The Mississippi heat came full force, as per usual, no greetings, though it was barely dawn. And a July morning, no less. Bluebirds were already chirpin’ as you sat on your porch steps, sweating through your best white sundress. Your family was gone to church, for it was the day of worship, so they’d be gone late into the day. The one day you dreaded. You wanted to feel God’s presence, you just couldn’t, not lately. So you faked ill, opting out for the fifth Sunday in a row.

You felt trapped. You’d didn’t know if it was the corn sweats, the wet heat, or the lack of freedom you had, even at the age of 18, going on 19. You were supposed to have the world in your hands. But the Black Tuesday came and swept all those pipe dreams away with the dust storms. No college, no chance now, just stuck working at mommas store day in and day out.

That’s when he came. On the splintery wooden steps you were bringing your cup of tea to your lips, pausing when you saw him in the distance.

Raggedy was a nice way to put it. His skin had begun to peel off, like a candy wrapper, skin prickly. Bubbles rose to the surface, 3rd degree. And his shirt melted against him, ripped up like a wild cat had gotten to him. Of course you didn’t know what he was, what his diet was, that the sun killed him. You didn’t know nothin’.

He stumbled up to your porch, his face distraught. You hadn’t ever seen him before, there was no way. With each step you swore he’d fall over, yet he only landed on the ground once his hand met your porch railing, his bicep straining.

“Ma’am you gotta help me…I gotta get inside…”

He rambles, his voice gravely with his southern twang, a little bit of an Irish accent mixed in. You stand up, eyes wide.

But even through the dust and grime on his skin, when his eyes locked on yours, you realize you couldn’t say no. He was a stranger, had an awfully weird presence about him but…you felt yourself compelled to him so easily.

You were raised to be a good god fearing, even now, and with a face like his, those damn eyes ‘n all, you couldn’t say no. You didn’t know he was evil reincarnate, didn’t know that all he needed was an invite and the lives of you and your family would be in his hands within seconds.