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 * Chapter 2**
 * Bathroom Gossip**

Kaitlyn and Whitney stood in front of the two mirrors above the sinks inside the “B” hall bathroom. That is where they could be found primping almost every morning before school. “Oh, this is so lame. That stupid stall is broken again. I wish they’d get it fixed,” whined Kaitlyn. “Yeah, I know. It seems like it’s always fixed by lunch and then it gets messed up again every morning. What’s up with that?” Whitney agreed as she put on her third coat of mascara and tossed her long black hair. Lanna Jo, the biggest bully in the school held her breath hoping the girls wouldn’t look under the stall and see her sitting there on the toilet seat with her knees under her chest as she eavesdropped. “So who do you think is cuter, Dontavious or Taiwan?” Kaitlyn asked. Whitney said, “Well Taiwan is more muscular. His muscles are bigger than two coke cans you know, but Dontavious makes me laugh.” “Oh I can’t believe it. I almost forgot,” Kaitlyn said excitedly, “I heard Dontavious tell Taiwan he was going to talk to his uncle and see if he could use the old Haltom Mansion to have a Halloween party. “ “He better have his party fast because it’s supposed to be bulldozed sometime next week. Dontavious’ uncle owns a wrecking company and he is going to be the one to tear it down. Dontavious works with him sometimes and he’s always bragging about the stuff he finds.” Whitney said “How do you know so much about Dontavious and his uncle?” “We’re cousins.” Whitney said. “No way,” exclaimed Kaitlyn, surprised. “Uncle Ulysses lets him go in and search the places that are about to be torn down to see if there’s anything good in there. Dontavious has found some pretty cool stuff. He showed me a compass he found in one place and an old wallet with a ten dollar bill in it.” “Cool, anyways,” Kaitlyn continued as she took a breath. “He said if it was alright with his uncle, and I guess your uncle too, he’s going to have a party there and invite a bunch of his friends.” “I’ve heard that place is haunted. It gives me the creeps. I don’t know if I’d want to go there especially on Halloween.” “Oh please. Surely you don’t believe all the stories about that old maid school teacher Toddalina Haltom who died there?” Kaitlyn asked. “Oh, I’ve heard plenty. They say she has tombstones in her backyard from the students that she made stay after school. They say she still holds school there and makes students learn the lessons they never learned. Lights flicker in there all the time and I’ve heard people say they see shadows moving across the front rooms of the house. It gives me the creeps. Supposedly she disappeared about fifty years ago. Her family was the richest family in town. Her dad Todd Haltom never approved of anyone she dated. He wanted her to stay there and take care of him after her mom died. I heard from my grandmother that one night there was a big argument and Toddalina disappeared. She has never been found since. Maybe we could look it up on the internet and find out what really happened to her. ” “No, that would be too much work. She’s been dead for so long who really cares? Her father died about two years ago and he didn’t have any heirs. Toddalina was his only child. I’ve heard my dad talking about it. They put notices in the newspaper asking anyone who thought they were related to the Haltoms to come forward because if they didn’t find any heirs, all their property and things would be claimed by Haltom City.” “Yeah, I remember something about that on the news. There were lots of people who tried to get their money and house but no one could prove they were related. It’s too bad the Haltoms didn’t have more kids. It’s a shame that their big house is going to be demolished.” bemoaned Whitney. “I’m sure it used to be beautiful many years ago but since no one has lived there in so long it looks terrible now. The weeds around it are as high as a prison wall. Many of the white shutters on the front windows have fallen off from rot. The wood trim hangs on like a scarecrow; it’s no wonder it’s going to be condemned,” “My brother said he has seen a woman walk outside across the front porch,” said Kaitlyn almost scaring herself. “He said he was heard moans and seen lights go on and off especially late at night. Do you think it’s her ghost or what?” “Well I don’t believe in ghosts and I don’t believe I’ll be going there even if Dontavious does have the party,” said Whitney as she finished putting on her taupe eye shadow. “Look, if Dontavious has the party then I’m not going by myself. You have to go with me. Don’t believe everything you hear. They’re probably just rumors anyway,” said Kaitlyn as she finished combing her blonde hair and tossing it around like one of her cheerleader pom-poms.