I have to admit, seein’ somebody sittin’ on a bed when that person ain’t there will send a chill up your spine, and mine was colder than a frozen water bucket. I asked Lukus his thoughts on the situation, but he didn’t have none. Both of us stood there still as posts and just as dumb.
“Excuse me,”
I looked over at Lukus, amazed at his gumption at addressin’ the ghost. We stood there, starin’ at that empty bed. The sound of water drippin’ off the house and trees outside was the only thing to break the silence. I didn’t know what that ole ghost wanted, but I decided it was time to head to the house. I walked over to open the door, but it still wouldn’t budge.
My patience had reached its end and I decided to try Lukus’ idea. I turned around to the specter and said, “Look here, you ole ghost, or whatever you are.” About that time, Lukus stepped up to me and tried to cover my mouth. I reckon my best friend knows when I’m about to make a fool of myself, but I wasn’t havin’ none of it. I pushed his hands away.
“What are you doin’, Lukus?”
“Don’t make him mad,” my buddy pleaded. Then he turned around and started apologizin’ to the mattress. He looked as silly as a dress on a pig, but there wasn’t nothin’ funny about that ghost. This needed to end now.
“Mad! You’re darn right, I’m angry. We weren’t doin’ no harm.”
On the off chance, our invisible host didn’t care for my pranks, I confessed every one. To add to our contrition Lukus apologize for our trespassin’. I reckon this spirit must have been a Yankee because our confessions only seem to make it angry, and the next thing I knew, old Lukus was pinned up against the wall.
I did what any good friend would do and told that old spook to let my friend down. Instead of him comin’ down, I watched Lukus get lifted higher towards the ceilin’, and he started gaspin’ for air.
Well, sir, that was about all I could stand. I couldn’t take a swing at the empty air, but I sure as heck to tear up his homestead a little bit more. I walked over to the bed and flipped the mattress to the floor. I decided to see how he liked havin’ his only decent bed tore up. Unfortunately, my little outburst didn’t improve our situation.
It dawned on me at this point that this fella wanted to be left alone, and maybe he assumed killin’ us would give him some peace. I tried the only argument that popped in my head.
“I ain’t afraid of you. Do you know what’s goin’ happen if you kill us? Darla, my wife, is goin’ to bring the Sheriff. They will be all over this house. After that, they’ll tear this place down. Ain’t anybody claimed it in years, and nobody wants a house where folks were murdered. Then where will you have to haunt? Now let Lukus down, unlock that door over yonder, and we’ll be on our way.”
My friend’s feet dropped to the ground, and the door flew open. We were both ready to get on out of there, but I needed my tools and toys. Evidently, our transparent friend was in no mood for any more hospitality. All the doors in the house shut at once, except for ours. I have to admit, Lukus and I might have jumped into one another’s arms at the sudden noise.
Lukus reminded me we were trespassin’, and I had to admit that he was right. Defeated, we headed our way downstairs and out the open door. Once we got out in the yard, the rain-washed air filled our lungs, and my mind began to clear.
I looked over to my friend, “Do you reckon we just imagined all that? After all, it was an old and spooky house. Perhaps the mold, dust, mouse droppin’s and who knows what else caused our minds to play tricks on us.”
Just about the time, I was goin’ to suggest retrievin’ my tools again, the front door slammed shut.
Lukus looked over at me, “Nope.”
We headed on over to my pickup and high tailed it home. Given the evenin’s events, I decided not to buy that farmland after all. I figure if that spook is that selfish about his house, just think how uppity he’d get if I start plowin’ his land and harvestin’ crops. I reckon some places should just be left alone.
