Day Thirty One - Spooky

Halloween night comes around and I’m expecting it to be another quiet night as usual. People love to visit fake haunted houses but no one actually wants to visit the haunted house in their town.

So I’m curled up on one of the couches in the sitting room reading an anthology of spooky stories, with Lavender curled up at my feet, when I hear a quiet knock at the door. Knocks are not usual at the house.

I step out into the front lobby where Teddy has been waiting at the front desk, candy at the ready. And he’s got the door open to some wide-eyed children and their parents.

And not only that, when I peer out the door behind them. There’s even more people outside, all gathered on our lawn. And it’s not like they’re an angry mob, they’re all happy, smiling, and taking in the decorations that have all been carefully set up.

Once again, I’m stunned into silence until I hear a loud, “TRICK OR TREAT!” from the kids on the doorstep.

“I’ve only got treats!” Teddy exclaims and fills their buckets and bags with candy.

The next set of children come up to the door, this time I happily place a couple pieces of candy into each of their bags.

Teddy and I step out onto the porch to take a look at everyone that’s shown up.

“How are so many people here?” I ask him.

“I asked Gale and Beth to help me spread around the word. And after everyone came to help out the other day, they must have said things to their family and friends. I also would not stop talking about all the fun decorations we put up today at work.” He laughs to himself.

I wrap my hands around his waist and pull him in for hug. But we quickly separate when there are three sets of footsteps stomping up the porch.

We turn around and see three young girls dressed up as witches with different colour schemes and hand knitted accessories. One has a bat, another a small cat that looks just like Lavender, and the third with a fish. The third girl looks to be the youngest and at a second glance, may be something of a mermaid crossed with a witch. Behind them is who I presume to be their parents: a tired looking man with glasses and a wool coat, and a woman with curly hair and red knitted hat.

The three girls turn to me. “Is grandma here?”

I don’t know how to answer them, but then Mrs Thompson appears in the door. Her arms are spread wide and she’s crouched on the ground.

“My babies!” she yells at the girls who giggle and run happily over to her.

They show off their dresses to her and are all speaking so fast I can’t take in what they’re saying. Both parents are staring at the girls in disbelief.

I am also in disbelief as the girls are acting as if they see their grandmother. Something I didn’t know could be possible.

“Girls,” their mother starts, “there is nothing there.”

“Grandma is right there! I told you she was real! This is why we wanted to visit tonight.” The eldest says firmly and matter of factly.

 The parents turn to me now, looking at me like I hold all the answers. I expect to be met with demands and harsh words, but instead, the man begins to blubber, his eyes filling with tears.

“Is my mom really there?” he asks me.

I nod, and feel Teddy’s hand on my shoulder.

The man breaks into full sobs now, his wife beside him with tears in her own eyes. “There’s been items appearing in our home for months now, things happening we couldn’t explain. And the girls, they’d talk endlessly about their grandma like she was still alive. I didn’t think that she was still with us, I-“ the man chokes on a sob.

“The girls asked us to come here tonight because they wanted to see grandma.” The wife says, she looks at Teddy, “And Gale told us that your home would be open for Halloween tonight so we thought we’d come by. I can’t believe this is real.”

I smile at them and watch Mrs Thompson interact with her grandchildren. I’ve heard that sometimes young children can see ghosts too, even without the same ability as me. I’m just surprised that Mrs Thompson hasn’t been bragging to me about it.

Mrs Thompson places generous handfuls of candy into each of her granddaughters bags and I hear their parents gasp at the sight. Mrs Thompson’s son is now smiling with tears in his eyes still.

“Off you go girls,” Mrs Thompson says, giving each of them a kiss on the forehead. And lastly, she blows a kiss to her son. “And see you soon, my boy.”

The girls happily wave goodbye to their grandmother and walk off onto the rest of their evening. Even I’m left with the slight prickle of tears in my eyes.

“Don’t you want to go with them?” I ask Mrs Thompson.

She smiles warmly at me, “They’ll be fine on their own. Besides, I need to make hot chocolate for this crowd!” she says and heads back inside.

Clavin steps out onto the front porch too, excited to see everyone around. “I can’t believe there’s people here!”

More children begin to make their way up to the porch. Calvin and Teddy both grab bowls of candy. The children and their parents gasp in awe at the presumably floating bowl and the candy that is being doled out.

Some make comments about it all being “special effects” while others are still processing the fact that maybe ghosts are real. Calvin and Teddy are having a blast just being able to hand out the candy to everyone.

I turn around and see Mary and Billy watching from inside the house. I gesture for them to come outside but they both shake their heads, smiling. They’re enjoying watching the action from inside the house.

---

Once the house quiets down for the evening and we’ve been cleared out of candy, I’m left feeling pleasantly exhausted and my face hurts from smiling. I can’t believe that for once, this house has been visited by so many people. People that actually enjoyed being around us. Teddy has been smiling all evening too, delighting in handing out candy to everyone.

I still can’t believe that he’s the one who made all this happen. The decorations and spreading a good word about Whispering Woods. I’m more thankful than ever that he showed up here this month.

Teddy and I walk into the sitting room, hand in hand, and I see Billy and Mary are already there on the couch, sitting and laughing together about something.

“What are you two up to?” I ask.

But then Teddy goes completely stiff beside me and drops my hand. For a second, I’m certain he’s reacting to the dolls in the corner of the room who have somehow gotten little witches hats on their heads. But when I turn to look at him, he’s not looking at the corner of the room, he’s looking straight at Billy and Mary.

“Billy?” Teddy asks quietly.

My mind is whirling, I don’t know how this possible. I’ve heard that Halloween night is the evening when the supposed “spirit veil” is thinnest, and there are rumours that people see ghosts floating about. But I’ve never heard of it being real. But then again, I’ve also never witnessed children seeing ghosts before.

Billy’s playful demeanor quickly changes and he stands up to look right at Teddy.

“Is that really you?” Teddy asks, his voice shaking. “How is this possible?”

Both brothers turn to me and I shake my head. “I can maybe explain later, but I think you two should talk. Mary, let’s leave them alone shall we?”

Mary is also in awe but she quickly stands up and joins me outside of the room.

“What is happening?” Mary asks me in a hushed whisper.

“I don’t know,” I say to her, because I don’t. “I’ve heard that it’s possible for others to see ghosts on special nights like this, but I didn’t think it would be true.”

She nods, “They need to talk. I think Billy is ready to leave, he sees that his brother is ok now. We were just laughing about a funny Halloween costume both him and Teddy wore one year.”

“Maybe let’s have some tea in the kitchen and let them be?” I ask her, I know she doesn’t drink tea, but I could really us a cup now.

--

Hours later, long after my tea has gone cold, I feel my eyes beginning to close. Mary went to up to her room a while ago but I chose to stay up and wait for Teddy to be finished talking to Billy in case anything came up.

When a warm hand touches my shoulder, my eyes immediately open. And Teddy’s there, smiling down at me, his eyes are rimmed red but overall, he looks happy, lighter.

“How did it go?” I ask him, sleepily.

“Amazing, I can’t tell you how nice it was to talk to him again. I’ve said everything I need to say.”

I look up and see Billy standing in the doorway to the room. “I’ll be taking off tomorrow. But before I go, I want to thank you for everything. And for taking care of my brother.”

I nod my head. “Thank you for taking care of him.”

Billy nods and he disappears. Somehow I get the sense that this isn’t his final goodbye, but it is goodbye for now.

And just then, Calvin appears in the door frame.

“Calvin?” Teddy asks.

“Can you see me? Can you hear me?” Calvin asks back.

“Yes!” Teddy exclaims, and looks down at me, “This is so cool!”

Teddy walks up to Calvin and looks him up and down. “Man you are shorter than I thought you’d be!”

Calvin has a look of annoyance on his face before he laughs. “I miss it when you couldn’t see me. But I’m glad we can finally talk face to face, if only for a moment.”

“We can talk for as long as possible if you’d like!” Teddy says. “Or, are you going somewhere?”

Calvin nods, “I was looking for both of you before I say goodbye. I heard that Billy is leaving too now? Perhaps we’ll travel together.”

“You’re leaving now? Do you have everything you need?” I ask Calvin and Teddy comes to stand behind me again.

Calvin points to his head, and smiles. “I have everything I need in here. I’ll write to you both. I can do that can’t I? The hotels all mail stuff to each other, don’t they?”

“Yes, please write.” Teddy says and squeezes my shoulder. “I want to hear all about your adventures.”

“Thank you both, for everything. I know I can come across a bit cold, but I am truly thankful for my time here.” He looks to the floor, “And for the friendships we’ve formed.”

“Aww buddy,” Teddy says. “Come back and visit anytime!”

“Yes, you are welcome here any time.” I say to Calvin with a warm smile.

Calvin smile at us both, “I’m sure I’ll be back.”

He gives us one last wave and then vanishes.

And now it’s just me and Teddy left alone together in the room.

This Halloween has turned out to be the most eventful one yet. With Calvin and Billy both gone, the house will be a bit quieter now. But I know that as days go on, we’ll get in more guests. And at least now I know that Teddy and Lavender will be right with me to welcome who comes next.

“Shall we go to bed?” Teddy asks me and holds out his hand to me.

I take it and he pulls me out of my chair and into a warm embrace.

I live in a haunted house. But I’m not alone anymore.