Murder in the Pigsty

Johnny jumped from the back seat, over the edge of Jesse Mae’s Cadillac convertible just before it came to a complete stop in the parking area next to the house. He had seen this done in a movie and he had wanted to imitate the action for a long time. Scotty and Gary had seen the same movie and they thought this was really cool. They both jumped from Guy’s car; exiting both sides at the same time, as he pulled up next to Jesse Mae. Harold and Louise, who were following in their own car right behind them, both yelled unheeded reprimands at Scotty.

The three boys, totally disregarding their parents’ ineffectual attempts to restrain them, ran to Romey’s playhouse. Sunburned and wearing damp swimsuits; they were still full of energy and eager to find some new amusement. Loretta, who had waited for Jesse Mae’s car to come to a completer stop before she opened the door and jumped out, quickly ran to catch up with them.

Guy, Lula, Harold, and Louise began collecting towels and picnic

supplies while Jesse Mae and Geneva headed for the back door of the

house.

“Guy…Harold…” Jesse Mae’s voice was peculiar; with a sort of

forced calm. Harold did not hear her; he was busy talking to Louise

about unloading the car; but Guy looked toward her as she and Geneva

stood motionless, focusing their attention on the porch.

“What’s the matter?” asked Guy.

Without a word, Jesse Mae and Geneva turned and looked at Guy. The look of fear in their eyes alarmed him.

The phrase, ‘What’s the matter?’ had caught the attention of Harold, Lula, and Louise. They all stopped what they were doing and looked toward the others, picking up on the sense that something was wrong.

“What is it?” Guy was now walking toward his sister and daughter. As he approached them, they turned and looked at the porch, directing his attention to it. Spread across the surface of the steps and porch; leading into the house through the kitchen door was an almost uninterrupted trail of blood.

“Mama!...Papa!” Guy bolted onto the porch and through the back door, followed closely by the others. He ran into Romey’s bedroom and was momentarily relieved by the typical scene presented there. Romey was lying on his bed with the fan circulating air around him.

Jesse Mae rushed past Guy and sat on the bed next to Romey. She grasped his shoulders and asked him if he was okay. Romey had locked eyes with Guy, and without speaking acknowledging Jesse Mae, continued to stare blankly at him. At same instant Harold was pushing past Guy, following the trail blood, which led through Romey’s bedroom and into Mary’s bedroom.

“Oh my God!!!”

The commotion coming from inside the house alarmed Loretta and the boys who were still roughhousing outside. They stopped playing and ran to the house; halting briefly when they noticed the blood on the porch. Avoiding the blood stains, they rushed inside and crowded into Romey’s bedroom. They tried to continue on into Mary’s room, but they were blocked from entering by Louise, who stood in the doorway preventing them from witnessing the horrendous scene, which was unfolding in front of her. Th e frightened children struggled to see around their aunt and mother, but Louise stood fast.