Tree Nuts

Image provided by a Blisstopian; The Witching Hour by Andrew Wyeth

   

This was surely a different place, Beebe Scott thought to herself as she sat in her car sucking on a whole, salted cashew. She split the nut with her teeth and ran her tongue over the silky, smooth inside before chewing it up. After she swallowed the macerated cashew, she opened the car door and cautiously started toward the house.

There were no locks, so she opened the front door and looked inside. It was a clutter-free house with just the bare necessities: sofa, chair, coffee table. She paused to look at a few pictures on the wall showing the Amish family of eight. The husband and wife and their six children: four boys and two girls. All wore the same modest clothing. The men and boys wearing suspenders holding up black trousers tucked into boots and topped with a pastel colored shirts of blue or green. The oldest two also sported a floppy hat and the father had a beard with no moustache. The girls had long dresses covered by an apron and these too were also in pastel colors of pink and yellow. Both mother and girls had bonnets to cover their hair. No one smiled in these pictures, which made Beebe feel a little despondent. The next picture showed the same family, however, two of the boys were missing.

However, unethical and against her religion, Ingrid Shoffner, the mother, had discreetly contacted Beebe, because she was certain there were bad spirits in her home. Ingrid was certain something vile was in her home as she described the morning, while canning peaches, an entire bushel of fresh peaches rotted right before her eyes.   One minute she could smell the ripened peaches and when she turned her back the pungent, sickening smell of fermented fruit assailed her nostrils. She also told her of a kitten’s stomach exploding on her front porch that was filled with maggots. Beebe reluctantly agreed to come and cleanse the house.

Besides a few crosses throughout the first floor, there were no other decorations, knickknacks or dust collectors lying around. The house was very sparse and Beebe could hear her footsteps echo through the house with each step she took. She opened the door to the dining room and it was the same as the rest of the house, no decorations or signs that anyone lived there at all. There was a chandelier in the middle of the room that held white taper candles instead of light bulbs. The table was rectangle and had six chairs: one on each end, three on one side and a single chair on the other. Beebe stood. She studied the room.

The chandelier was unremarkable however the flames of the candles told her everything she needed to know: the high flame flickered and danced indicating a spirited yet chaotic energy about; the black smoke that wafted toward the east was that of negativity, bad luck and conflict.  It was here Beebe sat. She opened her purse and spread a napkin on the hardwood floor and poured a pile of cashews in the center of the napkin. “Oh beloved Fini, I bring you gifts from life into death, please come and commune with me.” Beebe chanted. She sat and waited and chanted again. The second time she summoned the spirit, a big gust of air blew through the room and the dancing, flickering candle flames cast eerie shadows on the walls and ceiling.

“Beloved Fini, why do you create discord in this house?” Beebe inquired. “Do you mean to harm this family? Will you leave this family in peace? Beebe asked. Once she had finished asking the questions, she thanked the beloved Fini for conversing with her and then she folded up her napkin and left the room.

Beebe met Ingrid at the end of the day on a quiet road outside of town. Before Ingrid could even ask Beebe if she found anything, Beebe cut her off, “How did your twin boys die?” she asked. Ingrid looked startled. “How did you know? She asked but then stopped. “They died from a tree nut allergy,” she stated. “We didn’t know they were allergic and while they were out playing they found a walnut tree and ate some. We didn’t find them for two days and by then it was too late. My husband was so sad he removed every trace of them from the house.” Ingrid told her sadly.

Beebe took her hands and told her, “Your boys William and Phoenius are the spirits causing the discord in your house. They believe you have forgotten them and don’t miss them at all. They just ask that you put their chairs back at the dining room table. Once your table is balanced, so shall be your life.” Beebe hugged Ingrid and turned to leave, she thought to herself, another great mystery put to rest…bless the cashew nut!