Cherry Visits the Haunted Mansion

chapter 2

The next day, Atticus, Cherry, Patch, and Drell were ready for the trip and where even Mo was ready.

"I hope Jim and Sara be careful," Michelle said to her husband. "It's going to rain later tonight."

"I'm sure they'll be just fine." Bud said.

"Cherry, are you ready up there?!" Michelle called upstairs.

"Yeah, I'll come down when Aunt Sara and Uncle Jim drive up!" Cherry called back.

They then heard a honking sound from a vehicle from outside, telling them that the people Cherry was waiting for were there.

"That must be them." Michelle said.

Bud nodded and decided to go see his sister before Cherry would come down who got all of her stuff and started to make her way downstairs.

"Got everything?" Michelle asked her daughter.

"Yep, I triple checked." Cherry nodded.

"Good." Michelle nodded as her daughter was then on her way out the door.

Bud and Sara hugged each other with laughs as they hadn't seen each other in a long time.

"It's been so long, Bud, how've you Michelle and Cherry been?" Sara asked.

"Oh, we're fine, thank you," Bud smiled back. "Cherry's been a little sneaky lately though, but at least she's happy."

"Really? Halloween must be close by then." Sara giggled, knowing and remembering the only times her niece would smile.

"Oh, yeah, you can count on that." Bud chuckled.

"Well, at least she's bringing some friends along with her." Sara smiled.

"Yeah." Bud agreed.

Cherry walked over and looked up to her aunt.

"Hi, Cherry!" Sara hugged her niece. "So good to see you again."

Cherry gave a polite nod of her head and she put her stuff in the trunk of the car as two younger kids were watching her from the backseat of the car.

"Let's just hope that you didn't invite too many friends to come with." Jim said to Cherry.

"I think Atticus said his sister would drive him, his dog, and his girlfriend and they're gonna follow your car, Uncle Jim." Cherry replied to her aunt's husband.

"Whew, that's good." Jim smiled.

"Yeah, when they ride up and you meet them, we'll get going." Cherry replied.

"Michael, Megan, come out and meet your cousin." Sara encouraged her hiding children.

"Alright." Megan sighed.

Michael looked nervous, but came out with his older sister.

"Hello." Cherry looked to her younger cousins.

"Hey." Megan waved.

"Um... Hi..." Michael blinked.

"Well, this is fascinating..." Cherry deadpanned as there was rarely any conversation going on between her and her younger cousins.

"So, you ready?" Megan asked.

"As I'll ever be..." Cherry shrugged. "We have to wait for my friends first."

"Are they scary as you are?" Michael asked.

Cherry glanced at him. "Me? Scary?"

"S-Sorry, you just look kind of scary." Michael said.