From the Ground, Up -- PUBLISHED

The 'House'

“Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win”

-Stephen King.

The ‘House’

First day in a new country and Bestia had collected her rental car to get to her hotel for the night. As soon as she had set down her bags, she picked up the phone and used the calling card she bought at the airport, to call her son.

            “Mum!”

            “Gejo! I promised I would call when I got to the hotel.”

            “I’m so glad you landed safely. I miss you!”

            “Oh, baby; I miss you too, but you could have come with me.”

            “Mum, please, can we not have this argument again. Please.” He begged, he sounded miserable. Bestia wondered what was causing Gejo this distress; he hadn’t wanted to fly around the world to live in a new country with her. Instead he chose to stay with her ex-husband, his father. Bestia did note the strangeness of it; because as Gejo had grown closer to puberty, he had shown less and less interest in spending time with his father. Yet, as soon as the opportunity to travel away with his mother had appeared, Gejo suddenly decided to live with his father. Bestia was convinced there was something fishy about the situation, but was too tired to try and figure it out immediately.

            “Ok, baby, I’m tired and I need to get some sleep. I have to go and pick up my house keys tomorrow and then let the rental company know where to pick up my rental car; the house has a car with it, thank god! I’ll talk to you soon, Ok?”

            “Ok, bye Mum, stay safe; Night.”

            “Night Gejo, my boy.”

Bestia walked out of the property manager’s office the next morning, with the keys to her new house and car securely in hand. As she was driving, on the wrong side of the road it seemed like, she continued to wonder why her son suddenly desired to remain with his father; she suspected that Kane had some nefarious reason for keeping their son from her. But she couldn’t think of a single reason that Kane would be able to hold over Gejo’s head. Bestia always maintained an honest relationship with her son, he should know that there is nothing that he could do that would make her not love him, and it would be pretty hard for him to make Bestia not want to be around her son, exluding him getting charged and put away for murder or rape.

            “Oh wow! Is that the house?” Bestia asks out loud, and sincerely hopes that no one answers. She walked inside, not holding her breath for it to be any better in there. She was right not to hope, the wallpaper was peeling badly and dated; the carpet was stained and worn. To top it all; the entire house smelled faintly, of something that Besita did not want to think to closely on, and of damp. On the bright side there was an explanatory note on the kitchen bench, if one could call it an explanatory note.

Dear Ms Kararehe,

I apologise for the state in which you find this house, you are not required to pay rent for this property. It is not the original property we had lined up for you and it is owned by Sunny Valley High School, who I believe you are here to work for. They agreed that you could have it rent free, and have actually given you a budget to renovate. It is up to you whether you do it yourself or whether you bring in contractors. The original property that was allotted to you was vandalised and then burnt to the ground, we do not know why.

            You will find that Sunny Valley High School is just two blocks away, and you will also find that the nearest supermarket is at least a ten minute drive, see the enclosed map. As agreed you will find a car parked in the garage, you should have the keys on the same ring as the house keys. Kensington Homes will still be your property managers, you are welcome to liaise with us regards contractors; and if the property needs more than a simple facelift. Your house should be fully furnished, if you find anything that it is lacking you’ll find funds in your budget to purchase suitable furniture.