Un-Haunted House

The high-mileage car sputtered, bucked and coughed before giving up the ghost, stranding its occupants. Kevin, Marsha, and their two kids sat quietly for several minutes, trying to decide on their next move. The family stared out of the car windows at what looked like the set of a Hitchcock movie. A full moon illuminated the leafless trees lining the windy driveway, which led to a dilapidated Victorian-style house. It sat atop a hill, commanding the surrounding valley. None of the family were sure if it was the crisp October night air or the creepy surroundings that made them all shiver.

Kevin reached for his phone to call for roadside assistance and saw he had no cell service. No one else had any bars on their phones, either. The reception might be better on top of the hill, but that meant getting close to the spooky old house. The plummeting temperature decided for them. Kevin, Marsha, and the kids gathered up the emergency supplies stored in the car and began trekking up the long, debris-strewn driveway.

The closer they got to the ramshackle house, the more ominous it became. Marsha was convinced she saw bats zipping in and out of a broken attic window.

“Daddy, is this a haunted house like the one in The Adams Family?” asked seven-year-old Maggie.

“No, Maggie, there is no such thing as ghosts and haunted houses. It’s just an old abandoned house.” I hope, thought Kevin.

Ten-year-old Rick, the prankster of the family, spun around quickly and yelled boo, causing Maggie to scream and everyone to jump. He laughed and said, “Scared you!”

Upset at being scared, then seeing the humor in Rick’s actions, Marsha gave him a stern look and said, “Okay, you got us, but no more messing around. This is serious.”

Nothing else happened until they reached the house. Kevin stepped onto the large wraparound portico and it let out a low moan, followed by a cracking sound. He motioned for everyone to stay off the porch just in case it couldn’t handle the weight, then moved to the entrance. Kevin knocked on the door, but instead of it being answered, the door swung open emitting a loud creaking sound. Kevin looked back at his family, shrugged, and stepped across the threshold. The door slammed shut behind him. After five excruciatingly long minutes, he reopened the door and beckoned his family to join him.

They chose the living room to spend the night in because it had a fireplace and was the least creepy of all the rooms in the house. Kevin and Rick gathered some firewood, while Marsha and Maggie checked out the rooms on the first floor. Someone or something had ransacked the house, leaving it in a disheveled mess. The mother and daughter heard skittering sounds that mice and other small animals made as they wandered from room to room. At one point, Maggie pointed to a dark room and said, “Mommy, is that a ghost?”

“I don’t see anything, Honey. Let’s go back to the living room and see if the boys have a fire going yet.”

She tried to appear unphased by the spooky surroundings so her daughter wouldn’t be frightened, but she was more creeped out than Maggie was. The girls returned to see the beginnings of a warming fire. Just before turning in for the night, Kevin, trusty flashlight in hand, escorted each family member to the spiderweb-shrouded outhouse. Using the blankets from the car and a few old cushions as mattresses, the family fell asleep for the night.

The next morning, Kevin walked to the opposite side of the hill, where his phone captured a signal. He called for a tow truck. Several hours later, they were on their way to a nearby town. During their trip to town, Kevin joked with his family about sleeping in a haunted house and how silly they were.

Back at the old mansion, several apparitions floated above the floor. Their semi-transparent shapes shifted hues as they communicated with each other telepathically.

“I thought it was all over for us when the girl spotted you, Pete.”

“That was a close one. She has really keen eyesight. I’m glad they’re gone, Rose.”

“So am I! We’ll have to leave this house someday, but there is no rush. It’s been our home for 100 years and I’m comfortable here. Hopefully, it will be another 100 years before this place has to give up its ghosts.”