Edward was pretty normal for a twelve-year-old boy from Orange County. His parents made enough money for him to live comfortably but not excessively. And since Edward was an only child, the money often relieved him of boredom.

Just after Edward’s birthday, his parents announced that they had decided to move into another house. Plans were made, men were hired and moving day was scheduled. Two days before the date, Edward and his parents drove out to the house to have a look. It was an old farmhouse, built in the early days of America, surrounded by forest and a river that ran past the eastern side. Although the house had been freshly painted, what resembled a yard cleaned up, and a small addition added to the back, Edward could not help but think how gloomy and dark the house looked. He stared at the strange angles of the roof and narrow windowpanes, thinking how much the house looked like something out of a horror film.

He dared not to venture inside, but did find his way down toward the neighboring river to see what he could find. As he trotted down the bank he noticed a flickering, gray light near the water on the other side. He moved closer and leapt back when he released what he had seen.

A girl’s face in the water, peering up at him and moving her mouth as if to speak.

Edward ran as fast as he could to the front of the house yelling about what he saw. His mother ran to him and begged that he tell her what was wrong. He told her and her expression changed to surprise.

“Oh, Edward, don’t you think you’re a bit old to be making up stories?” she said to him.

“But mother, I-”

“Now come on and get in the car, we’re going to be late.”

He reluctantly got in and they left.

Three weeks later, the house unpacked and the family settled in, Edward had a nightmare. He was running through the woods trying to get away from someone calling him and fell into the river. He was swept down stream by the current and out of sight of the house. In the distance he saw an old woman standing by the river starring at him. She lifted her head a bit and he gasped, for her mouth was sewn shut. He woke up, breathing heavily.

This bothered him, for Edward had grown to like the house and enjoyed the spaciousness of his room since it was part of the addition. And since most of the inside of the house had been ripped apart and completely redone, Edward did not get the same uneasy feeling as the outside, although, he always refused to go into the basement.

Two days later, his aunt and uncle came to visit and Edward was forced to give up his bed so that they could have more privacy. He was made to stay in the guest room on the second floor.

Late that night, on his way to get a drink of water, he heard music coming from the far side of the kitchen. He crept closer to where it was coming from and released it was coming from behind the basement door. He nervously said “Hello” and “Who’s there?” several times before picking up a broom with one hand and opening the door ever so slightly with the other. The music, which he noticed was singing, seemed to be coming from the bottom of the basement stairs. It stopped and an elderly woman’s voice said “There you are my dear, come and give your grandma a kiss.”

Edward screamed, ran upstairs, and woke his father up to tell him what he heard. His father got out of bed and headed downstairs to check it out. He turned on the lights in the kitchen and proceeded over to the basement door. He opened it and peered inside. He looked back at Edward, frowned and headed down the steps. Moments later he came up looking annoyed and even more tired. He told Edward there was nothing down there and to go back to bed.

The next night the family was playing cards around the kitchen table when the doorbell rang.

“Who would call on us at this hour of the night?” Edward’s mother wondered.

She got up and went to answer it, but when she got there, there was no one anywhere to be found. She proceeded back to the table and resumed the game.

Edward began to feel uneasy and his hairs on his neck began to stand on end. After about twenty minutes, the singing Edward had heard the first time started coming again from the basement. This Edward understood the words better which are as followed:

Little girls and boys are always afraid,
But parents will also be made.
For down the river lies my dear child,
And now grandma will have you.

Edward leapt up on his chair and cried, “Did you hear that, Mommy?”

To his surprised and comfort, she replied with a stunned, “Yes.”

His aunt, father, mother and uncle had all gotten up and were staring at the door to the basement. His father and uncle grabbed the nearest weapon and opened the door. Sitting on the top of the stairs, in an old fashioned rocking chair, was the old lady from Edward’s dream, except her mouth was normal and not stitched shut.

She smiled at them and started humming. Suddenly, Edward’s uncle dropped the knife he had picked up and threw himself through the kitchen and down the hall, tumbling as he went.

The old lady turned to Edward and croaked, “I need the fresh sounds of your screaming if I am to stay awake. Now come over and give them to me.” The tone in her voice, which before was a loving and welcoming sound, had turned forceful and hoarse.

“Give them to me!” the old lady yelled. The whole house shook and the glasses in the cupboard rattled. The floor vibrated fiercely, sending everyone to the ground.

The adults ran for the front door but Edward stayed frozen on the spot. They called to him but he did not budge. The old lady got up out of her chair and came over to him, almost whispering she said, “Scream for grandma. Come on now!”

Edward said nothing and from the hallway he heard not his family but a young girl say, “Stay away from him.” The girl he had seen in the river on his first visit to the house appeared in the kitchen. “I tried to warn you before, but you got scared and ran away.” She sounded quiet, apologetic, and almost embarrassed.

The little girl began waving her arms as if to shoo the woman away, and to everyone’s surprise, the old lady moved back toward her chair and then disappeared into the basement without so much as a peep. The little girl nodded once at Edward before disappearing herself.

Everything seemed to go back to normal, but the experience had been enough for Edward’s parents. It took very little time for the family to pack their things and move to another house.

When moving day came, Edward’s curiosity got the better of him. As the last things were being loaded he went down to the river and said, “Thanks.” As he turned to walk away, he caught a glimpse of something on the ground. It was an old newspaper clipping about a murder that took place in the very house, involving a little girl and her grandmother. Edward read it, finally relieved to know the truth. He waved goodbye and ran up to the house. His parents shooed him into the car and they left, never looking back.