...a haunted house story
'Craigdarroch Castle' photo by ldyck
Ownership
The minute the couple saw the house, they fell in love. Towers. Turrets. Dormers. Wrap-around porch. They imagined it smiling at them.
The foyer was huge and led to even bigger rooms. They found the parlour, sunroom, library, study. A grand curving staircase led to the second floor. Each stair squeaked a welcome to their potential new owner. Upstairs the floorboards in the bedrooms and bathrooms also squeaked but seemed sturdy enough. The couple bought the house, and the family of three moved in. They didn't have enough furniture to fill each room, but they had plans.
"What do you think of our new home?" the couple asked their seven-year-old son.
Troubled by a sense of doom, the boy feared that something was wrong with the place but didn't dare tell his parents. He thought they would only laugh at him. "I love it," was all he told them.
The first night, the father told the son, "Run upstairs and brush your teeth. I'll be up in a minute to tuck you in."
Upstairs in the bathroom, the boy turned the tap. Brown water trickled out. He couldn't brush his teeth with that.
"Abracadabra," the boy said, and the water cleared.
Downstairs, the couple shared a bottle of wine.
"I can't believe this grand old lady is ours," the husband said.
They clinked their glasses and toasted the house.
"Of course, she needs some upgrading—knocking down a few walls. That sort of thing. But I'll—"
"We'll," the wife corrected him.
"Enjoy working on her," they said together.
They kissed, and the wife told her husband, "Don't take too long tucking Benji in. I'll be waiting for you," and winked.
The man continued to smile as he climbed the stairs. He found Benji already in bed and started to cross the floor. The floorboards gave way, and he fell through—all the way to the first floor. He fell on his wife, who was finishing her wine in the parlour. Both were killed instantly.
From a forgotten corner in the attic, a needle scratched vinyl and Benji heard a voice sing,
When the wind is free
Take good care of yourself
You belong to me.
More...
Craigdarroch Castle
Next Sunday evening
photo by ldyck
Book Review:
Be My Love
Kit Pearson
set on a small island, during the 1950's, Be My Love is about secrets hidden and secrets shared, and it's about personal truths discovered.
photo by bdyck
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