Age:
High School
Reading Level: 3.5
Chapter 1
March 4
It was a normal afternoon in the town of Blair. Children and teenagers were just coming home from school. Adults were still at work. The elders rested on their rocking chairs. Nothing disturbed the usual peace of the town.
Upon coming home from school, I went into the living room to turn on the radio. The song “Mr. Sandman” played.
Mr. Sandman, bring me a dream…
Not long after, an outsider moved into the empty rental home next door. Since Blair is a small town, and nothing much happens, everyone in town was aware of his arrival.
* * *
The wind howled loudly that night, as if it was also stirred by the newcomer’s arrival. From my bedroom, I thought I heard whispers outside my window, which faced the new neighbor’s house.
Chapter 2
March 5
I went to get the mail after coming home from school. At the mailbox, I bumped into the new neighbor. Taking a good look at him, I noticed he was well-kept; his hair was combed neatly, his collar shirt was devoid of any wrinkles, and his face was clean-shaven. His eyes had a life to them that I had never seen before, and his face was not sullen or sunken like the rest of the faces in town.
He nodded towards me and simply said, “Hello,” with a calm face. I returned his nod before going inside the house.
Chapter 3
March 8
A knock on the door summoned me to answer it. It was the new neighbor.
“Hello,” he said calmly, like he usually did.
I nodded in response.
“Sorry to bother you, but do you guys have a ladder that I could borrow real quick? I think there’s some rats in the attic, so I’m trying to put some traps up there, but the original ladder for the attic is gone…” he explained.
“I’ll grab it,” I replied. I closed the door and went into the garage to grab our ladder. When I opened the door, he was still there. I handed it to him.
“Thanks,” he smiled gratefully, then paused. “I’m Rick, by the way. Rick Mann. I guess it’s a little late to be introducing myself.”
“It’s fine,” I responded. “Seth.”
Rick Mann lifted the ladder onto his shoulders. “I’ll have this back to you guys soon. Thanks again.”
He left, and I closed the door.
