21 Windows

21 WINDOWS

By

Michael Lachance

Copyright © 2019 by Michael Lachance

All rights reserved.

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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters and places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

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Skipper Pete Books, PO Box 16, Glenwood, IA 51534

By Michael Lachance

Treaty of Versailles, The Power of Love

The Camera

McKinney Sweetlock

The Long Short

Three Fools for Spies

Contents

Prologue

Chapter One: The Farm House

Chapter Two: Shadows

Chapter Three: Window Blinds

Chapter Four: A Room Without a View

Chapter Five: The Way In

Chapter Six: The Room

Chapter Seven: Coincidence

Chapter Eight: Shadow People

Chapter Nine: Who You’re Looking For

Chapter Ten: Something Wicked in the House

Chapter Eleven: Relapse

Chapter Twelve: Accidents Happen

Chapter Thirteen: Tomorrow

Chapter Fourteen: Let It Go

Chapter Fifteen: Our Beloved Son

Chapter Sixteen: Blizzard!

Chapter Seventeen: Bjorn and Maddie

Chapter Eighteen: Alfreta Jenkins, Medium

Chapter Nineteen: Recovery

Chapter Twenty: Plane of Existence

Chapter Twenty-One: Rage

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Door Out

Chapter Twenty-Three: Evil’s Realm

Chapter Twenty-Four: Boom!

About the Author

Prologue

1957, the poor boy coughed so hard that some sort of black flem belched from his mouth and though his mother was shocked at the color, her expression remained reticent. She quickly and calmly wiped it up and made it so he wouldn’t be the wiser. His parents didn’t want to upset him, their twelve-year-old boy, now that he fought to breathe with every breath. He hadn’t a soul to turn to since he got sick, because the parents of his school friends kept their kids away out of fear, fear of his cough, contagious or not. And that’s not why he was downstairs instead of upstairs with his parents.

He was in a room located in a hallway behind the kitchen; it was a servant’s quarters with its own indoor plumbing and storage, but, now, it was his room.

His father, a Czech emigrant, felt that the hike upstairs was too much, too many steps for his son who had, somehow and in some way, become sick after a walk among the cornstalks in their field.

You’ll feel better soon. His mother said and she smiled so nicely that it warmed his sick heart.

Hello son! Papa came in and nearly tripped on one of his son’s favorite toys. Your cement truck tries to keep me on my toes. He picked it up and set it aside, out of the way.

Yes, papa. The boy smiled.

Papa rested his hand on his son’s hand, leaned over, and kissed his forehead. I love you so much that it will push out this sickness. He put his hand over his son’s chest and then his hands shot up and cast out the illness. So! Then, you come to work with me.

School first, papa. Mama touched her husband’s shoulder and cleared her throat. Yes. The reality of it all made her so sick with worry that she sometimes vomited shortly after she left her son’s room. Ant-acid was forced up her throat, but she pushed that worry back down deep into her tummy. Would he really recover? Rest, son. This is the doctor’s order.

The doctor wondered what made the boy sick and was miffed by the matter. All the X-rays confirmed was that he had some sort of inflammation of the lungs, but how and why were they inflamed? The boy told the doctor that he was in the field before he began to cough.

The boy smiled and looked at his dresser. Mama.

Ah, how did Teddy get there? She shook her head and looked up; papa cut stars from tin, nailed them to the ceiling, and painted them lite green so that they reflected the nightlight and glowed. The stars know. Then, she turned her attention to the top of the dresser. Hmm, has he walked over here himself?

Mama. The boy chuckled and coughed.

Mama, you tease more than me. Papa said and dipped his head toward the dresser.

Ah, I tease. She picked up Teddy, their son’s favorite toy above all other toys in his room. Teddy, did you come here yourself?

Mama, the boy laughed.

Mama made Teddy’s arms and feet move so that he walked, mid-air, back to her son. Here he is for you! She set Teddy in her son’s arms.

He clutched Teddy tightly and then his eyes gently fell shut.

Come now, papa. She ushered him out of the room, through the pantry, and into the kitchen. Once there, they looked through the pantry and toward their son’s room. Tears welled up in their eyes and they fell into each other’s arms.

Chapter One

The Farm House

November, present day, Town of Caly, NE: The trees had few leaves left and looked much like the empty farmhouse near the top of the hill; the weathered siding had little to no life in the boards, because the house had been for sale several times over the years and was used, in an unkind way, as a rental during that time. No family ever stayed in it more than a year, so no one ever took the time to care for it.

The Madison’s were a young family and, finally, had enough money to get a home of their own. Michelle Madison loved the windows and how bright the house was inside; it just needed some sweat equity to turn it into their home: paint, replace some siding, wipe windows, clean, and let loose their hearts to bring life back into it. Her husband, Aaron, loved the outbuildings and there was plenty of fixing up to do. They had two children, Max and Maddie. Maddie, a studious eight-year-old, found her room right away; it got lots of sun and she knew that on a cold morning, her room would be the warmest. Max, a man already at twelve, was oblivious to anything that didn’t have to do with tractor pulls or horses or go-carts or when he was hungry.

In the evening, the sun’s rays brightened the living room just before supper. In the morning, the sunrise crested the barn across from the back porch and lit up the breakfast nook and kitchen.

The house had white boards over wood frame and black shudders next to tall windows with four panes of glass in each. The front porch faced the gravel road and it had enough space for two chairs and a small table; the small table would be good for iced tea during the spring and hot chocolate during the fall. Nobody would be out there during the winter or summer. The back porch was wide and long with plenty of room for family get togethers. The porch floor boards creaked when anyone over a hundred pounds got on them, but they held their own well enough. The driveway was gravel, but there was a brick pad right at the back porch for rainy days.

The Madison’s pulled up in their dually (a hefty pickup truck with four rear wheels vs. two) to the back porch and the stock trailer fell in line right behind it. The trailer was loaded with their furniture; although, nice furniture and young kids rarely go hand in hand.

The dually stopped and the doors popped open. Maddie eased her way out and Max leapt out!

I get first pick! Max shouted and made a mad dash for the back door.

Max! Maddie shouted and hurried after him. I already picked my room!

Aaron got out and had simple things on his mind. He looked at the rolling hills and then he looked at the ragged barn; it was a great place to store his tractor, gator, golf cart and other toys during the winter. Oh yeah.

Michelle pushed the door shut and looked at Maddie and Max. Doors locked.

Max rolled his eyes, That’s why we’re standing here.

You need to carry something in. Aaron said and dipped his cowboy hat at the trailer.

Mom, do I have to get something? She frowned and crossed her arms.

I love the windows. Michelle said and looked at the south side of the house. Gosh that’ll be great during the spring, just look at the land. Her eyes wandered lazily along the hillside.

Max, let’s go. Aaron said.

Max looked at Maddie, If she does.

How bout if my boot does a swift kick to your backside. Aaron went to the back of the trailer, pulled the cross bar up, and opened the large swing gate. C’mon.

Yes, sir. Max walked over and looked at their things piled inside. If I pull on that, it’s all going to come out. He looked his dad over who was six feet tall and stocky.

No, it’s not. Aaron smiled and sighed. Teamwork.

C’mon Maddie, Michelle said. We’re going to love it here.

Aunt Kim and Uncle Jared will be here soon. Aaron said and smacked Max on his head. Nice to have a younger couple coming. He laughed.

She is young and has the looks to boot. Michelle frowned and then pushed her cheeks back.

Honey, she’s all of five years younger and has no kids. He shook his head.

Thank Jared for that.

Ouch. He smacked her butt.

Mom, what … Maddie thought about it. Thank Uncle Jared for what?

They’re catching onto what we say. Michelle kicked her husband. Nothing, let’s get this started.

Chapter Two

Shadows

Michelle’s sister, Kim, stopped by with her husband, Jared. Kim was a great deal more forthright than Michelle; if she had something to say, she held back only if it might cause death. Kim’s dirty blond hair was longer than Michelle’s and her figure was shapelier, but she had no kids, nor any desire to have any … yet. Jared was slim and only an inch shorter at five-eleven. He spoke less often and looked at Kim sometimes to answer for him.

Hey! Kim shouted and went right to the task. Jared, grab the chairs.

Got it.

It didn’t take long to empty the trailer. Kim and Jared had the remainder of Michelle and Aaron’s things.

So, the back porch is going to be your front porch? Jared asked.

Aaron looked around. Yeah, driveway’s back here and it’ll keep the kids from the road.

Kim sipped her coffee. Kitchen is so big. She walked past the pantry. Gosh, I wish I had a pantry that deep.

Like a jail cell. Jared said. Put the kids in there when they misbehave.

That’s illegal. Max said. Call the police on you.

From inside there? Jared reached out to grab Max.

Ah! He ran into the living room.

It’s not a layout I’ve ever seen before. Kim said and went into the living room. The living room runs the length of the house.

Yeah, Michelle farted.

Aaron shook his head and waved his hand in front of his nose. Christ, I wondered when her butt would chime in!

Got to break the house in. Michelle laughed.

Like taking a dump, but you don’t see me squat over the floor and lay eggs. Aaron walked over to the bay window and cranked it open.

You take a dump, it won’t be over easy, it’ll be scrambled with that chili you ate last night. She farted again and the noise rattled out of her jeans.

You are so gross, Michelle. Kim shook her head and set her coffee down. I think we’ve done all we came here for.

Kim, hang on. Michelle went to the kitchen.

Jared, thanks for the help. Aaron shook his hand.

Glad my wife doesn’t fart as hardcore as yours. He waved his hand around. That’s a smell you just can’t wash off with soap.

Try being married to her. Aaron said and fanned the air around him.

No, thank you … Kim’s enough. Jared looked around. Woodwork’s really nice.

Original, though the last people painted the bannister white. Aaron looked around. Going to sand it back to the natural wood finish.

What about the windows?

Michelle wants verticals and curtains. Aaron shook his head.

Huh, Jared looked up and his eyes followed a faint shadow across the loft.

What? Aaron looked up.

My eyes. He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes hard. Sometimes my eyes play tricks on me.

What’d you see? Aaron looked at the loft that separated the kids’ rooms from the master bedroom.

Shadow went across the loft. He looked along the rail that ran to the bannister. Prob-lee, Max up there.

Max, your uncle Jared’s leaving! He waved. Son! Aaron walked over to the bannister and tapped the rail.

Michelle and Kim came out of the kitchen.

Kim held up a card, gift card for Applebee’s.

That’s all we have out here. Jared said.

Max walked in from the front of the house.

Aaron was puzzled. Hey buddy, we talked about the back porch is the front porch.

And the back porch is the only place to come in. Max finished.

Back in my day, you’d get a smack for being a sassy pants. Kim said.

I’m wearing jeans, not pants. Max rolled his eyes.

Son, Aaron stared him down. Say thank you.

Thank you, Max said and hugged Jared, then Kim.

Love you, Kim said and hugged Maddie.

Thanks so much. Aaron pointed toward the road. Watch out at the top of the hill. Crest on the right, well you know folks out here drive in the center on gravel until someone’s coming.

Jared and Kim stopped at the top of the drive. To the left was downhill and to the right was the crest of the hill. Jared looked at the hill. Looks clear.

That evening, supper was two thin crust pizzas, pop, and cinnamon sticks.

Be an early night, Michelle looked at Maddie first and then Max.

I’m twelve.

And? Michelle asked.

Twelve means midnight. Max said.

Aaron kicked his son’s chair. Twelve means you’re too young to be up until midnight, try eight-thirty.

Besides, there’s nothing going on at midnight. Michelle said. Gosh, our first night in our own house. She was giddy! On the box right at the kitchen door, she jerked out a sign. We have to hang it before bed!

Aaron looked at her and smiled. Yes, we do. They went to the back porch and saw an old nail just beneath the porch light. There ya go.

Michelle got the chain over the hook. The Madison’s.

Aaron happily sighed. Then, he pulled Michelle close and hugged her. We made it.

We did. She kissed him and then they went inside.

By seven-thirty, Aaron was asleep on the living room floor and his body was sprawled out across the floor. Michelle had her spices put away and focused on the dry goods in the pantry. Maddie watched a show on her tablet. Max was outside and his curiosity pulled him along.

Max stood at the large doors to the ragged barn. The red barn was weather beaten by the wind, rain, and cold. The boards were warped and the doors didn’t close tightly. Okay, he pulled at the door to the left and it slid about a foot. Then, he pushed the door on the right and it slid open a few inches. Dumb things.

Michelle looked into the living room and looked at the glow on Maddie’s face. Time to turn that off and get ready to bed.

Upstairs is cold. Maddie complained.

I’ll turn the heat on. She said and walked to the bannister. Where’s Max?

He’s doing what he’s not supposed to be doing. Maddie said. Exploring.

Honey, she looked at Aaron. "Honey. She raised her voice but didn’t yell. Okay, you asked for it … fart time. She turned and got her butt positioned just near his face. Then, she gritted her teeth and her cheeks bunched up. The fart bursts through her jeans in a series of pops! Let’s go!" Then, she turned quickly and rushed to the stairs.

Gross! Maddie said and followed her mom upstairs.

Gosh damnit, Michelle! Aaron turned over and choked. I’m going to have your ah …

Language! She shouted from the loft.

Language my ass. You crap yourself, I’m saying so. He sat up and stretched. A shadow passed by. He squinted and the shadow was gone. Damn stench.

Max is exploring and it’s bedtime. She followed Maddie to her room.

What?

Your son, he’s outside exploring. She shouted from Maddie’s bedroom.

Great. He got up, stretched hard, and looked at his watch. Exploring what?

Everything in the barn had a shadow that stood near it like a guard; an old wagon, pitch forks, boards that were never going to be used, manure forks, several bales of musty hay, a couple of barn cats, and ropes. Cool. He stepped in and looked up. Dusts drifted around him. The outside street lamp lit up the whole of the back of the house and pierced through the opening in the barn. This is cool.

There, a few feet ahead of him, was a Radio Flyer Wagon covered in dust and dirt.

He walked over to it and got the handle. Then, he froze. A tall shadow moved swiftly past the back wall. Hello. Silence rippled through the space between him and the shadow. Wind crept through the large doors and dust swirled around him. Hello.

The shadow faded into one of the many dark crevices in the barn.

He trembled and forgot about his grip on the handle of the wagon. The handle fell from his hand and thumped on the hard ground.

Max jumped and then got his wits back. Dumb wind. He got the handle again and pulled on it, but the wagon wouldn’t budge. What the heck. He pulled hard, lost his grip, and fell back on the ground! Owe. The handle flew up and back against the wagon, Clang! Then, the wagon rolled up to him and stopped just a foot or so from his feet. He swallowed hard and stared at the Radio Flyer just as it stared right back at him. Weird.

Meow. A cat edged out from the darkness.

Dumb farm cat.

The wind rattled the big doors and Max turned to see who was behind him. Stop trying to scare me.

The wagon squeaked and the handle fell to the ground right at Max’s crotch!

Hey! He shot up and looked around. The cat was gone and then a huge shadow clouded the doorway. Goose bumps bubbled up all over him.

Bed time, son. Aaron stood at the doors. Don’t come in here no more till I’ve looked it over.

Max turned and walked quickly to his dad. He threw his arms around him and held him. Yes, sir.

Don’t be scared of the dark. He looked around.

Meow, the cat trotted to the side of the barn with three kittens in tow.

Dumb farm cats, Aaron said and turned. C’mon.

They walked out of the barn and back to the house.

"I’m not.’ Max turned once and looked at the large barn doors. The dark space in the barn devoured the light and a shadow watched Max go back to the house.

Near two in the morning, Max turned and sneezed. The house smelled different, moldy or dirty. He sat up, got his shirt up and wiped his nose. The room was bigger than he liked, but there were three to pick from and he picked this one. Maddie was in the next room. Mom and dad were down the hall.

The hallway split on both ends of the house. To the left was the master bedroom and to the right was a full bath. On the other end, there were Max’s bedroom and a hall closet. Maddie’s room was in the middle next to a half bathroom with the loft in front of her door.

Max heard something; the house creaked and branches rustled against the side of the house.

The boy didn’t know what to think when his dad said, houses settle. He wondered how settled they were. His eyes widened when a shadow formed near the base of his open door, but there was nothing in the hall or so he thought. Mom?

The shadow wasn’t really more than a bulge that ran up the door frame and stopped about midway, just past the door jam.

Maddie, don’t be dumb. He sat up and looked at the lump. Goose bumps bubbled up all over his arms! Maddie, I mean it. His eyes drifted back and forth across the door and he made a fist. Maddie?

The shadow grew up the door frame just as chills rippled across his body.

Maddie! He pulled his legs up to his chest.

Max, Michelle said and stood at the doorway. What’s wrong?

He swallowed hard, Thought Maddie was messing with me.

She will be if you yell again. Michelle walked in and knelt at his bed. You all right?

Yeah, he stretched his legs out and laid back down.

It’s a new house son, so you’re going to hear and see different things. She ran her hand through his thick hair.

I know. He leaned over and looked past her. Are shadows alive?

Son, she said and thought. No. She got up and walked to the door. And shadows can’t hurt anyone. The hallway nightlight caught her smile. Good night, She turned and went back to bed.

Good night, he laid back and, after a few minutes, fell fast asleep.

Chapter Three

Window Blinds

Early the next morning, Michelle had eggs, bacon, and toast on large platters. The country table was round and had a leaf that made the table bigger for family. Thanksgiving’s coming. Her smile broadened.

She looked breakfast over and touched her fall tablecloth. Fall is the best time. She looked at the door to the kitchen. Hey!

Mom, where’s my new dress? Maddie