The Haunted Mansion

Madame Leota

"Come now," the ghost host said to us. "The madame will be waiting for us. We are about to partake in a séance that she herself will be conducting."

"What I wouldn't give now to actually be out fishing and catching good loads of shrimp out on the lake, right now," said Zeke. "My family's been working in the shrimping business for generations. I hope we could be doing so much more. We could actually run our own restaurant. We could serve the fanciest seafood platters and shrimp-based menus in the family business. My great grandpa, he was a shrimping man too. He had the same dream as me, but the Great Depression put a dent in his plans. When the times became not so tough anymore, he passed away before he could have any chance of reviving that dream of his. Look at me now. Instead, I'm stuck in a haunted mansion. Terror around every corner and me screaming my head off. All I've ever really wanted with my life was to do good for my family. Help revive my great grandfather's dream. And I would finish what he started."

"I see," I told him. "I bet it would have been fabulous."

"It would. Not just seafood," Zeke replied. "Et tu Fay, jambalaya, the whole kit and caboodle."

"Zeke, it sounds brilliant," I said. Perhaps when we get out of here, we can tell your family how much this means to you. Is it something you've been afraid of sharing though?"

"No. It shouldn't have been. But for some reason it was. Ever since my mom died when I was 3, I've been afraid of almost everything. Even the dark. Because of that, I never had many friends when I was little. Until I met you, Thomas, in the 3rd grade. I wish I was brave like you. Had I been sooner, I could be reviving my great grandpappy's dream now. All kinds of fancy dishes. People coming from everywhere. Even all types of famous celebrities. Great parties, all could have been, and still could be."

"Zeke, I know you have so much fear in you," I told him. "But I've known since we were kids. You are so much stronger than that. Really courage comes from within the heart. Sometime soon, we all have to face what we're afraid of. Even if it takes us a whole lifetime."

The three of us pressed on.

We came upon a darkened circular parlor dimly lit by flickering candles. There in the center stood a round circular table. In the middle of it, sat a crystal ball. We found that Madame Leota, the medium we were brought in to meet with was quite unique. She was truly a disembodied spirit. A woman's head inside of the crystal ball. As she materialized within, she stared at us.

"I am Madame Leota! Seer of all, voice to the spirits," she told us. "Whom are you all that dare to enter my presence?"

"We're not intruders. We are guests," I responded. "We were welcomed."

"Here in the place, where terror shrieks, you find yourselves where shadows creep. The mansion hides it history, but solve you will this mystery, and find the truth that's buried deep beneath these walls where spirits weep."

"Wait! I thought all the spirits here were called happy haunts," I interrupted.

"Hey! You try coming up with a rhyme on the spot!" Leota shrieked.

"Look, Ball lady," Zeke snarked. "Can you just..."

"Silence, all of you be seated! It is time to establish contact."

Suddenly, a set of chairs flew from behind and we were sat before we could notice.

All three of us grew silent in dread, but me it was also anticipation for witnessing a real séance. As Madame Leota invoked the spirits, objects floated about the room, sounds echoing as well in response to her supplications.