The Christmas Décor
As I walked into our new two story house that we had just bought, I could hear my mom and dad rearranging the furniture to exact position where my mom wanted it. I slammed the door and yelled, “Mom! I’m home!” She ran to greet me as she always did, and interrogated me about my day at school. “What did you learn? How was your test? Did anything interesting happen?” Just like every other kid I answered them with one word answers, “Nothing. Good. No.” I’m not saying I didn’t like getting asked these questions, I did, but for some reason it’s just what the kid said. Giving them a simple answer and trying not to get into detail so no other questions are sparked. I just wanted to go get a snack and sit on the couch and watch TV, after my long tiring day at school. I loved my parents and would talk to them anytime. But right after school, when you’re the least happy because of all the homework those teachers give you. It’s just not a good time.
After avoiding any more questions I went got a cup of milk and two oreo’s and went directly to the couch. I sat down and it was like I just sunk into the couch, the best feeling in the world. Then I turned our brand new 47’’ HD TV and got real comfy. It was the perfect setting. Then the sound no one ever wants to hear when you are in the most comfortable position you have been in, the sound of someone calling for your help. You hear them but you act like you don’t and just hope that they wont yell again. But nevertheless it happens, “Ross! Can you come here?!” Oh how I really didn’t want to get up, but since I am such a good person, I yelled back, “What?!?!” Every kid does that. Yell back instead of getting up. That just makes your parents even madder. “Get in here!” I got up and walked in there, taking my time of course. Then she asked the question that started it all, “Can you go to the basement and get some Christmas decorations?”
After some friendly quarreling between us I started toward the basement. I opened the door and the door made that squeaking noise that always happens in the scary movie. I stared down the dark steps and I felt something come over me. I started to walk down the stairs into the dark. When I reached the bottom I couldn’t see a thing, I felt around desperately for a light switch begging for some light. Finally I found it and turned it on. It was very cold, cobwebs everywhere. My mom said that the box of Christmas ingredients would be in the very back. At that time I thought no biggie. But now, in the moment, once I got down there, I was starting to rethink my original thought. I grabbed a long but slender stick. I started batting down all the cob webs that were in my way. While fighting threw the spider webs I was scanning for the box marked CHRISTMAS. Knowing my mom I figured it would be a huge box due to all of our beautiful décor. When reaching the back of the basement, still nothing. I was stumped. Where could it be? At this point I was starting to get a little bit angry but I managed to contain my composer.
I started back towards the stairs retracing my steps, trying to dodge the spider webs that had been replaced during the time I had been down there. I headed up the stairs making sure to keep the light on and keep the door wide open. I searched for my mom for what seemed like forever. When I found her I politely asked, “Where the heck is the Christmas box?” She then responded with, “It’s in the very back, like in the crawl space in the back.” I accepted this answer with a look on my face of disbelief. All I wanted was to lay down and relax. My energy level was dangerously low.
Once again I started back toward the basement with hope that it will be a snatch and grab job. Open the crawl space, grab it and go. I knew that it would be that easy but, a boy can hope. During my walk I heard a loud noise that sounded like a gun shot in our house. It startled me and my heart sank. I realized my dad and my mom were in the dining room and I don’t have any pets. I turned the corner cautiously with my fist clinch ready to rumble if that was necessary. Once turning the corner, I saw nothing, except that the basement door was closed. I went to the garage and grabbed my Louisville Slugger. I opened the door once I determined that it was safe, I proceeded down the stairs. With walls on both sides I only had to worry about the sides. I made it to the last step and paused trying to listen for any suspicious noises. Now since the light was off I had to do some kind of ninja move to turn the light on and get ready to woop some butt. I put a quick plan together in my head. I would jump over to the light switch turn it on with one hand and get ready to swing with the other, all in one swift fluid motion. Once accomplishing that since I am amazing I looked and saw nothing. I was very perplexed by the series of events that just occurred. I ran to the crawl space and looked rapidly for the box. Not seeing it, reluctantly I went back further, and further. Finally I was to the back and found it. I grabbed it and turned to take it out when I saw something on the back of the wall. I looked closer and it was scrapes on the wall that looked like fingernail scrapes. I then looked all around the space and saw them everywhere. I scurried out of there, barely remembering to take the box with me. I ran up the stairs so fast I missed one and almost fell down. I gathered myself and continued to run. I got up the steps and slammed the door. I don’t remember anything else that happened that night, except the first time IT happened.
I was laying in bed and suddenly I jerked awake at 2:30. I don’t know why that happens but all I know is that it hasn’t stopped. Its been going on for two weeks now. Every single night since the night I saw the fingernail scrapings in the cement walls that were in the crawl space. I’m very worried about what that was, and why it has affected me. I could be nothing, but I think it is something. I don’t know what to do or who to tell. I haven’t told anyone yet, so if you are reading this you are the first. Someone must have published this when they found it. I will carry this in my wallet from now on. No one will know this story if everything remains ok.
