Dr. Willis

Aubrey Willis sat down at the old oak table, running her hands along the scars in the boards just as she'd done since she was small. Now 23, it had been a while since she had sat here with her whole family surrounding her; but it all still felt the same. Like how home should feel.

Her mother had covered the table in all the Thanksgiving favorites, and as her father passed her a plate she mentally debated where to start first. 

"So mom, how's work been lately?" Her mother raised her head slowly to meet Aubrey's gaze as the rest of the family fell silent.

"I guess I forgot to tell you. I got laid off from the research lab."

Aubrey didn't know what to say. Jane Willis had worked as a high-clearance government researcher for the last thirty years. She couldn't believe her mom had failed to mention such a monumental thing as loosing her life-long career. 

"I'm ok." She continued, seeing Aubrey's shocked face and the look of concern creeping in. "I've found a new use for my time."

Everyone else at the table was still silent, picking at their food as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. Finally, her brother David spoke up. 

"It's really ok, Aubrey. If you want, after dinner we can show you what mom's been working on out back." He forced a grin, trying to change direction. "Anybody else as mad as I am that the Vikings dropped that pass? I mean come on!" 

With the conversation now successfully changed to the day's football games, Aubrey finished eating her green bean cassarole in silence. 

As the family finished cleaning up after the grand meal, nobody saw Jane slip out the back door. Holding a bag filled with what remained of the Thanksgiving turkey, she moved quickly and quietly toward the back of the property, where an old, dark shed loomed in the moonlight. 

As she approached the door, she could hear an unnerving growling sound coming from inside. The sound of cages rattling became louder as she turned the key in the massive padlock that kept her new projects safe. Smiling to herself, she stepped inside with the turkey carcass and closed the door behind her.