side by side, and Grandma wrapped her arms around me, holding me close. I suddenly felt safe.
         “Timmy, I know you must have a million questions. So, let me explain it all to you. When I was a little girl, my family had visitors from out of town. They were a strange-looking lot, but they were kind and gentle, and shared everything they had with us.”
         I asked, “Who were they, Grandma?”
         “Well, they called themselves Teriens.”
         “Were they from outer space?”
         Grandma smiled at me and gave me a tight hug. “Yes, they were. You are so smart.”
         “Well, they didn’t stay very long; they had a long way to go. Before they left, they had each member of the family pick one of a handful of glowing stones. Once we picked a stone, the stone magically absorbed into our hands. The Teriens told us we had each received a unique gift.”
         “You picked a blue stone, didn’t you?”
         “Yes, Timmy, I did. The stone gift granted me the ability to create many different things. One of these creations is the blue shield that now protects all of us and this house.
         “Wow! Grandma, that’s awesome. What else can you do?”
         Grandma looked out at the sky that was still on fire. She said, “Time for that another day.”
But I want to learn. Does Mom have powers, too? What about me?”
Grandma hugged me tight again, “All in due time, child. For now, you need to get to bed. It’s way past your bedtime.”
“Are you kidding, Grandma? I couldn’t sleep now for anything.”
“Come on, Timmy, off to bed. I will tuck you in.”

         Grandma, gripping my hand, led me up the stairs. In my bedroom, I jumped into bed, but I had no plans to see. Excitement grew, fueling my questions. The last thing I recall is Grandma kissing my cheek and saying goodnight while touching my face. I saw a thin blue layer between my face and her hand.
         The next morning, I woke up wondering what had happened. Was it all a dream? Outer space inhabitants or magical force fields do not exist. I ran to my window. There was no blue tint outside; I discovered the town and the city were gone. Lay to rumble, twisted and burning piles of debris everywhere as far as I could see. I ran downstairs as quickly as I could. I found the family outside looking at bare no grass, no trees, no swing on a tree. It was all gone. A ladder descended from the porch to the ground. I hurried down to my family. We all met in a big family hug. Mom was crying; my sister looked around, looking confused. Grandma smiled.
         “See, I told you we would all be safe.
I turn back to look at our house. It stood on a pillar of stone. It appeared solid and secure, as it had always been.
         After that, I saw Grandma differently and called our home “The Lonely House.”