The Hired Help

Leaving Tom in his habitat inside Janine’s room on the bed, Janine and Tess went looking for the young woman from Guatemala, finding her on the lower floor, folding some clothing in the laundry room.

“Hi Marta,” Janine said pleasantly, smiling at the other woman. “Do you have a moment?” she queried.

“Of course missus,” Marta replied, nodding, eyes darting back and forth between the blonde and the brunette as she placed the freshly laundered and folded towel atop the pile on the dryer.

Janine chuckled, “I suppose with all of these guests staying in the house, I guess it’s really increased your workload over the last few days?” she asked, trying to use a gentle approach to initiate conversation.

Marta smiled and nodded, though her dark eyes betrayed a hint of something else, “There is no problem, it is not so much for me to do,” she assured.

“You remember my friend Tess?” Janine asked, indicating the other girl with a hand.

“Yes of course,” Marta replied, nodding her head to the tall brunette.

Janine’s vibrant blue eyes narrowed, “We were wondering if perhaps you might have noticed her brother Tom earlier today?” she inquired.

“No, no, I’m sorry missus, I didn’t see anything,” she replied, pursing her lips and shaking her head as she averted her eyes. 

“It’s okay Marta, I promise you’re not in trouble or anything,” Janine reassured, face softening as she tried to get the woman to relax.

The domestic kept her eyes downcast.

“Tom said he saw you and thought you might have seen him, though he thought your reaction was a little different than most others who see him for the first time,” Tess said.

“No,” Marta repeated, turning away and getting a fresh towel from the dryer, starting to fold it, but wound up almost wringing the towel in her hands.

Mo?” Janine inquired softly, placing her right hand on Marta’s left.

“Please missus,” Marta replied, tone edged with anxiety.

Recognizing obvious distress in Marta, Tess frowned and turned her head toward Janine, “She’s terrified,” she commented.

“Marta, what is it?” Janine asked, surprised by the older woman’s obvious trepidation.

The Latina women looked to the brunette, her brown eyes wide, “I saw your brother,” she admitted, “but I won’t say anything,” she added quickly.

Frown deepening, “It is okay, but why are you so frightened?” Tess asked softly.

Marta paused, eyes darting around, “I do not know how it is your brother came to be so small, but there are stories of little people from my country, stories about a woman who would do such things to people for her own amusement, El Bruja de pelo Dorado,” she said, voice low, as if speaking the words might somehow summon the woman.

“The Golden Haired Witch?” Janine asked, translating for Tess, not sure if the other girl spoke Spanish.

“Si,” Marta replied, eyes round as she hastily crossed herself to ward off ill omens.

“Do the stories say how she does this? Like by magic or something?” Tess inquired.

Marta shrugged, “I do not know. They were stories shared to me by my grandmother when I was just a little girl and she said she learned them when she was little.”

“I can assure you Tom’s condition was not the result of some hex or curse from a witch,” Janine said.

“No, it was the unfortunate result of a malfunctioning machine my grandfather built that he inadvertently triggered that resulted in him being made that way,” Tess shared.

Marta nodded, body language still meek.

“I ask that you keep Tom’s condition confidential,” Janine invited.

“Yes missus,” Marta assured.

“Very good,” Janine praised, drawing Tess away and out of the laundering room.

Marta bowed her head and resumed her duties.

“Hmm,” Janine mused, tapping a finger against her plump lips as she and Tess walked back toward her room.

Turning to the blonde, “What?” Tess asked.

“I didn’t realize she was so superstitious, but then again I didn’t know people could shrink. What if there is someone out there capable of doing it? You know, with hoodoo or some such,” speculated the blonde.

Tess shrugged, “I don’t know,” she offered, shaking her head. “If there was some witch out there zapping people you’d have thought somebody somewhere would have brought it to light. I mean, look at Tom, more and more people are being exposed to him and it mind only be a matter of time before it gets out,” she countered.

“True,” Janine conceded, “but there are all sorts of folktales of tiny people or beings. Who knows is all I’m saying. If there is any substance to this witch Marta spoke of, then it might be another potential avenue to explore in trying to return your brother back to normal. That’s all I’m trying to say,” she finished.

Pursing her lips, Tess nodded, “Fair enough,” she compromised.

“My mother seems fairly confident in what Dr. Holmstrom can do at the Gustafson institute like yours was using your grandfather’s machine. We could use the time they are away to do some digging just in case,” Janine suggested as the pair ascended the stairs to the second floor, where the duo walked along the upper floor hall to her room.

“I guess neither of us is going then?” Tess asked.

Janine frowned, “I don’t think so,” she answered, shaking her head. “I think I would love to tag along, but,” she left the rest unsaid.

Tess nodded. She had kind of expected to be included on the trip, but thinking about it logically, there really wasn’t much of a need to go other than as support, add in school, Janine was probably right.

“Well,” Janine voiced, dragging the word out and stretching her long lithe arms overhead, “I think I’m going to take the opportunity and turn in early,” she said, giving Tess a sly grin and arching an eyebrow menacingly as she brought her arms back down.

Knowing exactly what the blonde was implying, Tess chuckled and shook her head, “Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite, and by bedbugs, I mean Tom,” she said.