In a sudden gust, my surroundings became dank and uncertain. There was tremendous pressure within my ears, it felt like swimmer’s ear, only worse. I wondered how it was possible considering I was more bottle-like than having the physical attributes of a person.

Mold spores were attached to the glass. Where was I a cellar? A dungeon? A small basement? A motor clicked on and a soft breath surrounded me. Heat dissolved from the enclosure, transforming to a frigid temperature.

Blackness rendered me blind. I attempted to force my hearing to pick up something, anything from my surroundings. Once the motor clicked off, the wind diminished and silence became unnerving. Distant whispers trickled forth then screams, whispers again... swirls of sound, loony then sane, everything echoing, everything distorted.

"Hello?" I shouted, not certain of where I had landed.

Objects slammed, as if their proximity was now a few feet from my location.

"What’s that?" A male baritone asked.

"There can’t be another here, can there?" A woman with an eerie whisper barked.

"We won’t allow that, now will we?" Baritone man replied.

"Let’s do a perimeter check." Eerie woman responded.

The voices diminished and I felt a pang of danger surging throughout. It reminded me of the many fears I experienced as a child. My worst being the closet that somehow always swung open in the middle of the night. The creak of hinges that shouted sinister to me as I cowered beneath the heavy quilt, holding my breath out of fear. My human heartbeat confusing the mind, convincing me that there was someone lurking beneath the bed. Lurking and waiting for the perfect moment to swallow me whole. Fear was a curious thing, the fear of a child, the fear of a Genie.

I opted not to draw attention to my presence. I had no idea what I had fallen into. Patience. The morning sun was sure to illuminate my new assignment.

"Granny?" I whispered. "Granny? If you happen to be monitoring this, please reply. I don’t like it here! Something isn’t right about this situation. I don’t know who those people are, but there is something ominous about this place."

"Granny please, are you there?"

Silence shifted into whispers, then a painful scream reverberated throughout. The scream was a cross between a moan of agony and a shrill outburst. Who screamed or more like what screamed? I panicked.

Fear was my new best friend.

"It came from this room." Eerie voice announced. "It’s somewhere in here."

"Let’s get it before it gets us." Baritone said then shrieked like a lunatic.

With a certain intuition, I kept my voice and thoughts still. I closed my eyes and envisioned a place, a safe place from my days of life.

I was fifteen and sitting in the back of church. Reverend Garrison was addressing the congregation. It was summertime and every person was waving paper fans like abstract wings fluttering. The enclosed building was stuffy, humid. Regardless of the incredible heat, everyone was wearing thick layers of dress clothes.

Reverend Garrison was connecting with everyone in his church. He was working the crowd as if every crumb of word prepared for one. The heat was unbearable and yet everyone from town was present.

Horrible screams, bone chilling echoes slapped me back to the present. I focused hard, shifting my thoughts adrift to the large raft set out on the lake near our summer home. I would often swim out, climb on top and allow the sun to bake my ankles. I was under constant scrutiny living back then, often not allowed the carefree childhood like others of less fortune.

I pretended the whispers, the shrill projections were not real. I shifted my reality to yesteryear, to the time when a single breath was of more value than a precious gem.

Hours passed like days until finally a bit of light fell around the door. I realized I was inside a modern day ice box. I was the single item within its gut. My new skin was a bottle of champagne with a card strung around the neck. From my angle of view, the word congratulations was visible.

A celebration? I thought. What would those characters be celebrating?

The house was tomblike. If there were people around, they certainly were not home during the day. Who in their right mind would carry on in such a way all night? The entire experience was peculiar.

Sometime during the afternoon small bits of sound echoed to my resting spot within the gentle freeze. Footsteps, soft, feminine....footsteps, loud, self assured, masculine.

"Can you believe it!" A woman’s elated voice projected from within the room.

"Kiss me!" The man said with excitement.

The pucker lasted but a brief moment.

"Oh, we’ve got so much work to do!" The man said.

"We’re young and we’ve got nothing but time." The woman replied.

"I pray the money holds out. Sometimes with projects like this, you run into glitches that you didn’t anticipate." The man said.

"If anyone can handle it Evan, we can. Besides, we can always borrow from my parents if need be...after all, they offered." The woman said.

"You know how I feel about that. This house, this renovation, it has to be ours completely. We’ll do the necessities at first, then slowly make the improvements. Besides if everything is completed right away, what is there to look forward to and appreciate?"

"All I’m saying is if we need it, my mom and dad offered." She said repeating herself.

"We won’t need it, will we Gail?"

"You’re so stubborn...." Gail’s sigh of frustration shifted into the echo of a kiss.

"Which bedroom should we move into?" Evan questioned.

"I love the one facing the south. Those huge windows will allow so much wonderful light in. I think we should paint it a pastel yellow to enhance the sunlight."

"It is the largest bedroom, but the only drawback is storage. They didn’t build these old homes with any closet space." Evan said.

"We’ll manage. Heck, with the five bedrooms, we can use one of the smaller for a grand closet. You could build me a wall for my shoes." Gail chuckled.

"You need it too! I’ve never seen anyone with so many shoes before. In fact, you could shoe the entire state!" They both fell into laughter.

"You can tell so much about someone by what they wear on their feet." Gail explained. "Take those work boots you’re wearing. They scream, I work in construction and I’m a sloppy painter."

"Oh yeah? What do your gym shoes tell the world?" Evan asked.

"They are a simple statement that I don’t care what anyone thinks, above all, comfort prevails!"

"When should we move in?" Evan asked through a chuckle.

"I don’t know, next week maybe. I think by then the water will be turned on." Gail replied.

"You know what I think?" Evan said, his voice soft, suggestive.

"I think we ought to bring our sleeping bags and stay tonight in our new home."

"I don’t know Ev. It just seems a bit silly since we both have to go to work in the morning. I can’t imagine teaching all day with a sore back."

"I just thought it would be romantic. You know, no television to watch, just us and our new place."

"You’re sweet Ev, I’ll think about it, okay?"

A moment later, the ice box door flung open. A rather petite woman sporting shoulder length hair pulled the bottle of Champaign into the bright daylight. Overhead florescent bulbs mingled with window rendering me blind.

"Look at this Ev!" Gail said grinning from ear to ear.

"What does the card say?" Evan inquired.

"Congratulations on your new home! Mrs. Comaneau, real estate agent."

"That was considerate." Evan said.

"It sure was. You know, they never did disclose exactly how long this house was on the market. It must have been for some time, judging by this set of antique appliances." Gail said.

"I told you, it doesn’t matter. We got the place for a steal! Old homes like this are built quality. We couldn’t build something like this for what we bought it for. Even with the improvements we make, this is a rock solid investment."

"I don’t care about resale value, I just want to live here. I’m so tired of renting that small apartment. This, this is ours to decorate the way we want, no permission needed! I’m so excited!" Gail said swinging in a circle taking me along for the ride.

Evan pulled Gail into him and brushed his lips to hers. "My queen, welcome to your palace!" He whispered.

Gail stood in a noble pose. "Ah, a commoner!" She joked.

Again their lips fell to one another. Just then an older couple burst into the room.

"Oh George look at the love birds! I told you we should’ve knocked." The woman said as Gail and Evan turned in unison.

"Mom, Dad!" Gail said cascading from Evan and kissing her mother’s cheek.

Evan smiled politely, but there was something in his expression that hinted that he was not thrilled about the intrusion.

"George, Rebecca." He whispered through a clenched grin.

"We brought you both a housewarming gift!" Rebecca announced.

"Come on!" She said pulling Gail’s free hand and leading her away.

Forgetting that she was still totting me along, Gail carried me throughout the house. Hardwood floors squeaked under the steps of everyone. Along the way, I caught a glimpse of high ceilings, ornate moldings, and a brick fireplace in the front sitting room. We walked through a small hallway and out the front door.

In the driveway a small pickup truck was parked. Roped to the back were large boxes. One read refrigerator-this end up, the other, gas stove, self cleaning.

"Your brother Glenn is going to swing by after work to help us carry it in." George announced.

"Oh, mom, dad, thank you so much!" Gail exclaimed.

"Yeah." Was all that Evan could muster.

"We just wanted to do something that you’d appreciate. We understand how it is moving into a new home and not having much." Rebecca said.

"We have enough." Evan spat not doing well to mask his attitude.

"Oh Evan, I didn’t mean anything by it. I just meant that the stove and refrigerator here are so outdated. George and I thought the stove could be a hazard to use and the refrigerator a waste of energy."

Evan nodded and gazed back to the house. "If you’ll excuse me, I need to take some measurements." Evan stomped away, leaving Gail apologizing for her husband’s rudeness.

"You know, he’s not accustomed to family doing so much for one another. You know his dad was never around and his mother didn’t have the financial resources that you do. It makes him a bit uncomfortable."

"Never mind him!" Rebecca said. "What do you think of this place?"

"I’m so excited mom! We have so many wonderful ideas."

"George and I are happy for you. You and Evan lived five years too long renting that snuff box. Now with the money you pay out, you’ll get something in return for it! A home, eventually your own!"

Gail whispered now and slid closer to her parents. "Remember, Ev must never know you co-signed on those bank papers."

"Oh that pride of his!" Rebecca said flipping her hand through the air.

I observed Evan in the upstairs window measuring the length of a window. Gail’s eyes locked with his and I could sense her guilt for the deception. She waved at him and he nodded back.

Moments later, a tiny blue car swung into the yard. Fuzzy dice dangled from the center mirror. An oversized teenager slid from the driver’ seat. It was surprising that he fit inside the automobile, he was a giant in comparison.

He removed modern sun glasses, folding, then placing them into a shirt pocket.

"Ah the muscles are here!" George announced, as he playfully punched his son in the arm.

"So you closed on the house today, huh sis?"

Gail swung into him and gave her brother a bashful hug.

"Yes. We’re so excited!"

"Where’s mister wonderful?" Glen asked sarcastically, gazing up at the house.

"You need to be more patient with Evan. He’s a wonderful husband, just give him some understanding."

I noticed an expression of disdain from Glenn. "As long as you’re happy sis."

"Let’s get this unloaded, shall we?" George announced.

I watched as father and son attached thick straps to the large boxes and hauled them in through the front door. They were very coordinated in the way that they maneuvered, like a well oiled team. Gail, still holding my bottle slowly followed behind.

Father and son disconnected the old stove then lugged it outdoors. George pulled a box cutter and sliced open the first box cutting the base in a square.

They flung the top to the side and lifted the stove off the cardboard.

"This sure is lighter than what was here!" Glenn proclaimed.

Within a few minutes, the new stove was installed.

"R’ you certain you can’t smell any gas?" Rebecca asked.

"No Mom, Dad did a perfect job." Glenn replied.

Next they replaced the refrigerator and I was positioned inside. The door closed me in and the new ice box had an odd smell to it reminding me of burnt toast. As the thing fired alive, the heavy stench evaporated, leaving only a trace amount of odor.

The voices of Rebecca, Glenn, George and Gail trailed away. A moment later, Evan appeared, peering into the new refrigerator. He shook his head with disapproval.

It wasn’t long before Gail fell into view behind him, her smile shifting to sorrow.

"Why did they do this?" He questioned, his tone clearly upset.

"They wanted to help us, that’s all."

"WE DON’T need their help!" Evan managed fighting an outburst.

"Aw Ev, they just wanted to do something special. Please be gracious about it, please!"

"It’s not the right color! I wanted almond in here, not white." Evan complained.

"It will work out okay with our plans, you’ll see honey."

"Your parents’ they just make me so crazy is all. I hope they won’t be doing stuff like this in the future! I won’t keep quiet if they do! This is our house, not theirs, understand?" Evan slammed the ice box door.

"Yes honey." Gail said as a thick stillness overshadowed the room.

With that, their footsteps trailed away and the house fell silent.

Somewhere between eleven and midnight, voices, whispers, and moans trickled in like water through a gap in a slate roof. Every moment the creatures increased in daring, every second was a feeling that they were closing in.

"What’s this?" Baritone asked.

"It appears as if they’ve replaced my stove and refrigerator!" Eerie announced.

"You remember when I bought you those dear?" Baritone whispered, but his voice was as cold as a mid winter freeze.

"It was one of your guilt presents, wasn’t it?" Eerie responded.

"Why can’t you ever appreciate anything I did? Why does everything have to be a constant battle with you, even now? I’m fed up! I truly am."

"You were a lousy husband! Do you think that a cheap stove and refrigerator makes up for all those years you were out with the boys? Every weekend a new fishing trip while I sat here waiting for your return! Do you know how it tickles me that you’re stuck here like this with me? Do you?"

"Shut up, would you?" Baritone responded, his voice now powerful, his fierceness something to be reckoned with.

Things began to crash about. There was an unbridled energy released. It was raw, but above all, it was frightening.

A moment later the door of the ice box flew away and slammed on the far wall. The new stove became dented, burners took flight like metallic Frisbee’s crashing and bouncing chipping plaster along the path.

For the first time, I caught a glimpse of Eerie and Baritone. They were points of energy, points of horror. He stood hovering above, white hair directed upwards reminding me of a porcelain doll with unruly hair, untamable. Eerie was a round spirit, her face a circle, flat and lopsided. Frightened eyes, not timid, but paralyzed in an eternal expression of shock. A large bullet hole was still visible from her forehead. Although she was transparent, hints of slugs were scattered along the center of her torso.

Shelves spilled from the ice box. They twisted and snapped, destroyed like twigs.

I fell to the floor and rolled beneath the ledge of the cabinet. I couldn’t think, I couldn’t believe. Eerie and Baritone were my worst nightmare come true. They were spirits in the after world, spirits trapped within the home in which they had lived and obviously died.

Leap! I thought wishing my escape. Leap! Yet nothing happened except the attention it drew from Baritone and Eerie. Bloodshot eyes glowed in the night as they gazed upon me. Without control I rolled from under the protective cabinet, rolled out into the center of the room.

They began to laugh, the sound harmonizing and mixing into a wild song. I was discovered and I wanted nothing more than to disappear. Baritone released a tortured scream. Eerie began to spin me like a propeller.

Round and round the kitchen twisted. Their faces, their horrible banter of torture directed at me.

"Stop it!" I commanded. "Stop it this instant!"

Baritone lifted the bottle and flung it against the wall. My head throbbed from the impact. Eerie cackled as she lifted me and hurled me upwards. The bottle spun and fell back into her transparent hand. Over and over she did this...I was dizzy, I was dizzy, my world out of control. Nothing I had experienced in life nor in death was as frightening by comparison.

"A wimp!" Eerie announced. "We’ve got us a wimp!"

"What should we do with her?" Baritone asked.

"She’s trapped and powerless! Isn’t this delicious! Let’s keep her as a plaything! Let’s keep her for when the live ones become dull." Eerie was now giggling uncontrollably.

Baritone now opened his mouth and large teeth became visible. Rotten fangs became extended and he slid the bottle inside the large abyss. My worst nightmare came true, I was being swallowed whole and there wasn’t a wish to save me.

I dropped straight through and bounced off the soiled tile. Filth was everywhere, a paste-like slime began oozing upwards through the gaps in the flooring. From the ceiling rain began to fall. It was as if a storm cloud had formed within the room.

This went on for hours, each ghoul taking turns trying to outdo the other. At first light it all ceased. Baritone and Eerie dissolved somewhere into the wall. I realized the stillness was nothing more than an illusion, a cease-fire within the spirit world. The kitchen stood in disaster, the apparent trademark of angry ghosts.

I wanted nothing more than to escape. I envisioned the cottonwood. I concentrated with extreme desperation, but no matter how I focused, the shift in gravity was not possible. For some reason beyond my comprehension, I was snared.