Way out beyond Maine, in some desert-like area, Dr. Babcock was driving his kids toward Maine. A song played on the radio and Dr. Babcock decided to sing along:
That's life (that's life), that's what all the people say
You're ridin' high in April, shot down in-
Courtney, annoyed, turned off the radio.
"Oh honey I'm sorry about the cheerleading squad." Dr. Babcock knew why Courtney was moody. "I don't care what they said, you are not demented. You are a picture of mental health."
"They were talking about you...and sometimes also Norman." Courtney corrected. "I mean, try explaining 'afterlife psychiatry' to bunch of high school kids and that your brother is fascinated with the subject as well."
"Actually, I'm just fascinated with ghosts in general." Norman corrected.
"That doesn't help your case bro." Courtney shook her head. "I mean seriously, you must be the only kid I know who watches old zombie movies and studies the paranormal."
"Well normal is overrated." Dr. Babcock said. "Many normal people never go through life questioning the norm, but we're doing something extraordinary with our lives."
"No, 'we' aren't doing anything, you're the one who's been packing up our stuff and moving us around the country." Courtney pointed out. "I mean, in two years I've gone to nine different high schools, I've eaten in nine different cafeterias...I can't even remember anyone's name. Just once I'd like to be in one place long enough to make a friend."
"Honey, you will." Dr. Babcock said. "I mean come on, we're moving to Friendship, Maine. Even Norman and I might make a couple."
Norman just looked sad.
"Yeah well you'd better dad because a single guy your age is more likely to become a bank hostage than to make new friends." Courtney retorted sarcastically.
Dr. Babcock chuckled.
"You sound like your mother." He said.
There was a pause at that.
"You're not gonna find her." Courtney said. "Mom's not a ghost dad."
"Oh yes she is." Dr. Babcock said confidently. "She has unfinished business."
"There's no such thing as ghosts."
Norman winced. If only Courtney knew...
Dr. Babcock suddenly stopped the car.
"I'll tell you what: you and Norman go with me this one last time, and if I don't find what I'm looking for then it's over." Dr. Babcock said. "No more moving no more ghost mining."
"You promise?" Courtney smiled.
"Promise."
"Deal." Courtney held out her pinky.
"Norman, what do you say?" Dr. Babcock said.
Norman hesitated. To be honest the main reason why he liked traveling all over the country with his family was because it was a welcome distraction from the loneliness he felt over his belief that he'll never be able to make a friend. However he loved his dad and sister enough to want to see them happy even if it'd make him miserable...especially since they were all that he had left.
"Okay." Norman said, holding out his pinky as well. "Deal."
The three of them did a pinky-swear. Dr. Babcock then started the car and continued heading for Friendship, Maine.
Once in Friendship they continued driving all the way to the manor and stopped near the front of it. Dr. Babcock and Courtney got out of the car, then Norman followed.
"Wow, it's not so bad huh?" Dr. Babcock tried to make light of the obviously run-down manor.
"If you're Stephen King." Courtney replied dryly.
Norman however loved the look of the manor...though admitted to himself that it did need some fixing up and cleaning.
They then heard a car honk and saw Carrigan's car drive up. Carrigan and Dibs arrived.
"Dr. Babcock hello." Carrigan said. "I am Carrigan Crittenden...and this is Dibs."
"Hello." Dibs said, shaking Dr. Babcock's hand. "I'm a close, personal friend."
"And these are my kids: Courtney." Dr. Babcock introduced.
"His close, personal daughter." Courtney added dryly.
"And Norman." Dr. Babcock finished.
"His...son." Norman said shyly.
"How nice to meet you both." Carrigan said.
"Very nice to meet you both." Dibs echoed.
Carrigan grabbed Courtney's face.
"You have a beautiful daughter Dr. Babcock." Carrigan said. "And your son...is unique as well."
Norman rolled his eyes. He knew his tall hairdo and faceted eyes tended to put off most people.
"Very beautiful and very unique." Dibs echoed as he moved Carrigan's arm so that Courtney was facing him.
"I can't tell you how happy we are that you could come all the way to Prenderghast." Carrigan said as she moved Courtney's face back towards her.
"Very happy." Dibs echoed, moving Courtney's face towards him.
"The both of us."
"You're kinda hurting my face." Courtney said.
Carrigan and Dibs looked at each other awkwardly.
"Sorry." Carrigan said callously, letting go.
Courtney massaged her chin.
"Now, Dr. Babcock, exactly what kind of time frame are you looking at?" Carrigan then went over to their dad. "Please tell me you just go in the house and spray and that's it."
Dibs mimicked using a spraying can.
"No no no, as with traditional psychological cures it can take weeks or even years." Dr. Babcock chuckled at the idea of a spray can for psychiatry.
"Excuse me, you didn't just say the word 'years' did you?" Carrigan asked.
"It's conceivable." Dr. Babcock shrugged.
"No, it isn't. Days is conceivable." Carrigan corrected. "Weeks, maybe."
"Possibly." Dibs agreed.
"Months, no. Years, forget it." Carrigan finished sternly.
"Forget it." Dibs echoed.
"Dibs check." Carrigan snapped her fingers.
Dibs brought out a check and Carrigan snatched it.
"Get the bouquet." Carrigan ordered.
Dibs rushed back to the car.
"Now, Dr. Babcock, I will be watching you very closely." Carrigan warned.
Dibs brought out a huge bouquet in a ceramic pot and Carrigan grabbed it.
"These are for you." She forced the bouquet into Dr. Babcock's arms.
"Have a lovely night." Dibs added dryly.
They both got back into the car and drove away.
"I don't like them." Norman frowned.
"You and me both brother." Courtney agreed.
"Thank you for waiting until they were out of earshot before saying that." Dr. Babcock said a little sternly. "And yes I don't like them either but I am getting paid for this so..."
"Eh, after those two whatever's in that 'house of horrors' can't be any worse." Courtney shrugged.
"Be careful what you wish for sis." Norman chuckled.
"Not funny bro."
"Sorry."
They then headed inside...and even Courtney had to admit that the interior looked a lot better than the exterior. Though that probably was because the interior was a lot more colorful. Even so the size and eccentricity of it caused them to drop their luggage with astonishment.
"Wow." Courtney said.
"Cool." Norman smiled.
Meanwhile, Aggie was watching from the floor of her bedroom.
"He's here...he's in my house...I did it!" Aggie got excited but then started to grow nervous. "What if he likes me...what if he doesn't...? 'Hi I'm Aggie, I'm a...ghost?' No, that's a total disaster. Ugh... 'Yo I'm Aggie! 'Sup, gimme five!'." She then winced. "Nah, way too awkward..."
She then got startled by her bedroom lights turning on. Dr. Babcock had just found the generator.
"Huh." Truthfully he was a little surprised to find that the generator was still operational. "See, that was easy."
"Yeah, these should hold for now but we'd better get 20 amps in the morning." Courtney replied as she closed the fuse box.
"Yeah...I guess 20 will do fine..." Norman, truthfully, had no idea what Courtney was saying; he wasn't exactly good with electronics.
They then headed back to the main floor.
"Well, I'd better find my room." Courtney said as she picked up a backpack and a laundry bag that had a tag with her name on it.
"Yeah, I'm gonna look for one too." Norman did the same thing, only with his backpack and laundry bag.
"Will you two be okay on your own?" Dr. Babcock made sure.
"Hey, if we're not back in ten days: send a search party." Courtney smirked as she started going up the stairs.
Norman sniggered.
They walked down the hallway, not knowing that Aggie was following them. Courtney then opened the first door, but it was dark so she had to turn on the light. There she and Norman saw three beds, and Courtney read the names on each one:
"Stretch? Fatso? And Stinkie?"
"Geez, they must've had cruel parents." Norman winced.
"Yeah wonder where Doc and Dopey sleep." Courtney agreed dryly.
She turned off the light and they moved on. Soon they came upon another door and opened it. Inside was a much nicer room...Aggie's room.
"Now this is better." Norman said approvingly.
"Yeah, but more sized for a preteen than a teen." Courtney remarked. "You take this one, I'm gonna keep looking."
"Okay. Want me to get the number of the search party before you leave?" Norman smirked.
"Very funny." Courtney retorted before leaving.
"Dad, I found my room! Courtney's still looking!" Norman called down the hall.
"Okay, be right up!" Dr. Babcock called back.
Norman then rested on the bed. It had been a long drive after all.
Outside the room, Aggie would've blushed furiously if she had any skin.
"Omigosh, there's a boy on my bed." She said to herself, flustered. "What am I gonna do?"
Before she could even think of an answer to that question, she heard a noise coming from down the hall. Realizing that Dr. Babcock was coming, she vanished.
Sure enough Dr. Babcock soon arrived with two cardboard boxes containing Norman's things. However the boxes made it hard to see where he was going, unless he was looking forward.
"Dad, in here." Norman guided him, getting off the bed.
"Huh? Oh." Dr. Babcock turned and saw Norman's new room. "Seen any surprises yet?"
"Not yet...ironically this is the deadest place we've ever been in." Norman replied, taking a box.
Dr. Babcock chuckled.
"Oh, this is a nice room." He remarked as he set down the box and sleeping bag he was carrying.
"Yeah, despite the solitude I really do like this place." Norman smiled as he unknowingly dropped his box on Aggie in the closet. "I feel like I'm in one of those horror movies...the ones with happy endings I mean. Yeah they're rare, but they exist."
"Well, as long as it suits you. Hope Courtney found one that suits her as well." Dr. Babcock said as he opened the box he had been carrying.
He pulled out a magazine...and found a photo of his wife Sandra Babcock.
"Oh...mom belongs over here." Norman awkwardly took the photo and placed it on the bedside table.
"Hey...why don't I help you unpack?" Dr. Babcock asked gently.
"Well you still need to get Courtney's stuff to her new room." Norman pointed out. "I'll be fine on my own."
"Oh, okay." Dr. Babcock smiled. "If you say so. Goodnight Norman."
"Goodnight dad." Norman smiled.
They hugged and Dr. Babcock started to leave.
"We're gonna be glad we came, you watch." He said reassuringly.
Norman gave him a small smile in return. Dr. Babcock headed back downstairs.
Norman then unrolled the sleeping bag on the bed and prepared to lay down...only to find the bed uncomfortable beneath his head. Unknown to him, this was because Aggie had morphed into a pillow underneath him. Norman frustratedly punched and fluffed the 'pillow' a few times, gave up, and got back up. He was kinda restless anyway so he decided to go back to unpacking. He started with his laundry bag.
Aggie floated off the bed and, behind Norman, desperately tried to start a conversation. She kept cutting herself off, too shy and nervous to really speak. Then things got worse when Norman tossed a smelly sock over his shoulder...and into Aggie's mouth. Disgusted, Aggie automatically spat the sock back out...at Norman's head. Aggie stiffened with fear as Norman froze, wide-eyed, and got up and turned around.
However, much to her relieved surprise, Norman didn't scream or faint or anything. Instead he just relaxed and smiled.
"Oh, hello." He said. "I'm Norman Babcock."
Aggie gaped at him.
"What's your name?" Norman asked.
"I'm...Aggie..." Aggie said shyly, a bit flustered. "How come you're not scared."
"I'm a Medium." Norman explained. "That is someone who can communicate with the dead. See my dad has never actually seen a ghost, but he's so desperate to find mom as one that he ended up believing in them anyway. So when he started his new business of ghost therapy I decided to help him out by helping ghosts crossover for him whenever he wasn't looking. Ghosts normally can only be visible to their loved ones, which is why some people believe in ghosts while others do not, but Mediums can see all ghosts no matter what."
"Oh..." Aggie smiled with relief. "Is that why your eyes look like gems?" She then metaphorically blushed. "Uh, I mean..."
"Yeah, that's why." Norman smiled. "Also Mediums are a rare part of mom's side of my family tree, so my dad and sister don't even know yet. Mom did, due to her sister having had it last...it's why I miss her so much..." Norman then became sad.
"I'm sorry-" Aggie said sympathetically.
"Hey bro, I finally found my room-" Courtney's voice cut Aggie off as Courtney suddenly walked into Norman's room.
Aggie cringed as Courtney became pale and wide-eyed. Norman tried to mime to Courtney to not scream, but she screamed anyway. Aggie, frightened, ducked into the closet.
"Honey!" Dr. Babcock ran towards Norman's room. "Honey, honey wha-what happened?"
"Dad! Dad I saw a ghost!" Courtney panicked. "It was a real ghost! It was white, it was see-through-"
"Courtney, calm down." Dr. Babcock said comfortingly.
"Dad, do not think I'm as crazy as I thought you were." Courtney said. "I promise-"
"No no, I believe you, but remember ghosts can't hurt you okay? They're simply spirits with unfinished business all right? Now, let's just see about this ghost...let's check here."
He looked into the bathroom.
"Nope, no ghosts here." He then went to the bed. "Check over here...nope, no ghosts. Now, check in there..."
He headed for the closet, and there was Aggie.
"There, see?" Dr. Babcock smiled...before freezing and slowly turning back towards the closet.
"Uh...pleasure to meet you sir." Aggie said awkwardly but politely.
Dr. Babcock slowly screamed in terror. Norman facepalmed...though had to stop once Dr. Babcock suddenly picked him up and carried him over his shoulder. Dr. Babcock then ran out of the room with Courtney following.
"Dad put me down this is insane!" Norman protested. "You just said that ghosts can't hurt...come on dad I can walk you know!"
Dr. Babcock then went into a hall closet. Courtney followed him in just before he shut the door. He then turned on the closet light due to it being pitch black in there.
"Oh my god this is big..." Mr. Babcock said.
"Dad...we're in a closet." Norman deadpanned.
"Right...Norman I want you to stay in here...Courtney look after your brother." Dr. Babcock ordered.
"Okay." Courtney agreed.
Dr. Babcock started to leave the closet...
"Wait." Courtney then quickly said.
Dr. Babcock stopped and held the door open.
"Dad, I'm sorry."
"For what?" Dr. Babcock asked.
"For not believing you. For thinking you and Norman were total losers."
"Oh honey-" Dr. Babcock stopped upon realizing the last thing she said. "Apologize later."
He shut the door on them.
"Total loser?" Norman glared at Courtney.
"Heh...sorry bro..." Courtney said sheepishly.
"I don't believe you...did that ghost even look as if she was trying to hurt anyone?" Norman snapped.
"Um..." Courtney blanched, never having seen her brother lose his temper before. "No..."
"No!" Norman continued. "She actually is very friendly! Her name is Aggie and we could've become friends before you screamed over nothing!"
Courtney didn't say anything, but she did look sorry.