New Neighbor

What seem to be their dream house turned out to be . . . Tenant would move in, but no one in the neighborhood will see them move out. Could this be the perfect place to call home or . . .

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

New NeighborBy LaKeisha Doyle, Keisha Seals, Desaree SealsAuthorHouseCopyright © 2014 Keisha SealsAll rights reserved.ISBN: 978-1-4969-5428-2CHAPTER 1Bam, Bam, Bam, Alicia, sweetheart can you hand mommy another nail? So I could finish putting up this "for rent sign" the giggle from a couple walking down the street holding hands like two love birds. That took Alicia's attention away from helping her mother out. As soon as the women reaches the house, where Alicia was standing next to her mother putting up the sign. She stopped and point at the house then she finally said to her husband "Look Phillip that women is putting the house up for rent, it's so beautiful on the outside. Let's go see how much she is asking to rent it for and if we could see the inside as well." Then Phillip said to his wife "Are you sure you want to live here, I really think we should look around some more." Melinda grabbed her husband's hand and proceeds across the street toward the women who is nailing up the sign. The women introduced herself and her husband. She said her name was Melinda and her husband's name was Phillip. She explain to the older women how her and her husband been looking to rent a house. Then the women introduced herself as Ms. Johnson and pointed to her child and introduced her daughter Alicia. Ms. Johnson stated that she is only asking $875.00 a month for a four bedroom house and she will be happy to show them the apartment. The women were so overwhelm by how big and beautiful the house was; that she filled out the application on the spot and ask how soon they could move in. Ms. Johnson explained to the couple that they would have to bring the deposit and first month's rent tomorrow so no one else will get the house. Melinda told Ms. Johnson, her two kids will be staying there too, and how it's been so hard for her to find a house to rent. Now a day people aren't renting their houses in fact majority of them is selling their homes. Ms. Johnson agreed to let Melinda and Phillip rent the house. She also informed them that she lives next door; and the reason why she doesn't stay in the house is because it is too big for her and her daughter. Her sister died from cancer and left her the house. Melinda was so excited when Ms. Johnson told her that she could move in tomorrow as long as she pays the deposit and first month rent. Melinda hurries home so she could pack and be ready to move into her new home. That next day Alicia was sitting on the steps playing with her dolls. When a U-Haul truck driven by a man pull up to the house and behind it was a car with a women, a little girl and teenager boy. Alicia was so excited to have a new neighbor living next door to her; she jumps up and down screaming "New Neighbors, New Neighbors." Alicia mom ran out of the house to see what Alicia was excited and yelling about. It took Alicia mother sometime to calm Alicia down from being excited; then she could introduce her to the new neighbor. Alicia and her mother walk over to the neighbor house. The door was wide open, making it much easier for them to move their stuff into the house a lot quicker. Ms. Johnson knocks on the door before entering into the house. She shouted "Hello, this is Ms. Johnson. My daughter and I came over to welcome you and your family into your new home." Melinda peek her head out from around the corner of the living room. "Hi, Ms. Johnson, Please come in and who is this lovely little sweetheart you have" pointing at Alicia before she could say another word. Alicia jump out in front of her mother yelling "My name is Alicia and I love New neighbors" then Melinda said "Alicia, this is my daughter Ashley, she may be a little shy at first but I know once she get to know you she will love you" Melinda smile at Alicia. Afterward Melinda's son Robbie walks into the room asking where his mother wanted him to place the lamps he carried off the truck. He froze when he saw Ms. Johnson and Alicia standing there, then he apology by saying "I am sorry, I did not know that anybody was in here beside my mom and sister; "Hi, my name is Robbie" Both Melinda and Ms. Johnson laugh, Phillip walk in and ask "what is so funny?" Then he turns his attention in the direction of Ms. Johnson so he could politely address her and her daughter with a hello. Melinda introduced her son to Ms. Johnson and Alicia, before he noticed Alicia and Ashley had wander off to play upstairs in what was soon to be Ashley room. Ms. Johnson helps Melinda organize the house to put stuff into, in order to be put away. Soon it was time for Alicia and Ms. Johnson to head home for dinner. Ms. Johnson invited Lisa and her family over, since she was unpacking for so long that she forgot to fix dinner. Melinda kindly accepted the offer to have dinner with Ms. Johnson and Alicia. When they arrive that evening to Ms. Johnson house; she noticed that Ms. Johnson had already set the dinner table. It looks as if it was set for a king; the layout was simply beautiful and amazing. Ms. Johnson had cooked baked ziti, fried chicken, collar green, rice, toss salad and then for desert she baked a homemade peach cobbler; the sweet smell of peach cobbler surround the air making everyone hungry. They laugh, eat and drink until everyone was so full. That everyone was drowsy, by the time Alicia and Ashley went fast asleep on the floor in the family room surrounded by Alicia Dolls. Both of the ladies laugh at the sight of seeing of the girls sleeping on the floor bury in the dolls. Melinda reaches down to pick up Ashley until Phillip suggested that he would carry her home. Ms. Johnson left Alicia sleeping on the floor. Then she escorted Melinda and her family out the door. Melinda thanks Ms. Johnson for dinner and promise to return the dinner invitation once she gets completely moved in; after that they went home. Phillip set up the bed and Melinda made up the bed so she could lay Ashley down after she put on her pajama. Robbie on the other hand was on the phone with his girlfriend at the same time playing video games. Phillip came into the room; looked at Melinda and said that she look as if she could use a shower to relax, Melinda agree to take a shower. She was thinking about going down stairs to get herself a glass and a bottle of red wine to drink for her bubble bath. Melinda took a quick look inside Ashley room to make sure she was still asleep, next she looks in on Robert by this time he too was fast asleep. So she headed down stair to the kitchen to get a glass and a bottle of wine, on the way down the stair. She heard a footstep running through the house as she got closer she saw a shadow of a little girl running out of the kitchen heading toward the living room, and the voice sound so much like Alicia passing by the stairs running by yelling "New Neighbor." When Melinda got to the bottom of the stairs she walks into the living room there was no one there. She just shook her head and whisper to herself "I am just tired Alicia is at home in the bed." So she headed back upstairs and into her bedroom where Phillip was now fast asleep, she went into the bathroom ran the bath tub until it was half filled up then she got in. Melinda was so tired that she dozed off inside of the tub until she heard Alicia and her mother talking inside the vent which startled her out of her sleep. This made her jump out of the tub and run into the bedroom waking Phillip up. He went into the bathroom to re-assure her that she heard no one in the vent. He went down stair to make sure that the doors were lock and no one was in the house. When he returned back upstairs to his bed room, Melinda was waiting up in bed for him until she heard Phillip say no one was in the house and it was safe for her to go to bed. Melinda toss and turned almost the whole night until the light from the sun shine inside of her room and the chirping of the birds outside the window woke her up. She hop out of her bed early enough to go down stairs to make breakfast for the family before they woke up. She headed down the stairs; she felt a cool breeze and the smell of coffee and bacon being cook and a person humming from inside of the kitchen. When Melinda reaches the kitchen and look inside Ms. Johnson and Alicia was in the kitchen, Ms. Johnson was cooking and Alicia was playing with her doll at the table. They were acting as if it was their kitchen inside their own house. Melinda walks in the kitchen; Ms. Johnson spoke as if it was a normal thing for her. Was this visitor coming into her kitchen? "Good Morning Melinda sorry if we made so much noise making breakfast for you and your family. I thought you could use the rest and I also noticed this morning that your door was wide open so I came over to see if everybody was okay. When I knocked on the door and your husband Phillip ask if I could come over and surprise you for him by cooking breakfast for the family so you could sleep in late, sorry if I scared you, I did not mean to." Melinda smile and Said "Good Morning, Ms. Johnson and Alicia, this was so nice of you, I wish Phillip would not have bother you since you already invited us over for dinner last night. I don't want to be a bother to you and Alicia, but thank you so much." Ashley enter the kitchen half way awake rubbing her eye to completely wake up, Melinda turned to her and said "good morning sleepy head" and she run into her mother arm and Melinda and Ms. Johnson laugh. When Robbie wander into the kitchen also half way awake and still in his batman boxer he greeted his mother by saying "Good morning mom" but when he heard Alicia voiced when she read the word batman imprint off of Robbie Boxer that's when he noticed that Ms. Johnson and Alicia was both in the kitchen as well with his cheek turning red from embarrassment he turned and ran back up stair yelling over his shoulder "Good Morning Ms. Johnson" and they laugh again. Ms. Johnson explained the only reason why she came over this morning was to informed Melinda that she and Alicia will be going away for two week and need to know if she could just keep an eye on her house until they get back, Melinda agree to keep an eye on the house and once in a while she would go inside to check around at the same time water the plants for her. Ms. Johnson help Melinda clean up the kitchen after breakfast. Then she headed back home to pack her and Alicia bags, so they could be ready when Melinda comes over to pick them up. To take them to the airport for their flight that leaves at 4:20pm. Melinda decided to lie down on the sofa until it was time to take Ms. Johnson and Alicia to the airport; she made herself a cup of tea that Ms. Johnson had left over from breakfast. She got comfortable on the sofa with a blanket; she realized how quiet and peaceful it is going to feel without them. On the other hand she knew that she was also going to miss them; especially how Ms. Johnson made them feel at home. She treats them like family, always looking after them. She jumps up when she look at the clock; and realized that she been lying there for a couple of hours, before she realized that it was almost 3:00 O'clock. Everyone was still in the house asleep since noon; Ms. Johnson also needed to be at the airport one hour earlier before her flight. She quickly got her shoes on and rushed out the door, towards Ms. Johnson house. When she opens the door; she saw Ms. Johnson and Alicia already ready standing outside next to her car, with their luggage in their hand waiting on her. On the way back from the airport, Melinda noticed that Ms. Johnson house seem to look kind of dark and gloomy. Then she looks down at the set of keys that she left for her, so she could be able to keep an eye on her house. Melinda got out of her car; unlock the door to her house and was about to walk inside. She heard the sound of a glass slamming down from inside. At first she ran over to Ms. Johnson house and looks through the window. She could not see inside of the house because it was too dark, not even a night light was on. Outside the house; Melinda could hear the sound of someone walking around inside. There also was a sound of someone talking in a whisper; but when she stuck the keys inside of the door. The house seems to be breathing as if it was alive; then everything seems to have gotten quiet. All the whispers, the walking and the house breathing seem to have stopped completely. As soon as Melinda enters the house, she felt like she was being watched by a bunch of eyes. It was making her feel very uncomfortable which was strange. Since Ms. Johnson has no pictures on the wall or anywhere around the house. The house was so clean in fact it was completely spotless from top to bottom and everything was neatly in place. Melinda shivered and pulls her sweater close together trying to keep herself warm; because the house was so cold she felt like she was in a morgue inside of a hospital. Once she saw that everything was fine and still in place she hurry up and exit out of Ms. Johnson house, she made sure she locked the door on her way out. Later that evening after dinner, she was talking to her husband about hearing noise from Ms. Johnson house after her dropping both Ms. Johnson and Alicia at the airport. When she went over there it was quiet and cold inside. Phillips just told her that she was doing so much with just moving here and trying to get the house in order; that she's just tired and need to get some rest. She agreed that after she finished washing dishes she would head upstairs to bed after her shower. As soon as everyone finishes eating they all wander off upstairs to their separate rooms to turn in for the night. Before Melinda headed upstairs to bed, she checks the front door to make sure it was locked for the night. It just happen that whoever came in last forgot to lock the door. She decides to take a quick peek outside of the house just before she locks the door. She looks over to Ms. Johnson house and was in shock to see that the same house that was dark this afternoon was completely lit up; as if someone was in the house. Out of nowhere the curtains from Ms. Johnson window move and a face appears inside of the window. Now were starring right back at Melinda which made her scream, slam, lock the door and run. Phillips and Robbie ran down the stair to see what Melinda was screaming about. When Phillip looks out the door toward Ms. Johnson house it was slightly lit by a night light. Then he and Robbie went over there; when they returned they told her that the house was empty. The night light was turned on by a timer, so she could stop worrying and spooking herself out. Phillip hands her a glass of wine to help relax her nerves; with her hand still shaking she told them that she was okay. So they would not worry about her than she headed upstairs to bed.CHAPTER 2Melinda took two weeks off of work so she could get her house in order. She was able to take her kids to their doctor's appointment. Melinda enrolled her kids in school that same week, and then she was able to enjoy her cleaned house and her vacation away from work. She did not realize how completely busy she had been the first week. Melinda has one more week to relax before Ms. Johnson and Alicia come home. One afternoon while Melinda was at home alone cleaning up the kitchen; when the front door to her house flew wide open and she knew that she had locked the door. So she slowly walk to the door, quickly peep outside to see if anybody was outside but there was nobody. She laughs to herself at the same time thinking it is just her imagination playing tricks on her, so she continue cleaning as she gather all of the trash to take it out. When she walks outside to take the trash out; the door slammed shut behind her. She thought that it was just the wind but when she reached for the door she heard the sound of the lock turning. She tried to turn the knob and push herself against the door as hard as she can. It was completely locked like someone was inside of the house and locked it. She walks around the house to the back to see if any door or window was unlocked for her to get back inside. Instead the glare from the Television in the living room shining through the window made her look through it; to see what was going on inside of her house. She could see someone walking around inside her house. It's the shadow of a woman and a little girl watching TV; as if she was watching herself and her daughter sitting on the sofa together. (Continues...)Excerpted from New Neighbor by LaKeisha Doyle, Keisha Seals, Desaree Seals. Copyright © 2014 Keisha Seals. Excerpted by permission of AuthorHouse. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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