THE TRUTH (Chapter 1) The strangers

The Truth

Written by: CLARE JOSE

Nobody knew the truth - what really

happened in that family except Catherine, She never thought, what she witnessed could change her life forever....

Chapter 1 

The strangers

The smell of roses made me realize where I was, in a garden, I saw somebody, or perhaps a hooded figure moving swiftly around…

“Wake up, wake up” those words were clear, they belonged to Catherine’s mom, Mrs. Pete. 

“Get up you're late…”

Catherine woke up with a start. Mrs. Pete went away. Catherine stood up and walked towards the wash room drowsily, washed her face, got dressed and went to the kitchen.  She had her toasts and left for school. 

Catherine's Mother was a home maker and her father was a business man and it was least likely that he would be at home.

”Hey, Cath stop.”

It was her friend Kenny. She was just a block away. 

Kenny’s family was not a happy one. Her parents were having some problems and were living separately, but they were not legally divorced. She was the eldest and had twin brothers. They lived with their aunt and goes to their father and mother during holidays.

“Hey, Catherine what happened? you look so gloomy. Is there any problem? Anyway, be happy we’ll be having some holidays soon.”

“Nothing I’m fine just having some strange dreams…. that’s all”

“So then, how were your weekends Kenny?”  

“Oh, dear, we better not talk about that. My mom was having extra work on Saturday and I had to stay with my aunt and I don’t think she likes me much. What about you?”

“Same old time at home. Ashley and her mom came over for Saturday”

There was just one more block. But, they were walking slowly.

“I wanted to ask you something on Friday. What was that noise near the auditorium with Lily? I thought you guys were good friends. What happened?”

“Well, actually we were asked to do a project on world war II , and we both were a team, but friday during the recess, I saw her giving my information well along with hers to  Julie and Sara. I don’t know what got into that girl or what they did to her.”                   

They reached the school.

“Uh oh, here comes  Lily. She’s most likely to say that she’s so sorry and  that she would never do anything like this or that she did not know anything about that or it was somebody else … “

“Kenny I’m so sorry about what happened on Friday. They said that they did not understand what they had to do. so they asked me to show  our project and  I did so. While I was waiting for them to finish, they told they’ll give it to me after sometime. I did not think that they would copy it."

“Okay, Okay I understand... "

"But …"

"Hey, Lily stop! Catherine you can go. Just wait for me under the oak tree in the evening. I’ll finish my problem with those two and see you there.”

Catherine was going to her first class, first day of the week. She was heading towards her class normally. After her class she met her cousin Ashley. Ashley's mom was a counselor. 

“Hey, Catherine, will you come over to my house for the holidays?" Ashley asked. 

"I don’t know Ashley. May or may not, all depends on mom.”

After her school Catherine was walking home that’s when Kenny caught up with her.

“Hey girl, wasn’t you supposed to be waiting for me under the oak tree?”

“Oh I’m sorry Kenny I forgot.”

“You seem to be forgetting  everything from today morning. Is there something wrong?”

“Nothing, just having a bunch of strange dreams.”

“Uh Oh, here comes Queen Julie!” 

Julie said’ “Hey Cath, you’ll be having some extra practice? You’ll have to stay at school a while longer tomorrow.”

“Hey, Kenny take a look at those people, they really look strange”

Kenny took a look at them. They did look strange. They were about three people quite of their age. Their faces looked stern and grim as if they were trying to hide something.

“Kenny what do you think of them?” she asked.

“Oh, come on Cath, stop thinking like this. Why care about them?"

They walked away. Catherine looked once more at their faces and then went back home......   

   
             (To be continued.... )     

To read the next chapter, click on the title below.

Chapter 2 - The Unlucky night