he started, eyes darting around to make sure no one else was listening, “and I see a lady sitting at the table. She’s wearing a big black dress, like a Halloween costume, with lots of shiny bits.” He mimicked the dress’s shimmer with his small hands before continuing, “And then, I see them. Little, wiggly spiders crawling out from under her dress.”
For a moment, I was caught between amusement and confusion. Ben had always had a vivid imagination, but this was something new. “Spiders?” I asked, trying to suppress a smile. “Are you sure they weren’t just part of her dress, like decorations?”
“No, Mommy,” he insisted. “They were real! They were crawling on the floor, and she didn’t even notice!”
I glanced toward the tables where mourners were quietly chattering, their subdued conversations punctuated by the clinking of glasses. It was hard to imagine anyone here entertaining a swarm of spiders. Still, Ben’s insistence made me curious enough to investigate further.
“Which lady was it, Ben?” I asked gently.
He pointed discreetly towards the other side of the room, where an elegantly dressed woman sat with a group. Her black dress was indeed lavish, adorned with sequins that glimmered under the dim lights, but nothing seemed peculiar about her; certainly nothing that involved spiders.
“Stay right here,” I instructed Ben, standing up. “Mommy’s just going to take a quick look.”
I walked slowly toward the woman, trying to appear casual. As I neared, I was taken aback by the unmistakable sight of a small trail of spiders, promptly being ushered away by a diligent waiter. The spiders were indeed real, and they seemed to be emerging from beneath the woman’s chair. A chill ran down my spine.
At that moment, the woman excused herself from her companions and walked toward the restroom. I couldn’t help but discreetly follow, questions swirling in my mind.
She entered the restroom, and I hesitated outside for a moment, unsure of how to approach the situation. But then, gathering my courage, I pushed the door open.
Inside, the woman was standing in front of the mirror, adjusting her dress. She caught my reflection in the mirror and turned, a gracious smile on her lips. “Hello,” she said warmly. “I hope I’m not intruding in your thoughts.”
“Not at all,” I replied, returning the smile. “I just… I couldn’t help but notice something strange back there.”
Her smile faltered, replaced with a knowing look. “You saw the spiders, didn’t you?”
“Yes,” I admitted. “My son mentioned them. Are you alright?”
She sighed, a delicate hand brushing over the sequins of her dress. “It’s an old family curse,” she confessed softly. “A reminder of mistakes made long ago. They follow me wherever I go.”
I blinked, processing her words. It sounded like something out of a fairytale, yet there was a sincerity in her eyes that made me believe her. “Is there anything that can be done?”
Her eyes met mine, a glimmer of hope in their depths. “Perhaps. But it’s a long story, one I’d be willing to share if you’re interested.”
I nodded, curiosity piqued. As we returned to the reception, I couldn’t help but feel that Ben’s innocent game of make-believe had led us to a story that would indeed turn our lives upside down.