Phantom Keys: by Vernon Scott (if you give a mouse a cookie read aloud txt) 📕

…

“Wow that was quite interesting,” stated Gwen. “But if you don’t mind me asking, who was the murderer?”
I sighed and waited to reply, “It was someone that I least expected. I thought it was my uncle Pearson but it seems that he and my father got over there differences a long time ago. His name was the one that was black but that was because no one actually knew who he was. But the killer turned out to be my aunt’s husband Jacob.”
“How did he do it,” asked Gwen.
“Please tell. I must know,” said the nurse. I would have never known she was in the room if she had never said anything. Apparently I must have went off to my own world while I was telling my story. I looked at my surroundings and saw that the nurse wasn’t the only extra person that was in the room. My physician, his assistant and two interns were all in the room.
“When did you guys get into the room? Never mind. Back to the story…Jacob had planned everything out. He put the hydrochloric acid inside the sink knowing that she was about to wash the dishes. She invited him over for lunch to be friendly. About three years before his conviction, Jacob was said to have killed Rebecca for her money, not knowing that she had made him sign a prenuptial agreement. It turns out that he really did kill her but somehow he convinced the jury that he hadn’t. After that day mostly all of my family turned there back on him. On the day of Julia’s death when Julia began washing the dishes, the water burned off all traces of her finger prints. She screamed in pain and her neighbor saw through her window and just thought the water was too hot or something. While she was screaming, Jacob came behind her and literally stabbed her in the back. She started to call for help and he stabbed her in her trachea to shut her up. He had then left the house out the back door not knowing that he accidentally dropped the bottle that had the hydrochloric acid in it.”
“Oh my,” said Gwen, “that was some story, Marcus.”
“I know. But ever since that day I had never let a case go unsolved,” I replied.
After everyone left, Gwen decided that she had to go home and let me get so sleep. The only thing that is troubling me is what will happen to me if I’m left alone for way too long.

Chapter 9
Party Until You Die

I decided to move the date of the party up. I thought it’ll be better to have the party the day before my birthday. Gwen provided the flowers and I provided the musical entertainment. This year Gwen said she was going to have a flower show. She had many plants that were still budding. She said that at exactly 12 o’clock, the buds were going to open revealing the most extravagant arrangement of flowers ever.
I decided to dress up like Tuxedo Mask, from the Japanese comic ‘Sailor moon’. And she decided to dress up as one of the sailor scouts. I believe she said Sailor Mercury. Even though we came up with our costume choices at the last minute, somehow we always managed to steal the spotlight. To me many other people’s costumes surpassed mine yet I don’t believe they were appreciated.
Somehow I hadn’t had to experience the common ‘party-wait’, when you’re waiting for about an hour or two for your guest to arrive. I’m going to open the doors at 8 o’clock to let people in. But this year I’m going to have a huge surprise for everyone. Gwen might get mad at me because I hadn’t told her about it but she’ll get over it.
After Gwen’s flower show, I plan on having one of the scariest haunted houses ever. Blood flowing down the stairs, nonpoisonous snakes and spiders will be let out across the floor, and my favorite, trained bats will be let loose. That will be one heck of a way to clear everyone from the house, but the only down fall will be the clean up.
“Two more hours until the party,” I thought. I needed to make some finishing touches for my plan. Gwen would be here any minute so I must hurry.
When Gwen arrived, I helped her carry her flowers into the house. She asked me to place them somewhere cold. I put them inside a walk in freezer that I rarely used. Gwen was so exited it seemed. She told me at an earlier time that I was going to finally meet her fiancé. She also told me that he is going to surprise us both when he arrives. I truly don’t understand why he would want to surprise me but who cares.
After Gwen and I finished putting on our costumes it was time for the party to begin. I opened the door and all of the party goers entered. In a short period of time the room was full of friends of both Gwen and I. We partied and partied. Around 9:30, Gwen’s fiancé Marcus showed up. He had on a great costume I must say. It looked as if he was actually shining.
He reached me and Gwen and said, “Surprise! The thing that I wanted to surprise you guys with is outside right now.”
All three of us left for the door. To my surprise, Marcus had bought Gwen and me matching motorcycles. Gwen’s motorcycle was a pure glassy white color and mine was a very dark blue. I was really shocked at the gifts. It was as if he really knew me.
“Thanks a lot Marcus,” Gwen and I said as if in harmony.
“No problem,” he replied.
“Well, let me be the first to say, welcome to the family,” I said proudly. “I will be proud to call you my brother-in-law.”
Gwen giggled, “Well, shall we go back inside?”
We retreated back into the house where the party was. We dance for a little while and then the clock struck signaling that it was 11:30. Gwen and I calmed everyone down so we can present the flower show. As Gwen had planned, when the clock struck twelve the orchids began to sprout.
It truly was an amazing thing to see. But after the flower show I decided to end the party. “Hello everyone,” I started, “I’m standing up here to wish all of you a happy Halloween and a safe journey home. If I may, Gwen and Marcus, can you please come up here and stand right next to me.” They walked forward and did as I suggested. “Friends, I’m happy that you all were able to make it. But with all means of respect I must inform you that the party has yet begun.” Everyone began to applaud. “With further adieu, I wish for you all to have a graceful night now let’s get this party started!” As soon as I said that I pressed a button to set my plan into action. As I planned, everyone ran away in terror. I couldn’t help but laugh. To my surprise, neither Gwen nor Marcus exited the room.
“I should have known you were going to pull something like that,” said Gwen. “That’s why we always have the best Halloween parties ever!” We both slapped five and went on our way.
She had a point; we do have the best Halloween parties. But I wonder what I’m going to do for next year.

Chapter 10
A Disappearing Act

Giovanni has one funny since of humor, I thought to myself. I was surprised that he would end the party like that. It was hilarious watching all our friends run in fear. He’s going to have one heck of a mess to clean up.
I was driving home on my new motorcycle that Marcus had bought me. If I would’ve known he was going to get me this. I wouldn’t have driven over to Gigi’s house. I was quite surprised at how well I was driving. I’d only had two experiences in which I’ve driven a motorcycle.
I was to meet Marcus a little later but I think he will be okay for now. I might drive for an hour or so to break the motorcycle in.

…

I arrived at Marcus’s house at two o’clock, as planned. He was on his couch waiting for me. He had popped some popcorn for the two of us. He had rented some horror movies for us to watch. I told him that I rarely get scared when I watch these things because they’re so predictable.
I walked toward the couch and sat right beside him. The popcorn was fresh. I grabbed a few and fed it to him. And he did the same to me. He pressed play on his DVD player and I heard a scream. That was somewhat unexpected.
Halfway threw the movie Marcus began to yawn. Either he was sleepy or he didn’t enjoy the movie. He yawned once more so I asked, “Marcus, are you tired? Or is this movie that boring?”
“To be honest,” he started, “it’s a little bit of both.”
I got the remote out of his hands and turned the movie and the television off. I walked him to his room afterwards. “Can you stay with me tonight,” he asked.
“Are you scared,” I asked jokingly. He chuckled. “I guess I can. Just so I can make sure you’re safe from monsters.”
I got into the bed next to him. He wrapped his arms around my waste and kissed me. Marcus was truly different from any other man that I’ve dated. Instead of sex he gave me something that seemed more important. He gave me complete and total intimacy. Most guys would have jumped off a bridge to get with me. I’d known since the day I had first saw him that he would be different.

…

Daylight glared through the window and had awakened me from my peaceful dream. I rose out of Marcus’s bed to see that it was 9:25. Marcus was still resting in bed. He looked so handsome while sleeping. My mother once told me that if you cannot appreciate what and whom you awake with, then you better have had a mental problem or some strong alcohol in your system to have had them in your presents to begin with.
I decided to take