A Tragedy in Triptych
II
Mamalee held Everett tight against her side, as she did every Sunday. During the course of mass, he had scooted lower, out of her controlling embrace. Then he could sit forward, fidget, and scan all the grim faces.
The head priest, Father Scalia, finished a reading from Matthew and began reciting a chant. He raised a cross, prompting Everett to bring his jacket lapel to his face and issue a defiant vampire’s hiss.
The congregation laughed. All but Aloysius.
When the priest smiled down at Everett, it seemed like a look of patience, even adoration. But it was, in reality, something else.
* * * *
Aloysius went to the baby’s room, driven by the new ubiquitous protective anxiety that was born alongside his baby girl.
When he found Everett standing on a stool, leaning into his new sister’s crib and humming “Monster Mash,” he was filled with dread. Newborn Candace gurgled and cooed but Aloysius did not hear it, his mind scrolling through any number of ways the boy might be mutilating his baby sister.
“What are you doing!” He snatched Everett up and tossed him to the floor, where the boy erupted into a fit of shocked crying. Aloysius ignored this and lunged to the crib, afraid to breathe. “My God!”
Baby Candace’s face was covered in green and purple ink. Everett had colored her to resemble a little alien. The boy had even drawn little antennae on her forehead.
When startled by his strident father, Everett had shivered, accidentally drawing a haphazard lightning bolt on the baby’s blanket. But Candace was quite unharmed: Everett had avoided his sister’s eyes and mouth.
Still, Aloysius checked her over, frantic.
Mamalee, aproned and sweaty, ran in and hoisted the terrified Everett off the ground. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
“The boy is possessed!” yelled Aloysius, pointing at Everett like a hanging judge.
“No, Aloy,” Mamalee tried. “You’re overreacting.”
But her scowling husband would not be moved. “I won’t let him hurt Candace!”
Candace joined her brother in bawling. Aloysius plucked her from the crib and skulked out, leaving Mamalee to calm and comfort the older child.