Ghosts

Chapter 3

It had been the same experience each time. The second Violet had almost sealed the deal, Uncle Ben, Aunt Daphne or cousin Harmony would appear. They didn't do anything scary, other than to make a fleeting manifestation and stand together in which ever room the living were gathered. The first two occasions, Violet was as terrified as the visitors and had run out of the house as fast as they had. She had raced home as quickly as she could, seeking comfort from her family. She didn't get much. Grandma was stoned, her mother was drunk and her father wanted nothing to do with anything. He still carried the guilt and he did all he could to block it from his mind. Ghosts or not, he would hacksaw his other leg off before entering that house again. Her mother felt the same way about going in the house, but, believing she had some psychic ability inherited from an ancestor who died two hundred years before, offered to try to contact the spirits. All it needed was to enter a deeply spiritual space within herself, and invite them in for a chat. It seemed her mother's interpretation of transcendental meditation required even more copious amounts of bourbon and sitting naked on a pile of cushions. What it didn't do, however, was yield results. Violet realised if anything was going to be done about it, she was the one who had to do it. Their home was falling down around their ears and with very little money coming in and the job market dried up, they needed to sell that house and fast. It was time to try and reason with ...the ghosts. She started back to get something sorted out before nightfall. The electricity had been cut off, so there were no lights. David Chambers was out in his front garden as she was passing, and she tried hard not to look at him and hoped he hadn't seen her. 'Hello, Vi.' Nothing made her bristle more than being called Vi. He knew that and enjoyed the way she screwed up her face when he said it. 'Can't stop. Got things to do.' Undeterred he said, 'No luck selling the house, then?' He leaned on his spade, trying to flex his none existent muscles, his pale skin glistening with sweat. Ever since his wife had left him he had been hitting on Violet. The twenty year age gap was no barrier as far as he was concerned. 'Not yet. Lots of interest, though.' 'Why not rent it out? At least it would be income until you find a buyer.' 'Who the hell would want to rent a house here? Hillsdown is hardly a holiday destination. Most people here can't wait to get away from the dump.' He shrugged his bony shoulders. 'Just a suggestion, Vi.' 'I have to go.' Before he had the chance to speak, she marched quickly away turning the corner into Crabtree Lane. Unlocking the door she took a deep breath, fighting the urge to turn and run. She had to do this. Closing the door behind her, she tried the lounge. 'Uncle Ben? Aunt Daphne?' 'Hello, Violet.' 'God you made me jump, Harmony.' 'You didn't call my name. Don't you want to see me any more? 'Violet felt guilty. Her cousin had been a few weeks off her twelfth birthday when they had all died. It was disconcerting to be talking with something that looked like Harmony, when she could see right through her. She had always liked her cousin, and had helped her with her homework and computer skills. She was a bright and pretty kid. Was. 'I didn't mean to...Look. I really need to talk to your mom and dad. Are they around?' Harmony shrugged. 'You could come and play with me. I get bored here on my own.' 'Play? What could we play? Hide and seek? You would have the advantage over me.' 'You used to play games on the computer with me.' 'There is no computer here. We had to sell off everything. Besides. There's no power. 'The girl pouted. 'You're no fun any more. Nothings no fun any more.' If she could have, Violet would have hugged her. She hadn't deserved to die so young. And it was all their father's fault. 'I wish things could be different, but they can't. A bad thing happened and it can't be put right. I need to see your parents.' 'Can I come and live with you, Violet? We could have fun together.' Violet shuddered at the very idea. 'I, err, well, I think you should stay with your mom and dad.' 'They could come, too. Please?' Another shudder. She had a permanently stoned grandmother with delusions about having slept with most of the sixties rock stars, a boozed up mother who sat about naked half the day, a one legged father, a three legged dog and a one eyed ferret. Oh, yeah. She really needed three ghosts to live there, too.'It would be a bit crowded. Best you all stay here,' or better still, bugger off completely, she nearly added. She called out again. 'Uncle Ben? Aunt Daphne?' Nothing. It wasn't going to happen. 'Harmony. Can you tell your mom and dad I need to see them? It's very important. I'll come back in the morning, tell them.' Without answering, Harmony vanished. 'Oh, most helpful. Thanks a bunch.' She sighed. Outside it was already getting dark. 'Tomorrow, Uncle Ben. You hear me?' Nothing. It was time to go home. Grandma was busy rolling her final joint of the evening. Her hands shook slightly as she worked, but running on instinct it was soon lit up. 'David Bowie wanted me to go on tour with him. Keep him company. I was seeing Elvis, so I said no.' 'Are you staying out here all night, Grandma?' 'Are you a lesbian?' Grandma countered. Never short of surprising things to say was Grandma. 'No. What the hell made you ask that?' Grandma coughed and spluttered on the weed. Violet could hardly imagine the state of her lungs. The consistency of wet coal sacks, she reckoned. 'You never seem to have any boyfriends,' asked Grandma. 'When I was your age, I'd lost count. The first thing to wear out in their cars were the back seats. How old are you, anyway?' 'Twenty. And I haven't time for boys. I've a house to sell.' Grandma patted the seat. 'Come and keep your old Gran company. Here have a drag on this.' Violet doubted the tensile strength of the rusty chains would support more than one geriatric old woman and a one eyed ferret. She wasn't about to test that theory. 'You know I don't. I'm going to have a bath and an early night. Try and think what I'm going to do.' 'Young people these days. No sense of adventure.' She blew a cloud of dense brown smoke and two fat moths dropped dead at her feet.