Preston Greens

19. The Verdict

My head spun. I felt queasy and my head started to hurt. Mom and dad were in the second row talking to Uncle Tom and Aunt Sarah in the first row. I felt anxious. I wanted to cry. 

"What's the matter?" Kim asked me. 

"I just found out something that will change me forever." I said quietly. 

I stared out into space and I had no expression on my face. I felt lifeless. Kim snapped her fingers in front of me to get my attention. I didn't respond. 

Uncle Tom pulled into the Olive Garden parking lot and we got out of the car. I immediately went to mom and pulled her aside. "What's wrong? You've seemed very quiet, like something's on your mind." Mom said. 

"I just got a phone call from Lisa. She said they got the verdict from the inspections. My theory is correct. They now have evidence and it's all over the news now." I said very quickly. 

"Slow down and clam down!" Mom said. She looked at me with a worried face, which didn't help my situation. I was quite frustrated with everyone. I wish I were with Lisa and Charlie. We sat down at the table and mom gave the look I'm going to tell everyone your secret because they are going to hear it on the news so why not tell them now. That was one thing I didn't like about her. I shrunk back into my seat as mom began her shocking news. 

"Carly has recently received a phone call about the inspection. The verdict is that her observations were correct. Every house in our neighborhood has a spirit living in their house, which causes the people living in them to act a certain way. These spirits have major impacts on not the adults, but the children." Mom said. 

Everyone's mouths at the table were wide open, including mine. I don't remember when mom was that formal in spreading news, nor do I remember the last time she used that tone. I was a little nervous.

 Then, all at once, the whole table started asking me questions. I told them just to look up at the TV in the corner, where the local news was playing. As if right on cue, my story pops up onto the screen. 

"We have just gotten confirmation that Carly Sosabella's theory is correct and true. All the houses in the neighborhood Preston Greens have a different personality, having an impact on the residents. We will get back to you with more information after the break." 

This time it wasn't Katrina broadcasting the news but somebody else. That was a relief she got fired. I always felt like every time I saw her on TV she was saying false information or something. Mom heard her phone ring, so she went outside to take the call. After a few minutes of talking about unicorns - anything to distract me from the storm going in my head - mom comes in and pulls me outside. 

"What do you need?" I asked her.

 "They need you to come for another interview tonight, but I told them you were busy. Is that alright?" She asked me. 

"That's fine, I mean, can you suggest to them that they should come to my neighborhood and interview everyone?" I said.

 Mom pulled put her cell phone and called the news station. Mom finally hung up and nodded. I was a little excited because I was going to see Lisa and Charlie on TV, along with me. We were going home after dinner. We had a peaceful and yummy meal, and at around 7:15 we went home, just in time for the cameras. I was glad I finished all my homework, so I could have the rest of the night to myself in my home. 

Lisa, Leslie, Charlie, and I met on my front yard to talk about what personality we got. Apparently my house wasn't the only one with a stalker. Charlie's house got clean-freak, Lisa's got explorer, and Leslie's got musical. I got greed, which made a lot of sense.