It all started with a Federal Express delivered letter. The minute the chalkie gang saw
the man with his delivery van outside their place, they knew trouble was brewing. Either
that or Ed McMahon had finally came with their windfall.
"But he looks nothing like Ed." Desy said. "And I think they went out of business,
American Family."
"He still owes me money." Nancy grumbles. "As far as I'm concerned I could still be a
winner."
Rose and Jean stole a glance at each other.
"We might as well see who its for." Tippy said taking the lead. "Its probably just
another credit card offer."
"And I get those all the time." Harley said. "I need ten thousand angels to help me tell
them no. If I want to make my move to the states permanent, I can't be wasting on strange things." She thinks a moment. "Wait a tic, its Nancy who buys the strange things."
"What?" Nancy said. "Me?"
"You bought a strange urban legends book that came to life, well the stories anyway."
Desy pointed out. "And that creepy clock that kept the day repeating for at least three
days."
"Oh right, blame me." Nancy rolled her eyes. "This time it will not be my fault, I
swear."
"Are you Nancy?" The delivery man asked. Everyone eyeballed Nancy. They didn't give the
man a chance to say her last name.
"I am." She said weakly. She started to feel like she was in a firing squad, her friends
eyes were all aimed at her.
"This is a special letter for you." The man, who was identified as "Danny" on his name
tag, handed her a clipboard to sign. Nancy quickly signed it, making sure no one could
copy her handwriting, and accepted the letter from the man. He tipped his hat and wished
the girls a good day.
"Well open it!" Jean said.
"I might not open it now. I need reading material later." Nancy said tucking it under her arm.
Desy snuck the letter from under Nancy's arm and ran off with it. "I got it!"
"Hey, no fair, it has my name on it!" Nancy said as they raced around the kitchen table.
Nancy tripped over own foot and fell forward into a chair. She laid with her stomach on
it as Desy stopped to catch her breath. She gave a huge "huh" sound as Desy opened it.
"Dear Ms Nancy blah blah..." she started to read it. "It says here a Linda McMartin just
died."
"Who?" Nancy said taking her letter back. "Thank YOU." She read it over. "Oh my god, I
used to deliver wheels on meals to her. She said she would remember me later for it. She
died last week. I forgot all about her."
"She didn't forget you." Harley said. "Read on."
"Right. Apparently the house she lived in when I still delivered her food is mine now."
Nancy said. "When she said she would remember me later, I half expected a better
Christmas tip. Now I get creepy La Manor."
"And look at this." Desy said. "Its not that far away."
"How could that be? She lived in New Hampshire" Nancy asked. She looked at the letter.
"Mrs McMartin was a crazy old bat who loved her house so much that before she died she
moved it closer to me."
"Ok that’s weird." Jean said. "Why go through that trouble?"
"Beats me." Nancy said. "But if I am to take possession of the house I have to..."
"Wait, let me guess." Rose said. "If sitcom law runs true you have to spend twenty four
hours in it, cause it might be haunted."
"Yes." Nancy said. "And also pay the back taxes, which isn’t much."
"It could be a nice weekend place." Desy said. "With a little paint."
"Well the Overlook Hotel was a nice place too." Harley reminded Desy.
"Little less Stephen King looking, it might be cool." Nancy said. "I have to go and have
witnesses, you know to verify I was there the whole night." Nancy said putting the letter back in the envelope. "And...guys?" Everyone had vanished. "Very funny guys. I might invite the guys too."
"Well having a them might be a nice bonus." Rose said crawling out of the overhead
chandelier.
"Thank you guys, you will not regret it." Nancy said with a relieved smile.
"At least not yet anyway." Jean said with a cocked eye brow. "All right, pack something
for 24 hours. We're going on a very very short road trip."
