Message on the Wall

By Lee Williamson

After being bounced around from one foster home to another, 11-year-old Susan Doran finally has a chance to be adopted by Jean and Robert Bennigan.  That is, until Susan uncovers a creepy and mysterious message on her bedroom wall in the Bennigans' old farmhouse. The message was written by Eileen McCarthy, an Irish servant girl who died in the room  more than 150 years ago. When Eileen's ghost appears to Susan and asks for help in locating her infant daughter, Susan forms a bond with Eileen that threatens to tear apart the loving family Susan has longed for. 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lee Williamson
• Release date: Jan 10, 2014
• ISBN: 9781497775145

Book preview

Chapter 1

A soaking wet Susan Doran crouched underneath the laundry sink on the lookout for roaches in the dark, damp basement. Above her, on the second floor, she could hear the running footsteps of Molly and Megan, twin sisters who had chased her down the basement after dousing her with two water balloons the size of footballs.

Susan didn’t mind being wet. But she did mind being forced to hide on a broken concrete floor next to a washing machine on its spin cycle. Laughter and muffled voices upstairs told Susan that Molly and Megan were planning their next move.

Susan wondered when the twins’ mother was coming home. She already knew when her own mother was coming home.

Never.

Susan’s mother had walked away from a mental hospital seven years ago. But she hadn’t walked back to Susan. So Susan became a foster child: that meant she belonged nowhere and to no one. She was temporary, on loan to a family who kept her until they didn’t want her anymore.

Now Susan was on loan to Jean and Robert Bennigan, who had adopted Molly and Megan from South Korea when they were babies. The twins were 12, and Susan was 11.

The basement door opened and Molly called downstairs, Susan? Are you still down there?

Where else would I be? Susan retorted.

C’mon upstairs, Molly said. Water fight’s over.

Yeah, right.

I’m serious, Molly declared. C’mon upstairs. We have to clean up before Mom gets home!

Susan eased her way out from underneath the plastic laundry sink and considered the small casement window above it.

I’ll be right there! she yelled.

Carefully, Susan put one foot inside the sink to test her weight. The rickety sink seemed secure. Then she put her other foot inside the sink and stood upright until she was eye level with the window and its view of the side yard. The window’s hinge was broken, and it was unlatched. Susan pushed the window open with both hands; then she looked around for something to keep it propped open.

Where do you think you’re going? Molly asked.

Startled, Susan banged her head on an overhead pipe. Ouch! she cried.

She hadn’t heard Molly sneak down the basement steps. Susan rubbed her scalp and scowled at her foster sister, who was slowly advancing with a blue plastic pitcher filled to the brim with water.

I thought you said the water fight was over, Susan said.

Molly smiled. I lied.

She hurled the water just as Susan jumped out of the sink onto the floor. The water soaked Susan’s T-shirt, and Molly did a little victory dance.

You’re dead now, warned Susan. She chased Molly up the basement stairs to the first floor, where Megan was waiting with two more water balloons the size of coconuts. She immediately handed one to Molly.

Don’t you dare! Susan cried, heading for the stairs to the second floor. Molly and Megan charged after her. Susan dodged the first balloon as if it were a bullet. The next one torpedoed past her as she turned the corner and flew into her bedroom.

She slammed the door and looked wildly about the room. A bureau with five drawers stood along the left wall, not more than three feet away.

Susan dragged the bureau away from the wall and shoved it up against the door as a barricade. A minute later, she heard Molly and Megan creeping down the hallway towards her bedroom, whispering to one another.

Susan taunted them through the door: Now I’m the water balloon champion of the world!

Susan’s door began to shake as Molly and Megan pushed against it with all their strength. Inch by inch, the bureau began to move. Desperately, Susan threw all her weight against it, but she was no match for the twins. They squeezed through the narrow opening they had created and faced Susan.

Looks like Susan is trapped, Molly said, poised to throw her last water balloon.

Yeah, Megan agreed, tossing her water balloon up and down in the air.

You don’t have the guts, said Susan, retreating to a corner. Her eyes searched for something to use as a shield.

You think you’re so tough! Molly sneered. Just cause you lived in a bunch of foster homes.

Yeah, added Megan. And you lie. She began to mimic Susan in a high-pitched voice: My last foster mother locked me inside a closet because I broke a glass!

Molly chimed in. Her son gave me a black eye for eating the last cookie!

Susan regarded them both stoically.

Suddenly, Molly and Megan fired. Susan darted to the right just as Molly’s balloon caught her squarely on her left shoulder and exploded. The other one splattered against the wall where her bureau had been.

Molly and Megan gave each other high fives while Susan inspected her wet shirt. It felt cool against her hot skin, and she was tempted to laugh in spite of herself when she noticed the wall.

The faded, blue-flowered wallpaper was bubbling up.

Susan pointed to it, snickering. Look what you morons did! Now who’s gonna get in trouble?

Before the twins could respond, Susan heard Jean Bennigan come in the back door of the kitchen. Her voice drifted upstairs. Girls, where are you? I need help with groceries.

There was a brief silence, then a horrified scream. Mother of Pearl! Where did all this water come from?

Quick, let’s put the bureau back! Megan said. The three girls wrestled with the furniture, trying to shove it back across the carpet towards the wall.

C’mon, push! Molly hissed.

We can’t! Susan said. The rug is buckling underneath it!

Molly knelt down and grabbed a corner of the carpet. Okay, tilt the bureau towards you, she told Megan and Susan, and I’ll straighten the wrinkles out.

But the bureau wouldn’t budge more than a few inches. The girls turned their attention back to the wallpaper. A section of it had started peeling away and they watched it fall to the floor.

By now, thunderous footsteps sounded on the stairs, along with Jean’s cries of disbelief: "Water is everywhere! Megan! Molly! Susan! Where are you? Answer me!"

Molly rolled her eyes. In here, Mom! she called. In Susan’s room.

It was then that Susan noticed something else about the wall. Where the wallpaper had peeled away there was some kind of scribbling. The letters were crudely made, but she could make out three words.

Look at this! Susan told Molly and Megan. She crouched down and pulled a piece of wallpaper away to uncover the last word.

At that moment, Jean squeezed through the opening the twins had made between the door and the bureau.

Molly, Megan, Susan! Jean sputtered. "I am furious with you! You better ..."

Jean’s eyes fell upon the wall, and she stopped.

The words were sloppily written in black ink and said:

My baby has dide

Chapter 2

Susan watched in disbelief as Jean burst into tears.

Megan spoke up first. Mom, we didn’t write that.

Quickly, Jean removed her glasses and wiped her tears.