quote: "find the courage to let go of what you can't change," — unknown

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PEOPLE SAY ALMOST ONE hundred years ago the 'McFadden heir' passed. People say he was a joyful, kind, friendly, young man, who lived a short life. Every year for as long as I can possibly remember, my family (just mum, me and my dad used to too before he passed away) and I would lite lanterns and lift them up into the sign of respect, on the day he died. I always felt sorry for the boy, Casper McFadden.

Most people would be afraid to go there, to the old very very creepy Whipstaff Manor. And add the near-constant rumours of four ghosts that are believed to haunt its grounds. No one had lived there in what surely longer than twenty years. Since the girl and her father left (the most recent owners) so suddenly they never sold the place. I hated the fact that most people wanted to leave this old town, know as 'Friendship,' most of our families have lived here for generations, as I do have a few descendants here too. Well lucky me, seeing that no one owns it and because no one wants it, the Mayor put the place up for auction and my Mum saved it and brought the land and the house. Only if she knew what she was getting the both of us into... It often outraged me that my mother and I both know that Whipstaff Manor is cursed and unfortunately she seems to have a horrible memory because she was the one that told me stories about the place.

I hated standing on that fateful day watching the whole town looking on by the rusty gates, only showing up to watch my Mother a known member of this town place her hand up and buy the old manor that was almost beyond repair. The shock and astonishing look on their faces, some of the older townsfolk with pale faces. Even a kind elderly lady gave me a bunch of yellow roses (that were commonly found around Friendship) and I deeply appreciated the gesture. I almost died of embarrassment, not because of the roses but the fact that no one would forget this. I just wanted to hide away under a nice sturdy rock and never come out.

Some times I wish I could have lived one hundred years ago. Fitting in was not a problem, back in those days. Life was so much simpler, easier. Most of the townsfolk thought that they'd find someone to live there or knock it down. It was rather sad, but I understand that these sort of things happen. And to make my life better, I'm moving there. To a very old mansion that is so old, I don't know how old it is! Which is why shouldn't it be heritage listed or something? So my mum and I wouldn't have to live there and plus they could of make it into something cool. Like a museum or something maybe? Even a library or a nursing home.

My life sucks right now, I'm a loser, who has lived at Friendship Maine all her life and is gonna live at the old rundown mansion! And that people all the people of this town know is haunted! Yay! You could add that to the embarrassing things in my life. The only reason my mother decided to move me and her there is because she loves old things, she's an antique collector. And for the love of God, she loves old houses. I might just invite Scooby-Doo and his gang!

"Anything old is just a measure of the importance of what we have humans have accomplished," my mother would say, her eyes full of happiness. "Antique collecting shows that if you set your mind to something, you can do it. All you have to do is dream."

I suppose 'Antique Collecting' became Mum's passion once my Dad died. She always avoids the subject of my Dad, she never gave me a reason why, but I suspect that is because I remember us both crying, in each other's arms on the old couch. I remember the look on her face. In her eyes, I saw pain. So much pain and sadness, that she had to distract herself. Getaway from everything, able to forget for a while. So much to my own dismay, my mother Maryanne sold our perfectly good house, in exchange for the mansion. Okay, I seriously was internally beginning to kick myself, I need someone to hand the shovel, so I can go outside and start digging my grave.

I knew why she had us move to 'Whipstaff Manor,' she wanted a fresh start and she wanted to be as far away from her memories with Dad as possible. "May!" My mother calls, her eyebrows raised, opening my bedroom door with such a force I hear the hinges moaning with age. Many of the houses in this town were very very old. "I told you three times not to put, the kitchen utensils with the—" She stops and I'm guessing she's looking down at me, her helpless daughter beyond repair who is cradling herself fighting the tears. My green eyes widen, seeing my mother in front of me, seeing my tear-stained eyes. I try to hide them by looking down.

She places the box in her arms on my beige carpet and sits down next to me, against my pink wall of what used to be my bedroom. Her arms wrap around me, as she tries to provide comfort. But she wasn't, no one could comfort me anymore. "I promise it's for the best. Who knows it might be what we need. It might have books for you and many old things for me. It's just me and you know kiddo and we're a great team." She says through my uncontrollable sobbing. After all, the walls of this house were the ones I grew up in. It's the place I feel like dad is always with me. It still feels like home although the walls are bare and everything is packed up into numerous boxes. "There is so much old stuff in that house I could use for the shop to you know.."

We never had to move, never. This is her fault. If only dad had never gotten sick, I sigh deeply."But how can you do this mum? –– push dad away and forget him. Like he never existed, we can't forget him. It was never his fault." In her eyes, she saw something in my eyes that I had never seen before. My mother doesn't hesitate to tell me some thoughtful advice. "What my own father used to tell me and what I've told you, it is important to remember the past."

She wipes my tears and smiles, "I could never push him away, I love him too much and I love you just as much too."I hug her and stand up, gathering courage I say "We better hurry and get this show on the road." I more like force it. She deserves to be happy, no matter what it cost me. And I act as nothing happened. It was all I could do. I remember a week after he died, I'd lock myself in my room and put my music on full blast. The reason I did this is that I wanted to be strong for my Mum. I didn't want her to see me cry. Music was all I had left. Everyone has left me.

She smiles and replies, "It would be nice to get to the new house and all the boxes there by dark." 

"True," I say, my eyes locking with hers. "I dibs calling the biggest room,"  I state with a sly smile on my face.

"I'll just have to beat you to it."

And for once two years I saw the sparkle in my Mother's eyes. She sort of looked happy and at this moment I sort of feeling happy too, just I wish with all my heart that my Dad was here.

We load the last of the boxes into my Dad's old ute, I sit in the familiar front passenger seat. As it was only one cab. When I turn to the driver I almost expect Dad to be sitting there with his dark brown hair and green eyes. I think back to those days when he wasn't sick, replaying all those memories. I wouldn't allow myself to forget him.

He'd say dad jokes, that would make me laugh because they were so random and corny. The way he'd always wear his Ray-Ban sunglasses and sing whatever song was on the radio with no matter if he knew the words or not. He'd always make me smile when I was sad or when I was six I broke my arm, he brought stickers and he'd help me decorate my plaster cast.

My most favourite memory was when Mum was out and we put the radio on full blast and danced around the kitchen while we cooked dinner and completely forgot about it and burnt the pasta and it went all soggy and clunky. So we ended up just buying a pizza.

I'd always laugh at the story when mum came home once and she saw me and dad having a tea party, we were both wearing tiara's and discussing our hidden stash of lollies, in which he loved chocolate of any kind and so do I.

My eyes remain fixed on the road, almost the whole trip. Until Mum places her hand on my own. I look at her, her eyes lock with mine for a split second. Just as the sunset, allowing me to see the hues of pinks and purple.

My Mother whispers just aloud for me to hear my fathers words, "When the sun sets, the angels dance on the sky, if you hear their whispers in the wind, they tell you that tomorrow will be a good day." She pauses for a moment gazing at me lovingly, "Things will get better May I promise."

I find myself mouthing those words with my mum, I smile and she smiles back. She makes me step out of the car and open the rusty old gates. "No one has opened the gates in a long time, mum," I yell. I was stating the obvious and of course, no one has lived here in like what was fifteen to twenty years? I knew it was something like that but I didn't dwell too much on math as I hated it and I had to use my Karate skills and kick the gate open. I laughed to myself at my fifth attempt at trying to kick down the gate, so much for watching 'The Karate Kid' with dad two years ago. My mother winds down the old car window trying not to show her great effort, "Just leave em' open. People need to know, where here now." My mum yells back, her eyes wide in awe, how can she like such an old manor. It's creepy, and I'll have to live here now. Yay!

I walk down the drive almost running to my mother, What happens if there is a ghost in a bus hor something, while my Mum decides to park near the front steps. I suppose it's easier when you carry boxes of your stuff in a closer distance to your new creepy and very spooky house. I sit on the steps waiting for my Mum. My mind drifts off to what they say lives here, four ghosts. I honestly know there rumours just these rumours have been going around for ages, like a hundred years.

People used to be dared to go in there when our parents were a little younger than us my best friend Abby, (who moved away with her father after her parents split up) her father once got dared to go in there by his bullies at school with his friend and they saw a ghost. The ghost of the McFadden heir.

I sigh deeply, walking over to the car, I pull out my two duffel bags, along with my backpack. Most of my things are gone now, Mum and I sold a few of our things to buy this creep place. I walk with mum to the front door. Waking up the old steps, I carefully try to keep my balance. She puts the key in the keyhole and gives the door a shove. It opens with a squeak. It was rather creepy and spooky. And lots of dust. Lots and lots of dust. All I need is a little faith, trust and pixie dust. Being surrounded by darkness making me edgy, I quickly click the light on my torch. My torchlight shines throughout the manor. It is really creepy and yet again spooky, but there was a sort of Victorian feel. Although it was odd, I could see that it was once a beautiful home.

My Mother clicks her fingers, "It's rather surprisingly and unexpectedly beautiful." I say with a surprised tone. "Power first look later." She joked leading me around, chuckling to herself.

— — —

"Looks like we have to put on the power." My mum says. "Mum, you know the rumours they say about this place? That four ghosts live here?" I say my voice, weary and steady. After all, I had been thinking about this since my mother first told me that we were moving here and plus,

Who used to live here.

She opens the power box and shifts her gaze from my own to the power box, looks though the switches, then flicks on the power. "I'll have to go into town tomorrow and honey, don't listen to them. This place is just old, that's all. There is nothing such as ghosts, you know that." She says, to herself more than me.

"Just this place is creepy. But you're right ghosts are not real. I'm gonna find a room." I say, I didn't believe her words but I had to suck it up and not be a coward. Following a staircase, that isn't in it's prime or golden years, the floorboards creak as I step on them. "This place definitely needs a good clean." My foot gets stuck on the last step, I fall over. "Ouch." I wedge my foot out and continue walking. I open doors, turn on all the lights. I trying to scare them off. I was even stomping with my feet, I surely looked like an idiot. "It's okay, ghosts are not real. And if they where I'll just stand still and whisper it's just a dream and I'll wake up." It was the best thing I could do. If you asked everyone in this town if four ghosts lived here. They'd all say yes. My Mother is just trying to make me feel better. Or herself.

I came to an odd room, it had three beds with odd names. Stinkie, Fatso And Strech? What the hell are those names? I almost let out a scream, but I somehow swallow it back down. They were the names of the three ghosts, were was true fourth? I shake my head, there is no way I want this room. I take a deep breath and continue my quest to find a bedroom. I finally come to a bedroom that I like. "This will have to do," I say rather happy, my feet were getting sore it's like a labyrinth in this house. Jumping on the bed, dust flies everywhere. I would have to do some serious cleaning. I flick the light switch, the light flickers with a buzz. "Wow. No one has lived here in like forever!" I exclaimed loudly, still, I was trying to scare them off.

"This is pretty neat. It's better than that room, it was strange? Parents don't name their kids Fasto, Stinkie and Stretch! It felt like Snow White." I joke to myself. Then I hear a small chuckle."Okay, I'm really weird right now. If those are three where's the fourth, isn't there one called Casper?" I feel insanely chicken and afraid.

I check everywhere, under the bed, in the bathroom. "There is no such thing as ghosts!" I exclaimed, opening the what I was guessing the wardrobe. Yep, he is in there. I say to myself, "See nothing is there!" I say closing the door. "No way!" I open the door again. I see around, a white, clear ghost with blue eyes. It was like looking through a white lens, only shaped oddly with deep, clear blue eyes, that was the only human thing about it.

"It's him! I think?" Of course, it was him. I'm an idiot. "Please don't kill me! Don't come any closer." I yell, my eyes locking with the ghost. He was about to speak but I cut him off. Although I was a little curious and I almost let it best me. "I can't die today okay, my mum needs me. You have to understand, Mr Ghost. That you can't kill me, for entering this room as I know ghosts are all territorial and stuff... I mean like I sort of, how do I put this? Um...well my mum brought this house because they were going to knock it down because you know it's old and she loves old things...so you sort of can't kill me and I am sorry for disturbing you and I... er, apologise." I swallow, I was clearly afraid.

"Just let me ask this question, are you real before or not? So I can hope I'm dreaming." I continue, trying everything not to scream. "No, you're not dreaming. I'm a ghost, but a friendly ghost. Now please don't run or scream. I can't hurt you, I promise." First of all his voice was so scratchy but childlike but it had a deep sense of maturity, but it was so gentle as well. I look into his blue eyes, and they tell me that he is telling me the truth and so much to my dismay, I believe him. But it couldn't stop the goosebumps growing on my skin and my instinct to run away.

"I'm really sorry, but it was a pleasure to meet you! But I'm really sorry for freaking out, but I sort of have to help my mum unpack out the car... So I have to go! And I'm sorry for looking at you, you're really friendly and all but I have to go— so...bye!" I casually walk out the door, then run.

The ghost looks puzzled. He mutters and slaps his hand on his forehead and says something like, "At least she didn't faint!"

"Mum! There is a ghost in the room I liked and I'm really confused and–" I look back, "MUM he's following me! S.O.S it's an emergency! He seems like a nice friendly Ghost! Just I really want you!" I exclaim. I literally throw myself down the stairs, my feet barely able to hold me upright. Then I stop and look back. Wait! I should have heard him out or something. If I'm gonna live here I'll see him a lot! I force myself to stop and turn around with a weak smile.

"It's okay mum, I'll sort it out! The ghost guy said he can't hurt me and if I'm not back in fifteen minutes you'll know I'm dead and I'll haunt you! When I die, I want you to know that I love you and I'll look over you and protect you forever!" I yell, with dry humour. But I meant every word.

His eyes seem a little brighter when I stop and look around. I barley whisper, "I'm sorry about the way I reacted because I was a little freaked out but— I realised I should have heard you out and I'm sorry. So can we start over?" I ask. His eyes look a little sad, "Sure, I'm Casper. You the only person who hasn't really run away or fainted you actually talked to me for longer than three minutes in a really long time! It's a new record!" He jokes that makes me laugh.

"Wait. Your the McFadden kid aren't you? The kid who passed away?" I ask although I felt horrible to pry. I needed answers. "Yeah, I'm Casper McFadden." He says with a small smile, he hides his hands behind his back starring at the ground shyly. "Shouldn't of asked you like that, it was rude. I'm May Clarence." I sat holding out my hand.

"I'd shake your hand just, My hand would go through yours." He says smiling a little sadly. "Ohh, I'm sorry. I thought that ghosts could actually touch you?" I say, really not believing my situation. It's not every day you meet a friendly ghost right? "Yeah, I can touch you just. I'm really cold and you're the nicest person I've met in a long time." He says kindly, poor Casper. My heart goes out to him. "It's okay Casper, you can shake my hand. I don't mind if your cold. My dad used to say to me, "Cold hands, Warm heart." His eyes looked shocked. He managed to croak out, "Oh."

"It's okay Casper. You be surprised how much I understand." I sympathise. Oh. Only if you knew buddy. I hold out my hand, which he holds softly, but firmly. I suddenly notice that he is cold, like death, or even ice. But I honestly try not make a big deal about it. "I'm sorry, I scared you." He whispers. I felt like crying for him, he must be so very lonely. "I'm sorry just never met a ghost before and I've read scary books and stuff that ghosts aren't very nice," I say.

"Ohh, just to let you know, be careful of my three uncles. They don't like fleshies very much." He says rather warningly. He sounded like my mother. "I'll keep the my head up then, but fleshies as in alive people?" I smile kindly. He smiles gently, "That's what they call you."

"Uh, Casper? What bedroom could I have? Seeing that one I walked in on was yours. You would know this place like the back of your hand, soo.." I say, drawing out my words. "Ohh, it was a long time ago. Then it was Kat's, now you can have it. I don't mind. She isn't coming back." He smiles brightly, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Are you sure, you know this is still you're house you lived here first," I say. Seconds later Casper spoke again, "I want you to have it."

And there was something about Casper, I really liked. I didn't know what it was but I liked it and I couldn't help but grin.

— AUTHORS NOTE:
I do not own the film Casper as it belongs rightfully to his creators, although I do own my own characters and extended storyline.
— Edited: 22/08/2019