The Ghost Diaries: Episode III

An original comedy horror serial

A ghost’s afterlife is turned upside down when an obnoxious family moves into his haunted house. Their presence quickly brings his worst nightmare to life — people who refused to be scared of ghosts.

The Ghost Diaries is a comedy horror story told through diary entries. It’s set in Deer Falls — the same small Colorado town featured in my stories Snow Dragon, Pandora Reborn, and The Crimson Reaper. This first episode of this serial is free to all Strange New Worlds subscribers. The entire eight-episode serial will be available exclusively to paid subscribers of Strange New Worlds and paid subscribers of my Patreon page.

I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII

---

---

May 22 —

Turns out I'm not alone in my distaste for the Farmer clan. I got a distinct impression the next-door neighbors won't be sending them any future Christmas cards.

A pair of loud angry voices drew my attention to the backyard fence late in the afternoon. May stood along the fence line, shouting at another chubby middle-aged woman on the opposite side.

“Keep that damn dog out of my yard.” The neighbor stabbed a finger at the mutt in question. “The next time I catch it over here, I’m calling animal control.”

“Don’t you threaten me or my dog!” May snapped. “Twinklebug is a good boy. He’d never harm a fly.”

“Oh really? He chased our poor little Siamese cat through our backyard. Scared Kiki half to death.”

“I saw or heard nothing of the sort.”

“My son witnessed it firsthand. Your damn dog barked nonstop and then lunged at him when he walked out into the yard.”

I glanced over at the dog and shook my head.

Twinklebug holds the top spot as the world’s dumbest dog name. Especially for a large breed like a boxer. Someone should pass a law forbidding the Farmers from naming children or animals. On the other hand, a dumb name fits his personality much better than a normal one. Drool unspooled from Twinklebug’s open mouth while the mutt stood a safe distance from the fence and cast a vacant stare back at the angry neighbor.

I can’t say how long the argument between neighbors kept going. But it reached a point where I expected their spat to plant roots along the fence and give birth to a litter of howling baby arguments.

The whole verbal fracas culminated in a resoundingly stupid fashion.

“Deer Falls has leash laws.” The angry neighbor crossed her arms and scowled while lecturing May. “Translation: keep your dog on a leash when it’s outside.”

“Why don’t you put your cat on a leash?” Daisy shot back. “Cats are supposed to be on leashes too.”

My eyes slid over to the youngest member of the Farmer clan. She had sidled up next to her mother during the argument and, like any obnoxious kid, had to insert her two cents. Also like a kid, logic and common sense were in short supply.

Their neighbor shook her head and answered Daisy with a dumbfounded stare. She refocused her attention on May and doubled down on her earlier warning before walking away from the fence.

Daisy turned on her heel and faced her mom with lips drawn out in full pout.

“It’s not Twinklebug’s fault he likes to chase cats!” Her whiny voice clawed at my nerves worse than the sound of tearing fabric. “They should be mad at their stupid cat for drawing Twinklebug into their yard.”

I’m not sure what either mother or daughter said after that. I left, fearing permanent loss of brain cells if I subjected myself to their nonsense any longer.

I better stop eavesdropping on these arguments. This one would have driven me to drink if I were still able to enjoy an occasional beer.