Chapter 32

"Good God, Joy, put it back." Martin was watching his wife picking out another outfit for their grandson.

"This is a bigger size than the other things I've bought."

"At this rate you'll have bought all his clothes up until he is eighteen years old."

"A slight exaggeration, Martin. Hello Len."

The elderly gentleman had approached them as they shopped. He was in his overcoat, he seemed to wear it whatever the weather. A slight frown on his face, Joy wondered what was bothering him.

"Are you okay?"

"Oh, yes. I was at Rory and Nina's last night. They wanted to know about the people who had lived in their house before them. You know, the problems they had and why they moved."

"They said that they had a few weird things happening. I hope you didn't frighten them." Martin was the one frowning now.

"Oh no. They are intelligent, rational young people. I think that they just want to work out how to deal with the problem. They were gathering information so that they could plan a strategy. Very wise."

"I'd heard a few things. I had spoken to Mrs Hampton a few times. Poor woman was frazzled. Her husband ill and things moving in the house. She didn't say the word ghost, but that's what she was insinuating." Joy said.

"Well, Rory doesn't think it's a ghost and I'm inclined to agree with him."

"You collect all the stories around this area. Have you not come across any ghostly happenings?" Joy asked as Martin sighed.

"There are stories, myths and history. The ghosts are firmly in the myth's category. The most persistent of them is about the school. The old one on the north of town, not the secondary school. Things moving around, copperplate writing appearing on the blackboards. Of course, nowadays, it's all computers and technology. I don't think any spirit from yesteryear would be able to operate any of that."

They said their goodbyes and headed home. Joy had bought the outfit that she had seen. Martin had tried to change her mind, but she had that look in her eye and he knew better that to stand in her way.

"I think we ought to make sure that we visit Nina a lot now." Joy said.

"We are always calling in there. We don't want to make a nuisance of ourselves."

"Martin, they need us at the moment. All that spooky stuff going on. Nina alone in that house. We need to lend moral support whenever we can."

"I don't think we should go there and keep going on about the problems. They've barely mentioned it to us."

"That's not what I mean. Just be around, help in any way we can, without talking about the ghost. Especially when she has the baby. There will be enough to do without worrying about being haunted."

"I understand. If she looks irritated when we turn up, we will have to back off a bit. I don't want to push our luck."

"Absolutely."

The "look" was back and Martin knew that his words of warning would be ignored.