The Haunting of Briarsville Orphanage

by Hope Jameson

  “A good bit. You see, if we don’t know what plans we’re working toward, we’ll only be able to shore up the structure already in place. If we have to go in later and change anything, you’ll pay for work twice.”

  “Oh. Yes, that makes sense. I suppose I have some serious decisions to make sooner than I’d expected.”

  “I’d advise you to do it that way. Of course, we’ll do whatever you want, but if I was your business advisor I’d tell you to not pay twice for the same basic work.” He gave her a wry smile that reminded vaguely her of her father. “So here’s a basic quote to get the first floor secured and safe so we can get to the upper floors without worry. From there, we’ll quote on the next phase depending on the decisions you make. Okay?”

  “Thank you. I appreciate your advice.” She smiled and nodded. “So, I’ll let you know what I’ve decided to do and who I’ve chosen in a day or so.” She shook his hand and watched him walk away as she thought briefly about what he’d said.

  “Darn. I probably do have to make a decision. What he said made sense. I should have known that.” Muttering under her breath, she turned to go back in to wait on her next appointment. “I wonder what this next contractor will say about that?”

  She only had to wait ten minutes before the next contractor arrived. She went through the same steps as with the first contractor and ended with a review of the blueprints.

  The engineer for this contractor came with a prepared quote for a full renovation of the building without concern for what she’d decide it should be.

  “So, based on your quote, you don’t need to know anything about the final layout or design of the building before you start?” Jill was a bit surprised at this approach after her last meeting.

  “We were part of the renovation before you owned the property. It’s been a few years, well, about a decade really, but we’re familiar with what’s already been done. We felt you’d probably want to turn this into condo units since that’s what the original renovations were set up for.” The engineer nodded confidently. “It makes sense to do it that way since most of that prep work on the main floor has been done.”

  “So if I decide to go in a different direction, how will that change your quote?”

  “Well, we’ll adjust as we need to. But we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it, won’t we?”

  “Yes, I suppose so.” Jill looked at him and his over-confident and condescending expression and decided right away that this wouldn’t be the contractor for her. First of all, it seemed as if they felt comfortable making her business decisions for her. She didn’t like that attitude. Next, it was clear this man wouldn’t share information with her and that was what she’d expect from the rest of his company. And finally, the quote he gave her would take up most of her inheritance. That wasn’t how she wanted this to go.

  “So, when do you want us to get started, Ms. Rogers?”

  “Um, you know, I’m not sure who I’ll be going with. I’m interviewing other contractors, so I’ll get back to you in a day or so.” She took a step toward the door to walk him out.

  “I wasn’t aware you were talking to others about this project. I just assumed…”

  “You assumed you’d get the job because you worked on this building ten years ago?”

  “Well…” His voice trailed off and the look on his face said he knew he’d messed up.

  “Like I said, I’ll let you know. Have a good afternoon, Mr. Tennet.”

  “You, too, Ms. Rogers. Do call if you have any questions.”

  She nodded as her chin lifted just a bit. She watched him walk away and knew the first company would be the best choice. She felt confident in the way they’d approached the project and their initial bid was reasonable. She was happy about her choice.

  Now she needed to figure out how to keep the kids out of the building. She decided to make up some no trespassing signs and place them around until work began.

  4

  Day one of the project had started and a full crew from Booker Brothers Construction was spread out on the property as they got set up outside. Jill arrived a few minutes after the crew to let them in and meet the people who would be managing the project.

  She walked up to a woman who was barking out orders and looked to be in charge. “Hi, I’m Jill Rogers. I own this place. Are you the foreman?”

  “Oh, hi Ms. Rogers. Mr. Booker told me you’d be here this morning. I’m Amanda Polk and yes, I’m the foreman.”

  The two women shook hands and Jill was surprised by the softness of the woman’s hands. She expected her hands to be rough even though she was a woman. She thought about the stereotype that a woman on a construction site must be as rough and tough as a man on a construction site. Maybe that wasn’t the truth and Amanda Polk was proof.

  “Please, call me Jill.” She smiled at the woman and motioned for her to follow. The two headed for the front steps of the building. “How long have you been doing this kind of work?”

  Amanda laughed. “Most of my life. My father is the first cousin of the Booker brothers, so I grew up in the business, really. I’ve been a site foreman for about six years now. So, I see in the project plan that we’re going to start by stabilizing the bottom floor. That should take us about three weeks. It’s a big building—based on the blueprints, anyway. I haven’t seen inside before.”

  “Yes, that’s right. I’ll have the plans for the second phase soon. In the meantime, I suppose you’ll need a key.” She fished the key ring out of her purse with the heavy brass key on it and handed it to Amanda.

  “Wow. This is old, isn’t it?”

  “It is. I don’t think I can get a copy made and this is the only one. We’ll probably be replacing the door, anyway, so maybe that’s one of the first things that needs to be done. When you do get a new door and lock, would you give me this key back along with a spare to the new one?”

  “Of course. I’ll take good care of this one till we get that done. I’ll put it on the list for this week.”

  “Sounds good. I think I’m going to take another wander through the first floor. If you need anything while your crew gets set up and started, just let me know.” Jill smiled and walked on into the orphanage and started down the hallway where she’d seen the little girl on her first visit.

  She was excited to have a chance to wander through the rooms again. Some of them had been painted, though that was still about a decade ago. Though the paint was old, it was still better than some of the rooms that had seen no improvement since the place burned in 1957. Jill noted that it was odd how some rooms had been touched and some hadn’t. Glad she’d chosen to not do business with the contractor who’d been involved with the first renovation effort, she continued on her wander through the facility.

  Stepping into what must have been a small storage closet, she looked around curiously. Empty steel shelving stood against one wall and she didn’t notice anything else of interest. Shrugging, she turned to continue on her way when something caught her eye.

  Tucked into the corner, on the other side of the shelving was an old wooden trunk. Or it looked old to Jill. Was this something left behind by the previous owners during their failed renovation? Or had it survived the fire?

  It was a simple trunk with a cedar core and covered in what looked like leather. There was a plain brass latch on the front, with no lock. Thank you for not having a lock, she thought. If there had been, Jill knew she’d have to go find tools to break into it. She was glad she didn’t have to go to that trouble. She flipped the latch and opened the trunk, hoping to find pirate treasure or something equally as exciting.

  What she did find, after looking through, she was sure, was children’s items from when the orphanage was operational. It could have come from somewhere else, but the chances were very slim. She found children’s drawings, hand written letters, dolls, toys, and much more.

  She sat down next to the trunk and read some of the letters, deciphering the childish handwriting. Some of the let
ters were sweet and fun. Others were sad and reminded her that this had been a home for children who had no families. Nobody wanted the children who were here. The thought sobered her, but as she kept reading she began to smile again when she was able to figure out a word that looked at first to be hieroglyphics. The children were still full of whimsy with pure hearts.

  “No, I don’t think I’d be able to find the owners of these things. It would be next to impossible to find them or maybe even know who some of them are. And I really don’t have the time for it.” She continued to pick up an item at a time and look it over before setting it aside. Talking to herself wasn’thing new. She’d grown up an only child and she now lived alone. It made perfect sense to talk to herself out loud.

  “Maybe if I could find a museum close by, they’d want it. If the town has a local one, that would make sense. But there are so many fascinating things in here! Maybe I should just save them and use what I can to decorate with.”

  As she dug through the items in the trunk, she found a drawing obviously done by a child. It was of two little stick figures with hair and wearing clothes. She chuckled at the drawing that only a child would have done. Below each figure was a name. Elise was written under the first one and Cynthia was written under the second.

  She sat staring at the picture, lost in thought when she heard a shout coming from outside. She placed the drawing back in the trunk and closed it, noting the room as she left and ran towards the commotion.

  When she got outside, she saw a group of people gathered around something, but she was too far away to see what it was. Amanda stood away from the group on her phone and she looked worried. She didn’t want to disturb her and ran over to the group instead, it was thin enough to get though without having to push her way in. On the ground was one of the workers, he looked to be in some pain.

  Two other workers were crouched beside the man, offering encouragement and trying to keep him calm.

  “Is there anything I can do?” Amanda asked as she got next to the man.

  “I don’t think so,” replied one of the men helping with the injury. “Amanda’s called nine-one-one. An ambulance is likely on the way by now.”

  Jill nodded and leaned down to the injured man. She touched his hand gently, but he didn’t respond. “Everything’s going to be fine. Just hold on, help’s on the way.” Then she looked at the man who told her help had been called. “What’s his name?”

  “Steve Maxon.”

  She stepped out of the crowd to get out of the way for when the ambulance did arrive. She noticed that Amanda had gone to the side of the man who’d been hurt and in just the next second, they could hear a siren in the distance.

  Once the ambulance doors closed and Steve was headed to the hospital, Amanda joined Jill up near the front door. “They don't think it’s too serious,” said Amanda. “Most likely a badly bruised thigh, but they don't want to take any chances and are taking him in for an x-ray. It seemed to me like it was broken, but maybe not.”

  “I hope it’s just a bruise. He seemed to be in pain.” Jill watched the crew as they got back to their work.

  “He’s a good man, I hope he’s back soon. The whole thing seems odd, though. Steve’s never had an accident—he’s never even missed a day of work. A quiet man, but he gets along with the crew really well.”

  “So what’s the odd part?” Jill looked at Amanda and knitted her brows together.

  “When I went to talk to him, he told me that someone moved the ladder, bumped it on purpose. He thinks someone made him fall off of it.” Amanda shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. Nobody on this crew would do that. I know them all and that just wouldn’t happen.”

  “Seriously?”

  Amanda nodded, her face glum. “Guess I’m going to have to ask some questions around here. Not looking forward to what I learn.” She walked away from the door into the front courtyard and stood looking up at the side of the building.

  Jill followed and looked at the ladder laying on the ground. She almost gasped out loud. The little girl she’d seen on her first trip to the building was standing by the fallen ladder. She was about to walk towards her when the girl shook her head. She could see that the child was mouthing something, but could not make out what at this distance. She tapped Amanda on the shoulder.

  “Who’s the girl?” asked Jill.

  “What kid?” asked Amanda.

  Jill looked back, but she was gone. She scoured the scene from side to side, but could not find her anywhere.

  “Oh, I guess I’m tired and seeing things.” Jill tried to laugh it off but the whole thing was unsettling. Amanda nodded and walked away to get back to work.

  She could feel a tremor making its way through her body, like there had been a shift in the world, like something had happened behind her back. She looked at the ladder again, there was no one standing beside it.

  Jill still felt shaken and walked away to sit down. She couldn’t be sure, but she thought the girl was mouthing the name Cynthia. Who was this girl and who was Cynthia? And did either of them have anything to do with Steve Maxon’s fall from the ladder?

  5

  Jill returned to the bed and breakfast before work was done for the day at the jobsite. She didn’t want to be there any longer and she felt uneasy about the whole place. The carefree attitude of exploration from before the incident had been replaced by a need to distance herself from what had once been shelter for children who needed a home. But she also felt a need for information, to find out more about the place, and maybe explain some of the strange happenings.

  All she wanted to do was get to her room and be alone. She was considering a bath and a book to get her mind off the events from earlier in the day. She tiptoed into the main foyer and was about to make the turn up the stairs when she heard steps behind her.

  “There you are! I’ve been watching for you. Glad you got in at a reasonable hour today.”

  Jill had to turn around, she could just keep walking. Suzie stood there with a big smile on her face. She was feeling annoyed at not being able to make it in unseen, but as she stands there listening to Suzie’s voice, she calms down.

  “Hi, Suzie. How are you?” Jill tries to smile, though the effort is weak.

  “I’m good! I have my cards,” said Suzie.

  “Oh, I don’t think I’m in the mood for it right now. Actually, I need to go lie down.” Jill was feeling less annoyed, but she still wasn’t interested in sitting with Suzie while she read Tarot cards.

  “You may not want to, but I feel that you need to. You are looking for answers, I can help you.” Suzie sounded so confident and Jill found herself too mentally drained to argue with her.

  “Okay,” said Jill, “lead the way.”

  Suzie took them through her office and into her living room. Jill was expecting some long drapes, mood lighting, and for some reason, a crystal ball. There was none of that here, in fact the living room looked like it had come directly from Ikea.

  “Expecting something different?” asked Suzie.

  “Kinda.” Jill admitted with a sheepish grin.

  “They all do. Have a seat.” She gestured to a simple white, wooden table surrounded by four matching chairs. She’d already chosen a seat and plopped down comfortably. There was a deck of Tarot cards on the table and Suzie picked them up, shuffling them slowly and deliberately.

  Jill took the seat opposite Suzie and sat almost primly as she waited for what would come next.

  “I have to warn you,” said Suzie. “I don’t read cards like most people. Like the charlatans. The cards tell me some things, but the way you place them tells me more. I read you as well as the cards, some things are based on the facts you present to me and some is based on what comes to me from the beyond.”

  Jill simply nodded, not really understanding what Suzie was saying. She still didn’t really buy in to the theory.

  “Okay, Jill. Now take the cards and deal five from the top, placing them anywhere on the table.�
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  Jill did as Suzie instructed, looking at each one as she turns it over. She expected that at least one of them would be death, if movies and TV shows are anything to go by. But she wasn’t sure which one that card even was. By Suzie’s expression, most of the cards are mundane and unobtrusive. Suzie stares at them for a few minutes.

  Jill waits in silence as Suzie stares. She’d started wondering what the studying was all about, when Suzie finally broke her concentration.

  “Have you lost your parents?”

  “No.”

  “Hmm,” said Suzie. “I feel something, a reading is coming through. It feels like I am reading you, but something is missing, if that makes sense. I feel something awful from your past, you escaped something, you lost someone close to you when you were a child. You have unfinished business to attend to. You have things to figure out, possibly actions to take. Does this make sense?”

  “I’m sorry, it doesn’t. Maybe I am harder to read since I’m tired.”

  “That’s not the case,” said Suzie. “Like I said, most people don’t understand the reading until later. Go away and think about it.”

  “My parents are still alive. I never lost someone when I was a child.”

  “Sometimes the reading does not make sense until you understand it. Until some of the pieces fall into place.”

  “I’m sorry. I have to go, I need to lie down.” Jill stood up and turned to go.

  “Cynthia,” said Suzie.

  “What?” asked Jill.

  “I am getting the name Cynthia. This is important to your journey, remember the name.”

  “I really should go lie down,” whispered Jill.

  She made her way out of the room, knocking a vase over as she went. She apologized and hurried out the room, running up the stairs and into her room, locking the door behind her. She fell down onto her bed and pulled the blanket over her head. There was too much going on for her to process.

  Jill had never believed in ghosts or any of that supernatural mumbo-jumbo. She had to admit that there was a lot of weird stuff happening. For the first time in her life she was starting to believe that there may be more to this world than she’d ever imagined.