Patricia Rockwell - Essie Cobb 04 - Ghosted Read Online Free PDF Page B

floor!”
    “Your stories are that scary?”
    “I got one story I use when I want to scare the daylights out of my kids!” replied the large woman, arms crossed, and chewing on her lip as she looked down at Essie with a knowing glance. “You know, when they’s acting like monsters, which is most of the time!  But I keep this one story for special occasions.  Once I use it, it sort of loses its power—if you know what I mean.  I’ve told this one story to all my kids at one time or other when they was little—and it always creeps ‘em out.  Gets ‘em to behave though.  That’s why I use it.”
    “You want to tell me, Lorena?”
    “Oh, no, Miss Essie!” said Lorena, shaking her head.  “I’m no dummy.  I ain’t telling any of the residents any of my ghost stories!  I’d get accused if they started having heart attacks—or worse!”  Essie finished her juice and handed the glass back to Lorena.
    “Lorena, do you know a new resident —a man—he looks a lot like what I think Mark Twain might look like.  He told a wonderful story tonight at Fright Night.  He has beautiful white hair.  A lot of it.”
    “Hmm,” said Lorena, scowling.  “New man.  I should.  We usually get more new women than men.  After all, the women —”
    “Out number the men eight to one here at Happy Haven,” said Essie completing her thought.  “Yes, I know.”
    “So, I was just saying,” continued Lorena, putting away the medicine box and then rinsing out the glass and placing it in a drainer in the sink to dry. “I usually learn the new men much more quickly than the women.  But, can’t say as if I’ve heard of this new fellow.  Must have just come in today.”
    “He seemed right at home at Fright Night,” said Essie.  “I wish Sue Barber had had everyone give their names when they told their stories.  I like to know who all the residents are.”
    “If anyone knows all the residents,” said Lorena, “or can ever know all the residents, it’s you, Miss Essie.  You just too snoopy—I mean, you just very curious.”
    “Thank you, Lorena,” replied Essie.  “But if you do hear anything about the new gentleman, I’d really like to know who he is.”
    “Miss Essie,” said Lorena, suddenly coming closer to Essie’s chair, “you ain’t developed a crush on this fellow, have you?”  She nudged Essie’s recliner with her knee.
    “Oh, no!” cried Essie, laughing.  “Not me!  Maybe Marjorie ! I mean, if anyone would develop a crush on him, it would be my friend Marjorie.  I just like to know who people are.”
    “That’s good,” said Lorena.  “Now, you want me to help you get into bed?”
    “Oh, no, Lorena!” replied Essie.  “I’m quite comfortable here.  I think maybe I’ll just watch a little television before I turn in.”  She smiled sheepishly at the aide.
    “Okay, Missy,” said Lorena, heading towards the door.  “You behave yourself!  Fright Night!  New men!  My goodness, you ladies here at Happy Haven just keep this joint jumpin’!”
    She pulled the door shut.
    Jumpin ,’ thought Essie.  She liked jumpin,’ but as long as it was a jumpin’ joint and not a jumpin’ heart.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    “Fear is nature’s warning signal to get busy.”
    ––Henry C. Link
     
    Essie’s heart had calmed and her sleep had been restful.  She was sitting comfortably in her recliner the next morning shortly after breakfast as DeeDee Pritoni, her morning aide, prepared her pills.  Just as Lorena had done the previous evening, DeeDee removed the locked metal box from the cupboard above the sink and took out the pills Essie required each day.  Essie was working on one of her more difficult puzzles on her clipboard.
    “DeeDee,” she said, pencil poised, “what’s a six letter word for ‘meek’?”
    “Meat?” asked DeeDee, her back turned.  “Like roast beef?  Or like meet your neighbors?”  She filled a glass with juice from Essie’s small refrigerator