The House That Anna Built Chapter One: I knew he was coming from some far away place to live with my mother and me. I never realized that a man needed someone like my mother. All I knew was that he was bringing his nephew to live with us because his parents died and his uncle was his only living relative. I of course thought that I would be all right surviving one of mum’s new boyfriends. My brothers were out side playing with Zeus our dog. I watched as they teased the living day lights out of him. My cat Nevatina sat by me with her son Toby. I walked into the kitchen to find mum crying. “ What’s wrong?” I asked sitting beside her. Her blond hair flowed over her wet face “ I am getting married soon. Phillip is taking us away.” She said as she looked at me “ Great, but what is really the matter?” I asked rubbing her back “ Your great aunt as passed away. Leaving you with everything that is left over from her funeral.” She said smiling “ What? Does that mean I get the house and everything that’s in and around it?” I said showing the biggest smile ever. “ Yes, but the money that’s ours. You know that we will have the money while you get the house and everything in and around it. Probably even more because of that gift she gave you” I looked at her “ That’s what I said, what gift?” I laughed, “ Oh, that’s right sorry. Well anyway, you will be moving into your new house. So start packing.” I looked at her with my mouth open. “ What about you and the boys?” I asked starting to cry “ We are going to move with Phillip. I don’t know where we are going.” She walked out of the kitchen. I stood and walked to my bedroom. Mum had already put boxes in my room. After I moved out I got a call from my granddad. My mother had moved out of the house taking the boys. She didn’t tell him where they went, only that they moved out of New Zealand. After leaving my Uncle and Auntie’s house I hopped on the bus and traveled into the country. The bus driver looked at me through his rear view mirror. “ You must be Anna’s Great Niece?” He chuckled as he drove on. “ Yes I am. How do you know?.” I asked as I looked out the window, “ She used to come on this very mini bus.” I looked at him, “ You look like her. Sad she died.” He coughed and carried on driving “Yes well, I never really knew her.” I replied as we drove up to a gravel road. “ Well, this is how far I go. Sorry young lass.” He pulled over and parked. “ How do I get to the house?” I asked as he took my bags out of the back of the van, “ See that carriage over there?” I looked to where he was pointing, I nodded, “and that cream horse over there?” I looked at a horse by the fence looking at me weirdly. As I waved good bye to the bus driver, I walked over to the carriage. Inside was a letter addressed to me, which said how to get to the house on Bonnie the horse? I decided to walk. But take Bonnie with me. As I dragged her to the pathway, well what looked like a pathway I followed it around. Up on the hill was the biggest house I had seen. I let Bonnie go in the other paddock and walked inside. I put Nevatina’s carry cage on the table. She meowed at me and started to try and get out. I closed the front door after bringing my bags and boxes in. I walked over to the cage to let her out. Instantly she ran out of the cage and ran around the house sniffing around. I turned on the kettle and sat down to read my magazine. As I turned the page the door knocked. I opened the door to see a postman standing in front of me “ Are you Alexia Johansson?” He pulled out a clipboard, “ You probably don’t know me but your mother does. She called me today from another country.” He said as he lit a smoke. “ Sit down. What did she say?.” He sat down on the porch seat and puffed his smoke, “ She asked me to give you this and tell you that she would of taken you but it would make it impossible to live with you. Being 18 and all.” He handed me a box and stood up. “ Did she say anything else?” I asked as I put the box inside, “ Nope, I must go now. Kiddies are waiting for me in the car. It’s a long walk from the road. Oh, yeah the builders will be here tomorrow to put in the driveway. Also that your great aunt left money in your house some where for you. Wait there’s more… she has paid all the bills that would come in the next 50 years. So all you have to pay now is food and anything else is needed. She has paid power, water, and telephone bills in credit. The total of payment is one million dollars.” He smiled at me when I stood there with my mouth open. “ How rich was my great aunt?.” I said as I helped the postman stand. “ The richest in New Zealand, and Australia. But nobody knows the extent of her wealth. Only she knew. Her family was really really rich. She gave your extended family one hundred thousand dollars each, your mother and brothers two hundred thousand each. Only they can spend it, if one of the children or your mother dies their money will go to the next family members. So you don’t need to worry about Phillip taking your mothers money or your brothers. That’s why she knew you would be ok, if she left you behind. As for your payment, you get the house, every thing in it and around it. The money that is left over is yours. The thing is, nobody knows where it is. There is a rumor that it is hidden in a secret room.” He started to walk away, “ Why did she leave me all this?” I yelled out “ Because you remind her of her youth and her love she lost. Also you were the only one to notice her special gift she gave you to look after. You are the only one other then herself and other descendants to receive the gift.” I looked at him funny. “ What gift?” “ The gift of seeing the truth of the past, present and future. You and others have the gift of seeing history as it took place. Do you remember that locket she gave you?” “ Yes.” I said as I pulled it from under my shirt and showed him, “ That is the key to something very special. Once you see the truth, you will be lead to the secret spot and will see the greatness of your power. Now please Alexia, I must go.” I waved as he walked away. What a weird, weird man. I thought as I walked back inside. I looked into the box to see a cooked chicken and some roasted potatoes. Inside was a letter from my mother. I read it as I read the letter, Hi Alexia, How are you? Your brothers and I are fine where we are, so don’t bother trying to find us. Look I am sorry if I sound rational but you are grown women now, you need to be on your own. By the time you get this we will be in a country with Phillip. I am sorry I have treated you this way but it’s for your own good Alexia. Surely you know about the secret about your great aunt now because of Peter the postman. Alexia, Anna’s son Rueben will be coming around soon to see how you are going. I called him to make sure. Remember Alexia I love you very much and I will make sure Marty and Stephan write to you. Your loving Mother P.S. Vladamere died last week. The cancer overwhelmed him. I put the letter down and finished my dinner. I fed Nevatina the scraps and walked into the lounge, turned the television on and sat down. Nothing much was on television. So I turned it off and went to have a shower. After having my shower I let Nevatina out side, she ran off into the garden. So I left the front door open until she came back. After five milos, she came running through the door purring loudly. “ Come on you little pain in the butt. Time for bed.” I said as we walked to a room I picked down one of the hallways. I lay in bed and fell asleep. I just hope for something good to happen tomorrow. Chapter two: I woke up to Nevatina cleaning herself on my bed. I patted her head and jumped out of bed. I then walked down the hallway and turned the kettle on, got the frying pan out of the cupboard and fried some eggs, bacon, and made some pancakes. After breakfast I got changed into warm clothes and decided to go for a walk. As I walked along the track, Bonnie followed me. I walked over to her and patted her head and fed her some long grass on the other side of the fence. I walked down to the letterbox and took out some junk mail and a few letters. One letter was from Marty and Stephan. I walked slowly back home to see the front door open. Did I leave it open, or did the wind blow it open?. I slowly walked inside and closed the door. I walked down the hallway to see someone walk across the hallway into another room. I quickly hid in a room, I heard him walking down the hallway into the room I was hiding in. I closed my eyes and suddenly the wardrobe flung open. There stood a young man, “ What are you doing in here?” He grabbed me and walked me down the hallway, “ What are you doing in here?” I asked as I shrugged off his hands, “ I live here.” He said as he pushed me to the front door, “Excuse me I do.” I pushed him back. When he looked at me, I looked deep into his eyes. His eyes seem so familiar and made my head start to rush. “ Do I know you?” He asked as he sat down at the kitchen table “ No, I don’t think so. What are doing here?” I asked, “ I live here. I just got back from the army.” He said as he turned on the kettle, “ I live here. I am Alexia.” I said drinking the warm drink that he had made. “ I’ve heard of you. Why are you here?” He asked “ Well, this is my house and farm now.” He looked at me “ Oh, so I should move out now. That’s ok, I will move out tomorrow.” He said standing “ No, no, you can stay here. You can pay rent, how about ten dollars a week?” He smiled, “ Ok. You know you look like my mother.” I nodded. I stood and went to my room. I picked up Nevatina and walked into my room. As I lay on my bed and looked up at the ceiling. Reuben knocked at my door. " Hey Alexia, I am really sorry for grabing you like that. It's been quite hectic lately in the army. Do you want something to eat. I can make some dinner if you want?" He asked as he stood by the door. I stood and walked towards my bedroom door and opened it slowly. " Ok, what are you going to cook?." I said as we walked into the kitchen. " I was going to go into the army but I chickened out." I said as I sat down at the table.
Copyright © 2002 Alicia Marlene Dean-Hunter |