A Haunting
Chapter one
Two Years Ago...
A large crowd waited for my father's interment, in reverent silence. Standing next to my mother, I felt wholly inadequate in my attempt to console her. Weeping, as the casket of my father slowly made its way into his final resting place, my mother clung to my arm, for support. At the time, I needed support, too, but I recognized that I had to grow up quickly.
The squeaking sound of the casket crank, as it slowly turned, sent a chill through me, and a flood of memories went through my mind. The next to the last, being how unfair it seemed, to be widowed, at such a young age. My final thought was about the late-night call I received, announcing my father's demise, and how those types of late calls always seemed to bring terrible news. I was a first-year student in college, just starting my first semester, at the time.
Current day...
Waking in a cold sweat, I abruptly sat up in bed, wide eyed, breathing rapidly, and scared, far worse than I'd ever been in my life. I knew it had been a dream, and yet, I felt the need to keep repeating the fact over and over in my mind. Moving to slide my legs off the bed, I rubbed my face with both hands, wiping off the night's terror sweats. With shaky legs, I stood, and headed to the bathroom for a shower.
Later, entering the kitchen, I moved to my mother's side and kissed her cheek. "Morning."
Turning her head, she smiled at me. "Sleep well, Bobby?" she asked, turning on the coffee pot.
"Yeah," I mumbled out, plopping down in a seat at the kitchen table.
"Ah... you don't sound like you did. What's wrong?" she asked, walking up to massage the back of my neck.
Hesitating, I didn't reply, and instead sighed, at the feel of her hands. Finally, I rolled my head around, grateful for the small release of tension, and thanked her.
"Can I ask you something?" I started out.
"Of course, what is it?"
~ 1 ~
"Do you ever dream of dad?"
"Is that what this is about? Yes, of course, I do," she replied, moving to ease down, across from me, at the table.
"Yeah? Do any of them seem... I don't know... like real?"
My mother, Beth, took a deep breath, looking at me with loving eyes, before exhaling to answer.
"Real? Well, yes, there are times when I feel like your father's still here," she replied, letting her voice trail off.
"Huh, me too. It's weird, mom... I've even had conversations with him, you know."
Getting up, she lovingly patted my shoulder, and went to the kitchen counter. Pouring two cups of coffee, she returned, setting one down in front of me.
"So, what do you talk about?"
It was a simple question, and not unexpected, but I was unsure if I should tell her. I sipped on my coffee, delaying.
"Bobby?" she pressed, looking concerned, at my lack of response.
"Yeah, well you... mostly you," I blurted out.
"Oh?"
Obviously, my comment had piqued her interest, and she locked eyes with me.
"What about me?"
"I'm not sure if I should say," I said, in a weak voice.
Reaching out to grip my forearm, she smiled.
"Look, it's just you and me now, so I think we can share anything that's on our minds... don't you?"
I nodded, still not quite certain, but after hesitating again, I finally answered.
~ 2 ~
"He's worried about you," I began, watching her reaction. "He's worried that you aren't getting back on the horse, whatever that means," I added.
My mother grinned, and then chuckled.
"What, what's so funny?"
"Sorry... nothing, honey. It just struck me, you look so much like him, and what you said was so typical of your father," she explained.
"I don't get it, get back on what horse?"
Raising her cup, she looked at me, over the rim. I could tell she was considering how to answer, or perhaps even answering at all. Slowly, lowering the cup, she cleared her throat.
"Ahem, well, okay... I did say anything, I guess, and you're certainly old enough. The conversation you were having was about sex, Bobby," she replied, with a straight face, I wouldn't have believed possible. Before I could respond, she added, "That's beyond odd, though."
"How so?" I asked, now even more curious.
"Well, you... having that conversation, in a dream, or at all, for that matter, and you knowing what he called it when I used to get on top and sit on his..."
I was taken back by my mother's bluntness, suddenly understanding what riding the horse meant. Apparently, seeing the 'light bulb' go off above my head, she went on.
"I take it you understand what I'm saying?"
I nodded. "He's worried about your sex life, right?"
"I guess that's one way to put it, but why he'd be talking to you about it is beyond me," she replied.
The odd thing about our discussion was how normal it felt, I didn't feel ashamed, and from what I could tell, neither did she. I got up from the kitchen table, going for a second cup of coffee.
"Bobby, I don't mind having this conversation with you, just so long as it stays between you and me, got it?" she said, rising from the table, to join me.
"Understood, but I do have one more question. He mentioned reverse cowboy, was he referring to...?"
~ 3 ~
She blushed, leaned in, and kissed me on the lips. "Yes, he was, and keep that to yourself, too."
Surprised, I grinned. "He said it was his favorite way."
Her eyes widened, and she playfully slapped my arm.
"You know way too much about my sex life, mister! I gotta get ready for work, we'll talk later."
Chapter two
Four days later...
"Bobby... Bobby, it's dad."
The voice was clear, and most shocking of all, I wasn't asleep, I was standing in the shower when I heard it.
"Dad?"
"Good, you can hear me, I wasn't sure."
"Jesus, you scared me... how are you talking to me, now?"
"Not sure, but hear me out, I know you had a conversation with Beth, a few days back."
"I did, why are you angry?"
"No, actually it might make what I want you to do easier."
Okay I was at a loss, and freaked out. Oddly, I covered my genitals, and heard the voice in my head laugh.
"Better get used to me, son, and it's nice to see you're taking after your ol' man."
"What? What are you saying?"
"Never mind, let's just say, you and I are going to have a very close relationship, for a while."
"Huh?"
~ 4 ~
"Let me explain it this way, relax, Bobby, close your eyes, and clear your mind."
Reluctantly, I did as he asked, although it wasn't easy. Feeling nothing for a few minutes, and just about to talk, my body shook, as I suddenly felt a strange presence, like something had entered me physically.
"Dad!? Are you..." I started to question a loud.
"Yeah, wow, this is weird! I wasn't sure if it would work, but here I am with a nineteen-year-old body."
I'd made no effort to move my arms, but there they were, outstretched, in front of me, rotating like I was inspecting them. Apparently, my father was now, somehow, in control of my body.
"Damn... youthful, muscular and... holy shit, look at the size of my cock!"
His outburst came just as my mother walked into the bathroom. "Bobby, are you okay? Who are you talking to?"
Mentally freaked out, and still engaged with my father, I somehow managed to answer my mother.
"I'm... I'm fine, just thinking out loud."
"Okay, sorry about barging in, I won't be but a minute. Heading out to work early, see you tonight."
"Sure, see you tonight," I answered back, sighing in relief, after hearing the bathroom door close.
"Jesus, dad, you can't be doing this," I whispered out harshly.
"Nonsense, calm down. I had to know."
Suddenly losing my balance, like I was on a small boat, rocked by a wave, I felt alone. However he had entered, my father had left, leaving me to wonder what would come next. That night, when I was in my mother's presence again, I decided to bring up the elephant in the room.
"So, I was wondering... have you thought any more about what we were talking about, a few days ago?" I questioned, feeling tentative about asking.
"Ah... are you referring to you knowing too much about my sex life?" she responded, grinning without looking my way.
"No, that's not it, well not entirely... but does my knowing bother you?"
~ 5 ~
Laughing softly, my mother shook her head, and finally turned to face me.
