Samantha's Talent (24 page)

She hurried but another group had arrived from the other direction and were blocking the sidewalk that way, preventing her from getting into her own home. Those were shouting too, although they weren't dressed in white robes. Instead they all wore crowns of leaves and twigs. They were wearing pentacle bracelets and necklaces with goddess charms. Some carried larger leafed branches in their hands. They began waving them when they recognized Samantha.

"She's the Mother, come back again!"

"Shufus is her familiar!"

"She's the Mother returned!"

"Bless us, Mother of all creatures!"

"The creator of all has come to Earth!"

"The Garden of Eden is upon us again!"

"Only the Mother can talk to animals!"

"Wicca explains all!"

The only ones of those shouts she understood was the one about Shufus being a "familiar" and she knew about Wicca. She knew that association was for witches and their favorite animal. She knew what the Garden of Eden was, but not in this context and the only people she had ever seen dressed in white robes were the choirs at church. These people didn't look like witches, though. They were scantily dressed. Their eyes were bright, shining with revelation. They scared her almost as badly as the other bunch in white who were calling her "Eve".

"Go away, please," she said loudly, turning in circles. "Go away, go away! Leave me alone!" It did no good.

Instead both groups only edged closer, holding out their arms with their palms turned down, raising and lowering them in worship of her as either Eve or The Mother, depending on which belief they adhered to.

"The Mother, the Mother," they whispered at first but then their words grew loud enough that she heard. "Eve, the Mother of us all!" the others elaborated, trying to shout louder than their opposites.

"I'm not anyone's Mother and I'm not Eve!" she cried but it had no effect. "Shufus, guard!" she told the big German Shepherd that was now standing very close to her side. A rumble, the beginning of a growl, sounded from deep in his throat. He took a couple of steps to where he was slightly ahead of her and bared his teeth while voicing the growl, softly at first, then louder as the shouting continued and both groups closed in on her.

"The Mother's Familiar! The Mother's Familiar! It's talking to us!"

"Shufus, help!" She shouted. She was scared and confused by the people intent on worshiping her or whatever they thought they were doing. She certainly didn't know.

When she tried to break through the encroaching crowd, hands began reaching for her. They grabbed at her clothes, ran fingers through her hair and pulled it into tangles. She felt her body being touched and explored where ripped clothing left her skin exposed. She shuddered under the assault. "Shufus!" she cried out again, slapping and beating at the people pressing ever closer. Her blouse was torn down the front, exposing her bra. Excited screams greeted the sight and more hands reached for her. A shoulder strap broke. She clutched the remains of her blouse and her loosened bra to her chest. She screamed at the indignities being forced on her. She staggered and almost fell.

Shufus let go a ferociously loud growl that held violence in its tone. Samantha let go of her tattered clothing with one hand and placed it on his shoulder. She lowered her head and plowed forward. The big German Shepherd led the way, growling and snapping at the bodies blocking their path. She followed, still fending off reaching fingers and hands. Then, another of her assailants howled as Shufus finally used his teeth. Blood flowed but the dog was smart. He caused just enough damage to legs and arms and hands to give Samantha room for an attempt to break through a partially cleared path to the front door.

Elaine finally heard the commotion when screams from those who had been bitten rose over the sound of the television program she had been watching. She opened the door to see what was happening and saw her daughter trying to break through a shouting, screeching mob that was totally out of control. She grabbed her stick that she carried when going for walks and rushed outside, wielding it fiercely to help beat a way through for Samantha. She swung it hard and violently, striking at the crazed people with all her strength. Blood flew from her stick and from Shufus' teeth as he reared up to bite at grabbing arms. As soon as Samantha broke free and was behind her, Elaine retreated, finally gaining the door. She pushed daughter inside then turned around.

"Get out of here you crazy people! I'm calling the police!" she shouted, then stepped inside and slammed the door furiously behind her. She had known that cults of varying beliefs about Samantha were being formed, but hadn't thought any of them would actually seek out her daughter in order to see her and worship her in person--if what she had just witnessed could be called worship.

With Samantha inside and out of sight, both gangs of believers began shouting at each other, each loudly professing that their belief about her was the correct one. A fight broke out, then another. A patrol car, called earlier by one of the neighbors pulled up and two cops jumped out. Shortly they had several of each group in handcuffs and the rest took flight.

Inside the house Elaine hugged her daughter. "Baby, please don't pay any attention to those people. They're lunatics but usually they're harmless."

"I don't even want to
see
them, much less pay attention to them," Samantha cried. "Why are they coming here and saying such crazy things? I thought for a minute I was going to have to have Shufus hurt them really bad when they started closing in around me."

"I'm glad you didn't. It would only have caused trouble."

"They're the ones causing trouble, Mom. I just want to be myself. I bet somebody recorded the whole thing and we'll see it on the news tonight." She had momentarily stopped crying, but thinking of even more publicity that would invariably call her something like "Tiger Girl" or "The Girl Who Can Talk To Animals" or make some wild comment about her dog biting and drawing blood caused the tears fill her eyes again. They would probably call her other, even more lurid names now. She was sure anyone who had recorded the violence that happened would send it to a television station or post it on the web. An account would certainly be in the newspapers. She sniffed, trying to stop her nose from running.

"Don't worry, Sammie. We'll do something about this. Come on now and sit down. I'll call Marie and see if she can come get you. She will be there won't she?"

"Oh, sure," Samantha said. She wiped at her eyes. "Mrs. Orleans wouldn't let that many kids be there unless she was."

"Okay, let me call."

Mrs. Orleans agreed to come get Samantha. While they were waiting Elaine decided to peek through the front blinds to see if their unwelcome visitors were gone, either arrested for causing a disturbance or run away. They had, but now a new group came marching along the sidewalk toward their home and spilling out into the street, fully two dozen people of middle age or better. They were all wearing cross necklaces and carrying signs and huge Bibles

"Oh, my God, no!" she whispered to herself as she saw what was written on them.

THE END IS NEAR

SATAN'S SPAWN!

DAUGHTER OF THE DEVIL DELIGHTS MAN-EATERS!

NO CHILD OF GOD MAY CONSORT WITH BEASTS!

GO BACK TO HELL WHERE YOU CAME FROM!

SAMANTHA, THE NAME FOR WITCHES.

THE BIBLE SAYS: THOU SHALT NOT SUFFER A WITCH TO LIVE!

TALK TO GOD, NOT HIS CREATURES!

DIE IN AGONY, HEATHEN!

Another, smaller bunch of sign-bearers were arriving from the opposite direction, mostly men but with a few women, all of whom were wearing head scarves. In a way, the signs this new group were displaying were even worse.

CLEAR THE FILTH!

DOGS UNCLEAN!

Satan's Spawn talks to dogs!

Allahu Akbar!

EVIL DOGS DIE!

DAUGHTER OF THE DEVIL GO BACK TO HELL!

LOVERS OF DOGS -- UNCLEAN HERETICS!

Some were even worse, implying a carnal relationship between Samantha and Shufus. Elaine dropped the blinds back into place and covered her face with her hands, unable to believe the cruelty some people could exhibit toward a blameless girl. Even worse, she couldn't for the life of her understand how anyone could possibly believe such patent nonsense. She thought of calling the police again but heard an approaching siren. Someone else must have beat her to it again.

When Samantha came toward her wanting to see what new malicious incident was happening outside, her mother stepped in front of her, barring her path. "No, Sammie. I don't want you to even see those vile people. They're even worse than the others. Just sit down and wait. The police will be here again in a minute and they'll run those lunatics off." She knew her daughter would almost certainly find out about the newest marchers with her computer even if they didn't make the news, but she also knew that seeing them on a screen and seeing them in person was much different. Whatever upset she could spare her from, she would.

Samantha obeyed reluctantly. She sat down on the couch and Shufus jumped up beside her. She hugged him and rubbed her cheek against his smooth fur. Shufus licked her face, knowing she was unhappy and trying in his own way to comfort her. It helped. She could always count on Shufus.

Two patrol cars arrived in a hurry. Chief Donnart had kept them on alert nearby in case the first demonstrators returned. As soon as they drove up, the newest gathering broke and ran in all directions. The officers in the patrol cars made no attempt to chase them. Instead, one of the vehicles followed several of them while the other parked just down the street. A sergeant got out and came to the door.

Elaine opened it for him after making certain no one else was in sight.

"Mrs. Douglas, the chief said to tell you that we're going to park a patrol car near here for the next few days and keep the harassment of your daughter down as much as we possibly can."

"Thank you, Sergeant and please thank Chief Donnart for me. Someone will be arriving in a few minutes to take Samantha to a friend's home for a while. Would you mind following them to make certain they're not intercepted or bothered on the way?"

"We'll be glad to ma'am. I'm just sorry it happened. Fortunately, there aren't too many of those types around here. Unfortunately, the ones who are make up for the vast majority who aren't. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if some of those we corralled aren't from somewhere other than this area." He touched his head with his fingers in a sort of salute and returned to his vehicle.

A moment later Marie Orleans arrived. As soon as the bell rang Samantha jumped up from the couch and ran to the door. Elaine opened it first and let her in. They talked for a few moments with Elaine telling Marie what had happened. "If any of those nut-cases go near your home, please call the police right away. And one of the patrol cars is going to follow you to make certain you aren't bothered on the way."

"Thanks, Elaine. Ready, Sammie?"

"Yes, ma'am. Come on Shufus, let's go."

***

A half hour later Samantha was listening to some new songs in dollar rock, a popular format of teen musical tastes that had emerged just recently. It was mixed with an old Country Music artist who had been newly revived. All the while, listening and using their phones at the same time, the girls were still managing to talk about their favorite subject, boys and their peculiarities. It also involved speculation on which one liked which girl and who had broken up with whom.

Samantha mostly just listened. It was hard for her to forget about the scenes in front of her house. She was really glad that none of the girls so much as mentioned her time on television and other media outlets. It embarrassed her when anyone her age spoke to her about her talent. Many of them were rude about not believing she actually did anything unusual despite the videos. Others appeared to take pleasure in making fun of her. She was glad she had Betty and a couple of other girlfriends she could talk to without it coming between them.

***

Thomas Hoover was sitting in Meriweather's office at the CPS floor of the courthouse annex several days later, expounding enthusiastically to Jesha Meriweather over the story he intended to write, the one that would almost certainly be read by Judge Edmonson and incline him toward seeing the danger Samantha Douglas' parents were subjecting their daughter to. "Would you believe it, Jesha, they even
take her
to the zoo to mingle with those wild animals, tigers and wolves and who knows what all. And of course she's too young to realize all the dreadful things that could happen to her there. Not only that, they allow her to go traipsing around the city wherever she pleases with that dog of hers. She could very easily be grabbed by a sexual predator or by someone who actually believes she can talk to animals and want to use her for their own purposes. Just all kinds of stuff like that."

"Oh, I agree, Tom. The only thing standing between removing her from those dangers right now is that damned Chief of Police, Donnart. But that won't last, not after your article hits the media. Then, just as quickly as she rescinds her order not to allow an officer to accompany us, we're home free. I, or CPS rather, can then remove her from that awful environment and place her in a decent home. I have just the one that would suit her in mind. The family is very strict with the children we place with them, but no more than is necessary to keep them out of trouble. And even better, they don't allow dogs in their home," she added maliciously. "Dogs are nothing but disease carriers, not to mention all the stories you read about how they're always mauling or even killing small children. Why, that huge dog she keeps is a menace and... " She paused her monolog as a sudden thought struck her. "As a matter of fact, I heard that the dog actually bit a number of peaceful demonstrators on the public sidewalk in front of her home a few days ago. Add that to your article, Tom, and it ought to really drive home what a dangerous environment she's is. I'll also see about having that dog picked up and tested for rabies, just as it should have been done already." She smiled maliciously, thinking of how that would be a perfect payback for all the trouble and humiliation that girl had caused her while she was simply doing her best to carry out her duties as the custodian of abused children.