The Brown House

by Christy Sloat

  “Oh that’s a good one Miss Branson, blame the smoking on someone who isn’t here. Did you really think I wouldn’t find out you were lying?”

  “What?” I looked and sure enough Kayla had disappeared, again. I considered that maybe she was studying to be a magician, because she had the disappearing act down pat.

  Chapter Twelve

  As I waited for the principal in his office I thought about Kayla’s stories. It made me sick to think that something like that had actually happened in my house. That poor little girl was locked in her room for days on end, year’s maybe. Her father didn’t even care, he just left her in there. The special lock he bought still kept the room a secret to everyone. No one would be able to go in the room. Not without the key. And if what she said was true about him hiding it in the stream. Was it lost forever? I don’t know why but I felt like it was up to me to open that door. To open it and release whatever was behind it.

  Kayla had said to not ever open the door, that if I did it would be dangerous. Even though all signs told me not to open the door, I still had the strong urge to do it.

  “Miss. Branson,” the principal called from his office doorway, breaking my concentration. I got up and followed him into his office. It smelled like fake leather and cats. It wasn’t the best place to be right now. I had never been in trouble like this before. My parents were going to kill me.

  “Miss. Branson, skipping class to go smoke is frowned upon in our school. Now I assume in your old school they allowed this sort of behavior, but not here. I know California is a bit more relaxed on their rules…”

  His speech droned on and on for so long I started to stare into space. Blah, blah, blah. Even if I tried to tell him I wasn’t smoking would he even believe me? Kayla had left me alone and I was the one to blame. I know I was at fault for ditching class, but I had to take the fall for the smoking too?

  “Do you understand?” he asked, finally ending his speech.

  “Yes sir, it will not ever happen again.” He nodded his head and smiled; happy he got an apology and that I didn’t give him an attitude.

  “Smoking is a very nasty habit and it’s not good for you. You should really quit Miss Branson,” he added. It was nasty to smoke and I didn’t want him to think it was me.

  “Well my friend was out there with me and she was the one smoking. She took off before that teacher caught me.”

  “It was Mrs. Applewood, my secretary that caught you. You say your friend was the one smoking, not you?” He folded his hands and rested his chin on his fingers.

  “Yeah her name is Kayla. She must have heard Mrs. Applewood before me and took off running.” Come to think of it, I was sort of pissed at her now. I would have to tell her when I saw her again. Friends didn’t stick friends like this.

  “Is she a student here?” He leaned over his desk looking me straight in the eyes.

  “Not anymore. She used to be a student here.”

  “How old is she? What year did she graduate?”

  What was this a pop quiz?

  “I don’t know what year she graduated. I don’t know how old she is. I just met her. All I know is she lives near Wilson Lake, she has blue hair, and her name is Kayla.” I stood up, now I was done with the twenty questions. “Can I leave and go back to class?” His eyes never left mine and he looked a bit pale in the face now.

  “Miss Branson, I have been the principal here for the last twenty years. I know all my students past and present. There is only one girl with that name and that description. I think this is some sort of sick joke that you want to play with me. I don’t play those games. The next time you and your friends want to play jokes on the principal you better think twice. You will find yourself in detention starting Monday and ending Wednesday.”

  “What?” I was so confused now. I had confessed to being tardy for my class. I had even listened to him go on and on about why we have to go to class. I made my apology and now I was being chastised for being honest.

  “The only girl named Kayla with blue hair that went here and lived near Wilson Lake,” he reached behind him and pulled out a yearbook. “She went missing over two years ago. They never found her body.” He slammed the book in front of me with a page full of pictures of Kayla. All the pictures were in memory of her. The inscription on the top of the page read, ‘In loving memory of Kayla Hart.’ I felt the bile in my throat rise suddenly. I grabbed his trashcan right away and threw up in it. I felt like I was going to die; I hated throwing up.

  “She’s dead?” I managed to ask as he called for the nurse.

  “Yes she’s dead. All they found was her sweatshirt and nothing else. I shouldn’t even be telling you this. Go to the nurse.” He showed me out of his office and I was forced into the nurse’s office.

  As I sat on the hard table covered with paper, I contemplated why Kayla would be missing. She wasn’t missing, obviously, I had just seen her less than an hour ago. Maybe she was a runaway that was presumed dead. It didn’t make sense to me at all. The only thing I knew was I was sick. I felt horrible and the nurse was calling my mom to come pick me up.

  When Mom finally got there I didn’t say much as I followed her out the school doors to the car. She had a lot to say though.

  “Your second day of school and you skip class and puke in the principals trashcan! I can’t believe you Brylee; I just don’t know why you would do that.” Disappointment was evident in her voice. “Who is this Kayla girl you said you were with? I asked your principal and he said you were making her up.” How would I even approach this subject? I just slumped into the seat of the car and let her rip into me and when it was over I was grounded for a month.

  Once at home I lay in bed and Mom gave me a bucket to throw up in. Even though I told her I would not be getting sick anymore. I closed my eyes and fell asleep in my bed.

  A few hours later I heard a tapping sound on my window. I sat bolt upright and felt the wave of nausea come over me again. Fighting the urge to be sick in my bucket I heard the sound again. The room was freezing cold so I grabbed my sweatshirt and yanked it over my spinning head. I stood slowly and walked over to the window. I saw nothing except a moonless night. As I stared out at the sky hoping to see a star, a rock hit the windowpane. I jumped back, my heart hammering in my chest.

  I looked down and saw a figure below. I couldn’t make out who it was but they waved at me. I pulled on my shoes and slowly walked down the stairs. I didn’t know if my parents were awake or not. Was it Kayla coming to explain herself? As I hit the bottom step a cold blast of air hit my neck. I stopped and pulled the hood over my head.

  The living room was empty so I presumed my parents were asleep. Once outside I headed to the side of the house to see who it was. The figure was now walking into the thick of the woods. I followed carefully. The night gave no light so I walked as slow as possible. Once I reached the woods I picked up my pace, I had to see who this was now. It was starting to get colder out here by the second. Finally, stopping at the log that I had sat on the first day I met Lyn, I saw the person sitting there. I strained my eyes to see who it was. Their back was to me and they looked up at the stars.

  “Who’s there?” I called, stopping suddenly.

  “It’s me, Ephraim.” He stood and came closer to me. I felt relief wash over me as he drew near. He finally stopped right in front of me and I could see his face now as the moon played peek-a-boo with the clouds. He looked adorable and tired all at the same time.

  “Sorry, I just didn’t want to wake your parents. But I had to talk to you.” He smiled and looked happy to see me. “I heard you got in trouble for ditching class. I also heard you threw up on Mr. Harris.” He laughed now and I joined in. It was quite a funny story, and I loved how people could really twist things.

  “I didn’t ditch class on purpose; I was talking with my friend.” I paused. Was she my friend? I didn’t really know her that well and according to Mr. Harris, my new principal, she was dead or missing. “I threw up but not on h
im, more like in his trashcan.” This admission caused more laughter at my expense. He reached out for my head protectively, feeling for a high temperature. I knew I wasn’t sick. I didn’t throw up due to illness. I was sick due to confusion about Kayla. But I let him touch me anyway. It was cute that he was playing doctor.

  “You feel clammy,” he concluded.

  “Yeah I feel fine, but I am grounded for like ever and I have detention for three days next week.” I sighed.

  “Oh well at least you can still go to the dance. I thought maybe he would say you couldn’t go.” He looked relieved at my minuscule punishment. It really could have been worse. I hadn’t ever been in real trouble so I suppose I was a first time offender.

  “So is that why you wanted to talk to me?” I asked shly.

  “No and yes. I guess it’s all over the school now that I am taking you to the dance. That’s fine and all, but I just wanted to let you know that not everyone is happy about it.” He took his hand away from my forehead and put both in his jacket pockets.

  “Who’s not happy?” I already had a feeling who would be mad but I wanted to hear him say her name.

  “Amber. Even though she dumped me and is dating my cousin, she is still jealous. I came to tell you I don’t care what she says. I am not going to let her ruin our date to the dance. I hope you don’t either.” He leaned in and pulled a sweaty piece of hair off my face. I was sticky and disgusting right now. It really was killing the romance factor. “I really want to see where this goes, you and me.”

  “Me too,” I admitted. “I have to say I don’t know how my parents are going to react to the date now that I am grounded. I think you should come by tomorrow and I will introduce you.” Ephraim smiled and agreed. We finally walked back to my house and the moon was now out full force. The clouds parted and we walked in the moonlight together. I looked up at him and liked the way this felt. Being with someone like him made me forget all the things I was going through. He was different. He actually cared about me and my feelings. He cared so much that he risked getting caught by my parents. No one had ever thrown stones at my window before. I really liked it.

  “Listen, you should get inside. It’s getting chilly out here.” He took off his faded blue coat and wrapped me in it. “I want you to wear this. If you want to that is.” The blue coat was just what I needed. I wrapped it over me and pulled my arms in it and smiled. Simple gestures like throwing rocks and giving me coats were forcing me to give Ephraim an A in the romance department.

  “I will wear it every day. Until you ask for it back,” I said. The warmth from his body was now covering mine. I pulled it tighter around me and zipped it up and he leaned in closer to me. I could feel his breath on my cheek as he spoke.

  “I don’t care what anyone says about us. I think we are a good thing. You make me feel held down to the earth. Before you came here I felt like I could blow away.” He kissed my cheek. My heart was beating strangely, different than it ever had before. “Good night, see you in the morning.”

  He walked away and disappeared behind the bushes. I opened the door and walked as quiet as I could into the house. I knew if I went up the main stairwell my parents might hear me going up. So I opted for the dark stairs toward the back of the house. I passed the rocking chair and gave it a wide berth. I would never sit in that thing.

  Once I reached the bottom of the stairwell I knew this was a mistake. Even though it was the quietest way to get to my room, I regretted it. I didn’t like these stairs at all. The last time I had been down them I heard the voice and fell on my butt on the way down. Darkness took over this part of the house. I felt chills immediately, but it was the best way to go up without waking my parents.

  “Screw it,” I said aloud to no one and walked up. I reached the door and fought to not look at it. Suddenly thinking of Pearl Brown, and the life she endured. Being locked in here day after day for God knows how long. My throat lurched and I thought I might get sick again. I couldn’t not look at the door, it was like an accident on the freeway. You just had to look at it hoping to see something you didn’t want to see. The intrigue won me over. I put a hand on the door for no apparent reason. Hoping maybe to say how sorry I was for what Pearl went through. It was a really sad story, one I would never forget all my life.

  “I’m sorry for what happened to you Pearl. I think that you deserved better.” I took my hand back and walked away.

  I reached the bathroom door and tried to open it. Shoot! I locked it from the other side the other day. So much for being quiet, I had no choice but to go back down the stairs and go up the main stairwell. When I turned around I walked into something strange. A cool mist appeared out of nowhere. I could feel the wetness on my hands and face. I was frozen in this state of wonder and disbelief.

  “Don’t be sorry,” a voice said. I turned around and no one was there. Again!

  “Who said… that?” My voice trembled in my throat. The mist fell to the ground and gathered up around my feet, finally making a small pool of water. The water spread and formed into a pair of shoes, continuing into legs covered in stockings. Now a full body, arms of a little girl, and suddenly a pretty little face. The girl stood before me wearing a dress fit for Shirley Temple and ringlets to match. She was as real as anybody, but as transparent as water. She smiled a dubious smile at me and repeated her words. “Don’t be sorry.”

  I jumped back and hit the doorway. She giggled a very adorable childlike giggle. “Don’t be sorry and don’t be scared either.” She stepped back giving me a bit of space. “You are the first to see me ever! I am so glad I found you. I wondered if you would come back.”

  “Wh... What?” I was now stuttering like an idiot. I considered for a moment that this was a dream. Maybe this whole evening had been a dream, even my nightly stroll with Ephraim.

  “I wasn’t sure if you heard me the first time you came over here. But now I know you heard me and you can see me too.” She put her hands on her curls and started to twirl one, as if it was a nervous habit.

  “You were the one to say ‘no’ to me the other day?” I asked her, willing myself to calm down. I couldn’t believe I was talking to a puddle of water, which seemed to form a child. “What are you exactly?”

  “What do you think I am? I’m a ghost of course. An apparition some people say. ” She giggled again and I shook my head. “I am, or was, Pearl Brown. But I don’t know how to answer that question. Because really what is a ghost? Are they who they were when they lived? Or are they someone else?”

  My head spun again and I suddenly wished I had my puke bucket. She was talking in riddles now. But the most disbelieving thing was she was talking to me and I could see her.

  “You’re Pearl Brown.” I knew who she was but I had to say it myself. “I mean you died, but you’re still her. Why are you here talking to me?”

  “I’m here because I never left. I can’t leave. I am talking to you because you can hear me and see me.”

  “How can I hear you and see you? Why are you still here in this house and not, you know, moved on?” She stopped twirling her hair and stared at me.

  “I don’t really know why you can see me. You must be special, because tons of people have come in here and no one has seen me. They could never hear me. But you… you can. You’re a special visitor.”

  “A special what? You’re the visitor, aren’t you?” I heard her right but I didn’t understand what she meant.

  “Oh no Brylee you’re the visitor here. This is our house, you’re just here temporarily. The others don’t like visitors, but I don’t mind so much.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  Just by her very words I learned three things: One, I was talking to a ghost who was just as surprised as I was that she could talk to me. Two, the Brown family does exist and it’s not some made up story. Three, there are others ghosts here who didn’t want us living here.

  Pearl looked like she was once a very pretty young girl. It was hard to believe that she was really her
e but I felt like this was real. I mean, this wasn’t a dream, this was really happening. I wanted to ask her so many things but didn’t want to cross over any ghost human boundaries. Was there such a thing? First I needed to know what she meant by her last words.

  “Who are they, the ones that don’t want me and my family here?” She looked at me puzzled. She might have felt like she shouldn’t have said anything. She started to back away from me.

  “No, don’t be scared, we don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to,” I said.

  “I don’t want them to harm you. They get angry when visitors come and they do everything they can to get them to leave. Not me though, I like visitors. It can get really lonely here. The others don’t like to talk to me. I am not really allowed to leave this floor of the house. They get to go everywhere and that’s no fair.” She stomped her foot on the ground and scrunched up her face. It did seem unfair that not only in her first life did she have to be locked up, but now in this form she did as well.

  “How did you…um…die?” I braved the question. I knew she had been brought back, I knew all of her stories but I wanted to hear it come from her.

  “I died here originally, from influenza. Then I came back.” She smiled and although I was happy to see her smile, I was very uneasy with her answer. So she did die and come back to life. Kayla was telling me the truth.

  “I lived twice. But my first life was better than the last. Daddy didn’t like me the second time around. He locked me away. I died again because Mommy took me with her.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I died again, because Mommy broke her promise. I don’t mind, I didn’t like being locked up all alone. Mommy would visit with me when Daddy was away. We would be able to spend whole afternoon together until he came home. Then she started acting peculiar. Saying strange things and talking to people who weren’t there.” She leaned against the wall and didn’t go through it. It was like she was solid somehow. “One day Mommy got the key to my room. I was so excited to see her but she didn’t look right, she looked distant and a tad bit scary. I tried to talk to her but she just ignored me. After that day she came back only once more to do it.” She stopped abruptly as if the memory was too hard.