GET OUT OF MY HOUSE

• Jayne Purnell, Grade 5
• Short Story
• 2013

Day 1
Finally we got there after a 5 hour drive! I don’t know how I waited that long. It was weird. I normally can’t sit still for a long time. The place was dark and damp. It didn’t look right. I don’t know why. My little sister was terrified as if she didn’t like it. I didn’t like the place. I hated it, and the worst thing was THAT’S OUR NEW HOUSE! WE NOW LIVE THERE!
I was looking around the house and it was all creepy and dark. It looked old and no one had lived there for a very long time. It was dusty and really messy. It had 2 bedrooms - 1 bedroom for me and my sister, and 1 for mum and dad. The bathroom had a thick layer of dust and the metal pipes were corroded with rust. The house had no lights so we had to use candles.
I woke up in the middle of the night with a scratching sound at my window. I didn’t know what the sound was. So I looked at the window and I saw a piece of paper. I picked it up and read it. It was weird; it just didn’t make sense! I didn’t know whether to believe it or not. I was so confused. What did it mean? The note said:
GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!!!!
Was it just a prank, or was it real? Oh well, it was probably just a prank…
Day 2
I woke up with the melodic sound of birds. I looked for my sister; she wasn’t there so she must have been in the kitchen having breakfast. I got up and walked out of my room to have breakfast.
I was really excited because it was my BIRTHDAY TODAY!!! I couldn’t wait because I would get to have a delicious breakfast. But when I got to the kitchen my sister wasn’t there.
I asked mum and she said, “I thought she was with you”.
We looked everywhere! I was so worried; maybe she was hurt. And then I remembered about the letter. I wondered if it was about that creepy letter. So, I went to go tell mum but I couldn’t find her.
First Candy, my sister, and now mum. They’re gone forever; it has to be the letter! Next it would be dad or me that goes missing! I knew this place was haunted. This was the worst birthday ever!
Day 3
I woke up and saw Candy in her bed healthy and not hurt. I thought she was gone forever. I went to mum and dad’s room and they were still there. So I said “I thought you disappeared”.
Dad explained, “It was a birthday prank. Everything was set up.”
Then I asked, “Even the letter?”
“What letter…”