Brandy is the mother of four, stepmom of two, homemaker, college student, and lover of the mysterious. She grew up with a single mom in the military and spent the most imaginative summers with her father and bonus mom, both of whom were kindergarten teachers. Most of her youth was spent enveloped in books, a passion that has recently rekindled itself, along with the joys of writing.
You can find her on Facebook right HERE.
ARE YOU MY MOMMY?
by
Brandy Cornett
Mommy…?
I don't understand what is happening.
Where am I? I don't know this place. It's so bright. I’m scared.
I peek out from behind the door into the strange room. It's white. The light hurts my eyes. There are squares on the walls and floor.
Think. Mommy said it would be weird. I would wake up somewhere else. I would be someone else.
I look around a little more as my eyes get used to the light. I see a row of sinks and a long mirror in front of me. I can see my head and shoulders in the reflection. I have blonde pigtail braids and the iciest of light blue eyes. I shudder. My head is crooked. I pop it into place.
I need to remember. Mommy, where are you? You said we were going to a new home. It was too dangerous to stay where we were.
This place isn't like home. Home is warm. Home is where Mommy is. But she’ll be here soon. I remember her saying she would come but I had to go first.
It's so cold here. I don't like it.
“Anna…” My head snaps toward the door and the sing-song voice coming from the other side.
Mommy?
“Anna, what is taking you so long?” A woman comes walking through the door juggling a baby, a diaper bag, and several shopping bags. She doesn't even stop to look at me and heads straight back to the last stall.
“Your brother decided he needed the bathroom too. Wash your hands while I change him and then we can go.”
The woman looked like me, with blonde hair cut to her shoulders, but where my eyes were pools of glaciers hers were warm dark chocolate.
“Are you my mommy?” I asked, knowing she wasn't MY Mommy.
She chuckled to herself, “Of course, I’m your mommy. Who else would I be? Silly girl.”
Mommy should be here by now. Why isn't she here?
The lights began to flicker.
“Anna stop messing with the light switch.” fake mommy said, a bit of annoyance in her voice.
I remember! I have to sing the song to bring her to where I am. I have to help her find me!
In my small whisper of a voice, I begin.
One, Two, I’m waiting for you;
Three, Four, Come through the door;
“Anna! Stop it, Now!”
Fake mommy is mad. I can feel it working though. There's a charge in the air. I can smell the char of burnt flesh. Home.
The baby cries. It can feel it too.
Lights still flickering, a shadow begins inching its way down the wall from the ceiling in the back stall.
Five, Six, It's going to be quick.
“Anna!”
The shadow disappears. Between the gurgling of fake mommy choking on blood, the cracking of bone, and the searing of sinew, I know Mommy has found her new home.
Seven, Eight, close the gate.
The lights dim and hum, then flicker to life.
Nine, Ten, Mommy’s home again.
The baby wails in the back stall alone as Mommy emerges. I don't even have to ask. Her lightning-blue eyes meet mine and I run into her arms.
“Mommy! I missed you!”
“I mmm..mmm.” Mommy muttered.
I looked up and saw her jaw hanging awkwardly. I grabbed her face in my hands and smiled. I know what to do. I smash my hands hard against her mandible, pushing upwards until I hear a crack.
With her crooked smile now straight, she utters the best words ever.
“I missed you too!”