The Garland Ghoul: A Midlife Psychic Medium Series Novella by Carolyn Ridder Aspenson

Author:Carolyn Ridder Aspenson [Ridder Aspenson, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Magnum Grace Publishing
Published: 2022-11-14T16:00:00+00:00

7

Theodora stomped into the activities room. “What’s the emergency?” She stared up at the top of the windows and gasped. “What did I tell you about Christmas decorations? Take those down!” She glared at the table and then at the residents. “Look at that mess!” She hustled to the corner of the room, opened a closet, and removed a broom. Carrying it toward Pepper, she said, “Clean that up,” to her and then stormed back to the door. “I’ll have maintenance take that down if it’s not down by the end of the day.” She grimaced at Kris. “You know someone’s just going to rip it down and create a bigger mess than you all have.” She shook her head. “If that’s even possible.” She grabbed the door handle, flung the door open, and marched out.

Mel slammed the door shut behind her. She then eyed Norse. “I’m sorry.”

He shrugged. “Don’t worry about me. You’re too old for the list now.”

Angela coughed. “Ouch.”

Fran giggled.

“What now?” Angela asked.

“We wait,” Kris said. “How about we have a glass of eggnog? Mary and I have some in our apartment.”

“Is there any liquor in it?” Mel asked. “Because I think I need some.”

“Just you wait,” Fran said.

“How about I meet you there?” Angela asked. “I’d like to stick around. I feel a little change in the air in here.”

“Want me to stay?” Mel asked.

Angela shook her head. “Nope. Go have some eggnog.”

When everyone left, Fran and Angela waited for something to happen. “You believe?” Fran asked.

“I believe someone is destroying the Christmas decorations, but I can’t say if I believe the other stuff.”

“Em,” Fran said.

Angela angled her head to the side. “What does 'em' mean?”

“Nothing. It’s just em. I use it when I don’t know what else to say.”

“Does that mean you believe?” Angela asked.

“It’s been a long time since Santa came to my house. Come to think of it, when I was a kid, we never had a fireplace. Remind me to ask him about that.”

The table shook. Angela pointed to it as her eyes shifted between it and her mother. “Look.”

A leftover pinecone rolled off the table. The lights flickered. Angela rubbed her arms. Even her sweater and jacket didn’t break the chill seeping into her bones. “Someone’s here. Can you see them?”

Fran shook her head. “I can feel them though. Can you?”

Angela nodded. “They’re not happy.”

The table shook harder, sending an open container of glitter rolling to the end and off the side. Glitter spilled onto the floor and spread into the shape of a spider, one of its legs stretching close to Angela and Fran.

Fran jumped higher into the air. Not that the stuff would touch her, but it scared her anyway, and Fran didn’t scare easily. “I don’t like that!”

Angela climbed onto the chair and watched the glitter grow and grow as it slithered across the room, finally touching all four corners. Two dark shadows appeared from the glitter’s center and scurried up the window wall. Angela swore she heard cackling.

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