Episode 5: The Truth About Sadie Wilkins
Read “The Truth About Sadie Wilkins” from the beginning.
Episode 5: The Diary
The graveyard seemed darker than it had the night before. The wind breathed heavily through the trees. But I was more worried about what Daddy might do than anything else. I figured I might as well see if the old mausoleum was opened. At least I could hide in there. The door was heavy, so I used my whole body to push. It didn't budge at first. But I gave it another hard shove, and it swung open so fast I fell through the door. Then it slammed behind me, the sound echoin’ off the empty walls.
I tried to ignore the three coffins sittin' in the middle of the room. Instead, I focused my flashlight on Ronda's Diary, lookin' for an answer or at least some clue to help me figure out what in the heck was goin' on.
Rhonda had the most beautiful handwritin’ I'd ever seen. But some of the things she wrote in her Diary weren't so pretty. At first, it was standard girl stuff. There was a boy she liked at school named Robby. And it was a problem because her best friend Sarah liked him too.
The tone of her writin’ changed on May 15th, 1965. That was almost ten years ago.
***
Dear Diary,
I'm writing because I think my life is in danger. Something's wrong with Pa. He used to be nice to me, and we had fun together, going fishing and riding horses. He was so loving. But he's been acting strange since we moved into this new house. At first, he started getting mean to me for no reason, calling me names and telling me I was worthless. And he would stare at me, sometimes, like he didn't even know me.
Now, he doesn't talk to me or want to be around me at all anymore. But the scariest part is that he and Ma argued a couple of nights ago. He hit her! He had never done that before we lived here. When I asked her about it, she looked scared and said not to worry. But I'm worried, alright. Pa is acting even scarier now, and he doesn't like Ma and me at all anymore.
I think we're in danger. I don't know what to do.
I felt the blood rush to my face. My fingers went numb, and the Diary slid from my hands. I figured I should go home, get it over with, and face whatever was waitin' for me. The thing is, I didn't want to see Daddy.
As it turned out, that was not an immediate problem.
The mausoleum door swung open, and there was Rhonda holdin’ a little piglet. Brutus was with her. I followed them into the woods, clutchin’ the Diary to my chest. Everything was lit up on the path. We got to the end of the trail, where there was a theater set of Dogwood trees blooming with tiny white buds.
“Am I dreamin’?”
Rhonda danced with George as Brutus ran around. I could feel her twirlin’. It was such a strange sensation. I got dizzy. As we twirled, our rags transformed into a long white chiffon gown, complete with a crown of flowers. Rhonda sat George on the ground, grabbing Brutus' front paws. The big mutt stood on his hind legs and danced with her.
"My, what a fine dance partner you are, Sir Brutus." The words felt strange in my mouth.
After a few turns, Rhonda lets go of Brutus' legs, bows to him, and sits down with George. She picks the piglet up and holds him like a child. Brutus lies next to her. We sing to them.
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray…"
Rhonda rocks George in her arms. She rubs Brutus' head.
"You'll never know, dear, how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away."
She stops singin’.
"Oh, Brutus. I will NEVER let him hurt you again. Never, never, never!"
"Let's not worry about that, my princess," says Brutus. "He can't ruin our time here. We will not let him into our kingdom."
"You're right. We are safe here. He is not allowed to enter."
"Saaaadieee. Come on home now. You hear me, girl? Saaaadieeee??"
Why is my mama here?
It's late afternoon. I'm barefoot. Covered in dirt and leaves, with the muddy face of a kid who's had fun playin’ unsupervised all day.
"Be right there, mama!"
I carry George. Brutus is by my side, and we make our way out of the woods. Rhonda kisses George on his piggy cheek and sets him back in his pen. She puts Brutus in his cage.
"I'm sorry, Brutus. But you'll be safer here tonight".
The house is quiet. Rhonda lies under a sheet on her back with her eyes open.
Footsteps.
It's Pa. Rhonda stiffens, turns her back to the door, and pretends to be asleep.
The door opens slowly. A light squeak and a sliver of light sneak into the room. It's daddy, a tall, scary sight in his underwear. Rhonda lies motionless. Moonlight shines through the window, and she stares at it pleadingly.
Her prayer goes unanswered.
"Sadie, wake up." It’s Rhonda.
My eyes popped open. I lay there rememberin’ the dream. But how did I get back to bed?
"SADIE! Get your ass out of that bed right now and get in here," Daddy was yellin' at me from the livin' room. I sat up.
"Yes, sir!" I called, hopped out of bed, and headed to meet my fate.
It looked like everyone else was gone. Stevie's room was empty—no sign of Tommy or Mama either. My hands were sweaty. My heart was poundin'. Even now, when I think about that night, I can feel the fear runnin' through my body, makin' my bones ache.
Daddy was sittin' by the window. All the lights were off, so he looked like a big dark shadow. I stood off to the side, not wantin' to be close to him.
"Where's Mama?
"She won't be comin' back."
"What do you mean."
I inched closer. He turned the little light on next to his chair. Lookin’ at me, he raised his hand and motioned with one finger to come closer. I felt like I might scream, so I held my breath, movin' slowly toward him. Daddy kept doin' the thing with his finger until I was right in front of him. I could see his eyes. They were all black, like someone spilled ink into his eyeballs.
"You go find your brothers right now. Then all three of you little pieces of shit, get your asses right back here. Do you hear me?"
I barely heard him over the roarin’ in my ears, but I knew I was about to have a chance to hide. I shook my head yes. Then he smiled the scariest smile I had ever seen on his face—and I had seen him smile really scary before that night.
He leaned forward, still smilin', showin' all his teeth like he wanted to eat me.
"GO!"
I ran out the front door and down the road, unsure where my brothers were hidin'. It seemed like the most likely hidin’ place was up at the cemetery. So that’s where I went.
Read Episode 6