The Old Crowe House

    It is said that The Old Crowe House is haunted. That General Asher Crowe went insane and killed himself. They said that there were many factors that could’ve contributed to his suicide. It could have been because he watched his son take his last breaths after he caught a Yankee bullet to the heart during the Civil War, it might have been because he came home to find his wife had died of cholera days before, or maybe it was because his daughter died of a broken heart after her husband was accused and executed for the murder of Parson Miller. Whatever the cause was, they say that Asher Crowe’s miserable spirit is still lurking there. They say that you can still hear his sorrowful sobs as he paces the floors, trying to find the will to live until you finally hear a muffled gunshot from his bedroom.

* * *

I finished putting my makeup on and raced to the stairs, sliding down the banister, and landing on the hardwood floor with a soft thump. I dusted myself off and ran into the kitchen, slamming my hand down on the counter.

“I did it! Finally!” I exclaimed, leaning on the counter.

“You finally broke Max’s two day streak?” My dad asked, pouring himself a mug of coffee.

“Yes!”

“Now we’re going to have to listen to him whine about it until he gets his streak back.” My mom said, scraping scrambled eggs and bacon onto four plates.

“I didn’t think about that. Maybe I should go back upstairs and let him win this time,” I thought about it for a second, “Nah.”

“I've already won.” I heard a deep voice say from behind me.

I jumped and turned around to face the voice.

“Maxwell Blake Stephens!”

“Did you really think I’d let you break my streak, Gracie?” he laughed.

“At least we don't have to listen to you whine now.” I muttered.

“What was that?”

“What? I didn’t say anything.”

“Riiight.”

“Help me set the table, please.” My mom said before I could say anything else.

We both grabbed two plates and two forks each and set them on the table. I sat down in the chair and began eating. After a few minutes of all four of us eating in silence, I cleared my throat.

“Um, so there’s a party tonight at Nevaeh’s house and I wa-”

“No.”

“But, daddy, you didn't let me finish my sent-”

“N-O. No.”

I looked at my mom with my best puppy-dog face, “Momma..?”

“Sorry, sweetie, your dad said ‘no’. Besides, its Halloween night, it could be dangerous.”

I grabbed Max’s arm, “That’s why I have a big, strong brother. Isn’t that why y’all had him first? So I’d have someone to protect me from danger?”

“Wha..?” Max said, his mouth full.

“The answer is still ‘no’.” my dad said, giving me his ‘stop asking or else’ look.

“Fine.” I mumbled, standing up and raking what was left of my breakfast in the backyard for Severin, our Great Dane.

“I’m going to go ahead and get to school so I can study for my Geometry test.” I mumbled, grabbing the car keys.