His name is Brian and he’s big. Bigger than Daddo.
He has no hair on top and he wears all black and even a pair of black gloves. Mommy said he looks “very serious.”
She said that to him. He didn’t say anything back. He just looked down the hall and up the stairs and he said, I’m
gonna need a tour.
And so we gave him one. All of us together, because we can’t be alone right now. Not even when the sun is up and
outside on the lawn. We showed him my bedroom and the closet and the bathroom. We showed him Mommy and
Daddo’s room. He eyed the photo of the dancing woman on their wall for a while. We even showed him the linen
closets, places I used to think would be too small for her to hide.
Kami and Kamael have “acc epted” him because Mommy and Daddo did what the trainers said to do. I think they
used his gloves.
Now we’re in the backyard. The sun is out. It makes Brian’s black clothes look ever blacker.
He’s staring at the house while he talks.
I asked if you’re religious because I won’t work with people who are.
You spend half the event disagreeing with the client and trying to convince
them of something the world hasn’t convinced them of and so there’s no point in trying.
The event, Mommy says.
That’s what it’ll be, Brian says.
He has a flashlight on his belt. A camera. Other things too.
What do you think it is? Daddo asks.
I don’t care what it is, Brian says. It’s just got to go. I won’t call it a ghost or a demon. I don’t give them names.
It’s a pest, is what it is. A very big pest.
He looks down at me and he’s so big it’s like he’s a building in our backyard.
What’s your plan? Mommy asks.
Don’t know yet, he says.
We need it gone now, Mommy says.
Doesn’t work that way. I was told its story last night. I’m seeing your house for the first time right now. I’m just
meeting you people as we speak.
So... I don’t know yet.
Mommy looks to Daddo like she’s upset and Daddo says, Well, the sooner the better. We’re... we’re losing our
minds here.
Brian takes his flashlight from his belt and says, Mind if I take a look around the house alone?
Is that something you need to do? Daddo asks.
It’s something I’d like to do.
Well, all right then.
And the dogs? Brian asks. Can you bring the dogs outside?
Why? Mommy asks.
I want to go through the house, like I said, alone.
Mommy starts to say something, and Daddo says, Sure. I’ll get the dogs.
Daddo goes to the back deck door and Brian says, The camera footage means nothing to me.
Are you suggesting we’re lying to you? Mommy says.
Did I say that? I’ll know in person and in person only if this is the real thing.
It’s the real thing. The fact you’re debating that worries me greatly.
Ma’am, like I said, I just got here.
Mommy stares at him, quiet. Then she takes my hand as Daddo brings the dogs outside.
Brian doesn’t say anything else. He just goes into the house alone.
He’s going to steal something, Mommy says.
Maybe, Daddo says.
We’re literally letting a stranger go through our home alone.
Yeah, he might steal something, Daddo says.
Then they both go quiet and Daddo reaches down and pats me on my head.
We watch the house.
We can see Brian’s light going through the rooms where the lights are off.
It feels so hopeless, Mommy says.
Don’t say that, Daddo says. Please.
But he sounds tired.
What can he possibly do? Mommy says.
This is us trying, Daddo says. We’re trying.
Mommy st eps closer to the fence and looks out toward the street the way people do when they’re thinking heavy.
Daddo goes to follow her.
I watch the light moving around the house.
He’s in my bedroom now.
The light stops moving. Like he’s only looking at one thing now.
I think of Kelvin up there, last night.
I think of him saying he could make Mommy and Daddo happy.
This is us trying, Daddo says again to himself.
He tries to hug Mommy, but she st eps away from him.
The light starts moving again in my bedroom.
Then it’s out in the hall I think.
The dogs sit together on the grass, watching the house. They’re still working.
Brian comes out the deck door.
All right, Brian says to Mommy and Daddo. And you definitely saw it?
Jesus, Mommy says.
Yeah, Daddo says. And not just us. Ursula’s mom, friends. A number of people have seen it now.
All right, Brian says. I think I know what to do.
What? I ask.
Brian faces our house and puts his hands on his belt and says, I’m going to trick it.