Farm Tag

Chapter 14. « Haunted. »

I sit on my blanket. We're on the upper floor of the barn and can hear every breeze trying to lift the roof tiles. The cows are sleeping underneath.

"Wouldn't it have been better to sleep inside the house?" asks Danbi.

"Are you afraid?"

"There might be cow thieves in the area, right?"

"Relax, there are no thieves. The roof is solid, it won't fly off."

We hear a door creak and the girls jump with fear.

"What's all that creaking?"

"My dad must have closed the door behind us wrong, it's a draught."

"Are you sure? I'm too young to die!"

"And I wouldn't have brought you here if I'd known it wasn't safe."

The door slams and the girls scream. Judy is on the verge of tears.

"I want to go home!"

"Call your soldier. We're going to pee our pants."

"He's on a date with his physiotherapist."

"What?!" they ask at the same time.

"Surprise, they're dating."

"You're not too disappointed?"

"I'll get over it."

I smile slightly. They're so outraged by the news that they forget their fear.

"He told you that just like that?"

"I pushed him to tell me."

"Fucker."

One of the cows lies down on the ground, frightening the girls with the sound of its movements on the straw.

"Calm down, it's just a cow falling asleep."

"Why does it make me feel safe to be with cows?"

"Same!"

I burst out laughing as I look at them, they're glued together.

"Seriously Angel, why don't we all sleep on your couch? I don't mind sleeping on an armchair."

"I don't have any flashlight, it's too dark outside."

"Call him, we don't care about his date. It's our lives at stake."

"I left my phone in my room."

"Do you know his number?"

I purse my lips.

"Angel!"

"Yes, I do."

They start smiling at me.

"Admit that you've memorized it!"

"He's the one who told me to learn it by heart if Quentin ever comes back to piss me off."

"Liar!"

"Do you want to sleep with the stable ghosts or what?"

"Okay, go ahead, give us his number."

"Hello, soldier. This is Judy. I'm best friends with... oh, you remember me? That's cool, we need your help. We're locked in the barn and we just realized this isn't a good idea, could you come get us?"

There's a silence.

"Damn, you're a lifesaver. See ya!"

She hangs up.

"I'd forgotten his voice was so deep."

"What did he say?" asks Danbi.

"She's going to drop him off in front of the house and he's on his way."