THE VISITOR

Wind gusts screamed like frantic teapots through the windows of Rhoda's small Cape
Cod home. Rhoda shut the windows causing the ghostly dance of the sheer white curtains to
die one by one. An explosion of thunder rocked the house. The blast froze Rhoda in fright while an eerie lull of quiet followed and settled over the house.

Sudden pounding on her front door jolted Rhoda from her panicked daze. She tiptoed to the window and eased the curtain open a sliver. A young man stood inside her enclosed porch. Serious blue eyes stared downward drawing his brows in a v-shape. He wiped wet sandy blond bangs from his forehead. She stepped to the door and gingerly slid the chain lock in place and eased the door open.

" Jimmy? " Rhoda almost whispered, shocked to see her old friend.
" Oh my god, you're home." His voice flooded with relief.
" Come in." Rhoda opened the door eagerly.

Jimmy hesitated and pressed his fists into the pockets of his jean jacket. He gazed at Rhoda a few seconds then dropped his head. " I better not." Jimmy slowly looked up and met her questioning eyes. " You might not want me in your house after what I've done."

" What on earth did you do?"

Jimmy turned and walked to the edge of the porch. Rhoda followed him, stood quietly behind, and waited. Rhoda couldn't fathom what secrets the past held over her friend. When she last saw him eleven years ago, they had been happy-go-lucky eleven-year-old kids playing their usual game of marbles on an old oak floor in the church where Jimmy's dad was the pastor. They would play for hours while Jimmy's dad worked on the Sunday sermon in his office.

Rhoda repeated, " What did you do? "

" The worst thing you can think of." He turned, looked at her, and shook his head. " I just can't say it. " Jimmy stared into the dark clouds. "I shouldn't have come."
" Did you smoke pot? " Rhoda asked.

Jimmy slowly shook his head. " No."

" You got a girl pregnant? "

Jimmy gave a scornful snort. " I wish."

Rhoda's sigh barely masked her growing impatience. Rain gusts blew through the screened porch around her bare feet soaking the hem of her jeans. She crossed her arms for
warmth and pulled at the sleeves of her tee shirt. " Did you murder someone? " Light-hearted sarcasm scarcely hid her frustration and growing anxiety.

" No."

" Well, come in then." She ordered with a heavy sigh.

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