Ghosts

Chapter 10

'Let me smell your breath. Jeez. Have you brushed your teeth this morning?' 'That's no way to talk to your mother. And yes. I have brushed my teeth. Look. I haven't had a drink. I swear, okay?' 'I just didn't want you going over there incapable.' 'I don't want me going over there full stop. But you're right. You always were the most sensible of the lot of us. United we stand; stoned and paralytic we fall over. Do I look okay in this?' 'Mom. It doesn't matter what you wear. They're ghosts. They don't give a damn what you look like.' 'Excuse me. They are still family. Daphne was always well turned out. I just didn't want to let the side down. What's all this lot?' Violet placed another bag on the pile. 'Stuff. We could be there all day and night.' 'They had less junk when they climbed Everest. Did you say all day and night?' Violet had anticipated that reaction. 'More than likely and no.' 'No what?' 'No booze.' 'Oh, come on. All day and all night?' 'That's what I said. I've put a couple of cans of beer in. One each.' They stared at each other both with fixed and determined expressions on their faces, but Violet held firm. 'Grab some of this gear and come on.' 'What's going on?' 'Nothing to worry about, Dad.' 'For your information, we are off to put right the mess you made.' 'What's that supposed to mean?' Ignoring him, they opened up the front door and gathered up the supplies and started off. Grandma was rolling her first joint of the day, Cyclops was eating some freshly chopped apple and carrot, preparing for a hard days sleeping. 'You should be ashamed of yourself, letting them do your dirty work for you.' Victor said, 'I don't even know what's going on.' 'Hmm. Story of your life. Thanks to you, there are three ghosts in that house and they're off to flush them out of the place.' 'They're not mice, you know. They're family. Our relations.' Grandma made herself comfortable and the rusty chains of the swing seat creaked unpleasantly, Cyclops jumping up on her lap. 'They're dead relations,' she said, blowing smoke at him. 'They gotta go.' He shook his head. It had all the hallmarks of being one of those days. David Chambers turned off the lawnmower. 'Mrs Shaydes. Violet. Need a hand?' 'No thanks,' said Violet. 'Can't stop.' They reached the gate and as Violet struggled to open it with both hands full, Mrs Friar was already at breakneck speed on her walker, halfway across the lane. 'Excuse me. I'd like a word.' 'Mrs Friar.' 'Mrs Shaydes. I almost called the police last night.' 'What on Earth for?' 'There. That. The house of death. It's alright for you two. You live around the corner. I live over the lane from it.' 'Mrs Friar,' said Violet. 'What are you talking about?' 'Lights. In the house. Somebody moving about. I saw it with my own eyes.' 'But there's no power on. We had it disconnected.' 'I know what I saw. Now, think on.' With a final bony finger wagging warning, she did a three point turn and set off to get away from the dreaded house of death. Violet shook her head. It had all the hallmarks of being one of those days.