Pleasant Hill

The Pleasant Hill Bed and Breakfast only had four guest rooms, and it sat on a hilltop surrounded by stunningly beautiful trees that had changed colors just in time for Halloween. There was one vacancy, and Pam had been slaving away in the kitchen making a turducken for her guests. The preparation process was not very appetizing, but once it was fully cooked, the guests, one-by-one, would descend the stairs from the second floor, and they would sit in the dining room salivating like mad dogs. Oh! The wine! She forgot to get wine for dinner. Sherry would have to do.

“It’s here, everyone! Hope you’re hungry!” Said Pam as she placed her gorgeous center piece right in front of April from Room 2. 

April became emancipated at the young age of thirteen. When she got pregnant at the age of sixteen, she, sadly, had to put the baby down due to major complications. The pregnancy had taken a rough toll on April. Now, eighteen, April threw up a lot from undiagnosed GERD. 

“I can’t eat that! You’ve engastrated  three poor birds.” Her eyes filled up with tears. “I’m a vegetarian. I told you that!”

Pam did not listen. She did not care.

April pissed Pam the hell off. People always piss off the help. Always. Needy and rude bastards. Someday, just someday, it will be her turn to be pampered and spoiled. If only she could get a foot rub, a mustache wax, a four-course meal, and a bed she could sleep in without having to clean the sheets.

Pam exited to the kitchen and grabbed a large bread knife, and a Caesar salad. She returned rather peeved, and she set that salad right in front of April, then she stabbed the knife into a wooden cutting board. 

“Bread’s almost ready.” She said with a forced smile. 

April- the only guest at the table who seemed important- spoke up.

“I wanted that bread before the salad. I always eat salad last. Digestive reasons. And do you have French onion soup? I’ve been really wanting French onion soup!”

Cockily, Pam replied with, “I’m sorry, we’re out.”

Still, no one cared. Bill from Room 1 was a sailor who was staying in for the off season. Bill had problems, and he did not like raised voices, but tonight called for it. 

“You gonna bitch all night or can we have our food, please?” he said as April slouched in her chair, and sighed with crossed arms. He was right. She was a bitch, and she knew it. Bill then served the birds to the other two guests- an odd couple that sat strangely, and quietly throughout the meal.

It was their silver anniversary. They were just driving through. Soon they would be in North Dakota with the goal of seeing Mount Rushmore. When they were finished eating, they went back upstairs to Room 3, and did not make a sound the rest of the night, until…

Everyone had eaten, and no one scraped their plates. Pam had to do everything for them, but that was the life she signed up for. Pam had ran Pleasant Hill since her son died. He was seventeen, and loved this time of year. Chilly weather, pretty colors, pumpkin spiced everything, and HORROR. He would read horror for hours, and it never bothered him. He would also jump out at Pam from closets, pantries, and the dumbwaiter. He was a hellion, but he was perfect in Pam’s eyes. What Pam missed most about him was his smile. Perfect teeth, full lips, and never a cavity- oh! And his laugh. Cannot forget his laugh. Pam saw him from time to time. Maybe she was dreaming it. She could never tell. It was always so real.

April was the first one to go. She sat outside smoking on the porch swing while watching the sun shine through the delicate red, orange, and yellow leaves. She then went inside and tried to turn on the television with the remote. It did not work. She then tried the power button on the set, but still no picture. Then she hit the television twice and swore a dirty swear- then she saw me smiling at her from inside the television. We had a brief moment where she was confused, but then I jumped out of the television, and bit off her head. My lips tore in the corners, but then they healed up fine. They always did.

Ghostings were fun for me. I would hide in mirrors, electronics, and toilets were fun, too! You should see the looks on victims faces when I would jump out and say, “Boo!” 

I finished eating April, and felt my powers strengthen. Now, to gas that quiet couple while they were in bed sleeping. 

I crept under the door like a cloud of smoke. They quickly woke up coughing- the last sounds they would ever make. I filled the room like a magic force that sucked the life right out of them. There would be no Mount Rushmore. They would not reach their goal.

Bill blared classical music from Room 1 while he pretended to conduct the orchestra while getting ready for his shower, but the water got so hot here, and the steam in the bathroom would become quite suffocating. So, before the shower, dressed in a towel, he opened the windows, and I gave him quite a fright! Unfortunately, he did not survive that night. Poor Bill would never sail again. Poor guy, but I needed power. More power! Sustenance! I needed sustenance!

Stronger than ever from ghosting away, I still had not rid me of my large appetite. I went to see Pam, and she welcomed me at her table. 

“There’s a leg there if you want it, and I can cook you up some sweet corn, and collard greens.” Said Pam. 

“I’ll eat it all. Sounds fantastic, mom!” I replied, but then with a strange look in her eyes, she asked me, “Did you clean up all the mess this time?”