Phantom Manor

Chapter 1: The Class Makeup

In the western part of the state of Arizona, beyond the Great Thunder Mountain to the north, lies the quiet town of Thunder Mesa. At first glance, you would think this town had come out of some kind of Clint Eastwood movie that the cable company would play every Friday at 2am in the morning. But at a closer look, you'd notice that this old rugged town was on the verge of a canyon that looked like it would swallow the rest of the town up if it felt like it. Panning to the right, a large and rundown mansion stood on the foot of a hill overlooking the rest of Thunder Mesa.

"This mansion was the home of what famous company head?" a professor was saying.

A young girl about the age of 19 and wavy brown hair quickly raised her hand.

"Yes, miss uh…" the professor stammered, trying to remember the girl's name.

"Martenza. Rosemary Martenza." The girl replied.

"Right." He shrugged. "Do you know the answer?"

"Henry Ravenswood, professor." Rosemary answered with confidence.

"Very good." The professor smiled. "At least someone…" he looks over to a scruffy black-haired kid asleep on his desk. "…is paying attention IN HISTORY! WAKE UP BURNEST!"

The guy jerked awake and fell out of his desk. He looked up disgruntledly at the professor.

"Sorry prof. History just bores me to the grave." The guy yawned. He was 23 years old.

"Oh, come on Roger." A girl with blonde braids and about 20 years old shouted. "At least stay awake and pay attention. This is the third time you've taken this class."

"Miss…" the professor strained to remember her name but got it before she could correct him, "Richards, I appreciate you looking out for your friend, but would you please let me handle my own students?"

The girl began to blush with embarrassment and slowly slumped down into her chair until only her eyes were seen. Suddenly, two people rush into the classroom, panting. One of them was holding a book called "Paranormal Entities and Their Classifications".

"Sorry we're late Professor Ronney." One of the boys said, still trying to catch his breath. Professor Ronney looked disappointingly at them.

"Mr. Erikson, Mr. Vendez, this has been the third time this month you have been late to my class. I would like to have a word with you both after class about your current placement in the class."

Both boys nodded their heads nervously and went over to take their seats. One of them sat next to Rosemary, the other next to the blonde girl named Richards. Rosemary put her hand on top of her classmate.

"What is it you were reading about this time Robert?" she asked.

Robert looked at her. "We'll talk about it with the rest of the crew at lunch." Rosemary nodded quickly. At that moment, the bell rang, signaling the end of class. Robert sighed heavily, knowing that his talk with Professor Rooney was near.

"All right class. That's it for today. Please read chapter 17 on the Ravenswood family and the aftermath of the Thunderbird Earthquake please. We will have a quiz on what was covered today next class."

The students began shuffling out of the classroom, until it was just Robert, Rosemary, Richards, and Vendez. Professor Rooney looked up at the girls.

"I would like to speak to your friends for a few minutes alone please. This will only take about ten minutes tops."

The both of them got up and left. Rooney then gave out a great sigh towards the both of them.

"First, let me ask you boys a question: what is it you are studying for?" Professor Rooney asked.

Robert stood up and answered first. "I plan to be a horror writer. I've always been told that my papers are perfect, I've got straight A's in English, and I even won a writing contest."

"And you Chris?" Professor Rooney asked.

"Well, I always did want to be a famous TV host. Been doing good so far." Chris answered.

Professor Rooney then walked around his desk. "Those are some pretty good career choices boys. English is very important in the world. Public speaking is also pretty important. But let me ask you this: what is *truly* the most important core class requirement that everyone has to take?" he asked. Both boys looked at each other. Rooney then let out a huge sigh.

"History!" he said, his voice echoing of the walls of the auditorium. "The most important thing people need to know is history. It is what made us what we are. The old saying 'history repeats itself' rings true even now." The two boys just blankly stared at him.

"Look!" Professor Rooney said. "The point here is that you two are failing."

"What?!" they exclaimed.

"You boys have missed so many classes that your grades have begun to slip. You are both looking at a D by the end of the semester."

Robert was appalled. He hadn't thought that the attendance hadn't counted for much but thought that he must've overlooked something in the syllabus. He now jumped up from his chair.

"Isn't there something that we could do to raise our grades? Anything?" He pleaded.

Rooney thought for a moment and then snapped his fingers. "There is one way to get your grade back up." Robert jumped with excitement. "But..." Rooney stopped Robert dead in his tracks, "it will cost you your spring break." Robert looked at Chris with dread in his eyes. He and Chris had thought of going to Disneyland for their spring break, seeing as they had saved up enough money to even take the girls with them for three days there. To have to cancel that to raise their grade would be disheartening. Robert looked back at Professor Rooney and sadly nodded his head. Chris, very distraught about all of this, also nodded.

"All right then boys. You will each write a three-page paper about the town we were just talking about: Thunder Mesa. You will gather research on the town by going there and talking to people. Once you have finished, you will turn it in to me by next class on Monday. After which you will be quizzed on what you had learned about its history. Should you pass the quiz and the paper gets accepted, I will reward you with three weeks' worth of your absences. Do we have a deal, gentlemen?"

Both nodded their heads. Once they had arranged the location of where Thunder Mesa was, they set out to the local McDonald's to talk to their friends.

"Man, I can't believe that he's making us go to a stupid ragged old town." Robert said.

"Well, that's what you get when I have to get your sorry ass to college. Robert, I can't keep doing this. I can't keep suffering losses in academics just because you won't get up on time."

"I know Chris and I'm sorry." Robert said. Chris stopped dead in his tracks.

"No Rob, don't give me that crap again." Chris said annoyed. "You listen to me. Today was the last time I do this for you. Next time, if you aren't up on time at exactly the time we said, I am leaving you at the dorm."

Robert stopped cold and turned to face him. "What? You're gonna leave me behind now?" Robert said.

Chris walked up to him and grabbed him by the shoulders. "Look, you're my best friend and all, but right now I need to start looking out for myself more often. I can't keep dragging around a 20- year old man who should have already got his driver's license by now. It's time you started taking care of yourself."

Robert gave out a sigh. He knew he was right, but he just didn't like admitting it to Chris. Robert stood there thinking about how abundant his friendship with Chris had been so far, having met him in high school after Chris admired Robert's writing skills, especially how Chris liked Robert's first novel "The Haunting of the Attic".

"He's right." Robert said out loud. "I need to start getting my life together, starting with the license." He looked around the hallway. "Just as soon as I get back from Thunder Mesa." And he hurriedly walked down the hallway to catch up with Chris.