Kristen

Language Arts

11/14/02

Afraid of the Dark

I sometimes wonder why my sister, Hannah, is so cruel. I mean she picks on me because I am afraid of the dark. She must have a fear of something. Halloween is coming up soon, and you bet that I am not going trick or treating. I only have one friend at school that does not think that I am a wimp. This fear that I have, maybe it has something to do with the so-called "haunted house" we live in. It is kind of creepy, especially at night. Who knows what’s in the attic, it was built in 1901. My great grandfather died that year, and he lived in the house at that time. He died mysteriously.

"Sara, it’s time to get up and go to school!" my mom yelled.

"I don’t want to," I mumbled, "All of the kids pick on me because I am scared of the dark.

"Oh dear," my mom said, "Your going to school whether you like it or not."

So that day, I went to school, despite the fact that everybody teases me. Parents just don’t understand how humiliated you get when your peers pick on you.

"Hey Sara, wouldn’t you like it if I turned out the lights?" said Billy Vern, a classmate of mine.

Do you see what I mean? Everybody teases me. I’m going to pretend that I am sick tomorrow, and then I don’t have to deal with this.

RING!!! The bell rang. Finally, school is out!

"Hey Jessie," I said, "Wait up."

"Hey," she said, "What’s up?"

"Oh, nothing much," I said, "You know what I’m going to do tomorrow, I’m going to stay home and pretend that I’m sick, then I won’t have to put up with all of this."

"What a plan," she exaggerated.

"I have to go," I said, "Bye."

"Bye," she replied.

I arrived at home and told my mom that I felt sick. She sent me to bed with a glass of water.

"Halloween is tomorrow, sweetie, I hope you don’t miss it," mom said.

" Oh, don’t be silly mom, you know I won’t go out," I said.

* * * * * *

The next day I woke to my alarm clock going off. My mom came in and asked if I felt any better. I told her no, but I insisted that she go to work and that I would be just fine. I finally talked her into it, and before I knew it, I was all -alone, and before I knew it, I was asleep.

I awoke to funny noises coming from the attic.

"Who’s there?" I asked nervously, I estimated that it was about 3:00. It might have even been later; it was starting to get dark.

I told myself to be brave, and started up the attic steps. The noises continued.

"Who’s there," I asked once more. I can’t explain how frightened I was at that moment. I opened the attic door, and was amazed at what I saw. It was a coffin! I was terrified. I walked over to the coffin, and lifted the top. A chill ran through me. It was a skeleton!

"Oh…my...god!" I exclaimed. Now I heard my name being called, it was coming from somewhere behind me. I spun around, and screamed at what I saw; it was a ghostly looking man.

"Who are you?" I exclaimed. I could feel my knees trembling at that moment.

"Arthur Jackson," the man said. I could tell that he wanted to scare me.

"Wait, you’re my great grandfather," I said.

"Yes, I am." He said.

"Why are you here?" I demanded. I regretted asking that question once he gave me an answer.

"Well, my body is behind you," he said.

"It is," I said. I felt as if I was going to faint.

"Yep," he replied, "You encountered me when you were two. I put a spell on you that would make you terrified of the dark."

"Why?" I asked.

"I have turned evil," he said, "Beware."