Category : Books-Fiction

Sub Category : Suspense/Mystery

                                                    1
          
                             Fannie Belcher's Things

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon liked when people died. Not that they were bizarre or unfeeling, it's just that the Gordons' business depended on death. You see, they owned the Dearly Departed Antiques Store, a shop filled with musty old furniture of the recently deceased. Perhaps  it  was  a  bit  gloomy  and  creepy, the way the Gordons made their living, but they didn't mind. Rather, they fancied themselves the best in the business. And the fastest. As someone "bit the dust," the Gordons would purchase his or her stuff. Their motto? We buy the bucket as soon as you kick it. 

In fact, to learn of a death in the historic little sea town of Ashcrumb, one only had to spy the Gordons' company truck traveling down the street. Faded green, with D.E.A.D painted on its side, the former ice-cream truck-- which still played its music--was  quite the town spectacle. Curious kids on bikes would follow the truck, all the while guessing where it might stop. Who died? they would wonder. Was it Mr. Fulton, the cat-hater? Or was it Hazel Monger, the freaky hermit? 

One Saturday morning in October, blaring  its  warped tunes, the truck attracted its largest group ever. Twenty kids trailed behind it, pedaling down shady streets, through sleepy neighborhoods, and past ancient cemeteries. Finally, the truck came to a sputtering stop in front of a weathered mansion. 

  The huge place had been the home it Fannie Belcher, the richest old lady in Ashcrumb. And  lucky  Mr.  Gordon  was the first in line to pick over her belongings. He could barely contain his excitement as he he hopped out of his truck. 

He nodded to the group of sweaty, panting kids, all of them waiting to see who  would  answer the late Fannie Belcher's door. Maybe, they hoped, it would be the ghost of Fannie Belcher herself. 

"Hurry up and ring the doorbell!" yelled Hector Figg, a freckle-faced boy. He swayed impatiently atop his banana seat. 

"We don't have all day!"

  "Shhh," said Mr. Gordon, smoothing his shirt over his round belly. "Hector, you kids go home. This isn't a sideshow. Have a little respect." 

Mr. Gordon grabbed the mammoth door knocker. After a few clanks, the door creaked open, revealing a long-faced man in a black uniform. 

"Yes?" wheezed the butler, glaring at Mr. Gordon. "Who are you?" 

"I'm your DEAD!" said Mr. Gordon brightly. 

The butler danced backward, a look of horror on his face. 

"Dead?" 

"That's right," said Mr. Gordon, sticking his foot inside the doorway. "It stands for Deceased's Estate Antiques Dealer. I'm Frank Gordon. I'm here to purchase Ms. Belcher's things." 

"Oh, of course," said the butler. "Come in." 

Mr.Gordon bolted inside and slammed the door.

The kids rushed to the windows and peered through the broken   shutters. They snickered, watching Mr. Gordon's bulky figure lurch about the dreary place, picking up chairs, examining sofas, and rummaging through drawers. 

"He looks like a big rat," said Hector.
"Yeah," added another kid, smacking gum. "A rat that just found the biggest hunk of cheese in the world."

                                                           ~
                            End of Chapter1

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  This Chapter turned out to be LONG!!! Well, congrats if you managed to finish.