Evan's Place

         There were a lot of things I would rather be doing than going out to the Evans place that October day. Getting a root canal for instance. But Mayor George gave me the key and told me that was what I had to do. He was the boss. He said take somebody with me and I did. Rowdy the cop didn’t want to go any more than I did. I thought having a cop with me was a good idea. He had a gun for one thing.

         The old house was an eyesore and the children said it was haunted. And now, since nobody had paid any taxes on it in a while, it was town property. George wanted it secured with Halloween just around the corner and all. Last Halloween some kids broke in.

         I didn’t believe in haunts, but the place was mysterious. The people who lived there just moved out overnight and were never seen again. All kinds of rumors went around, like they do in a small town. Some said they bet he killed her. But there was no body, no evidence. It was said she was a cute blonde, way too friendly with men at the tavern, but that was just gossip, too. Nothing to back it up.

         The house looked as if they just walked out and didn’t take anything with them. It gave me the creeps.

         Out in the back there was a scarecrow in the garden space, ugly thing, a burlap bag for a head. Rowdy threw a rock at it. The head fell off and rolled to our feet. Rowdy picked it up and dropped it right away. The bag contained a human skull. with blond hair sticking to it.


290 words