The Writers' Circle

Brad was glad to be back in South Mill he always liked it here.  He was involved in football and baseball in school. He had lots of friends here.  His brother Dennis was a year older and he was more into computers and books than sports.  Brad's grandfather who originally lived here was here for more then 50 years.  He knew a lot about South Mill.  His grandfather had a boat and fished every chance he got, he knew the waters here really well.  Brad wished his grandfather was still alive.  "People die and life goes on" thats what Brad's father had said.  Now the house was theirs.
  Brad and Dennis got to pick what rooms they wanted., Brad took the room with the window, he could see part of the woods and the river from it.   Dennis took the room further down the hall, not much of a view, but it was a bit larger and the closet was bigger.  It took most of the first day for both boys to get their rooms put together.  They both had their beds and dresser and there own tv's, they also had desks and computers.  It was gonna be a few days before the internet and cable tv would be hooked up.  Dennis didn't like being without his computer but he understood the circumstances.  He planned on reading a new book.  Dennis wasn't sure what Brad would find to do.  Brad was used to his Xbox and cable tv.
  After their rooms were together Brad mentioned to Dennis that he talked to Mattie and a new girl Julie moved into the old Samer's place.  He continued telling him what Mattie said about the house with the tunnels and the island behind Julie's house.  Dennis seemed interested.  "We may have a mystery on our hands." Dennis stated.  " If I remember correctly grandpa told me of a house with tunnels." Dennis said.  "I think up in the attic grandpa had books or some papers about it."Dennis said.  We'll have to talk to the girls and get more info from them.  Dennis thought.  
  Mattie picked up her cell phone and called Julie.  Julie answered "Hey Mattie whats going on?"  Mattie replied "Brad and Dennis have moved in, lets go over there and you can meet them!"  Mattie sounded very excited Julie thought.  "Sure, lets go!" Julie said.  "I'll come to your house and get you." Mattie exclaimed.  "Ok, Mattie, see you in a bit, bye!" Julie said.
  Mattie arrived at Julie's house and both girls headed to Brad's house.  "Wow, this is a big, old house Julie thought.  It certainly needed some repairs and clean up but it did sit empty for quite a while so things do happen Julie thought.  The house seemed a little creepy but it didn't seem to bother Mattie.  The girls reached the front door and rang the bell.  Julie was surprised the bell actually worked.  A teenage boy, tall maybe 5'8", short brown hair, brown eyes and a clear complexion, he was wearing jean shorts and a red t-shirt, he had answered the door.  He was cute Julie thought.  "Hey, Mattie how you been? I've missed ya?" Brad stated.
"I'm good Brad; this is my friend Julie and Julie this is Brad!" Matti said.  "Come on in girls, we don't have cable or internet yet,  supposed to be a few days." Brad said.  Just then another teenage boy came down the stairs.  This must be his brother Dennis, Julie thought.  Dennis was about the same height, same color eyes but his hair was a bit longer.  Julie thought he was cute too.  "Hey, Dennis this is my friend Julie, Julie this is Dennis." Mattie had introduced them.  "So, Julie you live in the old Samer's house?" Dennis asked.  "Yep, thats the one!" Julie said.  "And Brad tells me there are strange things happening at that old island and something about the Robinson's house having tunnels." Dennis stated.  "Yeah, theres a lot going on, some strange things are happening." Julie said.  "Our grandpa knew something about that old house and the island; theres books or paper in the attic about it." Dennis said.  "Yeah, we didn't get rid of everything when grandpa died
there was still boxes and chests and stuff in the attic." Brad said.  "You girls wanna explore the attic and see what we can find?" Dennis asked.  "Sure!" Mattie and Julie said at the same time.  
  Both girls followed the boys through the big house and up the stairs to the door that goes to the attic.  Dennis was thinking these girls were certainly brave wanting to explore and old attic.  He also was watching Julie.  Dennis thought she was pretty hot.  But Dennis also knew he would have to get to know her better.  As for Brad, he always liked Mattie but never told her.  Now that he lived here he thought a relationship with Mattie was a real possibility.  
  All four walked up the old, dusty and creaky stairs.  "At least theres a light up here." Julie stated.  When they reached the top the attic looked quite large and very dusty with lots of cob webs. There was boxes stacked along one wall and a few chests along another wall. Some old furniture was also stored up here.  In the back Julie noticed a door with a chair pushed against it. "Hey, whats that over there? the door with a chair in front of it," Julie asked.  Both boys seemed puzzled they never noticed that door before, how did Julie notice it they wondered. "I don't know Julie, we never seen it before." Dennis said.  Mattie asked "I wonder why that chair is wedged under it?  "Lets check it out!" Brad yelled. 
  They all four headed in the direction of the mysterious door.  Dennis pulled the chair away and tried the door knob, it was actually unlocked!  Dennis slowly opened the door saying "Are you sure you wanna see inside?  Maybe theres ghosts or monsters in here!  He suddenly turned around Yelling "BOO!!"  "OH MY GOD! Don't do that!" Mattie yelled.  "I'm sorry I couldn't resist." Dennis said laughing.  As they entered the small room all they could see was shelves on one wall with boxes lined up.  One box was labeled Old Toys.  The other wall had an old vacuum sitting there and an old desk.  "There doesn't seem to be a damn thing in here!" Brad yelled.  "Why the chair was against the door is weird!" Brad added.  The girls decided to look in some of the boxes. One box had old dolls in it, creepy, old dolls with those dark eyes, what kid would want to play with these? Julie thought.  Dennis was looking at the old desk, he kinda like it.  There was lots of cubbies for storage plus drawers on both sides.  Dennis thought he could refinish it and put it in his room. He would have to ask his dad.  Brad pulled the box down labeled Old Toys.  Inside was something wrapped up in a white cloth and tucked in a pouch it appeared to be about a foot or so in length and maybe that in width, what was this? Brad thought.  He opened the pouch and looked in," its a Ouija Board!"  Brad Yelled.  " Wow!" lets see, the girls asked all excited.  The Ouija Board appeared to be a real old one not the kind kids bought at ,Toys R Us.  This was  made out of wood.  There was a picture of an old rickety house on it with black cats and witches on brooms and an old cemetery.  Across the top was letters and the numbers were on the bottom.  The words YES, NO and goodbye were on the side.  It was obvious this was home made and of high quality.  The planchette was also wood and handmade.  "Wow! I wonder where this came from?" Brad asked. " I don't think grandpa was into ouija boards" Dennis said.  Well it got in here somehow Dennis thought.  "Lets take it out there on the floor and try it." Mattie said.  "I don't know Mattie I've always been told not to mess with ouija boards," Julie said.  "Oh, come on, do you think these really work?" Brad said.  " I think its just for entertainment." Dennis said.  Brad walked out of the small room with the ouija board and sat on the floor with it  "Everybody come here and sit down!" Brad said.  Julie, Mattie and Dennis sat down in a circle.  "Ok what do we do now?" asked Brad.  Reluctantly, Julie said " put the planchette down on the board and very lightly  put your finger tips on the planchette." The others held hands while brad had the planchette with his fingers on it.  "Now, ask a question and then we just concentrate." Julie said.  Brad had to think for a minute. then said "Is there anybody in this attic with us?"  Suddenly, the planchette flew to the word YES! "Who moved the damn thing?" Dennis yelled.  Brad immediately said "Not Me, the thing just took off! It really did."  Both girls didn't say anything.  "Here Julie, you try it." Brad said.  Again, reluctant, Julie put her fingers on the planchette with Mattie. "Now, whatever you do DON"T MOVE IT!" Julie exclaimed.  "I'm Not gonna!" Mattie said.  "Is there someone here with us in this attic?" Julie asked.   Very slowly the planchette began to move. Mattie whispered " I'm not doing that!"
"Hush! just concentrate! Julie whispered.  The planchette slowly moved to the letter S then O then P then it stopped. "Sophie, is that you, are you here with us?" asked Julie. In a low whisper both boys asked " Who is Sophie?"  "Shhhh,  I'll tell you later." Julie said.  The planchette then moved quickly spelling  D-A-N-G-E-R.  "Who is in danger Sophie," Julie asked.  Now, the planchette spelled A-L-L-4-O-F-U!  Suddenly, the planchette flew off the board sailing through the air! Next, the box with the dolls fell off the shelf and the spooky doll with the dark eyes flew out of the room and landed right next to them! The door to the storage room slammed with a loud thunder!  Then silence.  "See, I told you guys this could happen!" Julie yelled.  "Oh my god, I think we have a ghost here!" Dennis yelled.  "Ya think! " Brad added.  Mattie was just too scared to say anything.  "Ok, what the hell just happened?" Dennis asked.  "Lets put the ouija board away and I'll tell you who Sophie is." Julie said.  They picked up the planchette and the board and put it in its pouch then back into the storage room. They closed the door and put the chair against it as it was.  All four went to the other side of the room and sat on the floor.  Julie started from the beginning and told the whole story of what she knew.  "Wow! how awesome" Dennis said.  "So Sophie is a little ghost girl." Brad said.  "Maybe." Julie said.  "But why is she coming to me? and what does she mean were in danger?"  Julie asked.  "Ok guys, I think I kinda have a plan." Dennis said.  "Lets look in some of these boxes and chests and see what we can find.
  Mattie felt like leaving, she was scared.  But she didn't want the others to know so she just went along with what they wanted to do.  Julie was excited to see what she might find in the boxes and old trunks.  "Mattie and I can start on this trunk." Julie said.  "Then Brad and I will go through the boxes over here." Dennis said.
  Julie opened the old trunk, there was old clothes in here on the top then under the clothes was books and papers and envelopes.  Mattie took the envelopes and opened them.  The first envelope was labeled house deed and original pictures.   Nothing interesting here she thought.  The boys were looking in boxes that had old nick naks and kitchen items and old clothes.  Brad pulled down the next box.  This box contained books and documents and old pictures.  Maybe theres something good in here Brad thought.  He leafed through the books and seen one  labeled  "Iroquois Indians Burial Ground." "Hey guys I found something interesting, a book on indian burial grounds" Brad said.  Dennis answered "put the good stuff in a pile over here." pointing next to him.  Julie continued looking through the trunk.  She came across a book titled, Historic Homes of South Mill, she opened it and seen it was published in 1935!  "Hey, I got something here a book on historic homes and its publishing date is 1935!" Julie said excited.  "I think we have enough to get started here." Dennis said.  They closed up the trunk and headed downstairs.