September 4, 1948

What the heck is going on around here? Joy thought to herself as she continued to walk. And why am I still holding onto this crazy thing?!

Joy tossed the stick as far into the trees bushes as she could. She shuddered. She wanted to tell someone what she was going through. But at the same time, she felt like she couldn't. Joy went inside the house and lay on her bed.

Everyone else is so much older than me. Even Elizabeth and Drew. Even they would probably laugh at me and say I'm just "a silly kid." And they're the ones closest to my age!

Joy's eyes welled with tears. She did her best to fight them. I sometimes just wish I had someone to talk to. I was born so late after my siblings, it's just hard. My youngest older sibling was nearly 8 when I was born. And I can't remember a time when John-Boy wasn't married to Jenny. I've grown up with her my whole life. I look at her as if she's my real sister, not just a sister-in-law. John-Boy truly did choose the perfect girl.

Then it dawned on Joy. Hadn't Elizabeth gone through something similar at about the same age? Mama and Daddy hadn't talked about it much, but it seems that something odd did happen to Elizabeth when she was an early teenager. Maybe Elizabeth wouldn't think I'm such a silly kid after all.

She decided to talk to her about it the next day. But for now, she decided to read. She picked up her Nancy Drew book, The Ghost Of Blackwood Hall. Just the title would give you chills! After reading a couple pages, Joy decided it was time to put the creepy book down and think about some more pleasant thoughts. She normally loved Nancy Drew and couldn't put the books down. But tonight was different.

Seventh grade already. She thought to herself. I don't feel ready yet. There is so much more before I'm an adult. Jr. high, high school, maybe some college, getting married one day, having kids. Wow! I just don't know sometimes.

Joy looked across the room. There was a glass of apple cider on the dresser.

It's just all so confusing. Why is 13 such a hard age to be?

Joy looked across the room.

The cider is gone!

Joy's heart skipped a beat. Oh my gosh! I'm going crazy! Or something really crazy is happening around here!

Trembling, Joy looked down at her homework trying to concentrate. She dreaded even having to look across the room. But she had to get the date to write on her paper. And the only calendar in the room was across from her bed. Sure enough, the glass of cider was back on her dresser next time she looked. Joy decided to leave the room. As she went into the hallway, she felt a sudden gust of wind blow right in her face. It was perfectly calm today. Not to mention not a single window in the house was open.

Joy ran downstairs.

"What's wrong Honey?" Olivia asked her youngest daughter.

"Nothing, I thought Elizabeth called me."

The 49-year old mother of eight chuckled slightly. "Elizabeth isn't even here. You know that." She paused. "You sure you're okay, Sweetie?"

"I'll be fine." Joy said rather forcefully. "I just have chores to do."

"All right." Olivia replied quietly.

Joy paused. "I'm sorry Mama, I didn't mean to snap at you. It's just… just one of those days."

"It's okay Honey. I understand."

"Thanks Mama." Joy kissed her mother's cheek and went outside.

Later that afternoon, Elizabeth and Drew came over to John and Olivia's.

"Hi Mama," Elizabeth smiled.

"Hey you two, how are my two favorite Cutlers?"

"Fine." Drew smiled.

"I needed to come over and check what size Joy wears. I saw a dress in Charlottesville that would look just darling on her! I was just gonna run upstairs and look in her closet quickly. She isn't around, is she?"

"No, she's out in the barn. Drew and I will keep a watch out if she comes in. We'll distract her."

"Thanks you two." Elizabeth chuckled and went upstairs.

She looked in Joy's closet. Sure enough, her younger sister wore a size 6, just as she had recalled.

As Elizabeth turned around, she couldn't help but notice Joy's journal was laying out on the bed, open.

I think I might be going crazy. I've been seeing weird things. A glass of cider goes missing, a stick I tossed aside half a mile back shows up again. It makes me wonder what is going on. Maybe I really am going crazy! I feel so weird.

Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat. Memories of seven years ago came flooding back. Her sister was experiencing the exact same thing she had experienced not so long ago. Immediately, she wondered how she could help her younger sister. It was a very scary time in her life. She didn't want Joy to have to go through the same thing.

That evening, Elizabeth was lying in bed next to her husband.

Drew cradled his wife. "You're quiet this evening."

"I've sort of got a lot on my mind tonight. I'm sorry."

"Is there anything I can do to help you?" Drew asked.

Elizabeth looked at her husband and smiled slightly. She silently thanked God for giving her this loving, caring man to spend the rest of her life with.

"Did I ever tell you about my 13th birthday?"

Drew's brows furrowed, trying to remember. "I don't think so."

Elizabeth paused, wondering how to begin. She decided to just begin with how it all started. "The fall of 1941 was a hard one for me. As I began the seventh grade, I found myself excited to grow into an adult, yet dreading it at the same time. Aimee noticed it a lot and she didn't find me much fun anymore." Elizabeth kind of chuckled. She paused. "I noticed really…weird things. Fog on the mirror in my bedroom, pictures tilting at odd angles without me touching them, my Raggedy Ann doll changing positions. Erin and I shared a room at that point. I have no idea how she didn't notice all those things. Well, the worst one came the night before my 13th birthday. I had Aimee and a couple other friends over. We began telling ghost stories. Out of nowhere, the lights in the living room turned off the piano began to play by itself, the rocking chair levitated in the air, strong wind gusts blew in the open windows. Daddy and Ben tried to open the front door and close the windows, but they were locked. Finally, I confessed to Mama and Daddy how afraid I was of growing up. When I did that, everything stopped. The wind quit blowing, the lights came back on. Everyone, even Mama agreed that there must have been a poltergeist in the house." Elizabeth said.

A shiver ran down Drew's spine. "Wow, Honey, that's like something right out of a horror movie." He paused. "I never knew that happened to you."

"It was one of the scariest times of my life."

"I bet. Wow, I can't even imagine."

Elizabeth paused. "Drew, can I ask you to keep a secret and not tell anyone, not even my family?"

Drew's heart picked up pace a little. She was about to tell him something pretty bad. He nodded his head. "Sure. I promise."

"It's just for a bit that we'll keep the secret."

"I'm listening." Drew gave Elizabeth a compassionate look.

"When I was upstairs in Joy's room today checking what size she wore, I saw something in her journal. I didn't mean to see it, I really didn't. Drew, I think Joy is experiencing some of the same things I experienced not so long ago. And it frightens me to think of my little sister having to go through that."

"Wow, poor girl. I feel bad."

"So do I. I just wish there was something I could do."

"Maybe you should just talk with her. Let her know you were scared when you turned 13 as well. She probably knows a little about that time in your life, but it might be a good idea to remind her."

Elizabeth smiled at her husband. "I'm gonna come to you with all my problems from now on. You help me figure things out so well."

Drew grinned slightly. "But be prepared for her to deny it, especially if you admit to seeing what she wrote in her journal. Teenagers are a stubborn bunch."

"That they are. I was one of the most stubborn." Elizabeth chuckled.

Drew nodded and yawned. "Oh, I'm sorry Honey."

"It's fine, you've had a long day. We'll talk in the morning?"

"Absolutely." He smiled.

Elizabeth leaned over and planted a soft kiss on his lips. "Goodnight Honey, I love you."

"I love you too Elizabeth Tyler."