Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Published: 2012
Categorie(s): Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Short Stories, Occult & Supernatural, Gothic
Tag(s): "old house" "mysterious mirror" "fruithills suspense
series"
Second Sight
Creakkkkkkkk .was the sound of the opening door.
Good heavens, what an awful noise! You really need to oil
that, Samantha exclaimed as she and her college friend
Brooke entered the old house, looking about the room, filled
with furniture, some shrouded with sheets.
Nobodys lived here for a while, Brooke replied. It only
figures that some things need work.
Well, your to-do list is obviously going to be a long one,
Samantha said with a touch of scorn. Are you really going to
keep this place?
I dont know yet, Brooke said, closing the door behind
them and squinting in the bright early morning sunlight that
poured through the uncovered bay windows across the room.
Samantha promptly sneezed and shook her head. This place
is a dust pit.
Brooke walked across the room to a darkened corner. Gee,
thats funny, this is the only spot in the room where the light is
dim. She shivered. And its cooler over here; actually downright cold.
She stopped in front of an ornate wooden frame that surrounded an old mirror on a floor pedestal. The glass was a bit
wavy, likely due to age, but it was unbroken and undamaged.
Samantha stood across the room with a frown on her face.
So this was your great-aunts place? She was what, a hundred
years old when she died?
Yes, it belonged to Aunt Lydia, and no, she was only 85, but
the house has been in our family for at least a hundred years.
Her father came here to the Fruithills area years earlier.
Well, it is brick and seems to be built pretty well. But youll
be lucky to sell it in this market climate.
Im not sure I want to sell, Brooke said in a somewhat wistful tone. But really, its not just up to me. She left it to all
three of us. My brother Bill, and my sister Maddie will be here
later today. Theyre arranging for a local realtor to give us an
appraisal. Aunt Lydia never married, and we were her only
great nieces and nephew. Our mother was pleased that she left
it to us, rather than to her.
another man came in. The officers had their guns trained on
the robber, who dropped his quickly.
The officers subdued him without incident, said a few words
to the man who had accompanied them, and led the thief away.
The man then went over to the group who now stood facing the
front door.
Thanks, Mr. Harris, Bill said. Then turning to Brooke, he
continued. This is one of gentlemen from the realtors office
that we went to see. His partner Mr. Collins told us that there
had been some thefts in this neighborhood and that the police
were currently investigating, but I had no idea theyd be so
close.
Actually, they werent, Mr. Harris said. Since our office is
just down the street, Id walked over from my office and was
taking some outside measurements while you were talking with
Mr. Collins. I saw that man enter the house earlier, and was
suspicious enough to call the police. I was just ready to come
in myself, when they arrived.
We sure are glad you did, Maddie told him.
What do you think about Mr. Harriss office doing the appraisal, Brooke? Bill asked her.
Brooke turned slightly, catching out of the corner of her eye
the reflection of Mr. Harris in the mirror behind them. His image was just of a middle aged friendly man in the glass - exactly how he looked when Brooke moved forward to shake his
hand.
I know hell do a fair job, and a good one, she answered.
But were keeping the Magic Mirror, she added smiling.
Anything you say, Sis, Bill said. He turned to look in the
mirror, patting once again the bald spot on top of his head.
But if this thing is magic, I would have hoped it could have
given me a little more hair.
She said it was Magic, Bill, Maddie explained. She didnt
say it worked Miracles.
Their mutual laughter helped to ease the tension in the room.
How about a late lunch before we get down to business,
Mr. Harris said. Theres a great sandwich shop next to our office. My treat.
Bill and Maddie followed Mr. Harris to the door, but Brooke
still stood by the mirror.
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