There was no point in denying that Jules hated his left side neighbors. They were loud, messy, and liked to pick fights. They smoked smelly things that bothered his allergies. They left their house at odd hours during the night, waking him up by revving their car’s engine. Everyone on the block agreed that they were very unlikeable people.
“Weren’t they supposed to have moved out by now?” The ten-year-old asked his mom one especially noisy Wednesday night.
“I thought so too, but I guess Mrs. Lopes was wrong.”
Mr. and Mrs. Lopes were a kindhearted, if not the tiniest bit nosey, couple who lived to the right of Jules’s family’s house. Mrs. Lopes had said that she had overheard the left neighbor woman say that they were moving out. This was also supported by the dumpster that had been parked on the lawn between their house and Jules’s for weeks. However, the dumpster, once full, got hauled away and the problematic family in question stayed.
“It’s just not fair.” Jules said, frustrated.
“Try to stay calm and get some sleep. They usually quiet down by 11.”
“Mom, I have school in the morning!”
“I know, Jules. I’d call the police, but they told us to try to make peace with the neighbors.”
“Easy for them to say.”
“Why don’t you try putting your earbuds in? Aren’t they noise cancelling?”
“They’re too loud. I can still hear them.”
Jules’s mom thought for a moment. Outside, the neighbors could be heard yelling at each other.
“Mom?”
“I know. I know. Umm do you want to sleep in my room tonight? It’s a little bit quieter in there.”
“No. I want to sleep in my own room like I always have. I just wish that something could happen to make them move out.”
“I know. I do too.”
Jules lets out a loud sigh. “Good night, Mom. You try to get some sleep too.” He flipped onto his side to face the wall.
Jules’s mom shook her head, sadly. “Good night, hun. I’m sorry.”
Jules listened to his mom’s footsteps leaving. He then heard her entering her room and her door shutting. Just as he was about to close his eyes and try to force himself to sleep, he heard a floorboard in his room squeak.
“Julian…” whispered a voice.
Jules turned around slowly. He looked around the room and saw nothing.
“Julian…” whispered the voice again.
“Ye…Yes?” nervously replied Jules.
“May I speak with you?” whispered the voice.
“Who…where are you? Jules asked, sitting up.
Slowly, the figure of a man dressed in a plaid shirt, overalls, and boots materialized before him. Jules gasped. The man held out his translucent hand to calm him.
“My name is Emmanuel, Patrick Emmanuel. I built and owned your house. I owned the land that the houses next to this one stand upon. I’ve been watching things. I heard what you said to your mother.”
“Yes, sir.”
“I want to be the “thing” that makes those miscreants who defile my land move out.”
Jules smiled at him.
“Do you have any suggestions?”
Jules thought for a moment. “Can you make the music shut off?”
“What music? All I hear is screaming and drumming.”
Jules laughed. Mr. Emmanuel smiled at him. He snapped his fingers. The music stopped. Jules’s eyes widened.
“Why’d you unplug my stereo?” The man to the left screamed.
“What are you talking about? I didn’t touch your stupid stereo!” His girlfriend screamed back.
The music could be heard again.
“Rude!” Mr. Emmanuel said in response before he snapped his fingers again and restored silence.
“I’m telling you, woman. You touch my stereo again and I’ll— “
“I didn’t touch that hunk of junk!”
“This is fun!” Mr. Emmanuel said before he began to snap his fingers continuously, making the music turn on and off.
Jules laughed, hysterically.
The couple screamed in fright.
“How are you doing that?” asked the boyfriend.
“You think I’m doing that?!?” replied the girlfriend. “It’s possessed!”
Mr. Emmanuel started to make the overhead lights flash in time with the stereo. This made the couple scream even louder. They ran onto their deck. Their deck lights began to flash too. The girlfriend melodramatically collapsed into tears. The boyfriend hopped over her and headed to their car.
“Where are you going?” She screamed.
“You brought a ghost into our apartment!” He turned on the car.
“Let me come with you!” She hopped into the car.
They sped away.
“You’re the best, Mr. Emmanuel!” said Jules, crying with laughter.
Mr. Emmanuel snapped his fingers and shut off the lights and stereo. Yes, he had scared them away tonight. However, people like that don’t leave so easily. They would return. When they did, he would be ready.
