May 21, 2008
The Girl That Wasn't There
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Kevin, Dunedin, New Zealand, 2000
I moved into my home, which was built around the turn of the century and
soon found I wasn't alone. Shortly after moving in, I was changing a light
bulb at the top of a 10-foot ladder and lost my balance only to feel two
large, calloused hands push me upright again. Saying, "Thanks," I realized I
was not alone as thought. However, growing up in an inhabited home (a term I
prefer to haunted), it truly made my new home feel welcoming. I have had
several other housemates "living" with me, some I have seen, some I only
hear.
The calloused hands belong to the "Preacher." The reason I call him so is
because he wears a long, dark coat and wide brimmed hat like a frontier
preacher. He has also comforted my dog, who had been abused in his last home
and who is prone to night terrors on several occasions.
I have woken to the weight of a hand on my leg when the dog is crying only
to see him petting and calming the dog down so I can rest for work. Of
course, I always thank him. He often looks up startled and vanishes.
Another housemate I have likes to play with an old-time rotary phone, which
I have yet to find. The oddest thing about this game is they call a friend
of mine from work. The first time this happened, she had come over for
dinner the night before, the next day at work she wanted to know why I had
called her at 3 in the morning and wouldn't say anything when she answered.
I was surprised because that was when the "kids" were playing with the
phone, my phone that doesn't have a rotary dial tone and I was long asleep
by 3 AM. This happens so commonly it has gotten to be a running joke between
us that the "kids" need their phone privileges revoked, but how to do that
if you can't find the kids or the phone. These are only a few examples of
the antics my housemates are up to. Some people find living in an inhabited
home frightening, but I on the other hand, find it comforting knowing even
though I live alone, I'm never truly alone. Now if I could only convince
them to turn the lights off when they are done, and to remember to close the
cupboard door when they are done with them.
