Ghosts

Chapter 11

After organizing everything in the lounge, Violet kicked off her shoes and settled on the floor on top of the sleeping bag. Her mother sat on one of the plastic chairs. Her hands shook as she lit a cigarette. 'Do you have to smoke in here.' 'Yes. Yes, Violet. I do. I can manage not drinking for a day, but not these as well. I'm not strong like you. Now what do we do?' 'We wait.' 'I'll go nuts.' 'Let me know when it happens or I'll miss it.' 'The old woman. Mrs Friar. What the hell was that all about do you suppose?' Violet shook her head. 'Nutty as a fruit cake.' 'No. I don't think so. She's old, but she isn't gaga.' 'Mom. The power's off. There were no lights.' 'Maybe somebody broke in. A hobo or something. I'll take a look around, see if anyone broke in.' She returned a few minutes later. 'All the doors and windows are secure. Nobody broke in.' 'Told you. She's seeing things.' 'What's that you're reading?' 'Jackie Collins. An old one of yours.' 'I don't remember it. Did you bring me something to read?' 'There's a couple of books in one of the bags.' She lit another cigarette. 'No radio? I thought you were organized.' 'I thought about it. I wanted to keep things quiet, in case noise put them off appearing.' 'I'll let some fresh air in.' She opened up a window. 'She's staring at me. Mrs Friar. She's looking straight at me. She's gone now. Nosy old cow.' Violet gave up with the book. 'She's obviously concerned about something. I expect she gets nervous, all alone at her age.' 'Should we call out to them?' 'I tried that before. It doesn't seem to work like that. Mom. Do you have to pace up and down like that?' 'I'm nervous. I never saw a ghost before. I might not see them at all. Maybe only you see them.' Violet got the flasks of hot water and made two mugs of tea. 'I've brought a dozen people to view the house. They all saw the ghosts.' 'It's a good job they were not locals. They all think we're eccentric enough without people saying we have ghosts in the family. What do they look like?' 'Who?' 'Batman and Robin. Who the bloody hell do you think I mean? The damn ghosts.' 'They look like Aunt Daphne, Uncle Ben and Harmony. Just a bit see-through. You've seen those jelly fish things on the sea? Sort of like that.' 'They look like jelly fish?' 'No. But you can see through them like jelly fish.' 'God. I wish I'd stayed at home, now.' 'Mom.' 'What?' 'Now, whatever you do, don't panic. There's a ghost right behind you.'