Weaving Threads

by Michael Merriam

When the spider spoke, Cassie McGowen knew she had lost what little was left of her mind.

"W-what?" she stuttered.

Cassie blinked. This is it, she thought, one too many blows to the head. She looked around the living room, then at the spider, which stood unmoving inside the aquarium.

"Y-you can't be talking."

"So this is all in my head?"

The spider's voice seemed pleased that she had caught on so quickly. Of course!

"You're welcome."

#

"Cassie!" her father bellowed from the living room. "How long is it gonna take you to bring us some dinner?"

"Almost done." She absent-mindedly brushed her brown hair out of her face and dished up two plates of hamburger casserole, sweet corn, and buttered bread for her father and brother. She carried both plates to the living room.

Her father sat watching baseball on the television, his tall, thin frame stretched out in the recliner. Her brother, who had been playing with the spider, threw the poor beast into the aquarium. She set the plates down and turned toward the kitchen.

Her father grabbed her by the arm as she walked past. "You don't expect us to eat this without something to wash it down, do ya?"

"Sorry." Cassie went to the fridge and found a beer for her father and a soda for Billy. They were so engrossed in a good-natured argument about the infield fly rule, they didn't notice her placing the cans in front of them.

Cassie returned to the kitchen to eat in quiet and clean up. After setting the skillet in the sink to soak, she brought her father another beer when he called and collected their empty plates.

"I want some ice cream," her brother said.

Cassie gritted her teeth in anticipation of the coming outburst. "We don't have any."

The room went silent except for the taco commercial on the television.

Finally her father spoke. "Why don't we have any?" He sounded too calm for Cassie's liking.

"Because it's all been eaten."

"Then why haven't you gone to the store to get more?"

"I'm out of grocery money," she whispered.

He stood up. "What happened to all the money I gave you last week?"

"It was two weeks ago."

He loomed over her. "I gave you money last week! What did you spend it on?"

"Nothing, just groceries."

Her father raised his hand. "Don't you lie to me, girl!"

Cassie flinched away. Her father was quick to anger, more so since her mother's death.

"I'm not." She felt tears starting to form and held them back. She refused to let him see her cry.

After what felt like an eternity to Cassie, her father lowered his hand and reached into his pocket. Pulling out a moist wad of mixed bills, he thrust them into her hands. "Go down to the store and get some ice cream."

Cassie took the money and started for the door. Billy smirked at her as she walked past. She wanted, for just one instant, to be like her father. She yearned to reach out with a fist and wipe that smirk off Billy's face. Then the instant passed and she was sick at herself for even thinking it.

Once out into the summer evening she felt better. She counted out the money. It wasn't much, but it would have to keep them in food and other necessities for a week. She didn't dare ask her father for more before that.

At the store Cassie amused herself with one her favorite games. She would look at people and create a story about who they were based on their appearance.