Bad Games

48



Patrick and Amy Lambert watched Arty and Jim attend to their mother on the TV. They watched them move her to the recliner. Watched them give her a pill and a glass of water. Watched them give her the iPod. And they watched her wave to their children before leaning back and drifting off to sleep. One might have surveyed the scene as two sons doting over their elderly mother.

Patrick and Amy saw two sick men showcasing ulterior motives.

When the two men and their children left the family room—and the TV screen—the sounds that followed for the couple were akin to the executioner loading his rifle.

Heavy footsteps climbing wooden stairs.

Tiny footsteps climbing wooden stairs—their babies’ footsteps.

Closer now…

The footsteps stopped. Shadows slid back and forth beneath the bedroom door. A sudden knock to the tune of “Shave and a Haircut” followed by a voice, deep and friendly. “Anybody home?”