Apartment 109 (unfinished)

Chapter 6: Its beginning to look a lot like home

Finally my mother emerged from the kitchen, it seemed like it took her forever to get him the glass of lemonade. She smiled as she approached him and he smiled in return when she handed him the glass.

I glanced back up at him not that my mother had his attention once more. There he stood his dark brown mass of hair was a mess on top of his head. He was in serious need of a hair cut. He was a large man in build. He had quite the belly on him. He wore workman overalls that were a faded blue color and a white tshirt underneath. Hs brown eyes were locked on my mothers as she rambled on to him now in deep conversation. He was scruffy. Looked like he had not shaved in a couple of days, and just the thought of the way he smelled made my stomach turn. He was covered in splotches of paint from being busy painting the hallway all morning.

He nodded with one last smile to my mother. "Im sorry to cut you short ma'am but I must really get back to work. I still have to paint the other side of the hall before I get my lunch break. Thank you so much for your kindness the glass of lemonade was wonderful." He handed my mother the empty glass and glanced over my mother and waved at me with that smile still plastered on his face. "Have a good day Ashlynn." He said. "I nodded and managed to mumble "You to sir."

He then walked away and my mother closed the door. My mother walked back towards the kitchen with the glass. "You could have been more polite Ash, he went out of his way to bring back that piece of mail and you didn't even say thank you." As my moter began to wash the glass in the sink I glanced up at her. "I'm sorry mom, I just, there is something about him that makes me feel uncomfortable.

"He is just a maintnance man Ash, and he seems so very kind." As she towel dried her hands she looked down at the envelope. She had placed it on the counter when she was getting him a drink. "Wo sent you this anyways Ash? It looks like crayon was used to write on the envelope and all it says is your name." I jumped up rather quickly toppling a box over as I did. I rushed into the kitchen and snatched the letter up my mind was reeling, what was I going to say.

I laughed. "Oh your going to think this is silly mom. I found it when I was unpacking last night. Remember Casey? When we were litle we used to write notes back and forth. Well one day she sent me this by putting it into our mailbox. I stashed it away and thought that I had thrown it in the garbage but I guess I didn't.  I meant to throw it away this morning and forgot that it was in my back pocket." I clutched the envelope in my hands. "I think I will keep it around for a little while longer though." I said softly. "I really miss my friends back home." I lowered my gaze.

My mother walked over and gave me a gentle hug. "Oh Ash I am so sorry. I know that you miss your friends and I am so sorry that I had to take you away from them." I gently pulled away from her. "I understand why mom." I said softly as I walked towards my room. "I am going to go and put this away in my room. I got to get started on the living room before it gets to late. The room isn't going to unpack itself."

My mother nodded and seemed to snap out of it. "Yes, Oh yes I have alot to do in my room yet, oh your father is hoping I get it done while he is off to work." she sighed softly. "I don't think I will now."

I diappeared into my room knowing that my mother was in a rush to get into her room and get unpacked. I opened the envelope and peered inside. Holding my breath in hopes that the pictures were still there. They were. I let out the breath that I had been holding and after closing the envelope backup I placed it in the top drawer of my dresser.  But still I wondered if the maintnance man had looked inside the envelope too and noticed the pictures too.

Suddenly remembering the mirror I closed the drawer and hurried back into the living room. Opening the flaps to the box I glanced inside, the mirror was fine. Not a single mark. I must have imagined it I thought as I shook my head. I began to unpack the box, listening to the music now as I pulled out nicnaks and wall hangings and began to place them around the room. Finally the apartment was beginning to look and feel like a place that I might be able to call home.

After a few hours of unpacking boxes I was down to the final one. Standing there admiring my work with my hands folded in front of me I smiled. After this box I was going to go and check on mom. She still had not emerged from her room. I reached down to open the last box and found myself starled as the door opened. I stood up and turned rather quickly to see my brother.

He was smiling to. "Where's mom?" He said he seemed a bit out of breath. "In her room unpacking." I replied. "Mom!" he called out as he headed towards her roo. I heard my mothers bedroom door open as she hurried out into the hall. "What is it Cody? Is everything alright?"

"I got a job!" He said seeming very happy and pleased with hismelf. "Wow! Really, where Cody?" My mother replied. "That game shop down on fifth Avenue." He said still grinning. "I start tomorrow."

"Thats wonderful." My mother said a smile forming on her lips as well. "I'm so very proud of you."

I heard them as they continued to talk, hearing their voices fade as they ended up heading into my parents room. I bent back down and began to rummage through the box of stuff that was left for the bedroom. As I sifted through everything I came across a locket. I stopped and gently picked it up and pulled it out. Looking it over I was confused. "I wonder where this came from. " I said softly to myself. "I've never seen this before."

As I looked over the outside of the locket the soft sound of a music box could be heard. I looked down at the box, but it seemed like it was coming from everywhere all at once, it filled the room. I gently began to open the locket. Inside there was a picture of a man holding a little girl. The picture was black and white. I didn't recognize the people in the picture. I began to study it and then caught something out of the corner of my eye.

I glanced up and saw her. Standing there before me in the center of the room was the ghost of the little girl. I could see her clearly, more clearly than before. She was the girl in the picture. I clutched the locket in my hand as I stared at her, she looked so sad.  She didn't say anything, she only stared at me. The sadness I could feel, it was so overwhelming I felt tears come to my eyes. As I placed my head in my hands and then wiped my tears away I looked back up and she was gone. The sound of the music box. Stopped. And I could once again hear the music playing from the radio.

I looked around the room to be sure that she was gone, I then opened my hand to stare at the locket. It was still in my there, but as I opened it to take another look at the picture it was gone. I sighed softly and placed the necklace into my pocket.

I finally finished unpacking the box and had them torn down into a pil near the doorway. I took a seat on the couch and leaned back sinking into the cushions allowing them to comfort me. I closed my eyes resting them as I drew in a deep breath.

The sound of my mother and brother coming out of her room awoke me from my restfulness. I slowly opened my eyes and sat up. Cody was deep in conversation my mom deep in thought as she listened but as she reached the living room her concentration turned to a smile as she realized I had finished the living room. "Oh Ash." she said as she glanced around the room. "It looks wonderful hunnie." She walked over to me and gave me a gentle hug. "I never imagined how much our things being placed could make it look so cozy and welcoming." I said as I glanced around at the many decorations.

Cody stood in the doorway and leaned against it as he crossed his arms across his chest and seemed to nod in approval. "Looks great sis." he said. I looked up at him and smiled. "Thanks."

"Oh no." My mother cried as she glanced at the clock hanging on the wall. "Your father will be home in less than an hour and I have not even had time to start dinner. I pushed myself up off the couch and walked into the kitchen following my mothers rushed steps. "What can I help you with mom?" I asked with a smile.

Though the ghost girl came to me one again I was beginning to get used to her presence and now that the boxes were diappearing and the apartment was coming together I was feeling a little more comfortable. I felt sorry for the girl and welcomed the fact that she needed my help, but I didn't want my family to know, they would think I was crazy and most likely send me away for some sort of mental evaluation. No one would believe that I had really seen the ghost girl from apartment 109.