Cash turned and glanced back at his wife. “Where are you and the girls going shopping?” he asked.
        “Department stores first then groceries then we’ll be home,” Marilee said.
        Cash leaned against the door.
        “You look mighty fetching in those tight shorts.”
        He smiled. She picked up her purse.
        “Thanks,” he said. “Get some ice cream too, will you?”
        “Sure,” she said and winked.
        Cash turned and walked outside. It must be over 90 in the shade, he thought as he hurried across the wide patio and moved quickly into the backyard. He hopped onto the grass, bent over and turned on the faucet. The hose came on full force. He smiled and splashed his chest and stuck the nozzle inside his shorts. That’s better! Cooler!
        He moved slowly around the yard watering flowers, rose bushes and the lawn and didn’t think at length about anything. He enjoyed the cold water on his body and decided he would continue watering on hot days and get a deep tan.
        The casement windows rattled and he looked up. It can’t be, he thought. They can’t be back so soon from shopping. Well, anyway, if they’re back I’m going to have some ice cream.
        He shut off the hose and hurried into the house. He called out, “Marilee. Hey gang!” as he walked through the family room into the kitchen dining area. He stopped walking and listened. No sound, he thought. Hurrying to the front door, he looked outside through the small windows. No car. No Marilee. No kids. Who rattled the windows?
        Cash frowned and walked slowly back through the house. It must have been the wind. It must have been....He checked the casement window. It was locked. Of course it’s locked. Marilee locks all window when we run the air conditioning.
        He decided to put the event out of his mind, hurried outside again, turned on the hose and continued to water, as he thought of the bright colors of his roses and their heavy scent. He also enjoyed smelling his Star Jasmine.
        The casement window rattled a second time.
        “What the...
        He ran to the side gate and looked at the driveway. Marilee and the kids aren’t home. Nobody’s home except me. “It’s crazy,” he thought. He knew he had to tell Marilee about the window: something was different. It couldn’t be an earthquake, and he knew it wasn’t his imagination.



        
        Cash forgot about the windows until several weeks later as he tucked his shorts up and started for the back door.
        “Just remember, darling,” Marilee said, “We’re having company, and they should be here soon.
        “Who did you say is coming over, Marilee?”
        “Cash! Your aunt is coming over and bringing her friend, Zita. You know. The lady who is a spiritualist minister or is practicing to be. You know. She’s the sweet lady the girls love to talk to about getting her trumpet voice. Do you remember her?
        “Yes. Of course I remember her. I’d better put on longer walking shorts....”
        “I agree darling,” Marilee said as she finished setting the kitchen table.
        “Hellooooo!” the voice said. “It’s Bella and Zita!”.
        Marilee glanced at Cash as he shrugged his shoulders and chuckled.
        “They’re here,” Marilee said.
        Cash took a deep breath.
        Zita, who never preceded Bella anywhere, moved quickly through the house, into the kitchen and soon stood face to face with Cash. “It’s your uncle. It’s Tom. Tell him to leave. Tell him you will be fine. He’s concerned about you.”
        Cash frowned. He didn’t understand Zita.
        “Unbelievable!” Marilee said.
        “No. Believable!” Zita said. She spoke to Marilee without taking her eyes off Cash. “You have had visitations from Tom. Your windows. Your windows!” she said, almost shouting and out of breath.
        “The windows?” Cash asked.
        “Yes. The windows,” she said. “Now, you must tell Tom to leave.”
        Thoughts flooded Cash’s mind. His uncle had passed away and he hadn’t been able to see him before he died. He had thought about his uncle many times.
        “My uncle?” he asked.
        “Yes. Cash!” Zita said becoming calmer. “You must tell him to leave. Tell him you love him but let him go. He’s earthbound and wants to leave. He cannot remain here.” She stared directly at Cash. “Tell him to go!”
        Without speaking Cash told his uncle to leave. He told him he loved him and they would meet again someday.



        Marilee and Cash had many conversations about Zita and the rattling windows. They didn’t know how she knew about the event, but Zita made statements and commented on events that caused conversations to stop and people to stare at her. The expressions on their faces spoke many words, from disbelief to strict attention. Marilee and Cash always paid attention to comments and predictions Zita made. She was always right on the money. And they knew this kind lady had always enriched their lives.
        

        

Comments? Talk to the author? leland@sowest.net

The manuscript is converted from “WordPerfect 7.0 Windows”
to hypterext by Richard L Swift for Cannon Manchester.
This literary work: “Rattling Windows” is
Copyright © 1998 and 1999 by Cannon Manchester
for presentation in RAG Fiction. All Rights Reserved.
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