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"Are we there yet?" asked Peter.
"No," replied Aunt Nora.
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"
"No!" If there was one question Nora Shepherd was beginning to hate, it was that one. She gripped the steering wheel tightly, trying to blot out her nephew's repeated chants of "Are we there yet?" she slowly counted to ten.
"Are we-"
"Peter that's enough!" Judy's hand clamped down over Peter's mouth as she gave him her trademark "Shut up" look. Eventually she released him.
The nine year old folded his arms and sat there with pout. They had been driving for what seemed like hours, at least that's what it felt like to him when he had nothing to keep him amused, not even a toy or his games console.
Well, this sucks.
Peter sat there with his arms resting on his seatbelt, already fed up with the whole situation. He sunk into the beige leather seat.
Peter sighed as he glumly watched the world pass by. Instead of the industrial estates and skyscrapers of Albany, his home, all that washed past were fields and rural neighorhoods. Everything rushing in a dull, green blur made him nauseous. He tore himself away from windows, they were starting to fog up from the damp air and pouring rain anyway, and quickly fetched a white, paper sick bag from the pouch on the back of Aunt Nora's seat.
Judy glared at him with sharp green eyes as the rustling from him opening the bag disturbed her from her phone call. She tutted, brushing her straw colored locks aside as she spoke into the small pink phone held up to her ear. "No still in the car," she said, trying to blank out the disgusting sound of her little brother puking into a sick bag. "No that's just Shrimp being car sick again. Honestly I think most of it is just dry retching for attention."
Raindrops tumbled down the window like a stampede of wild buffalo. Even from a very young age Peter would turn to counting them to pass the time on long car journeys. However he soon lost count somewhere near two hundred and gave up.
That's odd, what did I eat today that had corn in it? Peter glimpsed at the contents of his sick bag.
"Ugh! Peter! Don't look at it!" Judy yelled, gagging at her brother's morbid fascination with his own vomit. "What were you expecting to be in there?!"
"Well, I had corn today," Peter remarked. "Ah, must have been Aunt Nora's tuna casserole."
Now Judy felt sick. "Aunt Nora, pull over before I throw up!"
"Peter put thing away!" Aunt Nora yelled. "We're almost there, Judy!"
"Where's there?" Peter asked.
"Our new home Peter..." Aunt Nora replied. He's asked that same question five times today already!
"What's wrong with your old house?" Peter asked, sitting up.
"This new place is bigger and in such a lovely neighborhood! You'll make lots of new friends!" Aunt Nora replied.
"I don't want any new friends! I miss my old friends!" Peter whined.
Aunt Nora didn't reply, however Peter could hear her counting again. He decided to shut up for the rest of the trip.
"Well, here we are!" said Aunt Nora full of enthusiasm, pulling up the handbrake. They had arrived at their new home, apparently. Peter stared out of his window at the worn out, decaying mansion. It was barely still standing. The shutters were hanging off, the paint was peeling away in large flakes.
"You have got to be kidding me..." Peter sighed.
"Well, what are you waiting for? let's have a look!" said Aunt Nora.
Peter didn't move until someone kicked him up the butt.
"Move it Shrimp!" said Judy in a venomous tone. Peter shot her an icy glare. That's it! I swear, if you call me that one more time! He grumbled and climbed out of the car, setting his muddy black sneakers on the sidewalk.
He dusted himself off before giving the mansion another once over. Why? Why this place, Aunt Nora? The crumbling white mansion still looked the same as it did when he first saw it, except he made out finer details, that it had Greek style pillars to hold up the porch roof for example, and the wooden shutters were Venetian style. the front lawns were bordered with evil looking razor wire of silly pink roses and spears of thorns. Peter was tempt to rip off the stupid roses and stomp on them. Maybe later when Judy and Aunt Nora aren't around.
To top it off, the derelict mansion was sealed behind ominous, black iron gates fitted with the words "PARRISH HALL".
"Lovely isn't it?" Aunt Nora asked. She waited for her niece or nephew to say something, however they were unusually quiet today. Judy was too busy texting her friends and Peter was gawking at something. "Yes, it's a mansion Peter, and yes we're living here..." Aunt Nora still wanted their opinion regardless of what it was.
"Eh..." said Judy, not even tearing herself away from her mobile phone.
"Peter?" Aunt Nora asked.
Peter and Judy stood transfixed at the sight of their new home.
"Well...?" Aunt Nora asked.
What am i supposed to say Aunt Nora? Oh yes very lovely! Not! What were you thinking?! This place is a dump! Peter was reluctant to speak his mind in case Aunt Nora didn't like the truth.
"What's wrong Peter?" Aunt Nora asked.
"Nothing," Peter mumbled. "Let's just go inside."
"Excellent idea Peter! Well what are we waiting for." said Aunt Nora showing a rare sign of pleasure. She headed down the path of pathing slabs to the front door.
"Liar," said Judy almost hissing like a snake as she grabbed Peter's wrist. "You don't like this place at all! you hate it! just admit it."
"Am I that easy read Jude?" Peter pushed his fringes of chocolate, brown hair out of his eyes.
"Yes..." Judy rolled her emerald eyes. "you have not been your happy go lucky self ever since Mom and Dad died."
"And neither have you Jude." Peter replied. "You've been more distant and harsh towards me. you call me Shrimp! You know i hate being called that! Especially by my sister!"
Peter scowled and turned away from her offended by the way she had been treating him lately.
"Peter..." Judy sighed.
"Hey you two! Are you coming inside or what?" Aunt Nora called from down the path.
Judy wordlessly nodded at Peter to go on ahead. she followed taking in the sights of the rickety old mansion they were to live in.
Whatever Peter was gawking at he must have seen the state this place is in! I don't think anyone has lived here for years! The paint is chipped... there 's a window shutter hanging off of its hinges... I could go on listing everything that was wrong with the place. Aunt Nora needs to see a shrink...
Peter gawked at the imposing black doors of the mansion. They were furnished with silver lion heads for door knockers. He was reluctant to touch them, lest they spring to life and growl at him.
All three of them walked into the enormous mansion.
Opening the door, Nora Shepherd was greeted with the sight of an old foyer lined with columns and grubby checkered tiles stained with years of dirt and debris. there were cobwebs everywhere, and there was still plenty of furniture left.
"Oh!" she tutted at the sight and damp smell of an old, decrepit couch in a lounge on the west side of the foyer. "That will definitely have to go!"
Peter and Judy rolled their eyes.
Some time had passed as Peter was gawking at an old grandfather clock.
Aunt Nora was now on her cell phone chatting to some guy called Jonathan. "Yes Jonathan... No Jonathan, I'll have those papers done by Friday."
"Come on, Peter. Let's check this place out." said Judy tugging on the bottom of Peter's orange t shirt.
"Nuh-uh! i don't like our new house. It's dumb!" said Peter sulking. Thankfully Aunt Nora didn't hear him.
"Well hard cheese. this is where Aunt Nora has chosen for us all to live now." said Judy dragging him along while they explored the mansion.
"You're welcome." Peter snapped. He trudged after her as they explored the lounge.
"This room is larger than the entire first floor of our old house..." said Judy. "Who needs this much room..."
The floor plan of the house was open, with a central foyer and well... the lounge.
"Who knew moving house could be so stressful" said Aunt Nora flipping her high tech cell phone shut. It was one of those fold up phones.
Peter and Judy glanced up at her, a rhythmic clicking from her high-heeled shoes announced her graceful presence.
"What's wrong Aunt Nora?" Judy asked.
"Oh nothing for you kids to worry about." said Aunt Nora reapplying her lipstick as she gazed into a powder blusher pocket mirror. "Um... How about you munchkins get some fresh air and uh try to make new friends..."
Judy sighed. "Come on, Peabody."
The siblings left their aunt to her constant phone calls and the rather late movers who hadn't arrived yet.
Out on the street kids were riding their bikes about on that Fall afternoon.
"Jude why don't i have a bike?" Peter asked.
"You do. You just still haven't taken the stabilisers off of it..." said Judy.
Peter blushed.
A boy with a dark complexion pulled up on his bike.
"You seem new here, haven't seen you round here." said the boy.
"Well duh we just moved in." said Judy giving him the stink eye.
"You're not planning in living there are you?! The old Parrish place..." The boy suddenly shivered as he gaped up at the white mansion.
"Yes unfortunately. why?" Peter asked.
"They say young Alan Parrish was murdered there 23 years ago." said the boy.
"That's ridiculous! now quit trying to scare me!" said Judy, however she did believe him as she wanted any excuse to tell Aunt Nora that they couldn't stay.
The boy shrugged and pedalled off towards the lawn in smack bang in the middle of the avenue.
Jude rolled her eyes as the Shepherds could go back to bickering as brothers and sisters tend to do. However...
"Huzzah!" A young boy not much taller than Peter startled him.
"Gah!" Peter yelled as the brown haired boy wearing a green sweatband around his forehead with green swimming goggles on top invaded his personal space.
"Hi," said the goggle wearing boy.
"What is with the goggles..." Peter asked.
"What is with the hair?!" Judy asked. The boy had very long brown locks but they were held upright in a wild punkish manner with hair products such as styling clay etc. He resembled a Troll Doll.
"Quit asking about my hair..." said the boy pouting.
"I'm Peter, she's Judy. don't worry. the hair is cool. i wish my hair could defy gravity." said Peter.
"The name's Oscar, don't wear it out." said Oscar. "Oh and my hair doesn't defy gravity, That's just all the hair gel and clay I use."
"Why are you here?" Peter asked.
"I am the omnipotent and all knowing narrator! Also I like cheese..." said Oscar.
"Okay..." said Peter.
Suddenly a blue mover's van pulled up. It was labelled in gold letters Paulie's.
A heavy set, sweaty old man with grey hair got out. He chewed on his cigar taking breaths of toxic fumes and exhaling rings of smoke.
"Nora Shepherd..." the man coughed on his own cigar smoke.
"Aunt Nora... the movers are here..." said Judy.
"Ah, Well your here now Paulie... Kids take your new friend upstairs." said Aunt Nora.
"But-" Judy and Peter stammered but Aunt Nora was already busy talking with the movers.
The foyer.
Peter, Judy and their new friend who actually wasn't, Oscar were heading up the foyer steps. the flight of steps were decorated with a red carpet. The stale dusty air irritated Peter's sinuses, He already struggled with a deviated septum which to be fair didn't affect his breathing at all except by giving him a constantly nasally voice.
They soon reached the upper floor. It mostly consisted of a mezzanine landing with doors all the way round the perimeter.
"Well since you invited yourself... tell us about your self Oscar..." said Judy.
"Well My favourite colour is green... My pet peeve is bossy older siblings..."
Judy scoffed and rolled her eyes when he said he hated bossy older siblings. In contrast Peter grinned.
"Oh and I am completely and positively bonkers!" Oscar chuckled pulling a silly face with his tongue hanging out.
Peter and Judy gawked at him concerned.
They then went up to the attic.
"Ugh no way guys! There might be spiders there..." Judy shivered.
"Wooooooo!" Peter spooked her as he found her aversion to spiders amusing.
"Cut that out Peter!" Judy sulked.
"Or Alan Parrish could be locked up there in a state of derangement and acute psychosis caused by loneliness and that he has to live off a diet of fish heads..." said Oscar.
"Uh no, and who is this Alan Parrish?" Judy asked.
"Oh you don't know do you?" Oscar replied. The two Shepherd siblings shook their heads. "He vanished years ago, long before I was born. Some say his parents killed them..."
Peter gulped.
They went up to the attic It was a typically dark, dank and creepy attic. Peter coughed from the stale, dusty air. Judy confirmed to herself how filthy the room was by wiping a finger along the lid of a wooden crate. Ick! She grimaced looking at the amount of dirt on her finger.
Peter immediately went through the boxes and crates.
"Peter don't..." said Judy.
"Gee whizz!" Peter had a few obnoxious catchphrases... He stated one in an eager tone as he found something.
"Okay so what is it Peabody?" Judy asked.
Inside was a board game of some sort. "Looks like a bizzaro game..." said Peter sticking his head right in the box. and giving its contents an extreme close up of his blue eyes.
Peter fetched out the board game.
"Jumanji. Well at least it's not Snakes and Ladders..." said Judy.
Oscar gawked at the board game. He heard drums rumbling. "Did you hear that?"
"No, hear what Oz?" Judy replied.
"Never mind..."
Judy opened the game. "It's four up to four players. 'A game for those to those to escape into fantasy... WARNING: Do not start a game you don't attempt to finish."
"Cool! Let's play!" said Peter eager.
"Hold on, Nice woodcraft... Is that ivory..." Judy checked out the outer lid of the box. "The dome in the middle looks like glass..."
Oscar poked the black glass dome in the middle it felt cold.
"Boooooooriiiiing! Let's play!" Peter yawned.
"Peter you have to read the instructions first-" Judy explained. Peter rolled the dice.
An ivory rhinoceros figure hopped out of the box and glided two spaces down the board.
"Cool beans! Magnets!" said Peter.
"No that is some freaky witchcraft! It's haunted!" Oscar yelled.
"Look in the orb!" Judy said as green glowing words appeared.
CLEAR AS ICE. BUT WORTH THE PRICE.
"Riddles?" Peter asked. Suddenly yellow wisps of light resembling the proton streams from Ghostbusters slithered out of the game.
"HOLY MOLY!" Oscar screamed.
"Oh shazbot..." Peter gulped. Then a force yanked and pulled on them, sucking them into the game as they stretched like taffy before vanishing...