Annie's Room by Amy Cross Read Free Book Online Page B

low so that Father doesn't overhear me offering her sympathy, “but I really hope that this time you learn how to -”
    “Annie!” Father calls from the stairs.
    “Coming!” Getting to my feet, I drop the cloth into the nearby bowl and quickly wipe my hands on the front of my apron. “You can find your own way up, can't you?” I add, heading to the door before glancing back at her. “Remember, if you can't see and you get a little confused, just feel on the door-frame and make sure it doesn't say -” I pause. “Well, you know what I mean.”
    “Annie!” Father calls again.
    “Coming!”

Seven
     
    Today
     
    “Annie, do you want dessert?” Mom calls up from the bottom of the stairs.
    “No thanks,” I reply, “I'm full.”
    “Annie? Did you hear what I asked?”
    “I'm full, thank you!” I shout back. “No dessert for me!”
    “Annie?” Dad shouts. “Did I leave my phone in your room?”
    I look around. “I don't think so!”
    “Damn it,” I hear him mutter.
    “Annie!” Scott calls from one of the other rooms. “Did you pack the spare controller in one of your boxes?”
    “I don't know!”
    “Well it's not in mine!”
    “Ask Mom!”
    “Annie!” Dad shouts. “Are you sure my phone's not up there?”
    “Yes, Dad,” I reply with a sigh.
    “Annie!” Scott calls out. “Annie, where are your boxes?”
    “Annie!” Mom shouts from downstairs. “Do you want a drink?”
    “No thank you,” I tell her.
    “Did you hear me?” she continues. “Annie?”
    “Stop shouting that name!” I yell, momentarily overcome by frustration before quickly calming myself again. “Just... stop,” I continue, looking around the room as I tell myself that I'm overreacting. I swear, all evening people have been shouting the name Annie every five goddamn seconds, and I'm starting to lose my mind.
    Silence falls for a moment, and then I hear footsteps coming up the stairs. A few seconds later, Mom appears in the doorway with a frown.
    “Annie, are you okay?”
    “I'm fine,” I reply, aware that I must seem flustered. I try sitting up in bed a little, before thinking better of it and settling back down. “Sorry, I just wish people would stop shouting Annie all the time, it's like...” I pause, trying to work out how I can explain the problem. It's not that I believe in ghosts, or that I believe that there could be anything in the house; at the same time, I just don't want to tempt fate by having people running around and shouting that name all over the place. “I just don't like the way everyone's shouting up to me,” I add finally, figuring that even if I'm making myself sound grouchy, it's better than telling the truth and admitting that I'm worried. “Can you actually come up to my room when you want to ask me something, or better yet get me a new phone?”
    Coming over to the bed, she takes her phone from her pocket and sets it down on my bedside table.
    “You don't have to leave your phone with me,” I tell her.
    “It's late, I'm not going to use it tonight. Just hang onto it, and if anyone calls for me, take down a note. You can damn well earn your keep as my personal assistant.” She pauses. “You're not finding this easy, are you?”
    “I'm fine.”
    Smiling, she heads back to the door. “I'll tell your Dad and Scott to call you instead of shouting. I totally get how that must have been annoying.”
    “Thanks,” I mutter, not wanting to let on quite how glad I am to have the phone. I know I'm being dumb, but I can't shake the feeling that something in this house isn't quite right. “By the way, does your phone have internet?”
    “Sure does, but don't go crazy. The data charges are insane.”
    “I'll be quick,” I reply, picking up the phone as she heads downstairs. I tap the screen to launch the web browser, and then I start searching for all the details Tabitha mentioned earlier. At first I don't manage to come up with any hits, so I try a few different search terms until finally