My Creepy Summer

By Sheryl Fletcher

12 year-old Christina (Tissy) Matthews spends four weeks of her summer vacation with her mother’s relatives at their newly purchased house in the country. When she arrives she meets Norma, the young girl who lives across the road. Norma tells Tissy about the ghost of Mary O’Hanlan that haunts her cousin’s house. As the ghost becomes more and more apparent to Tissy, she and Norma decide to investigate why the ghost is not at rest and to help her. They hold a séance and discover that the ghost of Mary O’Hanlan wants to know the truth about what happened to her father who disappeared without a trace 95 years earlier. The townspeople had started a rumour that Mary’s mother murdered her father and buried him on the property and Mary and her mother became life-long outcasts in the community. Tissy and Norma enlist the aid of local reporter, Wade Hemming, and together they discover the truth behind the mystery.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Books for Pleasure
• Release date: Sep 15, 2014
• ISBN: 9781553491163

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

The thought of having to spend four weeks of my summer break at my cousin Sheila’s house was making me feel sick. Sheila’s my mother’s first cousin. I love her and her husband Daryl, but I wasn’t looking forward to spending half of my summer break with them. Plus, they don’t have children. Instead they have three dogs: a poodle named Dusty, a golden lab named Rex and a German shepherd named Rufus. They also own a gift store in Bridgewater, which is a four-hour drive from my house.

Sheila had asked me back in May if I would like to spend four weeks of my summer working in their store. At the time, I agreed. But now that it was time to go, I suddenly had a change of heart.

By the way, my name is Christina Matthews but most people call me Tissy. I’m twelve years old and going into grade seven.

Just think of the money you’ll make, my mother said, folding my laundry. Trust me, you’ll be glad you worked.

But it’s so long, I whined. And I’m going to miss my friends.

Tissy, she said, matching a pair of socks. Your friends will be here when you get back. And it’s only for a few weeks.

It’s for four weeks, I reminded her. Remember?

Oh, yes, she said smirking. I remember. I also remember that you agreed to four.

She was right. How I wished I could turn back time and say no thanks instead. But my parents believe that when you make a commitment, you keep it. If I refused to go, they’d say, You’ll put Sheila and Daryl in a terrible bind.

I decided to call my best friend, Rachel, who always makes me feel better.

I don’t want to go, I blurted. I almost wish I could pretend I was sick.

You’ll have fun, she said trying to convince me. Besides, I’m going to camp for three weeks so it’s almost the same.

Not really, I moaned. At least you’ll be with kids your own age.

Sheila and Daryl have lived in Bridgewater for five years. Recently, they bought an old house in the country. The last time I spoke with Sheila, she told me the house was over 125 years old. It was owned by one family the entire time, she said excitedly. We are the first to live here who aren’t related.

Then why did they sell it? I asked curiously.

They’ve all passed away, she explained. The last remaining family member died three month’s ago.

What’s it like?

It’s beautiful, Tissy, she said. It has all the original wood beam floors and secret doors leading to different rooms in the house. You’ll love it!

I admit I was a little excited. I love learning the history about old things and their house sounded extremely interesting. Sheila said it was located on a country road with a large lot. The dogs love it because now they have so much room to run around.

I dug my suitcase out of storage. It was dusty and had a spider web on the handle because I hadn’t used it in a while. Normally, I’m very organized and make a list of all the things I need to pack but this time I didn’t feel like it. Instead, I felt like sulking. I plopped down on my bed and closed my eyes. I tried thinking of the money I’d earn. I thought of all the new things I could buy; like the jeans I wanted with the rainbow on the back pocket. Plus, it would be a break from my annoying big brother, Mark. Nothing was working. The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to stay home.

CHAPTER 2

You have to take enough pairs of underwear to last you the entire week, my mother said. And remember to take warm clothing because the evenings get cool. I stared at my wall.

Do you want to bring this sweater? she asked, holding up my purple one. I shrugged my shoulders. She put it in the suitcase anyway. She kept talking but I didn’t pay attention. I was too upset. Any minute now, Sheila and Daryl would arrive and I’d be on my way to Bridgewater.

Tissy. She sat beside me. I know you’re worried about going away. But it’s only for a few weeks.

It’s four.

What?

It’s four weeks, not a few weeks. A few weeks is only three, I mumbled.

She knelt down in front of me and put my face in her hands. I know you think it sounds like a long time but you’re going to have so much fun. Bridgewater is a beautiful town and the people are wonderful.

But there aren’t any kids there, I sulked. I’m going to be so bored.

You don’t know that. You’ve not been to their new house. There may be kids.

Mom, they live in the country, I said.

Kids live in the country, too, she laughed. Sheila grew up in the country. When I was your age I visited her all the time. There were lots of kids to play with.

She was right. There may be kids. I just remember there weren’t any around their old house because whenever we’d visit, I’d be stuck playing with Mark. By the time we were ready to return home, I’d be so sick of him I couldn’t even say his name.

Now come on, she said, standing up. Let’s get you packed and ready.

Will you come get me if I hate it?

She smiled and rolled her eyes. I decided not to ask if that meant yes or no. If I really hated it, I’d beg them to come and get me. I knew in my heart they would.

CHAPTER 3

I put my suitcase at the front door. My father was sitting in his favorite chair reading the newspaper. I stood in front of him until noticed me.

Do you want to come sit with me? I nodded my head and snuggled in the chair with him. You know, he whispered. You can call me when you get home sick. I was fighting back the tears.

Tissy, could you come here for a minute? My mother called from upstairs.

Be right up, I yelled.

I stood outside her doorway while she opened her top drawer and pulled out a small bag. I want you to take these just in case, she said. In case you begin your period. She handed me the bag. I didn’t say anything because I was too embarrassed. Hopefully, you won’t begin while you’re away. But if you do then at least you have some protection. And remember you can always talk to Sheila.

Oh, Mom, was all I could manage.

I still don’t have my period. My mother is convinced it’s going to happen any day. I didn’t need to be told about periods because I knew everything. Although I wasn’t the least bit excited about getting mine, the one thing that bothered me was that out of all my friends, I was the only one who hadn’t begun. Even Rachel had hers.

Sheila and Daryl arrived and stayed long enough to have a cup of coffee. I sat quietly and listened while the adults discussed how much I was going to enjoy myself.

Bridgewater is such a fun town, my mother said. I have fond memories of my summer’s visiting you. She winked at Sheila and they giggled the way Rachel and I do when we have a secret.

Isn’t it wonderful that I am now getting to spend part of the summer with your daughter? Sheila beamed. It’s like being with you all over again.

When the adults were finished their coffee, I said my good-byes.

I said good-bye to Mark first.

Hey, he said not caring in the least that he wouldn’t see me for four weeks. I rolled my eyes.

You’re going to have a great time, my mother said, hugging me. I faked a quick smile.

I love you sweetie, my father said. He bent over and kissed the tip of my nose. You call me anytime you want.

I bit my lip so I wouldn’t cry. I could feel it coming on but wanted to do everything possible to avoid embarrassing myself. I believe when you reach a certain age, you should cry less.

I decided not to look back at my family when I got into the car. That way, I wouldn’t have a picture in my head of them smiling and waving good-bye. As we pulled out of the driveway, I kept looking at my hands until we were at the end of my street. Yes! I did it, I didn’t cry.

CHAPTER 4

The drive to Sheila and Daryl’s didn’t seem as long as I had remembered. We talked the entire way and even stopped twice for snacks and to use the bathroom. The more I looked at Sheila, the more she reminded me of my mother. She was two years younger but they both had the same hair color and the same shaped face. My mother said that when they were younger, they’d tell people they were sisters. I think they still could.

Sheila’s mother is my mother’s Aunt. Her name is Aunt Frances. So that makes Sheila my second cousin.

We have a camp fire in the back yard, Sheila said, turning to face me in the back seat. Daryl and I will show you how to make s’mores.

What are s’mores?

They’re delicious, she said. First, you take a graham cracker and put marshmallows and a piece of chocolate in the middle. Then you cover it with another graham cracker like a sandwich. You wrap it in aluminum foil and hold it over the fire until the chocolate and marshmallows melt.

Did you make them up?

No, she said, shaking her head. Your mother and I used to eat them when we were young.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when we pulled into the driveway. Their new house was huge; at least four times the size of mine. It was gray with black shutters, which made it look old. And the front porch circled the house. The driveway had been made by tire tracks and there was a tall tree resting on the top floor window, which looked as though it needed to be straightened.

It’s a little big, Sheila said as if reading my mind. But we love it. We have a lot of work to do but it’s definitely our dream home.

It’s very nice, I said, walking slowly to the front door.

Daryl put my suitcase on the doorstep. While he fumbled to open the front door, the three dogs peeked through the window, wagging their tails in excitement.

Hi Rex, Dusty and Rufus, I said, patting all three at the same time.

I’ll take this up to your room, Tissy, he said, walking upstairs with my suitcase. You can get the grand tour.

Sheila let the dogs outside.

Come on, she said, leading the way. Let me show you around.

We began in the living room. There was a fireplace with a wooden mantel where there were pictures displayed of all three dogs, Sheila and Daryl and a picture of Mark and me. I picked up the picture of Mark.

Nice picture, I said laughing.

She smiled. We have some of the furniture in here that was left by the lady who passed away. She pointed to a chair and couch. They’re actually considered antiques, she said, sitting down. Daryl and I researched them and think these pieces are at least ninety years old.

My jaw dropped. That’s old.

She walked over to a painting of a young woman sitting in a chair and removed it from the wall.

Who’s that? I asked.