Tranquility Interupted

After taking one more look out the window of the new place, seeing the well trimmed yard and the shade trees lining the street, inwardly experiencing the feel of a quiet neighborhood straight out of the pages of Pollyanna, Edmond signed his name on the bottom of the contract.

He looked forward to having peace at last. Retirement was going to be his new life. The kids had all grown and moved away promising to visit often, everyone knowing they would have other priorities soon enough. The wife, well she was out of the picture. Not that she would be missed. That woman had nagged him constantly every day for the last twenty-five years. That was in the past.

She would have a hard time following him here from the shallow grave he had placed her in under their old house in Pittsburgh.

Things went well for the first few weeks. Edmond enjoyed gardening, surprised to find that he actually had a bit of a green thumb. The neighbors were nice enough but most seemed to be politely distant. He spent most of his evenings reading a book as he sat on the porch.

One night, as he settled into his bed with a good book, he heard a noise downstairs. With some trepidation, he made his way quietly down the hall and looked over the railing. There was a light on in the kitchen.

By the time he had sneaked downstairs, he could hear what sounded like someone doing the dishes. He reluctantly peeked around the corner, knowing what he would find.

“Where the hell have you been? I have been slaving here alone all day and what do I get from you? Nothing! Blah …. blah … blah.”

The floating apparition turned back to continue scrubbing a pot.

Word count 300