House Calls

        One quiet, wintry night, a young couple was lying in their bed.   The man, named Andre Wood, had long, blond dreadlocks, light skin, and hazel eyes.   The woman, named Jana Reeves, had long, red hair, light skin, and bright blue eyes.   They were both 22 years old.

          Jana suddenly got up.   Andre felt her movement.

          "Baby, what's wrong?"   He questioned, propping himself up on his elbows.

          "I heard a voice.   It was whispery. It said, 'Jana Reeves.'" Jana whispered, wrapping her arms around herself.   Andre got up.   He was only wearing Christmas boxers.   The boxers had presents and Christmas trees on it.   He was well muscled.   Jana had a long, lime green nightgown on.   It had spaghetti straps.

          "Oh it'll be alright.   I'll protect you."   Andre said, wrapping his arms around her.   He nuzzled her neck.

          "Come on.   Let's go back to bed."   Andre whispered in her ear.   Taking her lime green-nailed hand, he led her to the bed.   He tucked her in.   Slipping under the covers, he encircled her waist with his arms.   They slept until the morning.

          On a small hill several miles away, there was a house.   It sat on that hill, like a large sentinel, watching over all the little houses far from it.   It was ancient on the outside, but inside, it was luxurious.   The stone bricks had hints of ivy hanging from it.   There was a name above the main door.   It read: CALVIN.   Here's the history:

          This house was built in 1820.   A man by the name of Edward Calvin founded this house.   He was 20 when he founded the house.   He had a wife and one child.   His wife's name was Ora Dalbert Calvin.   Their child, a girl, was named Tessica Calvin.   She was eight years old.

          Tessica was a bright girl.   She was in the 3 ^rd grade at school.   She always got good grades on her assignments.   She always had long, blond spiral curls.   She had jade green eyes.   Her parents were both light-skinned so she was, too.

          Tessica had mysterious ways.   Some say that she had multiple personalities.   Others say she was a schizophrenic.   One day, she was running around the house, playing "Chased by a Ghost."   Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks, as if a wall was erected in front of her.   She started having spasms.   She was having spasms so bad she fell to the floor.   Her parents were in the parlor drinking coffee.   They didn't know she was writhing on the floor.

          Hours later, Tessica fell asleep.   She wasn't having a peaceful sleep.   She was thrashing and bucking.   The floor was wooden and it had stray nails that weren't nailed in all the way. Her hands and socked feet were bleeding.   The blood streamed out.   She was screaming and shouting.

          "MOMMY!   DADDY!   MAKE IT STOP!   AAAAAAAAAAA!"   Tessica screamed.   Finally, her parents ran to her.

          "Tessica!   Tessica!"   Ora screamed, kneeling over her 8-year-old daughter.   Edward tried so hard to hold her down.   She just kept bucking wildly.   Suddenly Tessica bled from her mouth.   She died a minute later.   Her parents saw blood spreading from the back of her head.   Ora shrieked.   Edward ran to the phone that was on the wall.   He tried dialing for the doctor.   The phone didn't have a dial tone.   He slammed the earpiece on the cradle.  

          Where Tessica lay, the nails that weren't nailed in mystically pounded down.   The house did it.   The next day, Tessica Calvin was buried in Westinghouse Cemetery.   Before the burial, when the men lifted Tessica into the coffin, they noticed that she was very light.   One of the men said:

          "You think her soul went to God already?"   One of the other men shrugged his shoulders.   The man who spoke was wrong.   The house swallowed her soul.   It was in the bowels of the house.   It won't ever let her go.

          The next day, Jana and Andre were up and dressed.   They were eating pancakes, peppered bacon, and baked apples.   When they were finished, they went into the living room.   There was a large piece of canvas on an easel.   Jana was an artist.   She was currently painting a landscape.   It consisted of tall trees, a baby blue sky, and a lake surrounded by rocks.  

          Jana went over to her painting.   The canvas was half painted with the lake and some of the trees.   She picked up her medium-sized brush, dipped it in dark brown paint, and started to paint another tree trunk.

          "You gonna paint me in there?"   Andre questioned, standing beside her as she painted.

          "Yeah.   I'll do that.   If you'll quit asking me everyday!"   Jana exclaimed, pinching his bare forearm.   She turned back to her painting.   Andre walked over and plopped on the couch.   He grabbed the remote off the black table next to the couch.   Turning on the TV, he saw his and Jana's whole names.   It read: Jana Sapphire Reeves and Andre Franklin Wood.  

          "Hum.   Weird." Andre said, calling Jana over to look at the TV.

          "Look Jana.   Our names are on the TV."   Jana walked over and gasped.

          "Oh no!   Who did this?"   She exclaimed, plopping down next to him.

          "I don't know."   He said coolly.   He hugged Jana.   Suddenly, their names disappeared and were replaced with a cartoon.   The cartoon was 'Hummertime'.   A little while later, they fell asleep.   It was nighttime.   On the hill, the house was empty.   It was modernizing itself.   It contained all the latest brand name furniture and appliances.   But there was one thing.   The basement was old fashioned like it was in the 1800s.   That's where Tessica's soul was being held.   She roamed the halls, crying.

          The next day, Andre and Jana were cruising in their new PT Cruiser.   It was summertime, so they wore shorts.   Jana wore bluejean shorts, a bluejean halter-top, and denim platform sandals.   The soles were cork-like.

She had her hair natural today.   It was so curly and wild.   She had a silver barrette holding a section of her hair up.   The sun made her hair seem redder than normal.   Andre was wearing white shorts, a white muscle shirt, and black sandals.   His hair was pulled back into a ponytail.  

          "Can we go to Shae's Pizzeria?"   Jana exclaimed, watching Andre's hands as they turned the steering wheel.

          "Sure.   Why not?"   He answered.   Driving a little further down Jackson Street, Andre pulled into a large parking lot.   Getting out, Jana and Andre walked inside the pizzeria.   Walking up to a counter, they were greeted by a short, heavyset man.   He looked to be 30 or 40 years old.   He had wisps of silver in his dark hair.   He was drying his hands on a towel that was tucked into his apron.

          "Hello!   I'm Stan.   How may I help you?"   Stan said, placing his hands on the counter.  

          "Yes.   I would like the personal pan pepperoni pizza and a large Dr. Pepper."   Jana said.   Stan was typing her order into a computer.

          "I'd like a pizza sub, large fry, and a large Coke."   Andre said.   Stan typed his order into the computer, too.  

          "All right folks.   That'll be $20.00 even."   Stan finally said, giving them their food.   Shae's Pizzeria has fast service.   The workers cook a lot of food.   Jana gave Stan a twenty and they took their food.   Arriving outside, they ate at an empty table.   There was barely anyone there.   It was noon.

          "Gimme one of your fries, Dre."   Jana said, grabbing a fry from Andre's basket.

          "Hey!   Did I say you could have one when you asked?"   Andre questioned, throwing another fry at her.

          "No but I took one anyway.   You answer too slow."   Jana said, picking up and eating the fry that landed near her box.   After eating, they jumped in their PT Cruiser and drove through the country roads.   They arrived at the Calvin Mansion.   Parking in front of the tall gate to the house, Andre and Jana got out.  

          "Wow."   Jana breathed, wrapping her hands around the bars.   Andre did the same thing.  

          "This place is huge."   Andre said, scanning the front of the house.

          "What're you doing here?"   Asked an elderly man.   He was holding a rake in his left hand.   His right hand was wrapped around a bar.   His white hair was thinning at the top.   He had faded blue eyes.   His skin was wrinkly.  

          "We were just riding around when we spotted this house."   Jana spoke up, staring into this strange man's eyes.

          "My name's Hensley.   Wayne Hensley.   I'm the housekeeper."   Wayne said, sticking his right hand through the bars.   He shook Jana's hand and shook Andre's hand.

          "Nice to meet you.   I'm Andre Wood and this is my girlfriend, Jana Reeves."   Andre said.

          "Nice to meet you too."   Wayne said.   After talking with him for awhile, Jana and Andre left.   Wayne stared after their silver PT Cruiser.   He slowly walked back to the house.   The front door opened by itself.   As it closed behind him, he was engulfed in darkness.

          "Lights," Wayne said, walking towards the kitchen.   The lights slowly turned on.   He was about to prepare himself some dinner when he heard some movement.   He looked over at the knives.   Shrugging his bony shoulders, he turned back to his frozen meal.   He put the unwrapped food into the microwave.   He set it for one minute.   As the microwave beeped, Wayne heard a dragging sound.   He went to get his food.   Carrying it to the dining room, he heard the noise again.

          "Kara?   That you?"   Wayne asked softly.   Kara was his wife.   She died at age 80.   He was 82.   He still thinks she's alive.   Some say the house killed her.   Others say she died of a heart attack.   Sitting down at the large table, he prayed over his food.   After he prayed, he cut his Salisbury steak into tiny pieces.   That way he could savor it.   Along with his steak, he had mashed potatoes and green beans.   He ate his meal in peace.  

          Suddenly, he felt a chill go down his spine.   Wayne snapped his head around.   He thought he saw someone.   Then he did.   It was Tessica's spirit.   She was beckoning to him.   He slowly got up.   Tessica's spirit moved to the side.   He walked to the doorway.   He looked down both of the long hallways.   He was scared.   Finally, he heard a faint voice.

          "Help me.   Help me, please."   The voice was to his right.   Following the faint voice, he came to a bedroom.   He peered in and saw Kara lying on the bed.   Tessica was pointing to her.   Wayne gasped.

          "Kara?   Your alive!!"   Wayne said, running over to her.   He touched her wrinkly cheek.   Kara's eyes fluttered open.   She sat up slowly, like raising from the dead.   Kara looked into his face, her eyes changing from faded blue to red.

          "You can't have her!   She's mine!!!"   Kara said in a booming voice.   The house was speaking through her.   Swiftly, Kara fastened her hands about Wayne's throat.   He gasped for air.   She threw him on the bed and got on top of him.   Her white hair turned into black snakes.   They were snapping at his face.   One bit his cheek and came away with a chunk of flesh in its mouth.   Wayne shrieked and cradled his bleeding cheek.   The bed fell out from under them.   But they were floating over a fiery pit below.

          Kara slowly opened her mouth and a serpentine tongue slid out.

          "Give me a kiss."   She said, shoving her black tongue down his throat.   Arms grabbed them both and dragged them into the pit, Wayne screaming all the way down.   The bed popped back up.   An evil laugh radiated throughout the house.   It was laughing.

          Arriving home late at night, Jana and Andre fell in the door.   They were tired after riding around town.

          "I'm gonna take a nice warm bath, OK Andre?"   Jana said, taking off her sandals and trudging up the stairs to the bathroom.   She opened the door of the spacious bathroom.   The bathroom was black.   Turning on the lights, Jana padded in and started the bath water.   She plugged up the drain and walked to the bedroom while the water filled the bathtub.   Removing her clothes, she put on her lime green terry cloth robe.   Jana walked into the bathroom.   The door clicked behind her as she closed it.   She turned off the water.  

          She took off her robe and slipped into the tub.   Her body was tense after all the riding.   She rested her head on her lime green bath pillow.   Closing her sapphire eyes, Jana dozed off.   She dreamt she was going to the Calvin house.   She was wearing a long, white flowing dress.   Her hair was curly.   Jana was walking up the driveway and came up to the door.   She knocked once and realized the door was unlocked.   The door creaked open as she walked in.   She walked up to the staircase.   Jana felt a presence.   She looked behind her and saw a person that looked just like her.   The woman had curly red hair and sapphire eyes.   She walked up to Jana.

          "Jana my dear.   It's mother, Josephine.   Come here.   Give me a hug."   Josephine said, opening her arms.   Jana ran to her and gave her a big hug.   Suddenly, Josephine let go.   Jana let go, too.   Her mother's arms grabbed the ends of her dress and spread it apart.   She revealed a white glowing light.   Without warning, Jana was swallowed up by her mother's gown.   Josephine hugged herself, feeling her daughter writhe and slither within her.  

          "Welcome home daughter."   Josephine said lightly, then:

          "Mother will take good care of you."   She said in a deep voice, turning into a ghost and melting into the floor.   The house shuddered with delight.

          Jana woke up with a start.   She jumped from the tub, unplugged it and watched the water go down the drain.   She quickly dried herself off and ran into the bedroom to get dressed.   She put on her orange pajama top and orange shorts.   Slipping her feet into orange house shoes, she ran downstairs to Andre.   She found him in the living room, watching TV.  

          "Andre!   Andre!   I'm scared!"   She shouted at him, plopping down on the couch beside him.

          "Whoa, whoa!   Scared?   Of what?"   He asked, rubbing her shoulders.

          "When I was in the tub, I dozed off.   I dreamt I was going to the Calvin house we visited earlier today.   I went inside.   I saw my mother.   She hugged me and she let go suddenly.   She lifted up the ends of her dress and I saw a glowing white light.   Then, I was inside of it!   I'm so scared Andre!" Jana said breathlessly, hugging him tightly.   He hugged her tightly, too.  

          He walked her to the steps.   Going up them, she felt a chill go up her spine.   Then, she stopped.   She heard a voice.

          "Jana!   Jana!   Come to mother!   I'm waiting!"   It was her mother speaking.  

          "Jana what's wrong?   Are you all right?"   Andre asked, shaking her slightly.

          "I have to go home."   Jana said, slowly, no emotion in her voice.

          "What?   You are home."   Andre said, puzzled.

          "NO!   Let me go!   I need to see my mother!"   Jana yelled at him, pushing him out of the way.   Andre staggered and almost fell.   Jana raced up the steps to their room.   She threw on some baggy black pants over her pajama shorts.   Her pajamas doubled as an outfit to wear out.   She put on her hiking boots.   Jana grabbed the car keys from the dresser and left the room.

          She flew past Andre on the steps.   He was still standing there, his face twisted into a mask of puzzlement.   He followed her out the door.  

          "Jana!   Hey wait!   I'm going with you."   He followed her to the car.   She just ignored his shouts.   Getting in, she started the car.   Andre was almost left behind hadn't he fell into the seat before she pulled off.   Jana drove fast, ignoring the speed limit.   The Calvin house loomed tall in front of them.

          Jana jumped out of the car, Andre doing the same.   She walked slowly towards the door.   Andre came up behind her and put one hand on her shoulder.   Jana pivoted on him.

          "We have to go inside.   Mother is waiting."   Jana said lightly, grabbing his hand.   Andre looked to the front of the house.   It had a face.   There were two large orb lights surrounded in ovals much like eyes.   The door served as the mouth.   It stood open, like a gaping hole.   The nose formed from extra space in between the mouth and eyes.  

          "Mother," Jana breathed, gazing up at the large face.   Andre had let go of her hand.   The face scared him.

          "Jana.   Come inside."   Her mother said, opening her mouth wider.   Jana grabbed Andre's hand once again.   She had to drag him to the door because he was paralyzed with fear.  

          "Nooo!   Don't Jana!"   He screamed, pulling against her grip.   The house swallowed them.   They were engulfed in darkness.   Lights slowly came on.   Jana and Andre recognized the room as the foyer.   Jana saw two faint figures.   She looked harder.   It was the spirits of her mother and a young girl.  

          "Jana.   Come here baby.   I want you to meet somebody."   Her mother said, beckoning towards Jana.   Jana slowly walked forward, her feet shuffling on the hardwood floor.   Approaching the pair, Jana smiled at the little girl.   The girl smiled back.

          "Jana, this is Tessica Calvin."   Jana's mother said, pushing the girl lightly towards Jana.   Tessica slid forward.   She beckoned for Jana to kneel down.

          "Help me!   This isn't your mother!   The house is using her to get you!   It killed me!   Save me!"   Tessica whispered.   Jana's mother, Josephine, overheard what the girl said.   She snatched her up.  

          "Stupid girl!   I am her real MOTHER!!"   Josephine screamed at Tessica, her body changing.   Josephine's body twisted and contorted into a charcoal black thing.   Her head grew horns and her teeth grew longer.   Her hands got larger and grew ten-inch claws.   Dropping the girl, Josephine pivoted around.   Jana fell backwards but Andre caught her.   Josephine grabbed them both, her claws tearing their clothes.   She made the floor open under Jana and Andre.   Flames licked at the soles of their shoes.   They both screamed.

          Josephine still was the same height and her red hair was big behind her horns.   A long, forked tongue slithered out of her mouth.   It licked Jana's face.   She turned her gaze toward Andre, her tongue licking her lips.   Andre stared into her sapphire eyes.   He saw Jana in those eyes.   He froze.   Josephine licked his face.   He pulled his face away from the slime-covered tongue.

          "Don't pull away from me!"   Josephine said in a booming voice.   She wrapped her long tongue around his head.   The forked part was about to pierce Andre's eyes when Jana spoke up.

          "Mother!   Don't!   Let me tell you something!   I love you!"   Jana struggled out over tears.   Tears had started falling from her eyes.   Josephine's tongue unwrapped from around Andre's head.   She changed back into her original form.   The floor came back under them.   Josephine dropped Andre on the floor.   She gently placed Jana on the floor.   Andre stood up behind Jana, glaring at Josephine.   Josephine hugged Jana.   Jana's tears fell on the floor.

          Jana felt a ball form between her and Josephine.   Jana let go quickly and looked down.   There was a ball of golden light on their stomachs.  

          "Now Jana.   We shall be joined."   Josephine whispered, lifting her arms.   The light grew stronger and engulfed them.   Jana screamed.

          "NO!   I will not go to you house!   LEAVE ME ALONE!"   Jana yelled, trying to pull away.   Josephine's arms turned into long tentacles and wrapped them around Jana.

          "YES!   We shall be joined!"   Josephine yelled back, her sapphire eyes bright gold.   The two women were in a tornado of light.   Andre lunged at the tornado but the force struck him.   Tessica rushed up to him.

          "Close your eyes!"   Tessica said in his ear.   Andre obeyed.   Tessica floated up behind him.   She placed her small hands on the sides of his head.   He "felt" a part of his brain open.   Tessica was opening the telepathic part of his brain.   He said:

          "Jana!   Fight it!   Tessica is helping me talk to you!   Use your power!"   Jana heard a faint voice in the back of her head.   She obeyed.   She ripped her arms from Josephine's grip.   An opaque stone formed in the middle of Jana's forehead.   She closed her eyes and the stone glowed.   Josephine had a puzzled look on her face.   The stone's glow engulfed Jana's body.   The glow wiped out the tornado of light.   Jana opened her eyes again.   Josephine suddenly started to shrivel.   Her body turned into ashes.   Then, the ashes disintegrated.   Jana walked up to the pile of ashes.   With the stone still on her head, it threw a thin beam onto the ashes.   The ashes collected a small, palm-sized stone.   It was smooth and opaque.   The shiny, white surface gleamed in the lighting.   Jana picked it up and walked over to Andre, who was still standing there, Tessica still behind him.  

          Tessica fell to the floor.   The stone disappeared from Jana's head.   Andre turned around and saw Tessica on the floor.   Jana knelt beside Tessica.   She wasn't a spirit anymore.   She was real.   Her jade green eyes stared up into Jana's blue eyes.

          "Thank you, Jana.   You saved me.   I must go to heaven now.   But--" Tessica started to say, glancing down at the stone in Jana's hand.   Jana showed it to her.   Tessica saw the face of Jana's "mother".   Flames were surrounding her.   She shrieked, her face changing.   Tessica giggled.   Then, Tessica's eyes closed, her head lolling to the side.   Jana suddenly started to cry.   Her tears didn't last long as she saw Tessica's body lifeless body floating up to the ceiling.   A light engulfed her and she was gone.

          "Goodbye Tessica.   May God keep you now."   Jana whispered, feeling Andre's strong arms wrap around her.   They walked out of the house.   The inside of the house went back to normal.   Andre closed the door behind them.   Jana knelt beside the door and dug in the dirt.   She dug a little bowl shaped hole and threw the stone into it.   No one will find it there.   Jumping into the PT Cruiser, Andre and Jana went home, Jana sound asleep.

          Late that same night, the stone dug itself up.   It turned into a lone figure.   It was in the shape of a veiled figure.   The veil was apart of a white dress.   The figure disappeared through the door.   A face formed on the façade of the house.   It was Jana's "mother".   It laughed heartily.

          "Ha, ha, ha!   I'll get anyone else who approaches me!   Haa, haa, haa!"