I'm Home

MUM! THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED!!!

Lydia was reading a book on gardening that Barbara had given Delia. She was planning on growing vegetables and maybe more fruit trees (the ones Barbara had planted all those years ago were still alive). She heard footsteps and saw Alex trudging downstairs, tugging on her favourite jumper.

"Hey Alex" she said "What are you planning on doing today?" 

"You're reading a gardening book?" scoffed Alex, sitting down on the sofa next to Lydia and grabbing her shoes from next to it.

"I think it'd be nice to start a garden" said Lydia, she looked at the shoes "I told you to put them in your room last night"

"Yeah... that was never gonna happen" said Alex. Lydia rolled her eyes and put the book to the side. 

"What are you gonna do today?" she asked 

"Will wants to explore the house more" said Alex, standing up "We didn't get to look at very much these past two days"

"Ok, but please be safe, this house is fairly old" 

"I know" groaned Alex, standing up and quickly kissing Lydia on the cheek "I'll go get him and we're checking out the basement" she started running off, being very heavy footed over the place where the Maitlands had fallen to the early deaths. 

"Please be careful" said Lydia. She went back to her book and a little while later, her kids came running downstairs, jumping off the stairs and landing on the floorboards "Guys, gentle with the floor" she called 

"Stop being boring" said Will. They walked to the basement door and went down into it. Lydia listened out for any reactions but only heard their muffled voices. She went back to her book and not even a minuet later, there was a scream from her daughter and she ran out of the basement.

"MUM!" she yelled, sprinting up the stairs and jumping onto the couch next to Lydia. "Mum, Wills being awful" 

"What'd he do?" asked Lydia, stroking her daughter brown hair 

"Well there was this like red stain on the floor and he said it was blood" said Alex. Lydia tried to contain her worry. She'd forgotten the remains of the Maitlands deaths were still down there. She hadn't ever wanted to look at it, so she'd put a piece of carpet over it. Apparently someone had taken it away. "He said it was from a murder that took place here long ago... and that the person who was murdered still haunts this house" 

"He's wrong sweetheart" said Lydia. There was high pitched laughter and Will emerged from the basement laughing his head off. "Will, don't scare your sister"

"You shoulda seen her face" said Will. Alex poked her tongue out at him. Lydia sighed and kissed Alex on her head. 

"You two run along and explore. We'll discuss this issue later" she patted her on the back and they ran off. Lydia was going to go back to reading her book but remembered that Victoria had asked her to fill up her tea pot for a tea party. Lydia grabbed the plastic tea pot up off the coffee table and went into the kitchen. She decided her daughter could settle for apple juice as tea. She poured it in and made sure to water it down a little. Then, just before heading back upstairs, decided Victoria could have a few biscuits too. Just as she was putting the biscuits on the plate, there was a loud yell from the upper floor of the house and heavy footsteps. 

"MUM!" screamed Alex and Will, sprinting into the kitchen and skidding to a halt infront of their mother

"MUM! THIS HOUSE IS HAUNTED!" screamed Alex, straight into her mothers face. Lydia put a hand over Alex's mouth and the other over Will's to stop him from commenting. 

"I know" said Lydia. Alex and Will's eyes widened and Lydia laughed "You two seem to forget that I grew up here" 

"Wait" said Will "The ghosts were here when you were younger?" he asked 

"Yes" said Lydia "Although they were recently deceased then, they aren't anymore though" 

"C-can you see them too?" asked Alex 

"Yes" said Lydia "I have been able to since I moved here when I was a teenager"

"Damn their old ghosts" exclaimed Will and Alex snorted. 

"Thanks Will" said Lydia dryly. "Do you want to meet them properly or not?"

"Uhh..." Alex looked uncertain but Will wasn't 

"YES!" he said, then added "They're not gross" in a disappointed tone

"They are the least gross people I've ever met" Lydia cupped her hands around her mouth "ADAM! BARB! COME DOWN HERE!" then she added "AND BRING TORI TOO!" 

"Tori knows about them?" asked Will "Why didn't you tell us?"

"I didn't know how you'd react" said Lydia. 

"Their names are Adam and Barb?" asked Alex 

"Well, Barbara, but yeah" said Lydia 

"Are they the people you wrote your book about?" she asked. Lydia nodded. 

"This is so weird" muttered Alex. Lydia laughed and then she heard her youngest daughters giggles. The Maitlands entered with Victoria walking behind them. 

"Mummy! Adam and Barbsy said you wanted me" she said, running over to Lydia and hugging her legs.

"Yes" said Lydia. "I have your tea pot ready, but first you need to stay here for a small explanation I'm giving your siblings" Victoria nodded and looked around at everyone. Lydia looked up at the Maitlands and saw them looking at Will and Alex in awe.

"They've grown" said Barbara 

"That does happen over 6 years of not seeing someone" laughed Lydia "But yes, they have. They're no longer my little babies any more" 

"I AM!" said Victoria. Lydia laughed and picked her up 

"I know you are baby" she kissed her and looked around at everyone "Alex, Will, I'd like you to meet Adam and Barbara Maitland, resident ghosts of this house and... your dead aunt and uncle" 

"Hold up" said Will, looking between the Maitlands and his mother "She" he pointed at Barbara "Is dads dead sister?"

"Yup" said Lydia "and don't point, its rude" Will lowered his hand slowly. 

"So this is our aunt we never got to meet?" asked Alex "And our uncle?"

"Yes" said Lydia "They died when your dad was 15"

"Ooh, how?" asked Will. He saw the look on his mothers face "Sorry mum"

"Guys wanna explain or not?" she asked, looking at the Maitlands. Barbara nodded and took Adams hand. It still hurt them to talk about their deaths but they could push through it for their families sake. 

"Its not as amazing as you might be imagining" said Barbara "all we did was fail to realise that the floorboards were breaking and we just fell through them one afternoon."

"Oh my god..." gasped Alex, covering her mouth

"Cool" said Will 

"Will" scolded Lydia "Be a little compassionate" 

"It's alright Lyd" said Barbara "He reminds me of Beej"

"Who's Beej?" asked Will and Victoria

"There's another ghost in this house?" asked Alex faintly 

"Beej is our resident demon" said Adam, he looked at Lydia "Wanna summon him?"

"Might as well" said Lydia, she raised her head to the ceiling and yelled "BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE! BEETLEJUICE!" Alex and Will shared a look that clearly meant 'our mum is mad'. However there was a poof and a demon with green hair and a black and white striped grubby suit appeared.

"You called Lyd?"