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Across the street from my new home there is an old house, and behind its doors lies a big adventure. Little did I know that this big adventure belonged to me! It all started on January 19^th, moving day. I was on my way to Maple Leaf City, a small town on the border of Kansas, in the middle of nowhere.

I wasn't very excited until we pulled in the driveway. There before me lies a kid paradise. Pines towered over our minivan, a creek trickled over the sparkling rocks, and woods waited to be explored. I carried my three over-flowing suitcases into my new bedroom. As I was looking out my tiny glass hole of a window, I noticed a very old woman's face looking straight into my eyes. A shiver went down my spine, I turned away for a second, and she was gone. Later that night, I heard someone playing the organ. It was a sad funeral song, but it sounded familiar.

That morning I asked my mom if anyone lived in the old house across the street. "No, it has been abandoned for years, why?” she replied. "Oh, I was just wondering ... "

After breakfast, I decided to go explore. As I was walking, I spotted two deer and a hare. As I ran, kicking leaves high into the air, the animals did not run or even flinch as if they didn't notice me. I skipped across the street and up the sidewalk to the front steps of the abandoned house. There was not doorbell, a rusty old chain hung across the door. On the front porch there were a few boards missing, the existing boards creaked as I walked across them. I tugged on the rusty, brown chain and it tumbled to the floor and fell through a crack. I pushed the door with all my strength but it wouldn't budge. I tried pulling, and to my surprise, the door swung right open. Inside it smelled badly of cat and bat droppings. The whole house seemed alive, creaking and swaying as it seemed to breathe. As I started up the stairs, I heard frantic footsteps. I catapulted up the stairs and before me stood the woman I saw in the window the night before. I screamed ... then she vanished. I bolted out the front door. Once outside, I stopped to catch my breath and looked at the house. I could see the woman scowling through the worn shutters and cracked glass.

I turned and ran home, but I didn't just run because I was scared, I ran because I felt in my heart that the old worn woman wanted to be left alone. This strange day adds up to one thing. I live across the street from a ghost!

By Anna

Hawks Rise Elementary School, 4^th grade