Lizzy and the Boy's Club Part 3: Screams in the Night
I bolted straight up in the bed, my mouth dry and heart pounding. The soft darkness surrounded my bed and my ears strained to hear what had awakened me so suddenly from sleep. I could hear the buzzing of insects and the singing of frogs. The soft sigh of a warm breeze whispered gently through the leaves of the Palmetto trees. The normal sounds of night in the Everglades and nothing to frighten a person.
I snuggled down into the warm spot my body had left in the bed and closed my eyes, ready to once again drift away into dreams. My eyes popped open and I jerked upright again as the high keening scream came through the little shanty’s open windows. I placed my hand against my chest to still the frantic beating of my heart; afraid it would plop out onto the plank floor. My legs were shaking so badly, the bed was moving. I grabbed onto them to try and still the shivering.
Just as the desperate scream came again, I heard Ma and Dad in the next room. It was comforting to know they were close and my trembling subsided a little. I heard a hiss and the smell of sulfur as Ma lit the kerosene lamp and the soft glow came through the open doorway. Dad was getting dressed and they were talking softly, too soft for me to understand the words.
The screams continued, louder and closer together than before. Someone was killing the poor woman and I hoped Dad would hurry before it was too late. I jumped at the loud snap of Dad’s double barrel shotgun as he loaded in the shells and pulled the barrel back into place. The desperate screaming filled all my senses and my childish mind couldn’t fathom what kind of torment was being inflicted upon the poor woman.
Ma followed Dad to the door, “You be careful out there.”
“I’m just going see what’s going on and I’ll be right back.” Dad went out the door and faded into the darkness.
I had crawled out of my bed and now snuggled against the warm softness of Ma’s thigh as she bolted the door. “Ma, is Dad gonna shoot the person who’s hurting that woman?”
“Of course not, Lizzie. What are you doing out of bed?”
“I’m scared, Ma. What’s happening to that poor woman?”
“I don’t know, but your Daddy will see things put right. Now come along and I’ll tuck you back in.”
Ma’s weight as she sat on my bed tucking in the blanket was comforting and I wished she’d stay there. Too soon she was up, going into the other room to wait and watch for Dad’s return. The screaming was becoming softer, as though moving farther away from the little shanty.
My mind conjured a huge, hairy beast dragging the woman away and into the swamps. I quickly covered my head with the blanket as though in so doing, I could erase the fear generated by the horrible image my brain had brought forth. It seemed I lay there forever cowering under the cover, waiting as each scream came softer than the one before.
There was rustling in the room as my brother George asked Ma what was happening. She told him not to worry, that Dad was checking it out. Suddenly a new fear a rose. What if the beast were to drag Dad into the swamps? The shivering began again in my arms and legs, but before it gained strength I heard Dad come back and Ma rushed to unlock the door.
He was chuckling and I heard him tell Ma that it was just a female panther in heat, searching for a mate. The fear that had settled in the pit of my stomach vanished as fast as it had come for I understood about cats screaming to bring a mate close.
As I snuggled down with sleep droopy eyes, I marveled at how like a woman the panther had sounded and knew I’d never forget that sound. Now I just wanted to sleep and have morning come as soon as possible so I could find out what new test I’d have to pass to become a Rebel.
Copyright Elizabeth Melron parsons
