House of Ghosts

Two

1972, October 12th

The moving vans are still not here yet. It's been nearly a full day, the sun is setting, and no vans. No couch, no beds, nothing. To make it worse, Carter won't stop bothering me. I've not met a single other soul that lives in this house besides Carter, Ms. Annette, and Mr. Parkins. The latter is a pretty decent man, he's around my mother's age so I don't care much about him. He's quite average height with green eyes, glasses, and dark hair. He looks like any other man you might see, unnoticeable. My mother thought he was funny, but I didn't understand his jokes. I haven't seen him since last night when he brought the mattresses over, I'm not upset about that. The less strangers I see, the happier I am.

Mother did mention something about going up to the school near here on Monday and trying to enroll me. She also has to go into work, some place she transferred to that related to her old job. Boring stuff, really. I'm just excited that come Monday Carter will be in school and away from me.

"Casey?"

"Hmm?" I focus in on Carter, who seemingly has been talking this whole time.

"I asked if you wanted to explore the attic with me?"

"Why would we do that?" This boy is crazy. He stands up from the stair he was sitting on and I follow his lead. Maybe I can get him to go on his own and leave me be. I chose to sit out here because I learned rather quickly that he'll follow me to my own room. If only I knew who his mother was so I could have a word with her.

"Because it would be fun."

"Your idea of fun and mine are very different."

"C'mon Casey, there's nothing else to do." He has a point there. Mother has been on the phone all day with many different people. I would've asked, but I didn't want to interrupt her.

"Fine, but only if you'll shut up on the way," He nods enthusiastically and begins to climb the stairs, "Is there an easy way to get into the attic? Are you sure Ms. Annette won't be upset?"

"Yes, and I'm sure." He leads the way all the way to the top floor. The right hallway would lead to Mr. Parkins room, but we take the left hallway; which I've never gone down before.

"Do you live on this hall?"

"No, we're on the first floor."

"Where's your brother?"

"Busy with work." The hallway is long, and it feels like we walk forever.

"Is he much older than you, then?"

"No, he's only a year older, but he's already graduated." We stop at the end of the hallway. A single window looks at us, and through it the forest of the backyard. It seems to warn me to keep out, and that's exactly what I plan on doing, no matter what Carter says.

"Then he chose not to go to college?"

"Father had a job set up for him once he graduated high school."

"He's very lucky then." 

"Right up here," Carter reaches up and pulls on a string I didn't notice before. A ladder swings down before us, scattering dust. I cough, but Carter only begins to climb, "Come on."

"Have you been up here before?" I ask, holding onto the rung nearest me without putting a foot on the ladder.

"Once." I watch him disappear through the hole above me. Sighing, I climb up after him.

"Why only once?" I ask, reaching the top and pulling myself up. The room is dark and cluttered with old boxes; some covered furniture lies around the room. It seems as though the furniture may have been what took up the house before it was split into apartments.