Echo

bruised from fatigue. Scotty joined her, flopping down softly.
    “Holy mackerel, what’s that all about? Does it have anything to do with Tomas?”
    “Scotty, do you know something about Tomas that I should know?”
    “Uh, not really Abby; although I’ve heard a few things. I never mentioned anything because it didn’t affect us, now that he lives with Kelly and her weirdo brother.”
    “Her brother? This is the first I’ve heard anything about a brother. How come? Does Mama Diaz know about him? Is her brother this Armoni? And what does that have to do with Tomas’s inappropriate behavior?”
    “I don’t know, Abby, what’d he do?” Abby could not tell her little brother the particulars of the incident. Changing the subject, she asked him about the blanket he brought into the house.
    Abby laughed as Scotty popped up, jumping up and down. His eyes flashed, his face shinning.
    “Abs, we have the most amazing surprise for you, but we have to wait for Jose.”
    “Ok, champ, but maybe it can wait for tomorrow. I’m very happy about anything that will put a smile on your face, but …” Her voice fading, she rose unsteadily to her feet. “I don’t think I have the strength. Tomorrow I need to get to the dialysis center first thing in the morning.” Her voice trailed off to a hoarse whisper. Her head throbbing, she walked toward the bedrooms and promptly fainted.
    ###
    “ Abby! ” Scotty screamed. Without noticing or even thinking, his tail unfurled from under his shirt. It stood straight up in the air like a recently promoted soldier, arching over the top of his head and pointed toward Abby. From the bulbous end of his tail came a monstrous, disgusting, membranous, thing that opened up to exude the smell of sulfur. He could feel a numbing pressure. And suddenly, it stopped. He started to shake as his tail tucked itself back under his shirt. Praying for Jose to come home, he closed his eyes.
    Hearing a small whine, he opened his eyes to see Barney standing in front of him happily wagging his tail. Astride his back sat Echo, calmly behaving as if she owned the place. Her long leathery fingers locked tight around Barney, her little swivel neck bobbing up and down.
    “Oh boy, Jose better get home. There’s going to be fireworks.” Seeing Abby move on the floor, a dead rag doll come to life, he ran to her side. Rubbing her hands, he tried to get her blood moving faster. He needed her to get up and tell him what to do.
    The front door rattled open. Relieved, Scotty turned to see Jose, anxiety written all over his face. He took in the scene, starting at Echo’s presence on top of Barney with Abby crumpled and wilted on the floor. He sniffed, catching the left over scent of sulfur.
    “You did it—without me? Echo—I thought we would do this together?” Swirling rainbows coalesced, an aura in their minds.
    “We have a new Sister. Now there are four of us. Is this what you call a family, Brother?” Jose and Scotty answered together.
    “Yes, Echo,” Jose grimaced, bracing Abby from behind to get her head off the scuffed floor.
    “Echo, are you speaking to all of us at the same time?”
    “Yes, Brother.”
    “It would be so much easier if you would use our names. Could you do this?”
    “Yes, Brother. Brother Jose, Brother Scotty, Sister Abby. Oh, I like that. Can I call myself Sister Echo, Brother Jose? Should we call my Barney, Brother Barney? No, Barney is not our Brother, he is just my Barney. My Barney; I like that. I will call him My Barney.”
    “Echo.” Jose tried to interrupt. The rainbow aura kept going on and on about MY Barney, who sat on the sofa with Echo clinging tightly. “ Echo. ” He tried again. The rainbows stopped. Echo stared at Abby who rose unsteadily from the floor. With her hand to her mouth, she stared at Echo, then at Scotty and Jose and back at Echo.
    “Am I going out of my mind? I don’t think I can take much more.” She sniffed the air noticing the scent. “Someone better start making sense real soon or I’m going to go mad.” Rainbows swirled.
    “Hello, Sister Abby. I am Sister Echo.” Shrinking back, Abby stared at the little golden creature and trembled.
    “What is this?” The look on her face was one of stark disbelief. She’s going to blow if we don’t do some explaining fast Scotty realized.
    “It’s all okay.” Stroking Abby’s arms softly, Jose tried to keep her calm. Turning to Scotty, he said, “Look guys, we have some explaining to do.