Haunting Astrid Read Online Free PDF Page A

took me home he learned I didn’t normally lock my apartment door. It was a big shock when he put me over his knee, but Joseph certainly got my attention, and I learned that lesson very well.” The other two women laughed in understanding. A few minutes later Joseph poked his head in the room and asked if I was ready for him to drive me home. It was a weeknight, and we had to be at work early.
    In addition to my relationship with Joseph, my ongoing prank on Astrid was moving along swimmingly. Astrid was obviously not sleeping well and she jumped at the slightest little noise. I overheard one of the women asking her what was wrong and Astrid finally whispered, “The house I bought is frightening me. I hear sounds at night, and now I am starting to hear voices, too. I keep wondering if I am going out of my mind, but I would hear the voices all the time… not just in my home.”
    “You must have a trapped spirit in your house.”
    “I do not believe in ghosts,” Astrid said firmly, and I wanted to snicker. She sounded like she was trying to convince herself of that.
    “You need to call in some true Ghostbusters,” another lady spoke up, offering her two cents worth.
    “Oh, it’s probably just creaks. It’s an old house and settling at night.” Again Astrid said the words, but by her tone I - and everyone else in the office - could see she was not convinced. Yes, life is good .
    Once again, armed with detailed blueprints for Astrid’s house, I made another excursion after dark, while Astrid was out of town visiting with her sister. I couldn’t help but wonder if Astrid knew of the secret passages in the old mansion. The doors were squeaky from nonuse, and there were cobwebs in the old passages. I rigged a few items that would go off each night, but at different times. I was upping the terror, and keeping track of all the upgrades that she and her construction crew were making in the house.
    I was surprised to hear through the grapevine that Astrid was, indeed, planning a Halloween Costume Party, but it was only for her upscale friends… not anyone at the office, especially those of us who worked under her supervision. I decided that I would definitely be a guest that night and give the partygoers a big thrill. After all, Astrid lived in a haunted house, didn’t she?
    The party was set for the last Saturday in October, and knowing Astrid as well as I did, I was positive the party was really an open house in the guise of a party. The renovation would be complete, or nearly so, by then, and the house ready to sell. Astrid hoped that someone would see the mansion and make an offer to purchase it. A party was just a gimmick to get people to come and see the place.
    *****
    I immediately knew that something was bothering Joseph, but when I asked about it, he told me not to worry; it was nothing. I decided I had to know, so I persisted in my questioning. Joseph told me rather firmly that he didn’t want to talk about it, but I still didn’t have enough sense to drop it. Finally, Joseph reached for me and flipped me over his lap and gave me ten really firm spanks. He asked me if I was ready to stop nagging him, and I tearfully agreed that I would stop. My feelings were hurt and Joseph didn’t like my pouting, either. When he asked me if I wanted him to leave, I told him yes, even though it was the last thing I really wanted. Joseph put on his jacket and left, and I felt terrible. I went to bed early, and for the first time since Joseph and I started dating, I cried myself to sleep. My bottom was burning, too. My telephone rang some time later, and I reached for it, trying to wake myself up. It was Joseph.
    “I’m sorry I hurt your feelings, Jodi. I had a bad headache and I should have stayed home.”
    “Is that all, Joseph?” I was sure there was more. “If you’d told me I could have given you some pain relief tablets.”
    “I don’t like to take meds unless there is no choice, honey. I’m sorry I was such a