Haunting of HIck Street. (Next chapter of Welcome to Red Creek).

Just as Candice was really sulking about her family's move to 7 Hick Street, over there in Dusty Hollow, there was a knocking at the front door. A very fat lady appeared, pushing open the door, while she brought in a large casserole dish, and a jar. Behind her was a a girl abou the same age as Candice, who looked exactly as cross as Candice was feeling right then.

"Welcome, you must be Paddy, Mr. Flanagan. Welcome to our town. I'm Mrs. Smythe, with a Y. This is my eldest, Lisa with an S. I'm the President of the Rebuilding Dusty Hollow committee. I've brought you good neighbours a meat and pasta pot luck for dinner, with a jar of my best plums, and Lisa with an S has got the custard. All fresh food here. Come on, Lisa, we'll meet the new lady of the house."

Mrs. Smythe with an S bustled off to the kitchen, trailed by Lisa with an S. She whispered to Candice as she pushed past her, "Welcome to your own creep show. This place is haunted. Suffer!"

Candice could only wonder if there were any other kids in town, let alone Hick Street. Friendly, Lisa with an S was definitely not.

Mrs. Smythe with a Y was a very bossy woman, but good hearted. She soon had most of the kitchen boxes unpacked and the contents stored away. There were plenty of cupboards everywhere, some with rodent droppings. Candice and her father kept bringing in more boxes. Luckily, they were all labelled, so she and Montana could sort their bedrooms. Mrs. Smythe with an Y was also the Chairperson of the Pony Club, so she arranged for Candice and Montana to join up first thing at 9 am on Sunday morning. The girls were going to learn to ride, and Lisa with an S was to be their riding tutor. At 11 am, there was an important Pony Club event planned. Candice took one look at Lisa's face, and tried not to shudder. She imagined herself coming off the horse, and having an injury. "Great, Dusty Hollow, great."

As dusk was descending, her mother turned on the lights, and popped the casserole in the oven. Mrs. Smythe with a Y smiled, and headed off home, saying, "Take care now, cause people care!" Candice's mother did not look quite so discouraged now, at least she had a new friend in Mrs. Smythe with a Y. Paddy Flanagan only grinned, "She's in good shape. Round! Poor horses she rides, they'll be squashed flat."

One last box was hauled in on that Friday night, gee it was heavy. "What have you brought in this? A body in the box!" His Dad jokes were getting sillier.

"No, Paddy. Be careful, do not drop it. That is my coffee machine. The next box is the coffee beans. I thought I might open an antique coffee shop for tourists," the girls' mother said.

"What tourists would ever come here?" Candice could not help herself from asking.

"This town is like heaven on earth for fishermen when there's no drought. God's own country." Her Dad was refusing to be negative. So chirpy.

Now the shadows had lengthened, everyone was overtired and very hot. The water service was very slow. Candice was looking forward to a cool shower, after the pot luck dinner was enjoyed. Mrs. Smythe with a Y totally knew how to cook up a storm. "Shower shorter here, save water...."her Dad told his girls.

Feeling cooler, finally, Candice went to her bedroom, and had a good look around. Most of the furniture was dark oak, and very bulky, all looming over her. There was an antiquated dresser drawers that were very difficult to open. Topping this chest of drawers was a speckled old mirror, which Candice thought she had dusted. Already a spider she must have missed was weaving its sticky web across the dim reflection.

She practiced lying on her bed, very comfy and springy. At the end of her bed. Montana had placed Candice's old childhood toy. She was surprised to see her half forgotten baby pal, Hugga Puppy. This was Candice and Montana's first night in this creepy new home. Their mother came to say good night, and gave them each an LED candle in case the aging power went on the blink. Candice did not quite get why her father thought life in Hick Street was something to joke about. There might be tough times ahead for the Flanagan family, the new neighbours in Dusty Hollow.

Her Dad appeared, gave her a kiss for a good night's sleep, so Candice sleepily asked if this house was haunted, just because Lisa said.

"So what?" Paddy Flanagan said, "Haunted houses lift your spirits."

"Oh, Dad, that is one sick joke." Candice was nodding off to sleep, exhausted. She was feeling very alone, so she did not resist her long abandoned habit of cuddling Hugga Puppy in bed. She closed her drooping eyelids, but by mistake glanced at the dark mirror in the flickering candle light. "Who is there?" Candice could not believe that two sillhouettes were dancing in the mirror. The lady was wearing a flouncy crinoline dress, and bowed her head as the man in the velvet jacket leaned down and kissed her hand. Candice shut her eyes again, convincing herself that this vision was only her imagination. Or was Lisa with an S telling her the truth? Despite what her Dad said, Candice was not feeling very uplifted by this spooky welcome to Hick Street. "This is quite some trip....." she whispered in the gloomy bedroom.

She hesitated, and opened her eyes again, clasping Hugga Puppy even tighter. Her soft toy had always protected her from the night time horrors when she was a really little lass. Now she was not so sure. Yes, the shadow couple were waltzing round the mirror, as if there was some band or recording of music playing. Candice listened very hard, but there was no ghostly musical sounds.

In fact, the entire Hick Street was eerie, it was so quiet compared to the Flanagan home in suburbia. Back in their home town, there had always been a car's muffler roaring, sounds of televisions. The streets had been well lit, and there had been many people everywhere. Not here in Dusty Hollow. The only street light had one single globe, hanging off its pole, not even working. Maybe the moon was shining on such a clear night, but the overgrown vines blocked even the faintest rays from peeping in her bare windows. Tomorrow the Flanagan gal team were hanging up drapes.

Candice did not know what to believe, when she was startled. Hugga Puppy's tail started wagging, as the toy dog peered over the bed covers to gaze at the mirror. Softly, the toy muttered, "They're my Mum and Dad." Candice sat up, amazed. The toy dog was a ghost, but it least it looked happy.

(To be continued...)