The Ghost Boy

Chapter 1(Part 1)

The day Sam dreaded had finally arrived. they were moving house. Form his window he could see the high,blue furniture van belonging to the removal firm. He looked round his bare room. His mattress stood against the wall. The small legs had been unscrewed from his bed,tied together with string, and were lying next to the mattress. Without curtains the room seemed unnaturally bright, showing up the dirty marks on the wallpaper like his finger marks on his art paper when he tried to use charcoal. There was a line of dirt where his table had been against the wall. The remains of a dusty cobweb hung down unsupported.

Angrily Sam squashed his poor bear into the bulging carrier bag, along with two Lego pieces and a handful of marbles. In a corner were some stickers that had fallen down behind the cupboard, unnoticed until he furniture had been removed.

From the very first visit to the new house he had told them he wasn't moving, but his parents had taken no notice of him. His mother had peered at the roof and guttering, saying he could soon fix the water that was pouring in a waterfall over the front door. The inside was even worse. As soon as he stepped through the door, Sam's nose detected the most vile smell he had ever encountered. It was partly due to he damp that showed in grey and black patches all the way up the walls. But it was not just that. Sam sniffed cautiously in his disbelief. It was the smell of cats who had been shut up in the house all day.