"Geeez, Tommy, it's freezing in here! Stop turning the AC all the way up!"

Tommy was seated on the couch, shirtless as usual. He was surrounded by 3, no, 4 glasses of ice water. "Sorry, Theresa. I didn't realize you'd be home so early. Go ahead and turn it up. If you have to."

I walked over to my brother and put my hand on his forehead. "Do you have a fever? You never liked the cold so much before." A deep bark of laughter came out of his mouth at that. "Damn, dude, where'd that come from?" "Sorry-you caught me right in the middle of a belch."

"Ewwwww! You're a pig!" At that I carried my schoolbooks down the hall to my bedroom. My glasses fogged up. It felt like it was about to snow. "Turn it up, Tommy! Or I'm telling mom!"

"Yeah, yeah. Tattletale." "I heard that!" I slammed my door and got out of my school uniform. So much for shorts, I'd be changing into my winter sweatpants today.

I opened my bottom dresser drawer. It was empty. As was every other drawer. What the actual hell? I opened my closet. Nothing.

"What the hell, Tommy!!!! WHERE ARE MY CLOTHES!!!" A low growl reached me from the living room where my brother continued to play a video game.

"I told you! I donated them!"

Oh Jesus Christ. This again? Tommy'd gotten religion back during the summer. Our parents were regularly replacing clothes, appliances, and food that Saint Tommy was taking upon himself to distribute the the needy.

"God DAMN it, Tommy!" I'd just stepped out of my bedroom and suddenly an enraged teenage boy had me by the throat.

"YOU WILL NOT take the Lord's name in vain, mortal!"

"HELP WANTED

Seeking mature, responsible unique individuals who are nocturnally-oriented.

I run a small business and am searching for strong, loyal, reliable workers. Please call 555-112-6660 after 9pm. Resumes may be submitted online or in person. Please add a page with personal "needs" highlighted so we can accommodate all situational eccentricities."

I turned towards my girlfriend. "I don't know honey, what do you think about this one?"

She laughed in my face. "Dude, read between the lines--it's PERFECT. Where's the store located?

I read on the backpage ad a bit further. "Oh! It says 'Multiple Locations Need Staffing'! Maybe there's one nearby?"

Amanda drifted up and looked over my shoulder. "Shit, dude, maybe we could both get hired! That could solve so many problems for us!" Her eyes welled up.

"I know, honey. I know. I'll start feeling this guy out, let me call him tonight."

"Baby--it's a full moon. You can't. Just shoot him a text or email and send your resume. Tell him you're out of town, or something. Get your foot in the door, ya know?"

I looked at Amanda. As usual, she was right. I stood up from the kitchen table and began locking the doors and closing the shutters. I was still young and occasionally got caught by surprise. "Can you manage the chains, darling?" I asked. Amanda lifted both hands up in an "I don't know" gesture.

"If you want to be 100% sure, do it yourself, dearest."

I kissed her on the nose and told her I'd see her in the morning. I headed down into the basement. I bolted the door behind me.

When I woke the next morning, Amanda was unusually chipper. She began to speed-talk. She does this when she's excited.

"So, remember that store? The one looking for "nocturnals"? Well, I kept thinking about it and while you were locked in the basement, I called the man! HE TOTALLY WANTS TO TALK TO US!!!!"

She jumped up and down in her excitement. "Victor, he sounds SO COOL!" He says he'll see you after 9, but as for me, you're talking to the Midnight Manager of Location 87!"

I hugged Amanda, as best as I could, anyway. "Congratulations, darling! I'm so happy for you! I'm so proud of you!!!"

She was ecstatic. I could see it in her eyes, and that night she floated up to the ceiling half a dozen times. She does that when she's happy. I was happy for her. I felt guilty she'd been trapped in this house for so many years, she needed to get out and get her own money and meet some friends.

"I can't wait to take you to your first night of work! Maybe we should go shopping? Get you a new outfit?"

"Victor, what's wrong with my outfit?"

"Nothing! Honey! Nothing! I'm sorry, I just thought....I mean....it's gorgeous! You're gorgeous.....I.........." I faded off.

I'm sure her clientele would love to see a Victorian bride while picking up their hotdogs and beer in the middle of the night.

I added another section!

Thank you! These prompts are fun.

Well, once Bertha realized how neglected Jeffery was, she saw that nothing was going to change. She missed a lot of signs and is REALLY disgusted with herself for failing the little boy.

I will say that she wasn't planning on what happened, but once she was there in the house and saw the situation she made the decision.

I added a second chapter!

I added a second part!

I added some more!

I pounded on the door. I could hear whispers, Beatrice was crying softly. Her man, Luke, John, Bubba, whoever was yelling, I could smell his rage as well as hear his words and thoughts. Beatrice was trying to calm this latest mistake down but Luke John Bubba Whatever wasn't having it.

Beatrice hissed at him "BE QUIET, BABY! I'm serious! Bertha is NOT to be messed with!"

"Bitch, I ain't afraid of you, and I am NOT afraid of a fat old 7/11 clerk!"

Ah, I could hear the slurring. I could also smell the Jack Daniels through the walls. This explained everything. Beatrice fell off the wagon repeatedly, especially after she'd actively search out drunks and addicts to partner with.

No wonder Jeffery hadn't been fed. I then realized he was obviously missing school, too. This 7-year-old was out wandering in a rainstorm on a school night, of course he was missing school. I felt immediate shame; I should have been keeping better track of him.

The shame I felt enraged me. I pounded again. "BEATRICE! YOU INVITE ME IN RIGHT THIS MINUTE!"

I heard a scuffle, slaps, and a cry. Beatrice now had a nosebleed. I could smell that, too.

Poor Jeffery. He'd been the audience to these two idiots for quite some time and I had let it happen.

I continued pounding. "BEATRICE! BEATRICE!!!...."

Suddenly the back door slammed open. I was standing at the front door so I jumped over the house, landing on the back porch. Beatrice was standing on the cement stoop, staring into the back yard. "Bertha! Bertha! Where are you??" I tapped her on the shoulder and she screamed.

"Dammit, Bertha, how do you do that? You scared me!"

"Invite me in, Beatrice. Where's what's-his-name?"

"Please come in, Bertha. I don't know--be careful, he has a gun and couple knives. I think he's in the basement right now. He doesn't like you, Bertha. I think he'll try to kill you."

"Does he have many relatives, Bea?"

She stopped shaking for a moment, her nose bleeding continuously.

"What? What kind of question is that? Bertha, what the fuck?"

"I need to know" I spoke slowly and carefully as if I were speaking to an idiot. Which I was. "If anyone is going to come looking for him anytime soon."

Beatrice's eyes grew wide "NO! Bertha, NO! Don't kill him, I love him! He's just, he's just, he is having trouble at work, and his ex-wife is lying to the courts, and....."

Oh my God, NOW do you see why I gave up on her?

"Beatrice, do you know where your son is?" I couldn't help it-my contempt was clear on my face. Beatrice looked startled. "Jeffery? He's in his bed. Where else would he be?" She glanced at the clock on the stove. It read 3:14. My stomach churned. I hadn't noticed it right away because of the excitement, but the house STANK. There were flies, and un-dumped garbage pails and piles of dishes and papers and clothing piled everywhere.

I said nothing, but staring into Bea's eyes, I stomped across the kitchen and yanked the refrigerator door open.

It was empty. That is, except for a half-empty bottle of vodka.

I turned towards the woman. "I was going to........I need........EBT...........Jeffery's father claimed...........called the courts..........someone.........."

I could have easily punched myself in the face at that moment. I claimed to love this little boy more than anyone I've ever loved, and I was completely unaware of just how awful his life was. Well, that ends tonight.

I was disgusted with myself, so I went a bit out of control.

While Beatrice and I argued in the kitchen, Luke John Bubba was creeping up behind me, holding a knife in one hand and a glass of Jack Daniels in the other. Bea's eyes went wide at one point and I could clearly see him in her left eye.

"Hang on, Beatrice. I have to handle something." I reached behind me and grabbed his throat with my left hand. I move quickly. He never saw it coming. I crushed his windpipe and he expired sloppily on the kitchen floor in front of the mostly-empty refrigerator. I turned to Beatrice. "I notice you didn't warn me he was sneaking up behind me, Beatrice." I tsk-tsked her.

Beatrice screamed and threw herself on whatever-his-name-was's body.

She looked up at me in rage at one point. "YOU BITCH!! I LOVED HIM!!!"

She wailed and screamed so loud I was sure the neighbors were going to hear. I perked my ears up, yep. A neighbor was speaking to his wife about calling the police "That disgusting woman--with the drunk asshole, maybe we should call someone? It's been pretty loud tonight."

His wife tried to soothe him "Don't worry, honey. They'll pass out soon."

I knew the husband would override his wife's suggestion and call the police. That left me with a few minutes to tidy up this mess.

I turned to Beatrice.

"Bea. Darling. I'm sorry. But, this has to be done. I know he hasn't entered your thoughts at all tonight, but I want you to know that Jeffery is going to have an AMAZING life. You can go on to the next world not ever worrying about him. Do you understand me?"

Beatrice didn't understand me. Don't be surprised. Don't worry, though, it was a quick ending. I move fast, after all.

The newspapers described a sad murder/suicide, never mentioning a sweet brown-haired little boy. Neighbors forgot about him as well, not ever remembering anyone other than the argumentative couple who seemed "to drink quite a bit."

Jeffery is now 10 and in the top 10% of his class. He told me last summer that he wants to learn Spanish, so we'll be moving to Spain in a few weeks' time. He has forgotten the first few years of his childhood. It bothers him sometimes, but he's a sweet, intelligent boy who is interested in all sorts of things.

Reginald bows. "Of course not! If it makes you feel any better, I will feed well before our gaming session. Will that make you more comfortable?"

"Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!" SLAM!

Thank you! That, and Bertha must be really tired of Beatrice's screwups and neglect of Jeffery.

I like Al! First name Al....last name....Abdul.

And the donation box is a nice touch.

"Bertha! Bertha! Beeeeeerrrrrrttttthhhhhhhaaaaaa!!" The little boy's high-pitched voice rang down the aisles, bouncing off the bags of salty snacks, wandered through the dozens of boxes of candy. Eventually it made its way to my ears. I was sitting down behind the counter on a plastic milk crate. I usually didn't "zone" when working, but it was 3 am on a rainy Tuesday and I hadn't had a single customer since 9.

"Bertha! Bertha!"

"I'm here, Jeffery. What is it? What are you doing up so late?" I pulled myself up on my feet and looked through the bullet-proof glass shield. Jeffery's clothes were soaking wet and he was missing a sneaker. His face was dirty and his eyes were red.

I vaporized and slid through the cash-slit of the glass. Jeffery was my favorite great-great-great grandson. Seeing him distressed caused me to forget myself. I spelled him so he'd forget what he'd just seen me do.

"What is it, sweetheart? Why are you out so late? What happened to your other shoe? Why are you crying?" The brown-haired little boy looked startled and jumped when I touched him. I spelled him again. See, I move very quickly. Usually I can hide my speed but like I said, I like this kid. A lot.

"It's mama's boyfriend! He hit mama! I told him I was gonna make him stop and he kicked me in the butt! I fell down the stairs!"

Ah, but of course. My great great great grandson's mother. Beatrice Walker never met a man worth a plugged nickel in a rigged card game. She'd already been married and divorced 4 times. She'd been abandoned one time, but I'll hold my tongue about that particular man. I'd tried to save her from herself her entire life, but once my Jeffery came along, I gave up on his mother and spent all my time and efforts on him.

I was getting on in years, you know.

Jeffery looked around the store. I could feel the hunger radiating off him. Oh my God, he was thin. I hadn't noticed at first but this kid hadn't had a decent meal in a couple days.

"Hotdog, baby? You like it with extra ketchup, no mustard, right?" I walked to the rollers. "Oh, look! There's two! I'll bet you could easily eat two hotdogs, couldn't you?" I opened a fresh bag of hotdog buns and slid them into the warmer. As they heated up, I walked up to the fresh fruit display. There was a small container of green grapes. I added a banana and pulled a strawberry milk out of the QuikPiks display.

"Come over here and wash your hands, honey." I set a cardboard box down and placed a napkin on it. I pulled a footstool over and gestured at Jeffery to sit down. I placed the food and the milk down and he started tearing into the grapes. Yep. This kid had gone at least two days without food.

Beatrice was going to listen to me tonight. The timer on the bun-warmer dinged. I squirted a ridiculous amount of ketchup on both dogs and made a theatrical serving gesture "Bone Appetite, Mon-sewer!"

I told Jeffery I'd be back in a few minutes, in the meantime, he was to finish his food, then lie down behind the counter on the blanket I'd spread out for him. "Don't worry-the door is locked. No one will bother you."

I locked the double doors behind me and walked out of sight of the parking lot lights. Just in case Jeffery was watching. I doubted it, though. I could feel his hunger and right behind it, the pure exhaustion.

I shot straight up into the air. A minute later I was pounding on Beatrice's front door. "INVITE ME IN, HONEY!" I yelled.