Joann's Ghost

o n e

Hello, my name is Joann. It's pronounced Joe-ann. People often mispronounce it.

Anyway, we are currently inside a car driving to a new house. My family and I are moving from Texas to Illinois due to my dad getting a new job. We've been driving since yesterday and we're still on the road dying of heat because my annoying brother, John, wants all of the windows open.

"Are we there yet, Joe?" John asked me while he kicked at my feet. Annoying, right?

I rolled my eyes and kicked him back to make him stop. "No, and don't ask how much longer because I don't know either."

John licked his hand and slapped my cheek. I instantly slapped the back of his head as payback and he got somewhat teary-eyed. I apologized as soon as I could whispering I'm sorry many times.

But you know how sibling are.

"Mom! Joann slapped my head!"

I had to defend myself. "I did it because he licked his hand and slapped me!"

My mom groaned and turned around in her seat. "Joann, you're sixteen years old, act like it. And John, be a mature eleven year old and apologize to your sister." When none of us said anything, she gave us a death glare through the mirror.

John instantly sat up and apologized to me with a smile and a kiss to my hand. He made sure my mom didn't see him before he silently rolled his eyes and poked his tongue out.

I huffed out air and kept looking out the window. There's so many fields here in Illinois, so grassy. I imagine myself running in them and rolling in the dirt being free from all this bull.

Ha.

I felt tired, and I drifted off to sleep.

---

"Joe, wake up!" John yelled while pulling my hair.

I grunted and looked out the window and saw our new home. It was worse than I expected. Somewhat big, but worse than I expected.

The house was a faded blue color, almost grey. The sighting of the house was loose and about to peel off and some the windows were broken or cracked or had wood planks nailed on them. Our front porch was decaying and looked unstable to step on. How did my parents want this house?

I stepped out the car and took another beautiful view of the house— can you tell I'm sarcastic? Anyway, I gave my parents a disgusted look. "Really? Out of all houses you guys chose this house? It's ugly."

My dad grabbed his soda and said, "Deal with it, Joe. It's the best we could in such a short notice, ok." He dumped the rest of the soda out when he realized how hot it tasted. "I don't really like it either but hey, we can make this work, right?"

"Sure." I said.

My mom got out of the car last and took a long look of the house and smiled. "This is lovely, isn't it! We can have a fresh start in the neighborhood and remodel the house just the way we like it!" My mom was always the positive one in the family.

I wish I was more positive like her. Don't get me wrong, I am positive but not at every situation.

I sighed loudly enough for her to hear. "Do you really think that, or are you just saying it to make the mood better?" I really hate when people lie or pretend to act a certain way.

"I do think this way." She stopped and stepped on the fist step on the old porch. "How about you and John pick your rooms while we start to unpack? Would that make you feel better?"

I shrugged. "I guess."

She clapped her hands together happily. "Good! I'll tell your father to unlock the garage meanwhile you and John pick your rooms. Have fun!" She grabbed the keys and unlocked the door.

A loud creaking noise was heard throughout the empty house. I slowly walked in and looked around the dusty house. It looked like no one lived here for more than a hundred years, so to me it seemed disgusting.

I walked to a candle holder with a candle and saw a lighter right next to it. I wondered why this was the only thing in the house and gazed at the candle holder itself. Curiosity rushed inside my mind and body, so I flicked the lighter on and surprisingly it lit up. My hand got closer and closer to the candle and at last it was fired. A sudden gush of wind blew past me and made me colder.

The candle flickered and I swear it turned off and came back on again.

After the cold wind, I heard something upstairs shut close like a big and heavy container. I thought someone must be upstairs, but then I thought it could have been a squirrel or raccoon in the attic (if we even have one).

I was about to go upstairs when someone grabbed my shoulder and screamed in my ear. I yelled and fell to the floor in fear. I looked up and saw my brother laughing.

"You should have seen yourself!" John said while he held his stomach from laughing so much.

I got back up on my feet and pushed him hard. "Why would you do that! You sick little fu—"

"Joann! Don't use such foul language around your brother." Mom said. She gave John and me a talk and told us to finally go up and choose our rooms.

As always, John ran up the stairs and pushed me out of the way to get the fist choice. I huffed and grudgingly followed and just chose the first room I saw and marked my territory by standing in the middle of the room and waiting for John to finish so we can all unpack our stuff.

John ran in and had an angry expression. "Aw, come on! This was the room I was going to pick!"

I smirked. "Tough luck, kid. I got here first." I decided to look cool and put one hand on my hips while the other hung loosely at my side.

John got on his knees, literally, and put the palms of his hands together as if he were praying. "Please, Joe! This so cool! It has a huge window to stalk neighbors with!"

Creep.

"No, its mine now. Leave."

Dad walked in with boxes and set them down. The moving truck must've came already. "Ok, so who's room is this?"

I quickly said it was my room and John begged dad to make me switch rooms. He begged so much, that he even said he would never try to shave off his stubby "beard" in his sleep. Dad just told him to accept his fate of me getting here first and John walked out with slouched shoulders and went to the room next door to me. I mentally congratulated myself in winning this.

I went back outside to help carry all boxes that belonged to me. The movers helped with the furniture, so I waited until they were done weigh my room.

When they were finished, I set up my things exactly how they were back at home. I wasn't done, but I left all of my unpacked boxes on the floor and I have an idea where everything will go.

I wanted to trick myself that I was still at home to make me forget about this horrible moving chaos. I never wanted to move away, but no my dad just had to get a new job. Everything was well back at home. I left all my friends and memories back in Texas just to come to Illinois. Bleh.

I can't stay mad forever, right?

I went downstairs to help my parents, but something caught my eye: the candle light turned black.

A/N: I swear this story gets better, just wait for it.