Дмитрий Леонтьев – Terrible (страница 1)

Дмитрий Леонтьев

Terrible

Part 1

CHAPTER 1

“Are you sure we are on the right road?” Emma asked holding a road map in her hands.

“Of course, I am sure,” exclaimed Charlie. “We took this road only two weeks ago and if you have memory problems, it doesn’t mean that I also have them!”

“ Charlie,” Emma spoke still looking for the right road on the map. “I don’t remember passing that village, especially these churches.” She raised her eyes to the windshield.

“Cause, I suppose, somebody was sleeping at that time,” Charlie grinned and turned quickly the wheel to avoid a deep hole in the road.

“Awful road,” Emma reacted annoyingly.

At the same time two children, who were sitting in the back seat, screamed from the car swerving.

“It’s ok, dear. Very soon this patch of bad road will end and you’ll be fine,” Charlie said and swerved again to avoid another pothole.

At the back seat, were the children of Charlie and Emma. The older child was their daughter, Christina, who was 11 years old and the younger was a little boy, Danny, who was only 7. Next fall, he was going to start school.

Charlie was a man of middle height, blond, with a beard. The fact that they were on the move now was connected with his occupation. He was a doctor and the government program supported him in buying a village house on condition that he would relocate from the city to the village.

It was a difficult but well-thought out decision which he had taken together with his wife and their children. Actually, very few people agreed to do that.

The deal about buying a new house had already been made. After discussing their relocation, Charlie and his wife had already driven to that village to look at the place. The city government had already paid for their house and, therefore, Charlie and Emma had no other option.

According to the new government’s program for young families, Charlie was obliged to work at the village hospital for 5 years, otherwise, they would have to move out of the house and return the money to the government.

Charlie was a surgeon and, of course, specialists like him were needed in rural areas.

In addition, he wanted to kill both birds with one stone as, first of all, he had always wanted to live in his own house in a peaceful location and second, he also believed that his children would feel better growing in a village far away from the city. He told himself that, in case they get bored in the village, they could easily visit the city for a weekend or holidays since it was only about 70 km away.

His wife was thinking in a similar way. She had also always wanted to have a house with a garden. In the village, life is calmer and quieter than in the city. Emma worked as a kindergarten teacher but, after their relocation, she wanted to take some time off and just be a housewife and devote herself to house chores and taking care of the children.

“You know, I think I also don’t remember those churches,” muttered Charlie.

“Maybe somewhere we took a wrong turn,” Emma said, deep in her thoughts.

“No, no,” replied Charlie. “I am sure very soon there will be another turn and after that there will be another village with a big cemetery beside the road.”

“Who could have come up with an idea to make a cemetery near the road?” Emma asked, her face distorted with disgust.

“Yeah, you are right,” Charlie agreed with a slight smile on his face. “By the way, here it is,” he said pointing to the cemetery.

On the side of the road, there was an old cemetery. It was so close that Emma was afraid to turn her head and face ghosts flying above the graves.

At that moment, Christina and Danny also looked at the cemetery. There were a lot of graves surrounded with short old wooden fences and lined with high trees and bushes. Some of the graves had old broken crosses and fallen monuments.

“Wooow” the kids exclaimed.

“It is so exciting and scary at the same time,” Christina said.

“I don’t think so,” Charlie looked at the daughter and smiled.

“Hold the wheel and keep your eyes on the road,” Emma frowned still avoiding looking at the cemetery.

“It means that we’ve taken the right road,” Charlie declared. “I could never forget this place.”

At last, they approached the last road turn.

“Thank God that bad road has finished and now we have only 10 km of good road to cover. Soon we’ll see our new big house,” Charlie announced and carefully turned the wheel to the right.

CHAPTER 2

“Heeeey,” Charlie shouted and opened the back door of the car. Get out and open the gate.”

Obediently, the kids ran to the gate and tried to open it.

“It is locked,” Christina told her Dad.

“Oh, yeah?” Charlie exclaimed with surprise and scratched his head with his right hand. “Oh, right, the key is in my bag,” he recalled.

Charlie turned around and went back to his Kia. He opened the driver’s door. After several attempts to find the bag, he suddenly remembered that, before the trip, he had thrown it into the trunk together with the other things for their relocation.

“Charlie,” Emma called out looking at Charlie. “What is taking you for so long? Have you found the key?”

“Sh*t,” Charlie cursed getting out of the car and hitting his head on the car ceiling.

“What is going on?” Emma asked.

“Nothing,” he said and began to rub his head on that place where it had just got hit. “Where is my bag?”

“I suppose it’s in the car,” Emma answered with a grin.

“Yeah, that is so funny,” Charlie said angrily / annoyed and opened the trunk.

“Mummmy,” Danny shouted out cheerfully.

“What? What, sweetie?” Emma asked turning to the children.

“Look at the sky,” he said and showed something in the sky with his little finger.

Emma turned her head to the sky and saw a beautiful picture. In afar, there were a lot of clouds lit by the sparkling sun rays. The sky was of a bluish-pinkish color, very peaceful. It was an unforgettable picture which could be hardly seen in the city.

Right at this moment it occurred to Emma that she should thank God for that beautiful opportunity to see this and live here in the village in this big house with two floors and…”

“Well done,” her thoughts were interrupted by a voice. It was Charlie, happy and cheerful. He was standing by the car and holding the house key in his hand.

Charlie approached the gate and inserted the key in the key hole. After several attempts, the gate opened and they could see their new yard. It was not a very big yard but there was a little swing, a garage and a path to the front porch.

“Well,” Charlie said. “Come on in, be my guests.” He waved his hand towards the house and laughed.

Emma and the children walked through the gate and started looking around. Danny and Christina immediately ran to the swing and got into a little fight over who would be the first to swing.

“Heeeyy,” Emma exclaimed. “You’ll have enough time to swing.”

“I was first,” Christina yelled and tried to push her brother off the swing.

“I was first,” immediately shouted back Danny and a tear began to well up in his eye.

“Christina, Danny! Let’s better check out your rooms,” Emma invited the kids. “Charlie, where are you?”

“I am here,” Charlie said from behind the gate.

“What are you doing there?” Emma asked him looking surprised.

“I’ll be right with you,” the voice behind the gate replied, “I am just going to grab some bags.”

“Let’s do it later, we can’t wait to check out our new home,” Emma told him.

After a little while, Charlie joined them in the yard holding some keys in his hand and said, “Ok, come on! Let’s do it!”

Their new house was wooden, with two floors. Downstairs, there was a big kitchen, a guest bedroom, a corridor and two bedrooms. Upstairs, there was a master bedroom for the parents and two little rooms for Christina and Danny.

“Wooow,” Christina was amazed when she came into the house. “There are so many rooms.” She began running from one room to another. Danny, seeing that, followed suit.

“Be careful,” Charlie warned them but could only hear the children’s laughter which was getting louder and louder.