Monday, April 21, 2008

Future Updates

I have decided that I'm going to find some way to update my blog at least once a week. I might just post silly little nothings, or a hastily drawn sketch (probably from MS Paint... I still don't know what's wrong with the scanner). For right now, I think I'll try brushing off my writing abilities and change a one-panel comic I drew quite a while back into a short short-story.
So, here it goes (keep in mind that this is a spur of the moment thing... so it won't be perfect by any means):


If these walls could talk

Linda and Will were of that rare type of relationship which grew from adolescent camaraderie into something more mature. They were best friends since meeting in third grade, and one moonlit night three years ago, they became that and more. Under the stars, they had come to the realization that they couldn't bear the thought of ever being without each other. They had never even kissed before that night, but for some reason the planets aligned, their hearts beat faster, and their eyes opened.

Now Linda clings to Will's arm. They are newlywed, and the stars still shine bright in their young eyes. Today they are moving into their new house. They try to suppress their anxiety. This will be their first time entering the old, modest construction rather than viewing it through photographs. It may have been a brash move to make, but the price was right, and they are eager to start a life all their own. Once the paperwork was finished, they hopped a plane and now they stand just outside their very own home, surveying the foundation of their future. Will opens the front door and peers in hesitantly. Linda takes advantage of his turned back, and uses all her might to lift him off the ground. She carries him past the threshold. Will laughs, but isn't wholly surprised. On their short, cheap honeymoon Linda had sworn she wouldn't stand for being carried through every new door the two of them crossed together. This was just payback.

Once nestled in the gloom of the house, Linda sets her husband down and tries to regain her composure (and breath). They smile at each other, Will still laughing. It is then that they hear it: a strange, almost groaning sound. The couple's bodies go rigid, their eyes go wide. They both hear it -- something resembling a voice in the vaguely metallic noise. It doesn't last long, and when silence begins to seem certain, Will asks "Did you hear what I did?" Linda shrugs, her eyes still wide; she doesn't know what she's just heard. The noise starts again. This time it sounds less like something clanging against old steel, and has an eerie creaking sound. Will and Linda huddle together silently, listening hard, trying to discern some meaning in the noise. This time the voice is more apparent and they hear the words. As soon as the creaking voice ceases, Will takes his wife by the hand, and they run out the door.

By the road, next to many of their worldly possessions they look at each other, dazed and pale.

"What was that!?" Linda pleads.

"I don't know, but I'm going to find out right now." Will pulls out his cell phone and calls the real estate agent. "Jared, this is Will Barter..."

"Oh, Mister Barter! How do you and the misses like the house?"

"That's what I've called you about! I'm telling you, this place is haunted! My wife and I just heard... things."

"What's that? It's nothing, I'm sure. Old houses make lots of noises. Old pipes, old, strong wood."

"You don't understand! There was a voice from nowhere!"

"A voice, Mister Barter?"

"Yes, Jared, a voice! The first time I think it said 'good enough, I suppose.' How do you explain that?"

"Oh, that! Don't worry about that," Jared Green replies sagely.

Will looks at his wife, far paler than usual, shivering in the summertime. He draws her close to him, and presses the button on his cell to turn on speaker phone. If there's a good explanation, he wants, he needs, his wife to hear it. "Okay, Jared, maybe I imagined the first one, but the second time, I'm sure there was a voice that said 'Well, alright... I guess... that's fine... really...' Now, why, how, would our house say something like that?!"

"Like I've said: It's an old house, Mr. Barter. What you heard was the house settling."

5 comments:

Unknown said...

i am the drummer from saddest factory i want to communicate with you i live in KALAMAZOO MI my phone number is 269-744-5569

Saddest Factory said...

James,

Hullo. Um... I'm not that big on calling strangers, especially if I don't know what the tone of the conversation will be. In fact, I'm not that keen on using phones at all, unless I know a person pretty well first.

So, instead of me calling you, how about you send me an email? Send it to: sylent_c(at sign)yahoo(dot)com.

~Adam.

Sandra Novack said...

I love the last lines--they are so poignant, particularly about the "house settling." Love that Linda is the one who carries Will over the doorway! Great rhythm and sentences, too, Adam. I admire the whimsy.

Did I ever tell you I grew up in a haunted house? Spent most of my life there. The house itself was built in 1848 and lived through the war. Lots of strange noises, shadows, things crashing (that was the first night we moved in—very strange). Sometimes our dogs, two collies, would start barking at the stairway for no reason. It was really sort of spooky.

Speaking of: Do you watch Ghost Hunters?! I make Phil watch it every Wednesday, but I LOVE IT!

Re: Blogging. Good to keep regular like most things in life. I try to post every few days, regardless of whether I have anything to say at all! Sometimes it’s a real drag thinking of things, and then I just post goofy stuff, like questionnaires and crap. :)

Saddest Factory said...

Hey Sandy!

I hadn't heard about you growing up in a haunted house. Sounds kinda neat (and eerie). There's actually been some speculation about my house being haunted too. An old friend actually swears he saw a ghost here once! I've never seen anything, but I do feel apprehensive late at night when I'm alone in the kitchen with the lights off.

Regarding Ghost Hunters: Nah, I've seen a couple of clips, but can't really check it out... You see, I have the bare minimum of channels: 2, 5, 8, 11 (17 and 36 if I'm lucky). The idea behind the show seems great though.

Thanks for the input on the story, and I'm glad that you seemed to like it!

Also, I think the little questionnaires/silliness you post are fun!

Sandra Novack said...

Ohhh, Adam. Very cool about your house. I am really sort of a freak about ghosts (ask Phil--he will tell you). There is a group of women in Whitesburg who go hunting for ghosts! (I've never been invited because they are cliquey snobs!!!!) But the leader is the police chief, Juanita. Very hush, hush.