Haunted States of America: The Dead Below

Haunted States of America: The Dead Below — page 5 — I know Treva said There are just some things I’m not ready to let go of yet you know Dad nodded and Treva could see he was fighting back some tears Sorry Dad she said and gave him a hug I just miss her No need to be sorry Dad said hugging Treva back I miss her too After a moment they broke off the hug She and her dad each wiped their eyes Well he said If we leave that truck wide open for much longer we’re not going to have anything left to move in here It’s not a bad neighborhood is it Treva asked Nah Dad said Philadelphia is pretty much crime-free They outlawed crime back in 1986 Treva laughed and looked outside There parked right in front of their building was the midsized moving truck they’d rented

Haunted States of America: The Dead Below — page 6 — The hazard lights were flashing and the back door was wide open exposing what they had left from their old house in Ardore I think we’re okay Treva said Well I’m going to keep working Dad announced and left She heard the creak of the stairs as he made his way down to the first floor A moment later she peered out the window Dad came down the front steps and headed into the truck Just throw the boxes up here and I’ll catch them Treva joked Right Dad said Then you can call the ambulance when my back snaps in two Treva took a look at the view from her bedroom window Being on the second floor of their small brick apartment building she could see over the trees Spread out in front of her was a large park with a baseball diamond tucked into the

Haunted States of America: The Dead Below — page 7 — right corner of the block and a soccer field marked in the grass a little farther out Past the soccer area she could see two fenced-in basketball courts Here we go Treva whispered She watched for a moment as a group of teenagers played a pretty intense game of three-on-three A group of older men sweated it out on the next court Beyond the fence and across the street was a colorful building set into the odd triangular corner The name JERRY’S was spelled out along the top of the building alongside a number of signs boasting foods for sale It took a moment for Treva to realize what the place was Cheesy Jerry’s Treva thought That’s the world-famous Philly cheesesteak place She’d heard of it as it was something of a destination for foodies visiting the City of Brotherly Love but Treva had never been there and hadn’t even been sure where it

Haunted States of America: The Dead Below — page 8 — was Knowing she was going to be living that close to a relatively famous restaurant appealed to her It made her think the neighborhood couldn’t be that bad There was a metallic squeak of shocks below followed by her dad’s voice Okay Rapunzel he called You just going to stare out the window all day or are you going to help your old dad out Treva snapped out of it and touched her dark short hair Rapunzel I’m on my way Muscles Treva said and headed down After getting the last of the boxes put away and returning the moving truck to the rental place Treva and her dad stopped at a drive-thru on the way back home and got burgers They were both so hungry from all the hard work and exercise that they ate

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