This Ole House - Renz In The Woods

30 Days of Fright Writing Challenge: Day 5 Whispering Voices In The Walls

THIS OLE HOUSE

“This ole house once knew my children

This ole house once knew my life

This ole house was home and comfort

As we fought the storms of strife

This ole house once rang with laughter

This ole house heard many shouts

Now she trembles in the darkness

When the lightning walks about.”

Sara pulled into the gravel drive and drove up the hill, parking the car in front of the half collapsed garage. “Well, here we are. Home.” That last word didn’t sound very convincing as she said it. Ben put his nose to the glass and stared at the battered old building. “It looks…old.”

“Well, it IS old. My grandparents built it many years ago. And when Nana passed last year the house became mine. It’s almost like it’s been waiting for me.”

He looked at her beseechingly in the rear view mirror, “But why do we have to LIVE here?”

She sighed and turned around in the front seat, “Benny, honey, Daddy and I don’t want to be married anymore and that means not living in the same place, but neither of us can afford it on our own so we have to sell it. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense to you.” She reached back and squeezed his shoulder, “Come on, let me show you your new bedroom!”

The house was a typical two story basic clapboard roughly. Doors and floors squeaked and groaned as you passed through. She directed Ben upstairs. That’s my room here at the top of the stairs. He peeked into the bathroom as they walked by, “Hey! The bathtub has legs!”

“Yup! That’s called a claw foot tub. This room here is yours. Nana used it as her sewing room, but she kept a day bed for when she wanted to lay down…away from Papa.” He pushed past her and sat on the bed. “Day bed? It just looks like a bed?”

“Well, see how the pillows are arranged? It can be sort of a sofa AND if you move the pillows a bed. See?”

“Oh, I get it. But where’s all MY stuff?” She sat next to him and ruffled his hair, “All our stuff will be here tomorrow in the moving van and the guys will help us move the stuff we don’t want out of here.” “What will happen to Daddy’s…stuff,” he looked away and picked at one of the pillows.

She scooped him up into her arms and gave his head a smooch, “Don’t you worry. Daddy has friends helping him move his stuff into his new apartment. You will get to see it soon enough. Let’s see if Alison stocked the refrigerator like I asked her too.”

“Mommy, who’s Alison?” “She’s our housekeeper, cook, and all around helper. She’ll be here tomorrow to help unpack once the movers arrive. I think you’ll like her. She lives on the other side of town.” Ben seemed relieved that this new person wasn’t going to be living with them…that was Daddy’s place.

The move-in went smoothly, and before long they had a regular routine going. Sara set up her work space in the area that used to be a dining room. She’d work hybrid for now, only going into the office once or twice a week. Alison was there to watch Ben on those days. She showed Ben where he’d be going to school in the Fall. It was much smaller than where he had gone for kindergarten last year. He eyed the building skeptically, “That school looks old too!” “Well, it ought to. That’s where I went to school when I was your age!” “Really!” he asked, “That must have been a million years ago!” he teased with a giggle. “Hey!” she gave him a pretend pout. Ben reached up and hugged her from the back seat.

A few weeks went by. The house was coming along. Alison had made breakfast for them before taking the shopping list and went to the WalMart outside of town by the interstate. Sara was sipping her coffee. Ben was carefully picking out the raisins from his oatmeal and piling them up in the center of the bowl. When he had enough, he’d scoop them up like a special treat. “Mom, why did your Nana Betty try to hurt your Papa?” Her cup froze halfway to her mouth and she looked at him intently. He continued to innocently pick and poke at his cereal without even looking up. He might have asked her why the sky was blue for all his innocence. “What do you mean, honey? And how did you know my Nana’s name was…Betty?”

Ben had always had a special way of knowing things. The first time he looked up from his Matchbox cars to calmly tell her the keys were in her OTHER jacket pocket in the hallway when she was frantically retracing her steps blew her mind. It didn’t take long until she realized he had this gift…kind of like the kid in that Bruce Willis movie only he didn’t see dead people, he just sometimes knew things.

“Benny, sweetheart, how did you know her name and what do you mean she tried to hurt my Papa?” He looked up at her very seriously and said, “Well, she had this big knife and she put it here.” He pointed his finger under his chin. “Oh, and SHE told me her name was Nana Betty.”

“She who, Ben? Alison?” This was new. She didn’t think Alison would have known her name either, but who else could it be? Nana Betty? Was he starting to see dead people like in the movie? “No, silly. The HOUSE, she told me the story.” He scooped up another pile of raisins and then reached for his milk.

Sara took a slow deep breath. It had taken a bit of getting used to having a child with minor psychic…something…powers…abilities? “Benny, when…how did the…er…house tell you this?”

He put his spoon down and furrowed his brow. “Well…I was up in my room yesterday and I heard a voice…kind of a lady voice…that’s why I know she’s a she. I looked in the hall but no one was there. I looked out the window too, but it was like she was in the wall. She also showed me pictures…in my head…like a movie.” He took a bite of cereal and set his spoon down again.

“Nana Betty and Papa argued a lot and sometimes they hit each other. Nana was REAL mad and she poked him under his chin with that big knife!” He touched his chin with his little finger. Sara was mesmerized and horrified. “She said he was an old man. She said, ‘Listen to me, Old Man.’” He wagged his finger, with a scowl, “‘Either this stops right now or they will be carrying one of us out of here feet first!’” He giggled, “Feet first! That’s funny. But why did she want to hurt him like that?” He rested his chin in his hand, elbow propped on the table. She loved that gesture of his…his explain-it-to-me pose, but this was too much.

It came back to her that her mom had said her parents were always at each other. When she’d lose her temper at Sara’s father in front of her. She would sit her down to apologize and explain about her own parents. It all stopped with his accident.

“I don’t think she really wanted to hurt him. She was probably just mad about something. You know how your dad and I sometimes hollered at each other? I’m sure she didn’t mean it.”

He seemed to accept this. He nibbled on his toast while she paused and waited. “Yeah, I bet you’re right. Besides she said after she fixed things they didn’t fight anymore.” She gasped, but right then Alison came in with the groceries. “Hey, Sport! All done with your breakfast?” Ben grinned and nodded. “Well, are you a big enough man to help an old lady? There’s one more bag in the car. You think you can manage?” “You betcha!” and he was off and out the door.

Alison looked at Sara and her smile faded, “Are you ok, hon? You look a little stressed.” Sara got up from the table and went to pour another cup of coffee. Over her shoulder she said, “I’m fine. Maybe just a small headache. A little more coffee should help. I’m gonna start working if that’s ok?” And she crossed over into the dining room.

The house told Ben she had fixed things. Sara’s grandfather was a coal miner. When her mom was still young there had been an accident at the mine…a collapse. They dug him out and brought his limp body to the house. He was smeared with dirt and coal dust, sweat and blood. His breathing was ragged and harsh. They told her grandmother that they’d be back in the morning and IF he was somehow still alive, they’d send for a doctor. He survived, sort of. His brain had been injured and from then on he was fairly docile. He could help with most chores around the house and yard, but the accident took away all his fight. Betty never had any more problems with him. Of course, she had to start taking in laundry to make ends meet.

Sara shook it off. How could the house have anything to do with that? How the Hell could the house be talking to her son? She giggled nervously. This was just crazy. She went to the sideboard and put a little whiskey in her coffee and tried to get to work.

There was no more House talk for a while after that. Ben didn’t say anything and she didn’t want to ask him either. Better to just let that breakfast chat fade away.

In another week it was going to be Labor Day and then school would be starting. Ben’s Dad was picking him up in the morning to spend the last bit of Summer with him. Alison had finished with the supper dishes and gone home. They were in the parlor watching television. Ben was pushing his Tonka Dump Truck around the living room carpet with a load of blocks. He was making truck noises. Sara was half watching the program and flipping through a magazine. She was realizing she was anxious about seeing her husband.

Ben came over and stood in front of her. “Mama?” She glanced up. He had that furrowed brow look again. Here comes another of his questions. “Mama, what’s a slut?” She was not expecting THAT! “Benny, where did you hear that! That’s kind of a grown up word.” He climbed up next to her on the sofa. “Yeah, but what IS it? House told me today that Nana Betty and my Nana had a big fight. And she called Nana a slut.”

Sara was shocked and unsure how to respond. “The House spoke to you again?” She swallowed. “Oh, House always talks to me and tells me stories and shows me pictures. But what does that word mean?”

She wasn’t sure how to respond. Here she thought that one episode was a fluke—that Ben’s psychic thing had just picked up on some old vibes lingering in the house. Her mind was reeling to think that the…House…was communicating with her kid. “Well, when a person thinks a girl is being naughty…with…boys…then she might call her that, but it’s not a nice word. You shouldn’t use it.” She paused. “What else did she…I mean…House…say?”

“Well, she showed me how Nana Betty went into my Nana’s bedroom to look for something. She was looking in a drawer by the bed and she found some pills.” “Pills?” she asked. “Yeah,” he thought hard, “Birth pills, Birth…Troll pills? Mama, what are birth troll pills and why did this make her so mad?”

Sara realized that Ben…that the house had told Ben…about the big argument that had gone down resulting in her mom moving out of the house. “Remember when I told you about how babies are made?” He nodded yes. “Well, those are pills a women can take so she won’t make a baby until she’s ready.” “Oh…ok.” and he jumped off the couch and went back to his truck. She wanted to ask him what else House had told him, but she just couldn’t.

Ben’s dad tooted his horn from the driveway. Sara had hoped maybe he would come in. She wanted to tell him about the House and Ben. Before she brought him out to his father, she squatted down to look at him eye to eye. “Benny, honey, I want you to promise me something, ok?” “Sure, Mom.” “Listen, Baby, let’s keep the House stories a secret for now, ok? Don’t tell your dad. He won’t understand. We’ll tell him later.” “Ok!” And he pushed past her to run outside. She followed with his little suitcase.

They greeted each other. They both seemed a bit nervous. She reminded him of care giver details. “Sara, I remember. He comes over every other weekend. He’ll be fine. Oh, and listen, I can bring him back on Labor Day. You don’t have to do all that driving. I don’t mind.” She smiled, “Oh, are you sure? Thank you. That would be a big help.” “No problem.” and they got in and drove off. She sighed and waved. Seeing him triggered mixed feelings.

Once inside she went right up to Ben’s room and sat on the bed. “Hello?” she paused, not quite sure what she was expecting. “Why are you talking to my son?” Silence. “Please…can’t you speak to me?” After a few minutes she gave up and went back downstairs.

She put make up on on Labor Day and a blouse she knew flattered her figure that her husband had always liked. When they arrived, she went out to greet them. He smiled and said she looked nice. She smiled back and asked him in for a cup of coffee.

“Wow! This ole house sure hasn’t changed. It looks just like it did when we were dating!” Sara actually blushed a little, “Yeah, I haven’t had much time to redecorate, but it’ll do for now.” She tried to get him to stay for dinner, but he begged off and said he had to hit the road. She was surprised when he was gone that she couldn’t remember her reasons for ending things. She caught herself imagining…maybe…then she made herself stop.

Later that week Ben came in when she was having a mid afternoon lie down. “Momma, do you miss daddy?” They hadn’t really talked much about his week with his father. “I guess so. I know we argued a lot, but…I don’t know. Why do you ask?”

He was quiet for a few minutes while she waited. “Well, can daddy come live with us here?” Sara sighed. She had been pondering the very same thought, but she knew she couldn’t share that with Ben. She didn’t want to confuse him and get his hopes up. “I don’t know, Baby. Your dad and I probably need to leave things this way for now.” She looked over and he was fighting back tears. “Ok.”

“Honey, what’s the matter? Didn’t you have fun with your dad? Just the boys?” “I did, but then I had to meet her!” he announced angrily. “Who?” Her heart skipped a beat when he said, “His new girlfriend.” Her reaction surprised her. She felt a bit angry or irritated, but why…maybe, but reconciliation wasn’t the plan. “I see. You think that the way to fix things is to move him back here? Honey, not everything can be fixed.”

They snuggled until he fell asleep. Only then did she let herself cry a little.

Later that week, Ben came rushing into the dining room. Alison was in the kitchen fixing supper. “Mamma, mamma!” He rushed into her arms and she scooped him up into her lap. “What, Darling? Why are you so excited?”

“House was telling me a story about Nana and Papa!” Sara drew in her breath. “Really?” “Yes! She started by telling me how Nana was sad and came home. How she said her heart was broke because Papa had gone away!” Sara knew the story well. Her mom had started to date her father and she was very much in love, but he had plans to travel. She tried to convince him to stay. She even had stopped taking her birth control so maybe he would have to stay. However, one night he shocked her and announced he was leaving the next day to go travel in Europe. He would be gone a long time. Her mom was devastated and angrily told him to leave. It was just a few weeks later that she learned she was pregnant…with Sara. She had no choice but to come back home.

“House showed me how Nana cried and cried, but then she told me how she fixed things, like she did for Nana Betty.” Sara went cold all over. Her father was in France when the motorcycle he was riding hit an oil patch and he was thrown. His parents came to the house, but she was starting to show so they told Nana Betty instead. It had been touch and go for a while but he pulled through. He was coming home. There was one thing. He hadn’t wanted them to say anything. He wanted to tell Nana himself, but he was blind. His travels were over. Surely the House hadn’t…she gasped. No. It wasn’t possible.

“But here’s the best part! Mamma are you listening?” Sara’s head was spinning, but she nodded yes. “I told House how much we missed Dad and how I wanted him here with us. I told her I thought you wanted him here too!” Sara listened but wasn’t following what he was saying. “When I was done…House told me not to worry. She had been waiting for you for a long time and not to worry…she would fix everything!”

Sara gaped in horror! Ben didn’t grasp what he had been told. He didn’t get the consequences of that promise. He just believed he would be getting his dad back. Sara just stared in shock and then the phone rang.