Story Eleven

When she suddenly became guardian of her niece and nephew,

she thought Conrad's solemn intensity was a result of the dreadful, mysterious accident.

Soon, small animals were appearing daily on the back porch, like morbid gifts.

She assumed the barn cat was responsible

until she took the children to the lake.

Both horrified and mesmerized, 

she watched fish swim to Conrad as if responding to a divine command.

Those fish that he casually grabbed with his bare hands,

died immediately.

No matter where they went swimming,

the same disturbing scene played out.

She felt a need to help him control whatever this strange phenomenon was,

and told him that he was the family hunter.

He could only call animals that they would eat.

They were never without food.

She loved her niece;

she feared her nephew.