What Was It?

By Alyce Rohrer

What Was It?

Jennifer Allison is faced with a complication when she sets out to ready her parent’s new home for their planned arrival from the East. Her dog, Czar, refuses to go in. His recognition of some malignant force within the house causes him to attempt to prevent Jennifer from entering. The forces of logic are pitted against a history of paranormal occurrences, when a psychiatrist friend of the family and Jennifer’s new love interestclash over the explanation of the occult occurrences within the house. Even after  a

somewhat believable explanation is reached by his human family, the dog still insists something sinister remains. What do you think?

Author

Alyce Stevens Rohrer was a WASP -Women’s Air Force Service Pilot-during World

War II, serving as maintenance Test Pilot in Perrin Field, Texas. When the war ended she married and moved to Japan, where her husband served as Test Pilot for Mitsubishi. She became a teacher at Nanzan University in Nagoya for two years, and on return home accepted a position as teacher of English and History at Arroyo High School in El Monte, California. Now retired, she writes novels and short stories and resides in Pasadena.

Cover Art by Michelle Parnell Rohrer

• Language: English
• Publisher: Azure Publications, Ltd.
• Release date: Feb 15, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386492931

Alyce Rohrer

Alyce Stevens Rohrer was a WASP - Women's Air Force Service Pilot - during World War II, serving as maintenance Test Pilot in Perrin Field, Texas. When the war ended she married and moved to Japan, where her husband served as Test Pilot for Mitsubishi. She became a teacher at Nanzan University in Nagoya for two years, and on return home accepted a position as teacher of English and History at Arroyo High School in El Monte, California. Now retired, she writes novels and short stories and resides in Pasadena.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

While walking her dog along Del Mar Boulevard, Jennifer noted a flash of blue in the road at her left. A split second later she knew why and stopped, transfixed with horror.  A large blue ball was rolling to the opposite curb with a child toddling into traffic after it!  Czar reacted. Jerking the leash from her hand, he darted into the street, picked the baby up by the straps of his tight little pants, and carried him out of harm’s way.  She had a cell phone  in her hand and snapped a picture, just as a woman rushed out of her house screaming. Don, Come quick! A big dog has Jackie! 

A door slammed, and a man came rushing to the gate, evidently taking in the picture of a hysterical woman, protesting child and large dog. He glared at her. I’ll call the police! I’ll sue you for everything you own! 

She tried to keep her cool. The child is not hurt. Check him out and see! 

They did not listen. The woman still clutched the now screaming, kicking child, and the man stood there angrily with his arms folded against his chest. She lifted the phone, clicked on the picture and held it up in front of his eyes.  He calmed down and fell silent, but the woman kept on protesting. Jennifer finally lost it.

"Stop it! That boy isn’t injured! He’s crying because he’s mad! He wants that ball over  on the other curb. Czar stopped him from getting it! Can you see the grey streak of color in the picture just behind my dog? That car was moving fast! It never could have stopped in time." 

The man seemed to realize the truth but the woman still did not, and the commotion brought neighbors out. A woman from across the street and her young son arrived. The boy ran to pick up the ball, and came back to hand it to Jackie. The child clutched it to his chest, and his tears dried magically. Jennifer held up the picture again so the mother could see it.  But nothing was said. In fact nobody said anything. At last she turned, picked up Czar’s leash, and walked away but couldn’t resist calling, You’re welcome! over her shoulder. It was all too clear to her what would have happened if her dog had not acted when he did. 

She loosened the leash and walked on beside him, as she often did. He was absolutely trustworthy. If commanded to heel, he never left her side. Good Czar, good boy, she said to him, dropping her hand on his big sleek head. His answered, Woof, made her chuckle, fancying it sounded a bit proud. Pleased with yourself, aren’t you? she commented. Well, you should be.  I’m pleased with you too. 

They walked on down the street, in fact, clear across to Sierra Madre Boulevard before they turned back. The sky was clear with fluffy white clouds and a slight breeze lifted the leaves of the jacaranda trees lining the boulevard. It was a pleasant afternoon for walking and Czar needed more exercise, but it had been a busy day at work for her. She was tired, expecting a phone call from her dad, and had not wanted to leave the house at all. 

When they returned to the spot where it all happened, the same neighbor with her son came out again. Could we see that picture? the boy asked. 

She held it out for him. He studied it, and then held it up for his mother.

Good heavens! she commented. The Graham’s didn’t realize what could have happened to Jackie! 

All three of them turned to look at the Graham house. They might have been thinking the same thing. They’ll come to their senses and realize what really happened after they have more time to think about it, the neighbor commented. By the way, I’m Margaret Hanson and this is my son, Todd. 

I’m Jennifer Allison. Czar and I have a small house just a short way down from here. 

That’s his name! said the boy, who was petting Czar’s head. That’s a great name. Then he wrapped his arms around the big dog’s neck. Oh I wish he was mine!

Czar licked the boy’s cheek, his eyes half closed with pleasure at the welcome attention.

Jennifer smiled down at the boy, thinking she knew exactly how he felt. She pointed at the fourth house down the street. Come and visit him any time. He loves company. 

The boy’s eyes lit up. I will!

His mother smiled, they said goodbye, and all of them turned toward home. Jennifer’s telephone rang almost as soon as she got in the house. She hurried to answer, and heard her dad’s deep voice on the line. The new house is ours now, he said. The papers are all signed. The agent told me he would deliver the keys to you, so you can go in and finish the measurements of spaces for your mother’s furniture. 

Oh Dad, that’s just great! You know how happy I am that you decided to make the  move to California. It’s a big change for you, but I know you’ll love it here." 

Well, it will be nice to get away from the extreme weather here in Long Island.  Your mother and I are not young any more. The lovely summer weather out there attracts us.

Gee. Dad! All this time I thought it was Czar and me.

Well, she heard the smile in his voice. That might have had a bit to do with our decision. Not much, you understand, but a bit. 

She laughed. Such a comment was just what she had expected, and after a  few words with her mother and some other chit chat, she promised to e-mail the measurements for the furniture next day soonest, and hung up the phone. 

Czar! she called from the back door. Come on in, it’s time for your dinner. 

He’d been lying down, stretched out on her newly planted plot of impatiens and petunias.  In her spare time, of which she had little, she had tried to brighten up that miserable tiny back yard, but without much success. She sighed as Czar lifted his head and jumped up eagerly to answer her call. The pretty new plants were squashed, but well, maybe they could be fixed. 

A lovely gold and white German shepherd mix, Czar had been hers since he was a big  awkward baby and she was thirteen years old. Early on, her dad had been known to comment  that he never saw one of them without the other.  Later, she had managed the separation, when  she’d had to go away to college to study business management and could only see her dog when  home on vacations. But when she graduated and landed a job as Assistant Account Manager with  Norton Anderson Company in Pasadena, it was a permanent move and she could not leave Czar  behind. Traveling with him had not been easy, but the two of them had worked it out. 

Now for almost a year they had made their home on Del Mar Street, but the small rented  house had an equally small back yard. There was not enough room in it for Czar to exercise, and  it seemed she spent all her spare time walking him on the city streets. That and the demands of  a job, which she loved, nearly ran her ragged. But good news had arrived with a visit from her  parents. They loved the area, hated the heavy winters on Long Island, and wanted to be nearer  to her. When she realized they were serious about it, she’d been delighted and happy to take  them on tours of the city, looking for possible homes, and wonder of wonders, they had located a house they all liked on Catalina Street not far from where she lived now. 

Czar, she commented as he ate from his bowl,  Mom and Dad will be here soon. You  won’t be alone while I’m at work. Isn’t that just great? 

He looked up into her eyes, and she was sure he understood. She’d always known that dogs, when they live closely with people begin to understand their words. Dogs are so eager to please, and so intelligent, how could they not? She knew they sometimes went by tone of voice and didn’t seem to pick up complicated sentences, but she felt sure they got as close to understanding people as people got to understanding each other. Also his happy Woof, and that graceful tail waving was as good as any other language, it seemed to her. 

Finishing in the kitchen and going back to her desk to study the papers collected through real estate transactions, she felt pleased to have been trusted with so much. Her parents’

decision to leave Long Island and relocate to California to live had filled her with happiness. They’d known she’d need a place for her beloved companion, and took that into consideration too. For the first time in her life she felt happy to be an only child. They had no other children to demand their attention and complicate matters. 

What they had chosen was a lovely updated 1930’s California Craftsman bungalow. It faced the west side of Catalina Street, and a walkway led up to a long covered porch with river rock columns, and a heavy oak door that opened into a wide entrance hall. Inside and on the right was a large formal living room with a stairway from the front door to the second story, and to the left was a dining room. A door in the back of that room led to a newly remodeled kitchen. Best of all, where Jennifer was concerned, was the deep grassy back yard where Czar would have room to exercise.  One problem had bothered her father though. A city inspector would have discovered any flaws, and in that area it seemed the price should have been prohibitive. But it wasn’t. The real estate agent was no help and they never discovered the reason the price was so low but decided to buy anyway. Jennifer and her mother thought it seemed like a bargain, but her dad still grumbled thoughtfully about it. Anyway, when he left to go home and see to the sale, packing and shipping on that end, he had entrusted her to take care of details here. 

Next afternoon after work, she took Czar for his walk again. It had been a demanding day, and her neck muscles ached from tension, but as always, he was eager to go. She looked forward to her Dad taking over in the afternoon walk department. One detriment to walking a dog on city streets was that people were always fascinated and sometimes stopped to ask questions. Sometimes she felt so tired she didn’t want to talk, but Dad would enjoy it. He loved to chat with people and Czar’s friendly Woof always charmed his admirers. Small children were delighted with him too. Czar was as charmed by them as they were with him. He was a big dog, almost ninety pounds, but no child had ever shown fear of him. His personality was unique. 

When they passed the Hanson house, Todd Hanson, his new young friend, came out to see Czar. As they chatted, the boy looked up at the Graham house and commented that his mother had been talking to them. They feel ashamed now. 

Really they should not, she answered. They were both so frightened for their little boy. I can understand. 

Well, we can’t, he answered. Mom thinks they were very rude. She told Angie Graham off too. Then he grinned. I guess they’re still friends though. Angie was over at our house talking to Mom over their coffee this morning. 

Well that’s a relief. She smiled down at his freckled face. Czar and I would not like to be responsible for breaking up a friendship. 

He paid no attention to her comment. He was too busy petting Czar. I could walk along with you? he said hopefully.  She smiled and made a quick decision. Tell you what. You ask your mother’s permission to take Czar and finish his walk. I usually take him as far as Sierra Madre Blvd. I’ll go back and do some things I need to do at home. 

His freckled face was wreathed in smiles. Really? Then he turned to yell Hey, Mom, can I walk Czar?  

She came to the porch in answer to his call and waved. Hoping her judgment as to the boy’s responsibility was correct, Jennifer handed him the leash, spoke to Czar about the change in plan, and allowed them to walk happily away. Walking slowly back home she intended to keep a sharp eye out until they got back. He was a sweet kid