Robin and the ghosts of Shady Oaks

A Story by Carrie

Fired from her job. Betrayed by her boyfriend. Robin wishes to buy a haunted house. Will she buy the house or die trying?

Robin stood in a sweltering parking lot, next to her cherry red mustang. The sun beat down from a cloudless sky. She held a brown cardboard box, it contained, 2 bobble head bulldogs, several unfinished tarot decks, a stack of unfinished posters and her pride. Fresh white paint, still sticky obliterated her name from her parking space. Ten years, she worked for The Mystic Night Tarot Company, terminated, nothing left. What could she do after being fired ? What did people do in the middle of a workday in LA? She didn't have a clue. She drove home.

At home her boyfriend's car and Carol's car parked side by side in the parking lot. She parked on the street.

She rode the elevator to the tenth floor and silently crept into her apartment. It smelt of strawberry lube. A trail of clothes lead to the bedroom. Moaning, groaning and heavy breathing echoed from the bedroom. In the bed, the bottoms of 2 pink feet faced each other, totally oblivious to her. Damn it! Jack the love of her life and Carol her best friend were humping like a pair of rabbits. Damn you Jack! Damn you Carol. My best sheets!

Robin picked up the trail of clothes. She soaked them in vinegar. She threw the dripping wet clothes into the hallway. Unsteady, shaking she filled a mop bucket full of water. She placed a baseball bat and a frying pan by the bedroom door.

Unsteady, knees shaking, tears soaked her blouse. She threw the water in a perfect arch, soaking the romantic betrayers.

"What the hell? Screamed Jack. He leaped off Carol. Sweat dripped off his ghost white body. Carol's head popped up like a jack in the box. Her mouth gasped like a drowned fish.

Screaming "Get out! Now!" Robin swung the bat. She slammed it into the bed.

"Or what, you silly b***h" Mocked Jack.

"Or this you 2-timing jerk." She ran at him. "Crack" she hit him in the knees, the hips, the head. "Get out before I kill you."

Jack whimpered. He limped naked out the door.

"Your still here?" Carol drenched, held a sheet up to her chin. Wide eyed, lips trembling she cried.

Robin raised the bat. "Get out of my house! Now!"

Carol darted for the door, her love handles jiggled.

Robin double locked the door.

"Damn you Jack, the day I need you, you betray me!" Hands shaking she set down the bat. She opened Jack's bottle of Hennessy Pardise Cognac and drank a shoot. The liquor burned her throat, steadied her nerves. She drank another shoot.

The disgusting smell of sex and strawberry lube, hung in the air. Her best hot pink silk sheets ruined! She threw the sweat drenched sheets and lube out the window bye. Some homeless person could have it.

Damn you two, now what? REVENGE? SURVIVAL? Crap what a miserable day.

She grabbed Jack's computer and canceled all their joint credit cards. She emptied their checking and savings accounts. "Damn you Jack. Damn you Carol. Damn you Mystic Night Tarot Company. Did you have to betray me all on the same day?" She drank cognac until she passed out on the thick beige carpet.

The next day dawned in a beautiful orange sunrise. Traffic hummed, birds sang, a gentle breeze blew thru the bedroom window. The smell of car exhaust filled the apartment. Robin hit her head on the coffee table. A solid mahogany coffee table. A carved lion's head starred at her. Brass bird's feet held the legs up. The top smooth tan leather.

"Oh wow." She danced thru the apartment. She ran her hands over the tan wooden hutch. She caressed a topical hand painted Japanese tea set. Shw admired the mahogany kitchen table. Oh wow antiques, the place was full of antiques. Dollar signs appeared in her brain.

A week later, the apartment was emtry. Several antique dealers happy, her bank account was healthy. The only stuff left fit into a backpack and a suitcase. She loaded her cherry red mustang. Where to go? West lay the Pacific Ocean. South lead to Mexico. North lived the redwood forest. East, what was east? Mountions, cities, mystery like a bat out of hell, she drove east.

Robin drove for days in a mindless fog, miles after miles of blurred cities, mountions, forests. She lost track of days and time. She drove until she found herself in front of a 2 story red brick house. A huge house surrounded by live oaks dripping with spainish moss. The oaks cast dense shade covering a party sized porch in shadows. The air smelt of peaches and cut grass. Farmland stretched to the horizon in all directions. A for sale sign, with a smiling picture of Richard Ball, stood in the yard. The house for sale by the Ball Real Estate Company. A computer print out attached to the sign, caused Robin to gasp. The house contained 2 parlors, 2 dining rooms, a sunroom, a kitchen with a pantry, several fireplaces, a laundry room, a bathroom, 4 bedrooms with walk in closets, 10 acres with mature fruit trees and an insanely low price. Why so inexpensive? What could be wrong with such a beautiful house?

Robin drove to the Ball Real Estate company. It was located in the small town of Ball, Florida. The office had an oyster and stone parking lot. It was a cracker style house, painted blue and white, with potted marigolds. There were 2 cars in the parking lot.

She strolled into the office. A grey haired women with cat eyed glasses, slept behind a wooden desk.

"Good day...hello...hello....excuse me....a live breathing customer is in your lobby... Good day".

A wooden door opened, out stepped Richard Ball. A short fat man, wearing a white shirt, grey pants and no tie. "May I help you?" He asked in a voice dripping with honey. He smiled but It did not reach his eyes.

They shook hands. "Oh I hope so, I would just love to buy a house in your quaint little town." Robin purred.

"Come into my office." Said the spider to the fly.

Robin entered the office. It contained a huge wooden desk, a file cabinet , a black rotary phone and 2 cheap wooden chairs. It smelled of tobacco. She sat down.

"So how may I help you? " Asked Mr Ball.

" I'm not sure. I would like to buy a home in your quaint little town." She touched the back of his wrist. " Could an older more mature man, like you help me?"

He reached over the desk and patted her hand. " The Ball real estate company is a family owned business. It's been in my family for 4 generations. There are 3 homes for sale at this time. Would you like to see the printouts?"

" Oh yes. But why is there such a small inventory?"

" Its a small quiet town, low crime. Homes are passed down from one generation to the next."

" Oh, how sweet." Richard handed her 3 computer print outs. There was a modern ranch house, a mobile home and the red brick house. " Why is this buick house so inexpensive?

"Well due to state laws I have to tell you, that house has a history."

" Really!"

" There's not much to tell. There was an accident, where 2 people died. An old women hung herself. A married drunk couple died. The present owner is alive and well. The house is in livable condition. There is some furniture. There are mature fruit trees and a nice 10 acre lot."

" Oh wow, that's a lot of history. Well let me think this over. Is there someplace close to buy lunch?"

"Yes the Shanty Shack Pub, it's on this road, turn right out of the parking lot, last building on your left."

"Thank you for your time." She took his business card and left. The old women was still asleep.

She drove to the Shanty Shack Pub. It was a one story, flat roof building. It had a gravel parking lot. A car parked in the lot.

She stepped into the dark pub, wisps of smoke lazily curled in the air. It smelt of stale beer. Her eyes adjusted to the dark. The pub held a well stocked bar, with an ancient beveled mirror. A tall thin man with an apron stood behind the bar. "Can I get a menu?" She asked as she sat down.

"You won't need it." Stated the bartender, " today there's a hamburger basket, a fish basket and chili."

"What do you recommend?"

"Beer, the foods all good."

"Ok glass of water, budweiser and Chili."

He poured her beer "Mable" he yelled" one chili."

"One chili, you working me to death. The lunch crowd ain't here yet."

Robin sipped her beer. She set the paperwork, on the bar.

Mable served her lunch. A bowl of streaming chili, saltine crackers and several bottles of hot sauce. She looked at the paperwork.

"Are you a thinking of buying a house here abouts?"

"Maybe."

"Mable let her eat." Ordered the bartender.

"No let her talk, please."

The bartender grunted.

"The mobile is in horrible shape. The ranch house is nice, but the the other house Shady Oaks is haunted."

"OH come on now. You don't believe that do you? "

"Been here my whole life, that house has ghosts."

Robin nodded eating her chili.

Mable crossed herself. "Mr and Mrs Weaver found drowned in the well. It was declared suicide, only cause no one saw how it happened. Mr Weaver's mother lived in the house alone, for decades. She hung herself. After her death the house sat emtry for years. A young couple from New York city brought the house. They fixed it up real nice. Moved in with their daughter and 3 cats. Two weeks later, they were found dead, of unknown causes.. Their daughter was found hid in a closet with her cats. That Chile says that the ghosts tried to kill her." Mable paused crossed herself. "That poor orphan child, said the ghost was afraid of the cats. As she hid and listened to her parents dieing, the cats protected her. That girl refused to leave the house without the cats."

A group of work men entered the bar.

" Mable time to get back to work".

" I'm getting. Now you hear me that house is haunted."

The men sat at the bar. The bartender took their lunch orders.

Robin ordered another budweiser, and played a song on the jukebox. She tapped her foot and hummed.

"Good day miss." Said a tall handsome man, he was wearing a wicker hat, a long sleeve shirt and beige pants."Are you listening to Mable's stories?"

"Yes, she's telling me local legends." She glanced into his grey luminous eyes.

"Would that be about Shady Oaks?"

"Yes, are there any more legends?"

"Just that I'm the most handsome man in town."

"Oh my! What dose your wife think?"

"Don't know haven't met her yet."

Mable strolled thru the bar carrying food. "Been telling her about Shady Oaks."

"That ole place been empty for years."

" Mr Ball told me the present owner is alive and well."

The bartender laughed," of course he would. Richard owns the place. He's trying to sell it. He never slept there."

"No one spent the night there, since the new york couple died." Drawled the stranger. "Not even the rats. Oh plenty of people have tried. You know teenagers on Halloween. Young couples wanting to get romantic. Ghost hunters and drunk men looking for who knows what? Not one person lasted the entire night. Not one ever returned, not even in the day light. BOO!"

"Wow, that's why the house is so cheap."

"Yes ma'am. If you ever need protection from our local ghosts, just give me a call" he handed her a business card. Herbie Ball, landscaper, professional bush trimmer.

"Aw Herbie are you related to Richard?"

"Yes ma'am by marriage, it's a small town, nice meeting you. "

Robin looked at the computer printout. NIce pictures, clean sunny rooms, 10 acres, empty for decades. The asking price, was insanely low. She wanted to see that house. She paid her tab.

"Bye Mable, Herbie, bartender, gentlemen, thanks for your ghost stories ."

Robin drove to Ball Real Estate Company. The receptionist was awake. " What do you want?"

"Talk to Richard."

" Richard someone here to see you." Screeched the receptionist.

Richard entered the lobby, " welcome Miss....long time no see. What can I help you with?"

"My name's Robin Ewe. I would like to see that red brick house."

Richard didn't miss a beat. "Miss Ewe that house can be toured anytime at your convenience. "

"That is so sweet. Could I see it today?"

"Oh yes Miss Ewe, we can ride in my car,"

Richard drove to Shady Oaks. He parked in the street. "No one builds houses like this anymore. It was built in 1821 and has 6000 square feet of living space. There are 10 acres with an orchard. You just take a gander and see what you think."

Richard unlocked the front doors. Robin entered. Shady Oaks smelled of stale air and cedar. A brass chandelier hung from the ceiling in the entrance. The walls wainscoated stretch upwards for 12 feet. She wandered thru the house. The dining room table could easily seat 20 people. The kitchen was bigger then her last apartment. The decor was outdated, but the fireplaces were huge. The attic was dry and cozy, no signs of leaks. Could this be a good place to start a new life or a business? She looked outside, Richard was waiting in the yard.

She strolled around the house. Green fertile farm land stretched to the horizon. It was flat as a pancake. Majestic live oak trees cast thick shade. A mockingbird sang. Burrerflies collected pollen. The foundation looked solid. The grass mostly weeds. " Richard why didn't you go inside?"

" I feel that you get a more personal experience, if you tour the house yourself."

"How long have you owned this house?"

"Close to twenty years."

" Richard are you a gambling man? I would like to make you an offer."

"Yes ma'am anything you want."

"Ok here's the deal. I live in the house for 8 days. If I'm alive in 8 days, I'll buy the house."

He starred" excuse me, that's very odd request".

"Well the house has a spooky history. You do want to sell? "

Richard starred into the distance.

"Ok you own the place. It's been unlived in for decades. I live in the house for 8 days. At that time, if the ghosts haven't killed me, I buy the house."

Silence

"That's my offer, take it or leave it.'

"Let's go to the office and draw up the paperwork. " His hand trembled, as they shook on it."

They returned to the office. The contract, including a title search, was agreed on and signed.

Robin sat in her car. She pulled on her crimson hair. THINK, come on think. She needed cats, a lot of cats. She needed fat, furry, cute, cuddly, ghost hating cats. She phoned several pet stores and make her request. A couple of hours later, her credit card severely damaged, she owned 22 furry felines. She owned, cat food, cat dishes, cat litter and litter boxes, cat toys and a cat tree. She drove her kittiens to their new home.

When she arrived at Shady Oaks, the day was turning into night. A gentle breeze filled the air with the scent of cow manure. She carried the caged cats into the kitchen. She set up cat litter boxes, food, water dishes, cat toys and the cat tree. She opened all doors in the house, allowing the cats free range. Then as the darkness grew, she slowly released the cats. It took several hours to uncage the cats. The cats ran and hid. She refilled food and water dishes, until the cats were fed.

That evening she sat looking out the window at a moonless night. It was so different from LA, so quiet and dark, no traffic, no streetlights. She wondered if there really was a ghost or just an old legend. She petted a tabby cat and realized she did not miss her old life. No one even phoned her. She liked Shady Oaks and this strange little town.

The window fogged up. The room grew cold, she could see her breath. A rainbow fog drifted below the ceiling. A low whisper, "get out of my house." Robin listened, an owl hooted. A smell like dead fish made her gage. The cats scattered. "Your trespassing, get out."

Robin tried to run to the door. Her frozen body, refused to move. The rainbow fog grew. A cat jumped on her lap.

Three heads with wild hair and grey rotted skin, stuck out their tongues. They swayed and chanted. "GET OUT of our house. Take those damn cats with you." A brown tabby reached up a paw, the fog backed away. Several cats tried to bat the fog. The fog rose to the ceiling.

Robin's California attitude took over her common sense. "Excuse me! I think not. This is the Ball cat and kitten rehabilitation center. Any cat, kitten or tiny fur ball who is homeless, unloved or just lonely can come here. I will provide TLC, with catnip."

Robin lifted the brown tabby towards the fog. The cat playfully reached for the ghosts. The fog drifted away from the cats. "The cats stay. You can go to wherever ghosts go!"

"Ok lady, enough is enough. Get your cats and leave or die." Replied a tired male voice.

Robin waved the cat at the fog. "Nope you leave or become cat toys." The cat hissed at the fog.

Her breath froze, turned to ice. Crimson, aqua, lime fog lazily drifted towards her. Grey bony clammy hands grabbed her neck. Her breath cut off by a death grip. She tried to escape but more hands held her immobile. She started to pass out.

"Hiss, growl, hiss" echoed. She felt a cat paw on her leg. The cat climbed up her body.

"Stop biting you damn cat"

"Hiss, hiss, growl" grew in volume. She felt a wave of furry paws climbing her like a cat tree. She felt a cat leap off her head.

"Damn cats stop biting." Complained a female voice.

"Keep your hands on her neck," Ordered a frustrated male voice.

"My hands are slipping! There's to many teeth and claws."

"Hiss hiss growl growl" Robin felt paws with claws cover her neck. Cats attacked the hands on her neck, some missing their mark and scratching her neck. The hands loosened, she took a breath. Ick she smelt a horrible stench.

She felt cats jumping off her into the air. The only thing she could see rainbow colored fog.

"I've lost my grip. Escape escape there's to many cats, HELP ME!"

"I can't! These blasted felines have me trapped."

"Cats, cats everywhere, to many AWWWWWWWWW!"

Fog dissipated. Ice melted, dripped down the walls. Puddles grew on hard wood floors. Drenched cats meandered around the kitchen.

Bloody scratches covered her wrists. Rasping breaths escaped her lips. Her neck on fire. That was close!

On wobbling legs she stood up, followed by a herd of cats, they patroled the house. Nothing out of order, except the kitchen. No signs of ghosts. Had her beautiful kitties destroyed the haunts?

The next few days, her and the cats patroled Shady Oaks. No sign of ghosts, were the haunts gone forever? She hoped with all her heart they never returned.

Cats pounced on her bed, demanding breakfast. So far she still owned 22 sweet, adorable, ghost destroying cats. So many, she named them the kibble swarm. Cat paws tapped, slapped and pranced on her. A cat head butted her feet. A cat licked her nose. Several starred at her purring. "Go away let me sleep."

"Meow, purr" paw slap. Nope time to wake up.

She feed the cats and unlocked the cat door.

She dressed to impress, turquoise silk dress, heels, make-up and a dusting of rosewater.

She drove to the Ball Real Estate Company. She strolled into the office. "Good day I'm here to see Mr Ball."

The receptionist starred, her mouth gasped, "hum Richard, Miss Ewe is in the office. She's here to see you."

Richard stepped into the lobby. He starred. "Your alive! The ghosts! Please step into my office."

Robin sat in the rickety wooden chair. Richard cleared his throat. "Miss Ewe, you do realize that the bet is just a joke. There's no way I can sell you Shady Oaks that cheaply."

Robin took a deep breath, she flashed the jerk her most winning smile." Excuse me! We have a deal my attorney has copies."

"Miss Ewe there will be no sale at that price."

"Well if you insist on not honoring our contract, you force me to get help".

"Good day. I'm not selling the house."

Men! Through Robin think. "Really, but what about my new friends? You know those cute cuddly haunts who like me. I know where you live. I know where you work."

"Is that a threat?"

"No a fact, if you don't honor the contract, I will give my new ghost friends a ride to your house."

"You wouldn't!"

"Try me."

Richard squirmed in his seat. His face red, his fist balled up.

"There are 5 ghosts. Do you really really really want to play with them?"

"Damn it."

A few minutes later she sassied out of the Ball Real Estate Company. She and the mortgage company owned Shady Oaks. Her attorney had copies of all the paperwork.

In the parking lot Herbie Ball leaned against her cherry red mustang. " Good day Robin. You look adorable."

"Why thank you. You look fine yourself."

"Rumor has it, that not only are you alive but you own Shady Oaks?"

"What the? I just signed the paperwork. How do you know that?"

"This is a small town, rumors spread fast, lies even quicker."

"Are you serious?"

"Welcome to Ball Florida. Would you like to join me for lunch at the Shanty Shack Pub? "

"I'd love to."