Mayor Paulsen was nervous to start the auction. She cleared her throat and nervously checked her watch again: 12:01pm, officially time to start. "Thank you all for gathering here at the Brighton House on the longest day of the year. We have decided it's time to put the Brighton House up for auction."
The crowd shifted a bit nervously as Mayor Paulsen paused and looked back at her speech. "We know that this house has been haunted for some time, but now that the last owner has passed and didn't leave a will or any living relatives, something needs to be done with the house. So we decided that the city should put it up for auction and we were hoping--"
A large creaking noise from the house behind her interrupted her. A few people ran form the crowd, but Mayor Paulsen continued on, "that since it's the summer solstice there would be enough light to prevent any malevolent spirits--"
"Excuse me!" came a voice from right beside the mayor, but at first no one could see anything. Then, all at once, a misty appeared and coalesced into the figure of a young man in late 19th century clothing. "Most of us spirits are quite proper fellows. It's rude for you to assume we are malevolent simply because we are spirits."
Overcoming her shock as quickly as she could, Mayor Paulsen began to stammer, "Oh-no-I-I didn't mean to suggest--"
"That's not what she said, Bernard," came a new voice from the mayor's other side. Again, a spirit appeared, this time she looked to be an old woman from the 60s. "The nice girl was just trying to take precautions in case there were any malevolent spirits."
"It still was rude for her--"
"Oh hush up, Bernanrd, you're no fun."
Mayor Paulsen, while she knew Brighton House had been haunted, was still dumbstruck as the ghosts appearing right next to her. She also was surprised at home much of the crowd was still there. Most, of course, were recording the moment. "I-uh-it's nice to meet you both, my name is Mayor Paulsen--"
"Yes, dear, we spirits do know a thing or two," the old woman said, winking. "Now though, Bernard did have a point that you should've thought to consult us spirits before putting this house up for auction."
"Here, here," said Bernard.
As Mayor Paulsen's brain stalled trying to think of something to say, she heard a gasp from her constituents in front of her. She whipped around and saw an even larger crowd of the town's past constituents, all in ghostly forms. Clearly, thinking sunlight would prevent any apparitions was folly.
"Well, of course we would like to include you all in the discussion," Mayor Paulsen managed.
"Include! Ha! This is our home and you dare to say it is up for auction."
"Oh, Bernard, you really need to calm down," the old woman said, "What he means to say of course, dear mayor, is that we would like to continue to live here and we have met and come to an agreement as to what the home should be."
"I...I am all ears."
***
Three months later, Mayor Paulsen cut the ribbon on The Brighton House Museum featuring authentic ghost tour guides from the town across the decades. All proceeds were to go to upkeep of the house or to whatever the ghosts wanted.
Mayor Paulsen just hoped they stayed so organized.
(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy)
The crowd shifted a bit nervously as Mayor Paulsen paused and looked back at her speech. "We know that this house has been haunted for some time, but now that the last owner has passed and didn't leave a will or any living relatives, something needs to be done with the house. So we decided that the city should put it up for auction and we were hoping--"
A large creaking noise from the house behind her interrupted her. A few people ran form the crowd, but Mayor Paulsen continued on, "that since it's the summer solstice there would be enough light to prevent any malevolent spirits--"
"Excuse me!" came a voice from right beside the mayor, but at first no one could see anything. Then, all at once, a misty appeared and coalesced into the figure of a young man in late 19th century clothing. "Most of us spirits are quite proper fellows. It's rude for you to assume we are malevolent simply because we are spirits."
Overcoming her shock as quickly as she could, Mayor Paulsen began to stammer, "Oh-no-I-I didn't mean to suggest--"
"That's not what she said, Bernard," came a new voice from the mayor's other side. Again, a spirit appeared, this time she looked to be an old woman from the 60s. "The nice girl was just trying to take precautions in case there were any malevolent spirits."
"It still was rude for her--"
"Oh hush up, Bernanrd, you're no fun."
Mayor Paulsen, while she knew Brighton House had been haunted, was still dumbstruck as the ghosts appearing right next to her. She also was surprised at home much of the crowd was still there. Most, of course, were recording the moment. "I-uh-it's nice to meet you both, my name is Mayor Paulsen--"
"Yes, dear, we spirits do know a thing or two," the old woman said, winking. "Now though, Bernard did have a point that you should've thought to consult us spirits before putting this house up for auction."
"Here, here," said Bernard.
As Mayor Paulsen's brain stalled trying to think of something to say, she heard a gasp from her constituents in front of her. She whipped around and saw an even larger crowd of the town's past constituents, all in ghostly forms. Clearly, thinking sunlight would prevent any apparitions was folly.
"Well, of course we would like to include you all in the discussion," Mayor Paulsen managed.
"Include! Ha! This is our home and you dare to say it is up for auction."
"Oh, Bernard, you really need to calm down," the old woman said, "What he means to say of course, dear mayor, is that we would like to continue to live here and we have met and come to an agreement as to what the home should be."
"I...I am all ears."
***
Three months later, Mayor Paulsen cut the ribbon on The Brighton House Museum featuring authentic ghost tour guides from the town across the decades. All proceeds were to go to upkeep of the house or to whatever the ghosts wanted.
Mayor Paulsen just hoped they stayed so organized.
(Prompt by Kimisha Cassidy)
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