The story Below is derived partially from actual occurrences experienced ( sadly,not by me) with- in the house pictured above
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Part 4
October 9, 19__ Saturday Late afternoon
The tapping was coming from the other side of the wall, an infrequent tapping that seemed to be low, about my waist level. It moved off and I followed it to the other end, where a door stood. The tapping stopped. Get a grip girl I said, it cannot be much of anything. It was then that the knob started to turn, quite slowly on its own, then began to shake. I stood back, the door opened, and as a long shadowy figure emerged, I did let out a scream, a full bodied, totally girlish wail that caused the figure to jump back with a startled yelp!
It was me cousin Jesse! and we both stared at each other wondering what the bloody ‘ell was going on. Goood Lord! M’lad I said, you are a sight for sore eyes. Jesse snorted, what the bloody hell luv, don’t ever greet me like that again Cuz ! He smiled after a moment.
What were you doing in the basement? I inquired, sceptically. Serves you right for not knocking and coming in the front door like a normal being.
Jesse defensively responded. I was there, but saw a small shadowy figure moving from the garden along the wall of the house, disappearing into the outside caller door, which by the way, someone had left open! he added accusingly looking at me! I said nothing as he continued on.. I followed and found meself in old Jacobs work shop. He looked down at me, his eyes drilling into mine.. Than you stared tapping on the wall …
Wait a minute I defended meself , I was not tapping on the wall, you were! Wasn’t me either luv, said Jesse, must have been whatever creature came in from outside.
So where is said creature now I asked, and we both went inside the room, and finding the switch, lit up the cluttered space and searched around, fruitlessly. I muttered to meself, this sad place is definitely getting to me. So what is going on Jesse asked, overhearing me muttering? Let’s go upstairs and I will fill you in I said, leading him back up the door opening up on stairway into the kitchen.
At the stairs leading up, we both froze in step! Above the cellar stairway was the underside of the second floor stairway. As we listened, we could distinctly hear creaks as if something was slowly coming down. We listened until whatever it was reached the bottom landing. Let’s go Jesse said, pulling me by the arm..
We ran up the cellar stairs and through the kitchen, looking down the hallway leading to the still closed front door. There was nothing there. Jesse let go my arm, and ran down the hall, reaching the landing he looked upstairs, I was right behind him. Nothing was moving along the shadows on the stairwell! Jesse turned to face me. Then his eyes went wide, who the bloody hell is that he exclaimed, looking up over me head into the Mourning Parlour. I turned, there was a black shape in a dress standing in front of the space that France’s coffin occupied, just like a lady in mourning. Jesse went past me and turned on the lights, Oui, who are you then, he called out to it. I was right behind Jesse when he threw on the lights.
Now, I have always heard the term about a person receiving such a shock that their blood freezes in their veins from fright. And until that moment had thought it was nothing more than a spooky expression. But as my eyes and mind fully grasped what it was I saw standing there in front of the space where Frances Froes’s open casket had stood, I experienced that exact feeling wash over me in total dreadful disbelief.
For there, looking like some sad mourner, now stood the dress form with its faceless head looking away towards the far wall. And oh my sweet Lord , the damn thing was wearing the black dress that had gone missing from the closet!
I turned and ran up the stairs, a startled Jesse following along, asking a million unanswerable questions. I ran into the nursery, the dress form WAS gone, and in its place, facing us, sat one of the dolls, its black pupil less eyes staring up at us, the moulded grin on its plastic face seemingly smirking eerily at our disbelief.
For the second time I felt a hand placed on me shoulder in that room, and jumped, even though I knew this time it was me cousin Jesse. I turned to him, and he could see by the look in me eyes that something unexplainable had been going on. He saw it in my eyes. Unlike him and Me brother, I am not a prankster, and being fully aware of that fact, plus my reactions so far, Jesse knew that I had no better an idea about what he was witnessing than I did. Let us have it than luv he ordered! I sat him over on the couch and began to tell him everything. The words spilling out of me mouth as I, now that Jesse was finally here, was no longer alone. I let me self realize that something was definitely not right with the creepy old Froes House!
Jesse took it all in, and as I finished, he took my hand, holding it firm he said with all seriousness, We need to do a séance. A bloody what! I shouted in disbelief, You mean like with an Ouija board? Yes he admitted.
Blimey, your crackers mate, good luck finding anything like that in this house I said, or in the village for that matter. Look lad, I don’t think we need to be calling it over to us whatever it is! Me suggestion is that we leave well enough alone!
Look Cuz, Jesse answered with all earnest, his eyes drilling into mine with a deep conviction of purpose. I think we need to at least try and find out what is going on, whatever it is that appears to going on here, something is obviously trying to make contact, and I for one feel we need to know what it is that the bugger is trying to say to us!
He continued…
I need your help, because I don’t believe it can be accomplished with just one person, what needs doing should be done in a group, or at least a pair. As for a board, We can make one He said, and went into how it could be done. I listened on, realizing that I had never seen this side of Jesse. Even though I knew he liked to tell a good ghost story, I had never realized that he ( or anyone for that matter) would actually like to encounter a real ghost! Now by the time he was through with his explanations, He had me convince that it could be done, and that was the right thing to do.
We went back downstairs and into the kitchen to make us up a bit of supper. For now we put our plans aside, catching up on what was going on with each other, even though we had both been at me brother’s wedding only weeks before. But soon conversation turned and We began discussing the house and what we could remember of Frances, Mary, and old Joseph. Outside long shadows began their timeless climb towards the house, starting to swallow it up with the approaching nightfall.
When it was fully dark outside ( not even a moon tonight) We cleaned up and started our preparations for the adventure ahead.
Saturday Evening
The Séance……
The first thing we need is a planchette Jesse explained. A what I asked? A planchette is the pointy thing that people lay their hands on so the spirit can speak by moving it along. We need something that would work the same way. Something made up of earthly metals, silver gold or copper would work the best Jesse explained. I mentioned the silver chain that was in Adelaide’s jewel casket. Perfect he said, run up and get it, not without you lad! I said simply. We both went upstairs. The closet door leading to the attic was now standing, open wide, gaping.
As I picked up the necklace, Jesse spied the letter on the vanity and asked what it was? When I explained he picked it up and read it, studying the red crayon marks. he stated that it would be something we could use. He also suggested we open all the doors, including the attic, bedrooms and cellar, which we did, though I felt that if anything was going to visit, closed doors would not prevent it from coming.
‘We then went into Jacobs work area and found a small, solid copper washer, which Jesse strung onto the silver chain, then letting it dangle a bit, announced that it should work as a proper planchette!
Jesse than gently suggested that I should wear me dress, the one that somehow had been placed on the dress formed. Needless to say, I balked at the thought, but Jesse pleaded a bit until I agreed to put it on ( I never could say no to his puppy eyed looks, which when younger led me into all sorts of Jesse and Brother led mischief!). So I carefully took it off the dress form, and went into the loo. I checked it over, no marks or stains. So I then put it one, feeling a little bit queasy in the stomach as I did. But soon all such feelings soon passed. It was mine after all!
While I was gone, Jesse had moved the dress form to one side, setting it by the piano. Then he set up one of the low, small tables that Jacob had made with his own hands, one with the Celtic cross cut out in its centre. The table was placed exactly on the spot where France’s casket had been set.
To one side of the table we sat the letter, and Jesse laid down our makeshift planchette upon it. On the either side of the centre cross we laid out two bits of paper we found in the nursery. On one Jesse wrote a YES and on the other a NO. Jesse then darted upstairs and came back with the doll. I protested, the bloody thing creeped me to no end, but he insisted, and but he did not heed my protests, and sat the thing on a chair between us!
Lighting the candles on the fan, Jesse had me kneel on one side of the table, while he did the same on the other. We each held up one end of the chain, letting the silvery homemade planchette with its copper piece swing freely over the makeshift Ouija board. We need to form a bond he said, and I made to take up his free hand.
No Jesse said, and taking my hand had me grab one of the doll’s, while he took the other. Bollocks I protested, but he shot me a look that told me he was being deadly serious. All I could think of as I conceded the point, was that we must be making a rather weird setting, and hoped no one we knew walked in on use, than I thought, or anything else of that matter.
I had had enough of ghosts, or spirits and would rather end it right there. I than so much as told Jesse that, but he assured me that this was the best way to try and get at the bottom of it all, and the time was quite ripe.
I looked into Jesse’s face as it flickered in the candles light. He was really taking this seriously I remember thinking.
How do we start I asked ?
Ask it to come in he told me, invite it in.
I kinda gave him a look, but settled in, and looking towards the shadowy dress form, Began it…
‘Ello, are you there I asked, politely?
No Jesse whispered, Ask it to come in, it needs inviting. Look towards the staircase.
I did so, turning me head in that direction, watching the shadows dance up the bannister.
Please come down I said, we …. I stopped, for I distinctly heard one of the stairs creak. I shot Jesse a look, and I knew he had head it too, with eyes wide in excitement he nodded me on…
Don’t be fearing I said towards the stairs, we mean you no harm.
Everything was dead silent, except for when the wind could be heard picking up outside.
After a long minute of staring at the stairway, I felt an urge to say something, just to break the deadly silence.
Are we alone? I whispered.
I swear I felt something move through my hair, not quite like a bit of wind!
I think Jesse saw me flinch, for he also whispered Are we alone?
We were both now watching the makeshift planchette with its copper washer hovering over the Celtic cross in centre of the board, as each of us held an end up high.
Are you here then? Jesse asked again, yes or no , and as he spoke, he let go of the dolls hand and touched the YES and NO paper as he spoke each word, then taking the dolls hand up again, we waited in silence, as the candlelight played over the board.
The copper washer was now swaying gently over the centre of the table, something had moved it along!
Ello I said, have you come into the room?
Suddenly our makeshift Planchette swings slightly to the paper that YES was written on. We looked into each other’s eyes, it was then that I realized with Jesse had it had been a bit of male bravo, and he was quite shocked that his idea would work. I shot him a glance that basically said, we are in it neck deep now boyo……
What is your name Jesse stammered, I shoot him a look, whispering yes or no silly
Is your name Frances I ask
The Planchette Swings over the No paper, and I felt prickling shivers.. this was really happening, we ere in contact, like a move, but this was real, no script, no way of knowing how it will all turn…
I continued curiously on…
Mary I inquired
Swings again NO
Than Jesse asked, Jacob ?
No movement
Frank, I asked gently?
Swings to No
I again asked, Jacob SR or JR?
This time it moved to NO
Mother Adelaide, is that you? I whispered into the darkness.
This time the Planchette swung decisively over NO
I look at Jesse, running out outta names here lad
Stephen, is that you Jesse asked
The Planchette hovered without moving.
So, you are not Stephen I asked?
The copper swung gently over the YES paper.
Joseph? Jesse suddenly asked, I started to say, but he isn’t dead, but was cut off as our Planchette started to swing like something was playing with it.
Joseph is that you I asked quietly?
The copper washer swung to the YES paper, then stopped dead centre as if something still had hold of it.
We just stared at one another for a second, speechless…..
thought you said Joseph was alive I challenged, Jesse shook his head yes he is! , a puzzled look on his face
Joseph, he asked, did you pass over
Our Planchette did not move.
I could see the childlike scrawled name on the letter that sat on the table: The name Joseph and the age of 9…
Joseph? I asked, are you 9 years old
The planchette swung over the yes paper, and I caught me breath, how could this be, a living man in his 80’s be the ghost of a nine-year-old?
I shot Jesse a look, and he shrugged his shoulders, then bending slightly over the table asked…
Joseph? Did you move the dress form here
Our Planchette made a small twist, but did not move in either direction
Joseph? I asked, do you like me dress ?
The copper washer of our planchette twitched over the YES paper.
Did you take me dress? I asked.
The Planchette stayed perfectly still.
Jesse asked the next question.
Joseph, are you alone here, he asked.
The Planchette stayed still,
Joseph, I asked using the type of sweet voice I use for children..
Are you alone here ?
Nothing moved, except the flickering shadows of the candlight.
I had started to ask a second question, when it the copper washer moved, quite briskly once again, over the yes paper
Then like a pendulum it sung over the NO paper than back over the YES Paper.
Jesse and I looked at each other.
I think its playing with us now, I whispered, and Jesse nodded in agreement.
Jesse looked around the room than asked,
Joseph,
Are we welcomed here?
The planchette moved ever so slightly, again in no particular direction.
Am I welcomed her I asked, and watched, the planchette as it moved, swinging to the YES
What about me, Jesse asked, smirking,
Nothing… then suddenly the chain was pulled so hard that we both lost it, and it went sailing off across the room on its own, falling with a clatter onto the hard wood floor ….a few seconds later we heard a door upstairs slam shut.
I think its over Jesse said,
Do ya think do then lad? ,I mocked a bit, then added.. apparently something here does not like Jesse I teased.
Jesse shrugged, after all missy, he said to me, it was your dress he coveted.
Shivering I I gave him a squinty look with my eyes, and asked.
What Next?
Call it a night Jesse said…
Let’s camp out on the living rooms couches he suggested, and leave some lights on he added.
Cautiously we went upstairs.
Nothing was amiss, except that the door to Joseph’s room was now closed. I made Jesse go inside with me as I gathered me nightgown, robe and things, and then went into the brothers room so Jesse could gather his toiletries and PJ’s.
Taking pillows and blankets We went downstairs and set up camp in the living room/library located off of the kitchen.
Took turns each changing in the small loo.
Jesse lit a small fire in the grate and we sat around for a while talking it all over, trying to make a bit sense over what had occurred that evening. I found a bottle of elderberry brandy and we opened it, drinking right from the bottle!
Wonder what would have happened if we’d had a proper Ouija board then? Jesse pondered.
Maybe nothing I offered, thinking of the old photo upstairs, it couldn’t have been Joseph, obviously enough, and I explained to him about the coloured photo in the attic.
So you are saying=, that whatever it was, had a limited level of understanding when alive? Jesse asked..or dead he added somberly
If that’s what it was, most likely, and added to that a child’s naturally short attention span… and it all makes a bit of sense, do ya think. I asked.
But! Jesse asked, what about the mannequin, and how was it able to move it downstairs then?
And why the dress I added. I don’t know the answers to that, exceptin that we should probably stay close to one another until the others arrive tomorrow.
I told Jesse that I don’t think it means us any harm, at least me any way, I added, grinning up at my cousin, I noticed you never really received a response from any of your questions, just the ones I asked. Anyhow, I suggest we just leave things be and get through the weekend, then have nothing more to do with the house. Easy for you to say, Jesse answered, I have to help Dad with cleaning it up for when the Pastor comes to take ownership!
That right, I forgot the Church was willed the old place, maybe they will bring an exorcist along then?
Jesse just shot me a look, and I could see that the wheels of his mind were turning.
Let things be, I advised him, and You will probably have to watch your back then, wont ye Jess, I sure do not envy you that..
And with that said we both snuggled in, and I found myself pondering as I watched the flames dance , forming their grotesque shapes on the walls and ceiling….
What did it all mean.. ?
What was this 9 year old spirit haunting a house where all its inhabitants had lived well into adulthood? Why was it calling itself Joseph, a man in his late 80’s who was still alive? Who was the handicapped child in the Attic Picture, what was his story? We needed a key I thought, a Skelton key to unlock these mysteries.
And as it turned out later, there was a key, held in the form of Jesse’s dad!
End Of part 4
to be continued ….. and ended