Mousehole

Layla read her book. Layla brushed her hair. Layla ate her supper.

Layla texted friends.

Layla flossed her teeth.

Layla fell asleep.

Layla carried out her usual life, she didn't know that I was watching.

Watching her every move.

 Present: My name is Valeria Dubinski, but I stopped being Dubinski when I ran away. Now I am Valeria Mousehole, running through the walls like a mouse. I don't spy, I just observe. I observe what a normal family acts like. My family wasn't normal.

Flashback: Daddy lashed out at me, his palm spread wide. I screamed, my cheek stung. He screamed mean words at me, I screeched in response. Then I ran away, the feet hard and gruff against my bare feet.

Present: I don't know if all houses are like this one. I found this house which was the farthest away from my old one. It's lights were welcoming. The walls were hollow, they were like secret passages. I am small, like a mouse, and treat them as hallways. There are unused rooms in this old house. A room in the basement, an underground room only reached throught the walls, and a room blocked off by bricks. I doubt the family even knows these rooms exist.

Flashback: My feet felt numb from running barefoot for so long. I found the closest house to me, yet secluded. There was a trapdoor in the front lawn and I entered the basement. I explored until I found an unused room, its door was small and easy to not notice. I entered and when I thought I heard someone coming, dove into a hole in the wall. I've stayed there ever since.

Present: I don't want parents. I know I'm only seven and should have and want parents, but I don't. Layla seems to hate hers, and acts like all teenagers hate parents. So I hate parents too. Layla is my older sister and I follow her example. I steal some of her stuffed animals and pillows when everyone's gone. The underground room is where I sleep because it is the farthest away and I cannot be caught there. That's where I keep the pillows, blankets, stuffed animals, and other soft things I have found to make a bed-like creation.

          It wasn't always like this. When I first came in, only an old couple lived here. I called them the fogies, because I had heard that is what kids call the elderly. I just want to be a normal kid, as you can see. That was when I was five. A year later, the fogies died and I was alone. I hadn't heard of "haunted houses" otherwise I would have left because I was terrified that the fogies would come back to hurt me. Back then, I thought all grownups were evil.

        But then the Chanlises moved in. Layla Chanlise, Billy Chanlise, Daddy Richard Chanlise, and Mommy Clara Chanlise. They were my new family. I got along well with Billy, he was my good brother. We teased Layla just because she was older. That's what normal kids do, right? However I knew that soon I would be old and big as Layla. This worried me, would I be able to fit in the walls anymore?

        Daddy often fussed at Billy for being too loud. I really wanted to tell him it's alright and start screaming and playing with him! We would be best friends, even though he was my brother. Brothers and sisters usually fight, but not us! I was destined to be there for him, and he would be there for me!

        Sometimes when Layla was upset about homework, I almost offered to do it for her. I would be nice to her when not with Billy because she was a girl like me. Girls have to stick together at times. When I fell and scraped my knee, Layla would bandage it and wipe away my tears.

       I would love to cook with my mommy, thought I'm not supposed to want a mommy. But still. I would help her cook, I would grate the cheese. I would do all the hard and boring work for her and make it fun! We would also make crafts and draw together. I was going to be an excellent drawer! Billy and Layla weren't but Mommy is and so I would be too!