Special Smashwords Edition
The Adventures of
Anna of
Waverly Manor
by
Jack Sorenson
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, businesses, and incidents either are the products of the author’s imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any similarity to events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and should be recognized as such.
Special Smashwords Edition
This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this eBook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you are reading this eBook and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of the author.
First edition October 2011
Copyright © 2011 by Jack Sorenson
Cover Design Copyright 2011 © Magnolia Belle
All rights reserved
For updates on Jack and his books:
Website/Blog: http://jackrsorenson.blogspot.com/
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or means whatsoever (electronic, mechanical, or otherwise) without the prior written permission and consent of the author.
ABOUT JACK SORENSON
Jack R. Sorenson is an accomplished author who has published in many genres including fantasy, fiction, horror, and non-fiction. He lives in Los Gatos, a small town nestled between the Santa Cruz Mountains and San Jose, California, the heart of Silicon Valley. “The Adventures of Anna of Waverly Manor” makes Jack’s 27th publication.
DEDICATIONS
Magnolia Belle, my special friend, saved the day for coming back to help me finish this little story. Belle took the time to pull herself away from her book for mine. They say there is a special place in heaven for people like her. Thank you, Belle. She is a book editor, author, best seller and song writer. In 2010 Belle worked with me on my novels: “Jacks School of Shines,” and the Alana Weatherbee books series, including “Spooks and Magic.”
People from a planet without flowers would think we must be mad with joy the whole time to have such things about us. ~Iris Murdoch, A Fairly Honourable Defeat
To a great lady, and friend, Laura Garcia Cannon, anchor of weekday mornings NBC News Today in the bay. Thank you for your praise and friendship shown so often to me. What a sweet, kind and wonderful lady you truly are.
Sweetness
Is the most powerful strength
of the heart.
And to my dear friends, Ralph and Sue, my true friends. I am surely the lucky one for all you do, wow. I am amazed by your talent and thank you for all your hard work that you do out of true kindness; I surly enjoy my time talking with you.
The Sacred Heart of the Moon smiles upon you.
"Spirituality encompasses everything; therefore, it includes human character, too. To have a good character is to have honesty, simplicity, spontaneity, absence of anger, pride and so forth. When an ordinary human being possesses all these qualities, we call him a man of good character".
Sri Chinmoy
Jerry Starr, thanks always for the glad tidings and encouragement. You're a true gentleman if I ever met one. I sure have in you.
True love is just around the corner for you one day.
To the staff at Viva Los Gatos, and to Jeff (the owner), thank you for all your kindness and friendships and, best of all, your smiles. You are truly the nicest people in my home town of Los Gatos. Great food and great drinks. It's all worthwhile to sit and watch the world go by outside of Viva’s huge windows.
Thank you, Randy Froh. You are one wonderful, amazing guy and much appreciated for your words of kindness shown always to me.
Thank you, Amanda, Elizabeth, Steve, Jackie, Natasha and Jeff for being characters in this story.
Yulia Vólkova from t.A.T.u., thank you, my friend. It's been wonderful chatting with you and listening to your great music. It's fun to talk with you often as we have gotten the chance to.
Zahi Hawass, my friend. I always wish you well and the best of discoveries to come.
Shannon Nicole, best of luck with your new book. I'm glad to have you back in my life.
Darkness and Light
Darkness wants to devour light.
Light wants to transform darkness.
God says to darkness: "Darkness, stop!"
God says to light: "Light, start!
Lo, you have won the goal."
Daisy, thanks for your patience. "We could all stand to laugh a whole lot more in life!" We will grow old together, my dear, sweet kitty!
Maria Bartiromo, Anchor CNBC Closing Bell and host/managing editor of The Wall Street Journal Report with Maria Bartiromo: thank you for the many talks and daily advice; you are the one of the few who really understands and knows the market.
A thank you goes out to Alizée, my friend. Love your hopes and dreams and your so-famous style.
Lisa Kelly from Ice Road Trucker, thanks for all the talks we have had. You have an amazing life.
Lindsay Lawler, singer-songwriter, keep a rocking. You're an amazing lady.
Jamie Lynn Spears, thanks for the many talks. I appreciate it. You're sweet and kind.
Oscar, we watched you grow to a handsome young cat. You climbed to the treetops and to the peaks of the two story building. I describe that for Logan’s point of view in the "Alana Weatherbee" series, high atop a building, gazing up at the sky and far and away, sitting as a statue to admire the sun setting each and every day. Your freedom was marvelous. We loved you as much as your own family. It was fun to have the privilege to known you, my friend. I cherish that memory of our short time together with fondness and much love.
A huge thank you goes out to those who believe in me. To Mother and to Father, thank you for all you have done and said, and for your understanding kindness in standing by my side with reassurances and praises, compassion and for hearing the endless ramblings of book blurbs weekly only to respond with cheerfulness and reassuring comments and much congratulations no matter how big or small the steps I've taken that week.
One day someone will ask if you felt you lived your life well. In my case, I can safely say at this point, it's not how I lived it or enjoyed it as much as, when I left, did I leave the few behind who knew me and what I tried to achieve? Did I make you smile or laugh, did I love you enough, and was I mean or nice? Did I keep all my promises that I made? In my time remaining, I feel it best to say my true feelings daily to others, as what I have said will be truly most remembered.
Author Jack Sorenson, Los Gatos, CA
The two strongest women I've know in my life are my mother and Belle. The two men I feel have been the strongest are my father and Ralph.
Who is Anna of Waverly Manor?
Anna had a short life, one that she loved and missed dearly. But her feelings ran cold when her thoughts turned to memories of her past life. She adored the feeling of a family bond when she was alive. But it was all in vain; her life was never to be what she truly wanted, and now she yearned to heal from her past scars.
She was not an unkind witch for a young girl, nor was she a brutal witch either, though her looks could be incredibly cruel and make a living person or ghosts shake in their boots. When Anna wanted to do something, no one stood in her way. That's just the way it was in the attic of Waverly Manor.
Anna was more thoughtful and caring than most people knew, and she watched over her ghost friends, Tomfoolery and little Boo. She was neither good, nor evil, but rather a sad, tormented and twisted creature, overrun with power and insatiable loneliness that would be unbearable if it weren't for Tomfoolery and Boo…and soon, for little Jackie McCaulou.
One night, Boo saw Anna stir and toss in her sleep. Tomfoolery and he hovered by the corner of the attic crawl space where they watched from a safe spot. Anna flipped wildly and flicked her wand at any general direction, scaring Tomfoolery and Boo, trying their hardest to stay away from any mislaid spell cast in Anna’s sleep.
Anna woke up in a fright, half asleep, and screamed into the darkness like she was out of her mind.
She jumped out of bed and got onto her knees, crawling across the attic floor to where Boo and Tomfoolery rested. She felt much better having them with her as she tried to fight off remembering her terrible dream, still running loose in her mind. Anna trembled with a refreshed fear of her horrible past.
In Anna's recurring nightmares, she started to walk down a cobblestone road, but it was hard, and it hurt her bare feet.
Anna was poor and lived with her mother, a witch who barely made a living as a healer. Anna's father was murdered the previous spring by a man saying he owed him money. This deeply depressed her, being the one to find him lethally wounded so close to their cottage.
His last words were, "Be wary, daughter. The man on a dark horse, the Halloween Man, will collect payment regardless if I am alive or not. Live well and take good care of your mother. You are very special to me."
Every muscle in her body stiffened, thinking of that day. Anna loved her father as she did her mother. She winced whenever she put her feet down, stepping onto the sharp stones. She remembered how her boots were covered in his blood and how she could never wear them again. Anna went to the market to find this man who killed her father. Her wand lay hidden as she came to seek revenge.
After a few more steps, Anna stopped to recover her breath. As she did so, she heard voices from inside the nearest tent close to the market place in the small village. Anna pulled her oversized hat down over her eyes — her father's hat she wore with pride. It sounded as if they were arguing, but Anna could not catch the words.
But the mere sound of them made fear spike though her again. If there was even the slightest chance that the Halloween Man wanted to kill her mother or herself to regain some sort of payment, Anna had to kill this man. She had to get to the "Spirits' Curse" conjured from her wand, a feat of dark magic that she’d never tried before. It could kill many in one incantation.
Until she had delivered her curse, she would never be free of her father's death tormenting her mind.
Anna opened the tent flap and entered with her wand pointed, seeing the man who killed her father was not there. Three more were, though, who took payments for the man on the black horse as everyone had to pay a percentage for what they made at market.
The voices fell silent, and the men froze. How loud Anna heard all of the men’s heartbeats! Anna stood with her wand drawn.
Her imagination raced, supplying horrid images of the truth from the men’s minds. They were bad men.
Anna didn’t know the Halloween Man was closing in on her, racing his great black horse through the night.
Anna looked again to the three men, and saw the blood-stained faces fall to the tent floor when the spell was said. Anna didn’t remembering saying it in her time of grief. Then came teeth bared in a scream of fury while Anna stepped out of the tent. As she did so, an arrow shot past her, only narrowly missing her upper arm. The Halloween Man stood up in the saddle, raising his arm like a declaration of war, and bellowed something to Anna standing small compared to his huge mount and to him. Behind her were cries of shock from the villagers witnessing the events unfold.
Another arrow came, and Anna lunged and ran, but to where in the market square?
With a wild forced cry, Anna hurled her next wand blast at the man's horse. He rolled past as his mount was struck and fell.
Anna hit the ground, scraping the skin from her palms, but it would buy her no time. Not even The Halloween Man would attempt the "Spirits' Curse" spell, she thought, looking up, seeing him on foot and walking toward her. Behind him, his mount laid dead. Because even The Halloween Man values his own life more than you value yours, Anna thought. He may be the victor.
Anna's thoughts spoke in darkness and many eerie voices from the dead spirits floated around her, warning her that many good men had died trying the same feat as she.
Anna pushed herself to her feet, but her wrist held the wand crookedly. Only bruised, she thought as she clutched it with the other hand and pressed it to her chest. Anna started to run, scrambling along the slope of the street's gutter, slipping and sliding in the waste and garbage. Anna glanced over her shoulder and at the Halloween Man gaining on her. eHe Without his horse, he could be fought on the ground in hand to hand combat, but Anna was too young and very small. When he got close enough, he plunged his sword into her chest.
Now wounded and bleeding, she had no chance, but still she refused to give up.
There was a hollow in the side of the hill, up the main road, then a dip with a few small trees leaning together around a cluster of stones.
There, Anna thought. Halfway down, and running to take cover, her ankle turned on a stone. She fell again, not realizing she was mortally wounded, and then hauled herself up to crawl one-handed to the shelter of the trees.
The man got ahead of her and was there, waiting. The whole village saw this and no one lent a hand or warned her he was there waiting to strike the final blow. But Anna had known he would be there and would be victorious in the end. Even so, she acted on revenge and took the chance to come after him to seek justice.
To the onlookers, Anna looked as if she had been flung from the top of the hill and lay broken where she had landed, but a trail of crushed grass led to the place where she lay, showing that she had crawled, refusing to give up until her last breath.
"I'm here," Anna yelled in a half cry, intending to act tough, and then she touched the man's sword blade as it entered her flesh.
"I heard you. I've come."
Anna died that day—just another young girl murdered in a bad streets of the era. A crow flew by—the sunset came quickly. All thoughts of that day's events ended and a new day would begin tomorrow with new worries. Anna stood in darkness, looking at her broken body laying at her feet, and looking at the small light shining on her sweet little face in death. Someone stood beside her.
"Who are you?'
"My name is Boo. What’s yours?"
"Anna."
CHAPTER 1
Upstairs in the attic of Waverly Manor, Anna shouted to Boo, "What a disgustingly beautiful day outside today! Smell that fresh air!"
"Peeyuu!" Boo held his nose.
"Don't worry," Anna said. "I'll summon a gray cloud, or wait…" She thought to herself while she pressed the wooden wand tighter that she carried. "Dark rainy clouds to cover the old manor would be better." She turned to both ghosts. "Right guys?"
"We've done the gray day clouds a bit too much, Anna." Boo floated to the window and back.
"Oh! How about bats flying through the area by the thousands to block out the sun?" Her rich red hair glistened in the light streaming through the attic window and her delicate features lit up at the new idea.
Tomfoolery grumbled from the back of the room. "You done the bat routine already."
"Oh, right!" Anna coughed and blew a cobweb free of its nest, sending the spider on a downward swirl of silk and mesh and setting its trapped captives free. A newly freed moth flew by Anna and said thanks. Anna sneezed out a greenish mist with her hot breath that smelled like a dirty gym sock and then coughed and wheezed.
"Are you okay, Anna?" Boo asked.
Anna headed back to the dusty, stale air in the attic that bettered her condition. "Better now. Thanks, little Boo." Anna grumbled while she carried her wand at her side. "It's always so sunny these days. I can't put a stop to them all, now can I?"
"Smells awful," Tomfoolery shouted. "Do something about the air at least, Anna."
"Hey, Anna, don't give up," Boo said. "You can summon something wicked or invoke something terrific. How’d that be?"
Anna cringed. "How can the living stand it?"
"You know those humans," Tomfoolery said.
Anna grumbled. "Yeah, most I do."
Tomfoolery and Boo looked up to Anna and in unison asked, "What?"
"They think everything is just so wonderful. Well, I'll put a stop to that!"
"That's our girl, Anna. Do the world in. Invoke a huge hairy beast to rip apart the earth." Tomfoolery and Boo worried they'd gone too far with the rip apart the earth bit and said, "We were just kidding."
"I've got it!" Anna shouted. "Where's my spell book?" She whistled for her trusted book. It rattled and shook from underneath its heavy load of piles of boxes.
"We hid it like you asked last time when your spell backfired and burned part of Tomfoolery's cloak," Boo said. "You really got a thing against the living, Anna."
"It's all that free goodwill," Anna commented, "that I can't stand. Happy little faces smiling at the world like they were somehow the creators of all its splendors. Ha-ha!"
Anna scrounged through the pile of old boxes filled with books, knickknacks, lamps, old clothes, shoes and winter boots, and looked at all the symbolic memories of time gone by. Memories had an almost magical power to evoke feelings, but she knew it was better not to stir up the emotions she once felt. They could inspire hope in a time of despair, courage in the face of danger, and belonging in the midst of loneliness—but they left her feeling nothing but hopeless.
***
Anna and the ghosts found it funny to spook the living, especially when it came to anyone who lived at the manor, like the Milfoils. One morning in early July, Anna started the witching hour a bit too early in the day. It had to be morning instead of night due to what was about to happen to the old place. Plans had been drawn out and men would be there soon with their machinery to bulldoze the old building down flat.
The old woman who lived there and her highfalutin, overpriced decorator wanted nothing more than to tear the manor down, board by board, stone by stone, and start from scratch with a new structure.
That would not happen in Anna, Tomfoolery and Boo's eyes. The threesome would lose their home. In the wee hours of the morning, they glued everything the family owned to the ceiling.
The Milfoils woke with a huge shock, seeing the bed they were in and their furnishings glued to the ceiling. Anna made sure their sheets were tucked in tightly so they wouldn't fall out, but that didn't stop the Milfoils from screaming.
Anna was aghast when the Milfoils ran into town that morning and placed an ad on the town bulletin board for a medium to exorcise the evil out of the manor.
When the Milfoils returned home, Anna went into a huff. She said to Tomfoolery, "I can't believe they didn't keep running away. What's the matter with the living lately? Aren't they scared anymore of a good old fashioned spook's trick?"
"This couple wants to destroy the manor regardless of ghosts," Boo worried.
"It's a downright shame. We'll be out on the streets if we don't act on a new plan right away," Tomfoolery said, tugging on the hem of his vest. "Anna!"
"I'm thinking one up, boys. Hold on, all right?"
"No need to worry," Tomfoolery said to Boo. "Anna will have a plan soon."
"Finding someone capable of talking to ghosts will be hard," Anna said. "We have time, but if we don't work on the skills that we need, it will be a disaster. We need to nip the idea in the bud before it gets to that point."
Anna thought for a minute. "Most of the living don't want to see, hear or feel a ghost's presence! It would be rather unnerving, if not terrifying, to show yourself for a few seconds during the night and have some blank-eyed human staring back at you, mouthing something like eeek!"
"Visions of ghosts will become all too real at that point and they won't want to mess with this old place anymore," Boo said.
"They need a good spooking," Tomfoolery agreed.
"Right, boys," Anna replied.
***
The next morning Anna, Tomfoolery and little Boo went right to work. The old man went mad when he tried to wash up in the morning and Tomfoolery obliged him by turning the tap on for him, making sure it was scalding hot.
The steam rose to the bathroom mirror and Tomfoolery wrote, GOOD MORNING on it.
When that didn't work, Boo sharpened his razor, which was three inches long with a steel blade edge, on the leather strap. This made it sharper than a knife. In the meantime, Tomfoolery lathered up the old man's face, holding his nose out of the way so it would not be cut off. With the floating shaver's mug and brush, this was all too much for the man and made his hair stand on end and his eyes widen in sheer fright.
Tomfoolery wrote on the mirror a second time, WHAT FRIGHTENS YOU MAY JUST AS WELL EAT YOU UP. Then he grabbed the man by the collar and said, "What's a ghost's favorite fruit? Give up? A boo-berry. Wait, don't run away just yet. What do I call my ghost's mother and father when I call collect? Transparent!" Tomfoolery laughed out loud.
Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Anna had the old woman's clothes nicely laid out neat as a pin on her bed for her to be properly dressed for the day — in a straight jacket complete with glistening silver handcuffs and a glossy black coffin next to the bed all ready to go. Anna even had the old woman's false teeth in her night cup wired shut. She couldn't speak when she tried saying The Lord's Prayer when she saw Anna for the first time.
"The straight jacket is too tight," the old lady mumbled as Anna wrapped it around her body twice.
Anna gave her a wink and smirked while she placed her into a coffin filled with mice and a few fat rats. Anna closed the lid tight and sat on top of it. She dangled her foot over the coffin and said, "Another job well done."
The old man and women left the manor the next day, sold it to the Manchester Corporation, and never returned.
CHAPTER 2
ONE YEAR LATER…
The rich aroma of coffee wafted through the small apartment, making Steve's nose twitch. He hurried to get dressed so he could get his first cup.
“Amanda, where are my black socks?" Steve yelled down the long hallway to the kitchen.
His wife yelled back, "In your third dresser drawer."
"Thanks." Steve opened the drawer. "Found them."
"Hurry," Amanda chided, "You're going to be late for work again." She took the oatmeal off the stove and spooned some into her daughter's cereal bowl. "Check on Jackie, ok? She's been in the bathroom all morning."
Steve headed to the bathroom door while knotting his tie. He turned the doorknob, but it wouldn't open.
"Jackie, you locked the bathroom door again. You know that's a no-no. Mommy and I talked to you about that before. You can't lock this door."
The special needs girl only hummed, sending her worried father into a frown.
"Birthday angel, are you in there?" he asked in a soft voice.
La da la da boo-dea
"Happy birthday, Jackie." He knocked. "Honey?"
"Yes?"
"It's Daddy. Let me in."
"In a minute…please!"
Steve grinned at how grown up she sounded just then. Her seventh birthday brought back memories of her birth. Steve and his wife, Amanda, had wanted a family from the day they married. At Jackie's birth, their joy was countered with the doctor's pronouncement. "Special needs child. Mentally challenged."
Steve had to swallow the lump in his throat and all his dreams for his first born, his daughter, crashed to his feet. But, her sweet smile and beautiful face brought the joy back and now, he stood outside the door, anxious to give her a birthday hug.
Amanda called through the kitchen door, "Hurry, you two. Breakfast is ready!"
"Did you hear that? Breakfast is ready." When he got no response, he jiggled the doorknob. "Daughter, let me in!"
"In a minute…please!" He heard her giggle, then say, "Trick or treat!"
"What? Jackie, let me in!"
"Trick or treat! It's Halloween, Daddy. When can we go out trick-or-treating?"
"Later, sweetie."
"Can we go after breakfast?"
"No, dear, later tonight. Open the door."
"In a minute, please."
"But it's somebody's birthday."
"Whose birthday, Daddy?"
"Sweetie, it's your birthday."
"Aw, outdoodles!"
"What's the matter?"
"Can we go trick-or-treating, Daddy?"
"After your birthday party. All right…Jackie?"
"Oh, rat farts!"
"Well, happy birthday."
"Thank you, Daddy."
Hickup pop!
"And besides your birthday, it's also Halloween," Steve said.
"Yes, candy plus cake — score!"
"Yes, you scored big time, sweetie," Steve said, then added, frustrated by the locked door, "It's the day I have my heart attack."
"Can I tell you want I want for my birthday?"
"Sure, daughter, go right ahead and I'll bring it home right after work. Jackie?"
"Yes…I don't want Daddy to have a heart attack."
"Aww, thank you, sweetie."
"Daddy?"
"Yes, Jackie."
"Call Mommy, I'm done in the bathroom."
"Honey," Steve shouted.
"What?"
"Your daughter needs you."
"Oh, my daughter now, huh?"
"Yes, of course. Hey, before you go in, I have to tell you something," Steve said.
"Mommy, help. Mommy, help me, Mommy!"
"Dear," Amanda said to the door, "I'm kinda busy right now." She turned to Steve. "Can your news wait until you get home with Jackie's birthday cake?"
"Oh, the cake. Thanks for reminding me. I just wanted to say I'll have a surprise when I come home."
"Okay."
"Mommy, help. Mommy. M-O-M-M-Y!"
"What is it?"
"Daddy is going to have a heart attack."
"What are you filling her head with anyways, Steve?" Amanda asked.
"Look, I was just ranting and she overheard me."
"Yeah, I bet."
"Are you trick-or-treating?" Jackie asked through the door.
"No, dear. Mommy will be right there. I'm talking to Daddy."
"Daddy is having a heart attack. Can I have a heart attack, too?"
"No," her father answered.
"Why not?"
"You're too young, that's why."
"I want to go along to make sure."
Steve and Amanda looked at each other, puzzled.
"Go along to make sure of what?"
"That you make it to heaven."
"Aww, isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?" Amanda touched her husband's chest.
"I guess. Hey, I'll be home a tad late, okay?"
"Try not to," Amanda said. "I have friends coming over to help celebrate Jackie's birthday and then we'll go out trick-or-treating.”
"Are there any real goblins hanging around?" Jackie asked.
"No, dear. Please flush."
"I did, Mommy. The water just flows over the seat."
"Oh brother, that's just great. You have the number to the plumber?" Steve asked Amanda.
"Yes. No worries."
Jackie opened the door to the bathroom and came out.
"Hello, Daddy and Mommy. Is breakfast ready?"
"Hey, here's our big girl," Steve said. "Happy birthday, sweetie."
"Are you going to give me some candy for breakfast?"
"No. No candy until tonight and then only one piece before bedtime, all right? You'll be full from your birthday cake."
Amanda led her daughter by the hand to the kitchen, where her brown sugar and oatmeal waited for her.
With all the delay, Steve managed one gulp of his cooling coffee, then dashed out the door to work.
CHAPTER 3
In his office, Steve looked up when a man walked in.
"I've seen you around before, haven't I?" Steve asked.
"I'm Jeff. I just transferred here. I mean, my girlfriend, Natasha, and I have just joined Tristan Corporation."
"Oh, hello. Welcome to the company." The two men shook hands over the desk.
"Thanks. I wanted to let you know that I'm all packed."
"Packed? I don't understand. For what?" Steve asked, one eyebrow lifting in confusion.
"You mean no one's said anything?"
"No." Steve crossed his arms. "What's going on?"
"The manager, Mike Travers, should have notified you by now, but as you know, the company is growing fast, so maybe the old boy had no time," Jeff said. "He's asked Natasha and me to take your place. That's what the office party today is for."
Just like that, I'm finished, Steve thought to himself.
"I can't believe this," Steve said, glancing out the door toward the manager's office. "This is all I need now during a downturn in the stock market, and my bills are piling up. Life is bad enough…"
"Wait, friend, you have it all wrong. Let me explain. You've been moved up. You're taking over the Stammered Family job from Manchester Corporation."
"Oh, really?" The pressure in Steve's chest eased and his shoulders relaxed. "That's great!" his phone rang on his desk. "Hang on a minute, Jeff. I need to answer this. Someone from my house is calling."
Steve picked up the phone. "Hello? Hi, honey, what are you doing?... You had a bath? Wow, what a good girl…and now coloring. That's nice…What's on the kitchen wall?...No, dear, call Mommy." After a pause Steve said, "Honey, are you there?"
"One minute please."
"Honey, Daddy's at work. I don't have the time. What, dear?...No, ask Mommy for that…She's what?...Busy at the front door with whom, sweetie?...You don't know?"
Jackie held the phone out and shouted, "Mommy! Daddy wants to know who you are busy with at the front door?" A minute later she said, "Daddy, Mommy says wait!"
"Honey, I'm at work. Have Mommy call me back…hello, Jackie? Are you still there?" Steve heard a giggle on the other end of the line. "Jackie?" Another giggle. "Jackie, Daddy has to hang up. He's at work, okay? Bye-bye."
"Daddy, Daddy wait!"
"Yes?"
"Can I be a scary monster tonight?"
"Yes, dear. You can be dressed up like a scary monster for Halloween. You already picked out your costume with Mommy last week, remember? It was a Frankenstein monster or something."
Steve's wife took the phone. "Hi, honey," Amanda said.
"Who was at the door?"
"The mailman. Okay, dear? I'm too busy with Jackie right now, but…hello?"
"Hello?…hello?" Steve said. "Hmmm, lost connection." He looked at Jeff. "Sorry about that. My wife and daughter are at home alone all day, and I worry."
"Understandable."
"How come my boss never told me about the change, or didn't send a memo?"
Jeff shrugged. "I'm not sure, but you also have to move to the old company-owned house right away."
"Good grief, really?" Steve's mind spun at the news. "I think it's the old farmland none of us wanted to go to when we visited Manchester Falls."
Jeff smiled and said, "You'll get used to it, ol' boy!"
"Why the promotion?" Steve asked.
"Be happy. I wish I would have been so lucky, but I'm not married. They needed a family man for the new position."
"You came over from England, right?" Steve asked.
Jeff nodded. "Right."
"And they don't celebrate Halloween in England?"
"No."
"It's a big day here," Steve said, "and happens to be my daughter's birthday so I'll be skipping the office party to get home early. I have to buy a cake and something special for my daughter."
"Halloween?"
"It's when all the kids get dressed up in costumes and masks," Steve said.
Jeff snapped his fingers. "Yeah. The kids shout trick-or-treat and you're supposed to act scared. If you don't give them a treat, they pull some dirty trick on you."
"That's right."
"What does your daughter want to be tonight?"
"A Frankenstein monster," Steve said. "She likes the bolts that come out of her neck and the forehead scar. Don't ask me why, but that's what she picked."
"Really? I know what a trick is, but what's considered a treat?"
"Candy, popcorn, gum—anything like that. Anything that kids today will eat. Well, I have to get back to work," Steve said. "On second thought, I better pack up my office."
"Good luck with the new job and the company house that comes along with it."
***
Steve walked in the door from work, bearing a bakery box. He ducked the twirled red crepe paper draped from the ceiling to the corners and smiled at the colored balloons hanging from string.
"Honey, I'm home. Hey, the place looks great, and the party decorations are fantastic…Where is everyone? Where's the birthday girl? I bought her a teddy bear. And I didn't forget the cake."
"What a funny cake," Amanda said, taking the box from Steve and opening the lid. "Happy birthday, Marcia? Nice one, honey. You picked up the wrong cake."
"It's all they had left. I am so tired of the lack of caring this big city brings, along with its overpricing."
"And you!"
"Me?” Steve drew his head back. "What have I done?"
"You and your work. There's never any time for your daughter."
"I didn't come home to be lectured, and besides, I have some news that will let all those worries go," Steve said. “Where is our birthday girl?"
"She's out playing in the patio with the Henderson kids. Well, she's watching them play anyway. Jackie doesn't seem interested in interacting with the kids who live in the apartment complex. Tell me about your big news."
“My big news was going to be that my office loan came through and now we can send Jackie to that special school. But I’ve got even bigger news, something more permanent than a loan."
Amanda raised her eyebrows. "What?"
"I was given a promotion, which means we'll be moving to a great new place and a huge old home."
"What!" Her hand flew to her throat and she stared wide-eyed at her husband. "When?"
"It seems like you're the one who's going to have a heart attack now." Steve tweaked her nose and grinned. "We need to start packing right away. I've already got my last check and picked up a road map. I also spoke with a realtor we'll be meeting when we get there."
"Where to, honey?"
"Manchester Falls, and we'll be living in a place owned by the company called Waverly Manor."
"It's in the country? Oh brother. Well, give me a week and we'll be packed and ready."
"Wow, I’m married to such a great wife."
"My mother told you so, remember?" Amanda said and laughed.
CHAPTER 4
At 7:30 in the morning, a red 1978 Ford car pulled into the main street of Manchester Falls. Steve, Amanda and their daughter, Jackie, parked in front of the café where they were to meet the realtor, Sal. They needed to get the key and to finalize the paperwork to the old house.
Steve got out of the car and walked up to a man. "Hello. Are you Sal?" The man nodded. "I'm Steve McCaulou, and this," he turned to the woman who exited the car, "is my lovely wife, Amanda, and there is my daughter, Jackie."
"Look." Jackie pointed to a new discovery, a hopscotch course freshly laid out in chalk on the sidewalk by some kids.
"Hopscotch? Oh boy," Steve laughed. "This has made her whole day."
"I'm the first player, Mommy," Jackie said. "I need to find something to toss. Do you have a coin?"
"Yes, dear." Amanda dug through her purse for change. "Here you go."
Jackie tossed the penny into the first square and turned to Amanda. "The penny has to stay in the square without bouncing out, Mommy."
"Yes, Jackie, I used to play when I was your age. It's fun."
"Now watch, Mommy. I'm pretty good."
"Yes, dear, I'm watching."
Jackie hopped out of the square and bumped into Sal. "Whoops, sorry."
"Hello, little one," Sal said. He turned to Steve and Amanda. "In this town there are a lot of small children. Your daughter should fit right in."
Jackie did a single hop and skip and then she was safe. "I'm close to home square now, Mommy."
"Very good, Jackie," Amanda commented with a smile.
"I need to toss the coin one more time."
"Wait until later, dear. We need to go in and talk with Sal."
"Here's your coin back."
"Thanks. A whole penny. I'm rich."
"Rich as in money, Mommy? What does that mean?"
"I have lots of money. It's a joke."
"I have a penny. Am I rich?"
"Save your pennies, daughter. One day you, too, will be rich."
"Okay, Mommy."
"Funny," Steve said. "Good one!"
Sal gestured toward the café. "Are you folks hungry?"
In the town-and-country kitchen, local diners were joking about the new folks moving into the haunted house and wondering how long they'd last. When Steve and his family walked in, the chattering ceased. With Sal being the only realtor in town, the locals knew it had to be them.
Heading toward a corner table, Steve asked, “So, Sal, how far out is Waverly Manor? We’re anxious to move in.”
At the mention of Waverly Manor, one man quit eating and turned to stare at Steve as he passed.
The large man stood and announced, "Hey, everyone, look who's taking over the old manor." All eyes fell on the family seated in the corner.
Jackie looked to her parents. "What's the matter, Daddy? Why is everyone laughing at us?"
"Shhh, don't worry," Amanda said. "Someone just told a joke."
The large man had a huge belly laugh and remarked, “They won’t last the first night. Not at the haunted manor!” The laughter died down once the waitress, Belle, came out from behind the counter and stared the big man down.
"Enough, everyone. Big Ralph, you've had your fun, now sit down."
The waitress proceeded to the table with the new family and put one hand on her hip. "Hey, Sal, using my booth as your office again?"
"Oh, sorry. It's cramped at my place." Sal explained to Steve and Amanda that he shared his office space with the laundromat and only photocopy place in town.
Jackie's bright, happy face with her button nose and dimpled grin came into the waitress' view.
"Hi," Jackie said.
Steve interrupted. "Coffee, please."
"Juice-juice-juice, pretty please," Jackie sang.
The waitress smiled at Jackie. "Hello, darling. Would you like some juice?"
"Yes, please."
The waitress spoke to Steve. "And I'll bring your coffee, sir." She tilted her head toward Jackie again. "How about a cup of hot cocoa first to warm you up. It's a chilly morning."
"Mmm. You betcha, chickie baby," Jackie answered.
"What?" Belle put one hand on her hip and looked surprised.
"Sorry," Amanda spoke up. "She had an open minded babysitter where we used to live and picked up all kinds of things."
"Okay." Belle chuckled. "One hot cocoa coming right up. Miss, coffee for you, too?"
"Please. That would be great." Amanda sighed and relaxed her shoulders.
"Been driving all night?"
"Yes. Can you tell?"
The waitress laughed. "Yes, a little." She turned to Jackie. "Hey, young lady, do you like happy faces on your pancakes?"
"Umm, yes I do."
"Well then, you've come to the right place. It's named Smiling Pancakes for a reason." The waitress looked at Jackie's father. "Don't worry about this morning's coffee rabble. The town folk like to tease everyone new. Sal, anything for you?"
"No thanks. Heading back to the office." Sal handed the house key to Steve and stood. "Well, folks, if you need anything, call, okay?"
Steve and Amanda shook his hand and said goodbye.
"Goodbye, little girl," Sal said, then looked to Amanda. "Best of luck in your new home. Oh, by the way, we use your garden and the huge field on your property for our town's pumpkin patch and also our town Christmas lot. The money we earn goes into the repair kitty. Hope you don't mind the headache, but it's just seasonal."
Amanda nodded. "That will be fine. We love the activities and besides, we'll get a chance to meet the rest of the townsfolk."
Sal turned toward the front door. "See you then if not before."
Everyone in the restaurant called out, "Bye, Sal!"
Amanda said, "Wave bye, Jackie," and Jackie waved.
Jackie caught some of the people staring at her in the restaurant. She smiled and waved to them.
One of them, an old lady, said, "Hi, cutie. Too bad you won't like your new home."
"Why?" Jackie asked.
The old lady grinned, showing her coffee-stained teeth. "It's haunted, that's why."
"Please, ma'am," Steve said. "My daughter is not humored by your dislike of our new home."
"Of course. Just trying to be friendly."
"Friendly, huh?" Steve huffed.
"Shhh," Amanda said to her husband.
The family endured close inspection, chuckles and rude comments from the diners about their new house. Steve and Amanda sunk down into their seats, feeling self-conscious. Belle saw their trouble and stopped in the middle of the restaurant, holding a coffee pot in one hand.
"Say, Ralph?" she spoke in a loud voice. "How's your hemorrhoids doing? That ointment work yet?"
Ralph turned beat red and slumped over his plate, not looking at anyone. Everyone else fell quiet, knowing better than to make fun of Belle's customers.
Once the McCaulou's breakfast came, the place emptied out as everyone had to go to work.
The waitress said, "Now you can eat in peace and quiet."
"Wow," Steve said. "Is it always this crowded?"
The waitress nodded. "It's how we all get together and talk. We can't afford a local paper yet, and we're not part of any other town's news since nothing ever happens around here, unless of course you count Jim's old cow Betsy getting loose and running down the main drag." She turned to Jackie. "How are the pancakes, dear?"
"I love them! I like choo-chooing on the bacon that makes the smiley part of the face."
"Thanks," Amanda said to the waitress. "That's the most breakfast I've seen her eat in a long time."
"About that manor you're moving into." The waitress rested one hand on Jackie's shoulder. "Word is it's a real doozy filled with mysterious unknowns. It gets everyone a little off their rocker around here, but soon you'll see that we just tease and mean no harm. That's how it is — sad, but we're a happy town. Any one of us would break their back to help the other person out. More coffee?"
"Yes," Steve said. "It's good, the best I've had."
"Thanks a lot." Amanda bumped her husband's shoulder.
"Just kidding, dear," Steve said. He nodded to the waitress. "About the manor. What concerns should I have?"
She leaned in close to him and whispered, "Ghosts."
"Aww, nonsense," Steve argued. "There's no such thing, right?" He looked at his wife, but she just shrugged.
"Have it your way, then," the waitress said, "but watch out for the witching hour. That's when the old owners said it got really wicked inside of that old place."
Steve glanced at a photo on the wall. The sign on it said it was the oldest building in town. The three-story Victorian house had a large front porch and above the porch, a balcony, all lined with wooden railing. White paint covered the old house with blue paint on the trim, and a cupola, complete with four spires, crowned the third floor. The porch and eaves were trimmed with copious amounts of gingerbread. On one end, a brick chimney went from the ground to tower above the roof.
A bare, weather beaten trellis leaned between two windows on the front, and Steve wondered what had grown there. Roses? Lilacs? Honeysuckles? Overgrown bushes almost hid the porch steps and front door, and huge trees surrounded the house.
When he read the name, he saw it was none other than Waverly Manor. A brass plaque on the oversized wooden frame read: most haunted place in town.
Amanda said, "I just love the look of the old place. It looks like it's filled with so much charm. How on earth can it be thought of so badly? I don't care what anyone else says, I like it."
Steve whispered back, "There's something about it that spooks me, and I feel it might be trouble."
"Spooky? I thought you said there was no such thing."
"Well, if all these townspeople think so, then it might be true."
Jackie stared at the old photo. She couldn't take her eyes off it.
CHAPTER 5
After that meeting in the cafe, the family paid their bill and said goodbye to Belle. They started the long, lonely drive down the road filled with rows of many oak and maple trees dotted here and there.
The family looked doubtful after being laughed at by the town, but their hopes were definitely high as they came closer to the manor. The front view of Waverly Manor looked normal to anyone who dared come down the old dirt road and take a good look. When the McCaulou family first saw their home, they were swept up in its haunting beauty. But that's what the ghosts from the attic allowed them to think. A spell had been cast by Anna the witch so no one would know who hid in the attic.
On this fall day, the trees' red, gold and burnt orange leaves loosened in the breeze and settled on the manor, and all living things in the garden became barren for the season. A creepy, large shadow appeared in the yard, then moved into the manor quiet and slow. The old mighty oak that stood in front of the manor for hundreds of years, where the owl resided, seemed to move forward just for the newcomers, offering some light to the old place for the day.
Steve parked the car and craned his neck to look through the windshield and up at the house.
"We're here." He pushed open his car door and pulled the front door key from his pocket. "You ready to see your new home?"
Jackie clapped her hands and bounced on the backseat. "Yes! Yes! Where's my room?"
"We don't know yet, sweetheart," her mother answered. "Let's go look."
Steve's shoes thudded on the wooden porch, and the screen door squeaked when he opened it, disturbing a cobweb stretched across one corner.
Unlocking the door, he paused at the sounds from the old house. Within the manor walls hummed a grandfather clock's peaceful heartbeat. The living, dwelling inner sanctum was snug and secure. The grandfather clock stood against the wall inside the front hall and could be heard outside as it marked every second with its pendulum. Tick...tock echoed down the hallway with the clock's measured sounds of silence and time.
Sal must have started the clock, Steve thought.
He took a deep breath, smelling dust and old wood and memories. Jackie bumped into him from behind, in a hurry to see her new house.
"Slow down, honey," he warned and took her hand. "Wait for your mother."
Amanda walked up and stopped to look at the entry way and the staircase winding up to the second floor. Floral wallpaper decorated the walls, though it had started to peel at the top. She could see the living room on her right, with its high ceiling and huge windows. Their old apartment could fit into this one room.
"I'm going exploring outside," she announced. "I want to look at the gardens."
"Me, too, Mommy." Jackie followed her mother outside again.
A few minutes passed when Steve called from inside the house, "Umm, honey?"
"Yes, dear, I'm outside," Amanda said.
"I just fell!" He struggled to stand and rubbed his sore head.
"Holy moly. I'm so sorry. What happened in there? Come out to the light and let's get a good look at you. Are you okay?"
"Which question do you want me to answer first?" Steve laughed and walked to the front yard to stand next to her. "Sorry, just joking in my time of pain. I was walking in the front room and, when I stepped into the kitchen, a loose floorboard flew up and hit me in the face. Pow!"
"Pow?" Amanda repeated with a grin.
"It was more like wham, actually. My head is pounding. That's not the worst part though."
"Oh?"
"I heard whispers — millions of them, like voices hiding in the walls, except it sounded like it was coming from one person, a young girl. She was speaking right above me, echoing around me. It made me dizzy just trying to keep up with the sound of her voice, and then the room rumbled. It was the strangest thing."
"Really?" Amanda wasn't sure what to make of the voices. Maybe he'd hit his head harder than he realized.
"And then there was howling and it sounded like a bell clanged or a horn blew and it kept getting closer to me."
"That must have been terrible for you."
"It made me so afraid I wanted to run, but I couldn't. I'm a man. I shouldn't get spooked by this, but when the door creaked, I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up straight."
"What did you do next?"
"I-I didn't see anything. You probably think I'm going crazy but, I’m little scared."
"I don't have to think…"
"What was that?" Steve asked, thinking he heard something.
"Nothing."
"What if those people weren't kidding in the restaurant?"
"Aw, come on now, you can't take the word of a group of whackos. You're just tired from driving all night and you've been deprived of T.V. for a few days, too."
"Well, I am a little stressed. I could use some sack time," Steve said.
"Poor baby!"
"Oh, come on. Don’t be that way in front of Jackie. All right? Speaking of her," Steve said while he looked around, "where's she at?"
Amanda shrugged. "Probably with her teddy bear somewhere."
"Oh, okay." He jabbed a finger toward the house. "I want to fix that floor board first thing."
The door slammed and a creaking sound came from inside the kitchen.
"Did you hear that?" Steve asked.
"It's probably just the wind. You worry too much. Old places creak!"
"Doors mysteriously slam and bang and make sounds like the walls are filled with ghosts or demons, huh?"
"I'm from the country. Old homes always have character. Face it, you're a city boy. Scaredy cat."
Steve wanted to change the subject. "Our daughter is sitting by the swing tied to that big oak. She's talking to a pretend friend. How cute." He turned to Amanda. "What the townspeople feel about this place is just the fear of the unknown, and once they see us enjoying ourselves here, they'll feel different about the old place. Right?"
"Right. This is a beautiful house." Amanda saw the concern on her husband's face. "I think maybe you're deeply upset about moving here and you secretly hate this place. You miss the big, smoggy, overcrowded city."
"I don't secretly hate this place, geez. We just got here," Steve said.
"I'm sorta happy to be here because we are together."
Steve laughed. "That's the main thing, honey."
"Bats…"
"What?"
"Probably just bats — the noises you heard."
"Oh brother, bats she tells me now. Yes, dear, it was bats!" Steve pointed toward the third floor. "Bats trapped up in the attic. That's that sound I heard, like a little girl's voice. She flapped her wings and hung upside down from the rafters."
"I didn't mean it in that way, but yes, each new sound can mean something different to us."
Steve put his arm around his wife's waist and pulled her close. They both stared at the front of the manor.
"Don't worry, baby," Steve said. "I'll protect you from those nasty, blood sucking old bats."
The front door of the house opened by itself and then closed. Steve noticed it, but Amanda didn't. Steve stiffened and backed up one step, gulping loudly.
"Honey, are you okay?" Amanda asked. "You're acting odd."
"I'm fine. No ghost or demons, it was just bats — I'm sure you're right," Steve said. "I just want to unpack and get the T.V. set up."
"Yep, the big game is on tonight."
"I don't see an antenna on the roof. Hope I can get some sort of television reception out here with a coat hanger and tin foil."
"Let's get the car unpacked then."
CHAPTER 6
Anna, Tomfoolery and Boo were hanging out in the attic when they heard the key turn in the front door. Anna was less than pleased.
"Who on earth could that be?" she said. "Boo! Watch the door."
"Yes, Anna."
Boo slipped through the floorboards and took a long peek through the wallboard and the old flaky paint, and then came back to the attic with a frightful look on his face.
"What is it?" Anna asked. "Did you see anything?"
"Probably just a traveling salesman," Tomfoolery said.
Boo didn't answer. He kept rubbing his eyes and shaking his head.
Anna yelled at the top of her voice, "Who was at the door, Boo?"
"I…I can't believe it," Boo shuttered.
"What?" Tomfoolery asked.
"Human alert!"
"What!"
"Humans at twelve o'clock," Boo yelled. "Everyone take cover! And they have a child, too. Oh no!"
Anna walked over to the floorboard and grumbled. Boo and Tomfoolery hid while she got down to her knees with the dust flittering around her. Spying with her right eye through the crack in the floor, she watched the family enter the manor with suitcases and boxes.
"Good grief, they're humans all right!" she said. "The beloved living keep reappearing, don't they?"
There were only three of them, and no pets, thank goodness.
Anna smelled trouble right away as the little girl played with the doorbell until her mother made her stop and come into the living area where her father stood. The little girl swirled around, carrying her teddy, and danced on her tiptoes. While she danced, she sang a song. It was faint, but Anna could hear:
Four little pumpkins sitting on the gate. The first one says, "Oh my, it's getting late. Close the gate. Don't let the witches out!"
The second one says, "There are witches in the air on a broomstick, I do declare. How will we get them all down? It's past their dinnertime."
The third one says, "But we don't care. The witching hour has begun. They are up to so much fun despite the sun and feast later."
The fourth one says, "Let them have some fun. Cast the sun into the moon and let's cruise onwards to Mars to see the Martians."
Then whoosh went the wind and out went the light and four little pumpkins rolled out of sight! And the witches came to get us instead…woo-hooo.
Anna laughed and found the little wonder refreshing and very sweet.
"Hey, guys," Anna said. "The little girl won't be any trouble."
Boo hovered next to Anna. "Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure. Time will tell."
"Right!"
All of them went back to watching through the knothole.
"They have a child, and you know what that means," Tomfoolery shouted. "Nothing but trouble!"
Boo looked at Tomfoolery and disagreed. "But Anna said it would be all right."
"Aw, what does she know?" Tomfoolery grumbled. "Anna is a mere child herself. Humans are nothing but problems. That's a fact."
The three heard odd sounds of laughter and talking that echoed up to the attic. On one occasion that day they even heard the child giggling.
"What was that?" Boo asked.
Anna answered, "It was laughter from that little girl."
"Why?"
"It's a way of feeling good, or she found something was funny."
"This child laughs and giggles all the time. Is she simple-minded?"
"No," Anna replied. "Just happy in her own world. She is living her life to the fullest."
Tomfoolery and Boo raised their eyebrows and opened their eyes wider.
"Happy humans, good grief," Tomfoolery grinned.
"I'll have them out in a week," Anna said with her wand in hand.
The little girl bounced her rubber ball off her bedroom walls, shaking dust loose from the attic rafters.
What's your plan, Anna?" Tomfoolery asked eagerly.
"Hmm, I want to see a bit more before I make my final plan. There are three this time, which might prove to be difficult."
"Oh, goodie." Tomfoolery sneered through the knothole. "We're going for the countdown to a new witching hour." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.
Boo looked to Anna and then to Tomfoolery and said, "Really, Anna, so soon? We haven't had a chance to see what they have in their icebox."
Tomfoolery grumbled, "You always worry about your belly. Must you fret?"
Boo defended himself. "It's been over a year since I last ate. The icebox has been empty since the Milfoils left."
The father to the family set down his suitcase. He was a tall, thin man with brown hair and a beard. His wife, an eye-catching blonde, had a body meant for beauty and grace. And then their little daughter had playful, loving eyes that glowed and a face that livened up the old place. Anna saw right off that she was of no harm.
The father spoke to the mother. "Honey, what do you think? Is it home for the next few years? I'll make enough money with this new job to send little Jackie to a good school."
Download this book for your ebook reader.
(Pages 1-35 show above.)