“Welcome to your new home, Paul!” Mr. Brown handed Paul a story on tape and a set of keys to his room.

“Thank you! I love stories on tape,” said Paul. He liked the room. It had many plants. “I have an idea. Please, come in and join me for tea.”

“I can’t tonight,” said Mr. Brown, “but I hope you enjoy the tape. It’s a great story.”

Paul nodded. He liked the author very much! He had read every sentence in every one of her stories.

Paul waited until 9:00. He made himself a cup of tea and put the tape into the tape deck. The story was about a small boy who lived in a haunted house. Each time the boy saw an owl, someone died.

As Paul listened, something started to pound on the pipes inside his walls. The sound seemed to grow louder and louder as the room grew cooler.