Ring Around Rosy

The Andrews were an interesting bunch, that's undeniable. Mr. Andrews didn't work, at least that's how it seemed, though it was always possible he worked at home, it was 2021 after all. Always waltzing his yard stabbing a sharp pole through the grassy earth. once in a while he'd nail the shed door to their house shut. Why? he had too, those tiny little scallops, his kids, I mean would always try to sneak in. be it with a crowbar, or by sheer force, he'd always barely catch them. Mrs. Andrews though was the most interesting, she'd barely leave the house, of course, she'd come by for friendly neighborhood gatherings or could be spotted in the supermarket. Otherwise, she kept to the house, her pumpkins growing large and ripe for fall.

It's quite amusing to watch the Andrews. It's like a secret movie theater from the safety of a window.

"ROSE, don't stare at the neighbors!" My stupid husband said. I turned to the man reluctantly releasing hold of my binoculars.

"I can't help it, Tom! Look," I handed the binoculars to Tom who looked through them. Mr. Andrews began stabbing the stick in the ground. I pointed to him hoping Tom would understand.

"Ya see? He's doing it again, Tom!" Tom took the binoculars placing them on the fridge, again.

"He's probably just building something."

"Building what Tom?" I asked irritated Tom sighed his annoyed eyes looking at me. Why did I marry this man? I could have married anyone, I had a chance to marry Elton John when I was younger, ELTON JOHN! Sure it probably wouldn't have worked out, but what sin had I committed to make me stupid enough to marry someone like Tom Pines.

I know, that's a mean thing to say. He always cared about me, be it annoying as hell.

"Are you inner monologuing about me again!" Tom asked I looked at my watch hoping to distract him as I forced a smile onto my face.

"oh, it's almost 6:00 better get going, professor." Tom sighed looking at the Andrews house before turning to me.

"you're going to leave them alone, right." I laughed

"oh, of course, hon, I have to get those treats done. Gotta make Halloween extra special for the kids who are still enjoying it!" Tom kissed my head as he rushed out the door giving me a brief wave from the window. I waved back patiently waiting for his car to disappear. Once it had I tactfully opened the cold oven pulling my secret stash of brookies from their perfect hiding spot. I placed my mask over my face and opened the door.

As expected, the little trouble makers were at it again. The little boy did his best to smash through the chain as the girl peeked around for her father. I should have let it be, turned around, but Mr. Andrews was nowhere to be seen and I had yet to actually meet him or his kids. I wander towards the children doing my best to keep my distance. they looked at me surprised.

"why hello there, and what are you two doing?" The boy looked at me surprised chucking the stick he was holding away, I chuckled knowingly.

"Sorry there, didn't mean to spook ya, I was just heading out on a walk and I thought maybe you'd like a treat. If it's okay with your dad, of course." The children eyed the Brookies longingly before looking at me.

"A treat, like, food, treat." I nodded a slight chill rushing up my spine as he looked at me. The little girl looked towards the house window.

"Can I give ma one too?" I smiled at the girl.

"Oh of course, if it's okay with your parents." The children's faces went pale as they looked at each other. the sound of crunching leaves came towards us. I looked towards the sound a similar thin face looked at me her large sun hat drooping over her eyes as her waist-long hair flowed with the wind's rhythm. I waved to the woman as she tended to her pumpkins.

"oh, hello" Mrs. Andrews looked at me surprised her lovely green eyes looking at me confused.

"oh, good morning Rosy, what are you doing here." I chuckled nervously.

"Well I was about to head out, I noticed your kids were trying to get into the shed so I just decided to pop down for a moment." Mrs. Andrew's eyes looked at the kids, then the door, then me. I looked around, realizing I wasn't wanted.

"well let me just get out of your-"

"NO!!!" Mrs. Andrews grabbed my arm he hand cold and slightly prickled as it touched mine. Her confused look turned into a relieved smile.

"Sorry, I'm, not used to having company. would you want me to make you some tea?" I stared at Mrs. Andrews processing the words. no one ever asked me to STAY. I nodded dumbfounded. Mrs. Andrews laughed meekly pulling me to the back porch.

"it's so nice to have company, where are you from?" I looked at my house as it sat calmly.

"I live next store, remember, we meet at that bake sale last week." Mrs. Andrews looked at my house surprised.

"really? THERE?" I nodded the little girl looked at me concerned. Mrs. Andrews smiled pouring warm water from her teapot.

"how, wonderful! truly, wonderful. I forgot that place existed. I'm sorry what was your name?"

"rose," I said looking at my cup of hot water confused Mrs. Andrews chuckled a drowsy look in her eyes.

"Rose? like Rosy? Isn't that a touch of irony?" I laughed unsure what was so funny. I looked at Mrs. Andrews remembering the state of the world around us.

"Sorry I'm vaccinated, I swear." Mrs. Andrews smiled meekly. Her bone-thin fingers placing the teapot to the side.

"Oh, there's no need to worry about that..." She looked at the pumpkins in the garden a worried look on her face. I should have ignored that look. I should have finished my tea and left. The story should end here instead I made a terrible mistake.

"I love your garden are thousands real?" I asked eyeing the large vines wrapping the pumpkins to their fence. She looked at me with a slight worry in her eyes.

"Why wouldn't they be?" I shook my head ignoring the lacking flavor in the warm water.

"It's just I thought you planted those last year. I'm surprised they've lasted till today." Mrs. Andrews smiled at the orange foliage. Her eyes drifting to her teacup.

"They're Colour Pumpkins, Nelson got them on his trip to Britten." I looked at her surprised. Her husband never left the house. Even now it was odd I hadn't seen him.

I watched the children kick at the shed door. Distracting my brain from its confusion.

"Are you sure it's okay for them to do that?" I asked

"Yes." Mrs. Andrews replied stoically the twinkle in her eyes vanishing slightly as she laid eyes on it. I took a deep breath preparing to do the one thing Tom told me not to.

"So, what's the deal with the shed?" Mrs. Andrews glared at me, I stood up worrying I made her mad she turned to the shed.

"I don't like that shed. Nelson built it, he said it was to keep things from going missing." I nodded trying to gain Mrs. Andrews's trust. I eyed the red roof and door.

"Yeah, you know I didn't want to say it, but it's kinda an eyesore huh." Mrs. Andrews shook her head.

"Oh, you should try living with it, it's a nightmare. Even the children hate it." I felt slight unease as the children tried to break down the red door.

A loud voice echoed through the air scareing Mrs. Andrews into dropping her cup. Glass shattered everywhere as the water dripped through the wood of the back porch. Mr. Andrews charged around the corner his face was bright red. The children scattered away as the man approached the shed. He looked at the pumpkins nervously. I waved to him.

"Hello, Mr. Andrews." Mr. Andrews turned to me, surprised by my presence the surprise quickly turning to fear as he laid eyes on his still scared wife. Mr. Andrews charged up the steps of the porch.

"WHY IS SHE HERE?" Mrs. Andrews gave her husband a begging look.

"She was passing by and I was so lonely. We were just having tea." Mr. Andrews's eyes went wide he snatched my cup staring into the boiling water. He sighed before pouring the drink into the bushes. Mrs. Andrews looked at me apologetically as she pick up the shards of glass from the floor. I looked at the two in awe an odd familiarity in my heart. Mr. Andrews grabbed his wife's arm a stern sadness in his eyes.

"I'm sorry dear, I didn't mean to scare you." Mrs. Andrews nodded a saddened smile on her face. She opened the door to the house wandering deep inside the empty halls. Mr. Andrews looked at me his beautiful blue eyes focused on my mask. I looked down nervously.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't have-" Mr. Andrews shook his head his pumpkin-covered mask hiding his guilty face.

"No, you're fine, it was me. I'm, sorry, it's just, our family's been having some, problems, as of late." I watched as Mr. Andrews bent down to pick up the glass barely noticing the smile reflexively spreading across my face.

"What type of problems?" Mr. Andrews looked at the house nervously. I nodded realizing his reluctance.

"Private stuff, huh." He nodded grabbing the pieces of glass. He winced as one of the shards cut his skin blood dripping from his finger. I leaned over helping him pick up the pieces he looked at me grateful for the help.

"Your mask is very nice. It's kind of scary though. I didn't think teeth had faces." I looked at my reflection realizing my mask was upside down I chuckled.

"Oh, no, their crayons, my husband got it from his workplace. It didn't fit so he just gave it to me." Mr. Andrews looked at me surprised.

"Oh, your married?" I nodded making sure Tom's car was still gone. I leaned over to Mr. Andrews.

"He doesn't like me talking to others right now." Mr. Andrews nodded an understanding look in his eyes. He looked to the window of the house making sure it was closed.

"We're not exactly mobile at the moment... none of us are sick we even got vaccinated. It's just for, safety. What about you?" I sighed placing the pieces of glass on the table.

"My work shut down to... it's been boring sitting inside all day." Mr. Andrews nodded in agreement. I looked at him my face began burning as our eyes met. He looked longingly at the sidewalk before looking back at me.

"Today's a bad day, most Mondays are... but would you like to come over tomorrow?"

I should have said no, but the anger, the passion, the mystery. It was all too alluring like a pirated movie. I knew it was wrong but I was bored, I wasn't the only one either. Besides they weren't my problems. So I said yes, Mr. Andrews took the tray of rookies inside giving me a momentary smile as I walked off. I shut the door of our house doing my best to put the mask back in place as I let my body flop onto the couch.

I grabbed my binoculars once more Mrs. Andrews snuck outside she held one of the larger pumpkins a look of hatred on her face. Momentarily tugging the vine it was attached to. Mr. Andrews noticed her pulling the pumpkin from her arms grasping it for dear life as he breathed heavily. They both looked towards my house. More specifically towards me, they smiled as they walked back inside. I dropped the glasses taking a deep breath. Wonder how long had they known I was watching.