Glorify Bad (ON HOLD)

Chapter One - Urges

“Would you look at that shit hole.”

Elsie, a twenty-six year old pot-smoker,  drove her station wagon to the front of the rustic, damaged, elderly home at the end of the driveway. The home, a two-story brick house on its own land had been in the Tucker family for over seventy years in a small Northern Michigan town called Avelak. After Great Uncle Clyde died, the home was passed down to Caleb and Elsie; the inheriting family next in line.

“It’s not too bad.” Caleb spoke as he gazed out the window at the obnoxiously large oak tree which shadowed over the front yard.

“You’re joking, right?” Elsie puffed. “It wouldn’t surprise me if it was infested with rats and roaches. Or whatever else Clyde brought in there.”

“It’s been cleaned out since the funeral.” Caleb spoke evidently. “We’re lucky to be living in a house for free with furniture.” Caleb mentioned as he emerged from the passenger seat. 

“Can’t wait to see what kind of furniture Clyde left for us. He was such a trendy man.” She said with such sarcasm as she mimicked Caleb’s exit of the vehicle. 

Elsie handed the keys to the front door as she made it to Caleb’s side at the concrete steps. As Caleb jammed them into the deadbolt, it revealed the interior of the home.

“Holy shit, what the hell that smell?” Elsie covered her nose with the back of her sleeve to her jacket, covering her disgruntled look. The foyer, which was a quick step into the living room, had a lingering stench of rotten eggs and marijuana.

Caleb winced at the smell, checking the rooms at the bottom floor. “It smells like Great Uncle Clyde.”

“Did he smell like death?” Elsie stepped through the living room, which held a couch for two, a single living chair, and a box television sitting on an entertainment center. None of the furniture matched, though. The couched sported a retro, 80s inspired floral look as the living chair was a stained burgundy polyester.

“This rug is absolutely horrifying.” Elsie scoffed at the floral, cigarette stained rug beneath the living room furniture. 

“It’ll do for now.” Caleb spoke as he observed the nicotine stains on the white popcorn ceiling.

“You knew the man better than I did.” Elsie began as she crossed her arms over her chest. “Was he as crazy as the family claims he was?”

Caleb chuckled, shaking his head which brushed his shaggy brown hair across his forehead. “He was… spiritual.”

“A hippie?” she questioned.

“Somewhat. He figured Earth had a plan for him. For all of us. I know why he killed himself. He said he wanted to sacrifice himself to the Gods, or something. I usually would tune him out after talking for too long.”

“So that answers my question.” Elsie muttered. “He was insane.”

“Just old.” Caleb defended with a light shrug and crooked smirk.

“Whatever he was, I hope he kept some secret hash stash in this shit shack.” Elsie said, stepping aimlessly around the wooden floor. “I doubt theres a weed man in this pathetic excuse for a town.”

        Caleb ignored her comment and headed for the stairs by the front door. The stairs, now a worn out wooden statue of what they used to be creaked with every step. Reaching the second floor, Caleb was placed in front of a hallway with three doors. Caleb knew the house well, since he had spent most of his summer days with Great Uncle Clyde here before Bev, Caleb and Elsie’s mother, passed due to illness four years ago. Caleb knew the bedroom on the left, the only room on that side of the hallway was Great Uncle Clyde’s old bedroom. The other two rooms at the right was a bathroom and another bedroom Great Uncle Clyde kept as a guest bedroom for Caleb.