I think that even as scary as the massive storm is outside I would rather have the danger instead of facing the monsters hiding in the storm shelter. Growing up I hated the basement where we lived. The whole basement held a speakeasy from prohibition times. Now don't get me wrong if you want to get your drink on go for it. The guy who owned the general store ran the speakeasy as well and when the building was finally torn down there were tunnels that led to various buildings around town. But what they did not know was that basement was haunted. That basement held the Crone and Her Sons, The Temptress, The Naughty Children, The Sailor, The Priest, The Musician, The Cook, The School Teacher, The Lighthouse Keeper, The Doctor, and The Cop. Each of these ghosts is a horrible creature and I was so happy this building was destroyed. Let me tell you about these Monsters...
The Temptress
This vile creature is as dangerous as they come. She is beautiful and alluring but she comes with a dangerous secret. If you find this woman walking up to you, you should just turn and run. See this woman was a soiled dove who had lived in this town all her life. Although she lived in one of the waterfront shanty homes she visited the bar to gain clients. But she knew her craft and by the time the gentleman came to he was either miles away with an empty wallet and no valuables or his body was floating down the river.
Even the patrons of the bar knew she was trouble and would give her a wide berth. The temptress actually would hang out with the crone and her two sons regularly. Rumor has it the sons were both infatuated with the temptress and had both procured her services for a night of fun. The crone seemed to like her well enough because she knew the chaos that she could raise. However, the crone didn't figure in the oldest of her two sons would fall in love with her and the younger son was upset that his plaything was coveted by his brother. The crone had tried to talk to her oldest son Thomas about his feelings for the Temptress but he would not listen to her about it.
She had tried to convince her youngest Stephen to woo her regardless of how his brother felt and he agreed. He took her to a local estate and made a wonderful picnic lunch. He expressed how he felt to her and she revealed that she was in love with his brother and carrying his child. The younger brother went on a tirade yelling at her. He stood up and said, "Forget you I hope you die you fucking whore."
He walked away leaving her with the mess of the picnic. She turned and cleaned up the mess and headed back to her apartment. When she got home, she changed and waited for Thomas to come to her so she could tell him what happened. She wanted to suggest that they move away from highlands and maybe head to Redbank or Keansburg. When Thomas arrived she told him what happened he said his Mother probaby told Stepehn to go after her regardless of how he felt. He told her that he agreed and that maybe they should move to Redbank or Keansburg. He said he was going to talk to his mom and brother and would be back a little bit later. He pulled her up and gave her a kiss and told her to not unlock the front door until he was back.
He left the apartment and headed over to the speak easy to talk to his mother. After discussing the matter with her he told her that he loved the woman and they were going to leave and marry. His mother became Irate and said laughing, "Well dear how can you raise a child if the mother is dead?"
He ran out of the speakeasy and headed back to the apartment. When he arrived there were police and they stopped him from running in. When the detective came out he asked why he was running up. The brother told the story about what had happened and what his mother said when he said they were leaving town and heading to Red Bank or Keansburg to start a new life together. The police wouldn't have believed him until an elderly neighbor came out and said, "I saw him leave earlier and he told her to keep the door shut till he got back. It was a matter a minutes later when I heard a bang and her scream. When I came back out I saw a short fat man running from the building."
He begged the officer to let him see his love. The officer sat him down and told him the bang that the old man heard was his love being shot in the stomach. The officer had to catch the brother as he fell to the ground devastated. The old man said, "Stand on your feet son you cannot bring that sweet girl or your baby back but you can deal with that mama and brother of yours."
He stood up angry and said to the officer, "My brother killed her because I would not let him have her."
The officer asked, "Do you know where he is?"
"He will be with the person who set him up for this," He said. "He will be at the speakeasy under the General store."
He waved over a few officers and raided the speakeasy. His mother was livid that he had bought the cops and screamed and cursed him as his brother was arrested for the murder of his beloved. The cop took joy in getting home off the street. His mother yelled, "She deserved it."
He looked at his mother and said, "You took my child I will take yours."
He grabbed the gun an offer had holstered and shot his brother through the head. His mother Screamed and went for him with a knife. She stabbed him once in the chest as an officer shot her. The bartender sighed and said, "All over a woman."
The Musician
A musicians life is not an easy life to lead. In this town in the 1950's you needed to know someone in order to get ahead. Our poor musician was betrayed by his family for this. People may doubt your talent or try to ride our your talent and fame. The Musician in this story had both happen to him. From an early age the musician showed talent of a prodigy on a piano and his parents had him hold performances in their home. They would charge guests for a night of music and the child was forced to play song after song. As he grew up his parents made him work at local restaurants and hotels to fund them financially. One day during a very hot summer he had been working at a local beach club and the owner came to him concerned. He stated that his mother had come in to pick up his check and he told her no. The musician had explained his life of playing piano and that his parents took his earnings. The owner of the club was saddened as he felt that the young man was being treated as a bank by his parents and learned that he barely was able to keep his check and his mother took his tips as soon as he arrived home. The club owner explained how wrong that was and suggested the young man try to leave his parents home. The club owner also offered one of the bungalows on the property to the young man at a discounted rate until he could find more permanent housing.
The young man asked to think about the offer and told his employer that he would let him know the following day. He went home and his mother pounced on him the moment he got home demanding his paycheck. He stated he would not give it to her and that it was wrong that she and his father demanded the money every time he worked. His mother became angry and said it was his responsibility to support them. He again said no and told her that he was done having nothing when they sat at home all day and did nothing. He told her he was leaving and would not pay them another cent. He mother became irate as he went up to his room to pack. He took his belongings and left.
He went back to the club where the owner gave his the keys to a small bungalow. The following day he went to the bank to try opening an account. He found out there was an account in his name that his parents opened and there was a large sum saved. He asked who opened it and the teller said it looks like his mother had arranged the account and only his mother and him can draw funds. It was then he realized the full extent of how much his parents were stealing from him. He asked to speak with the bank manager. He explained the situation and that he was unaware of the account until he had come into the bank today to open a new one. The manager was sympathetic and stated that they could open a new one and make sure that only he could withdraw fund from the account. The manager also stated that they could close the other account as well. But the musician had a better idea. He told the manager to take his name off the old account after he removed everything but a hundred dollars. The manager understood and personally handled everything. When he left the bank he had enough to find a new home and money for a rainy day. He decided instead of renting a home he would buy something small to live and start a life without his parents.
He went back to the club he was working and staying at and told the owner what had happened. The owner was shocked with the information he was given and told him they will watch out for him and if his mother came in they would protect him. He had lunch with the owner and told him of his plans to buy a small home with the money and the owner had suggested a few places he was aware of. He even offered to set up a few tours the following day and the musician agreed.
Later that evening he had just finished his first performance when a waiter pulled him aside stating that his mother was there and looking for him. The owner told him to go to the office and stay there as he would handle the situation. The owner confronted his mother and explained she needed to leave as her son was working. She ranted and raved stating her son stole money from her. The owner told her that he was aware of the secret account that she had made without her sons permission, in his name and that she had been taking the money he earned for years and not giving him any. He stated all of this in a crowd of people of the towns elite which she strived to be a part of. She was given looks of disgust by the patrons and she yelled this is not over, leaving the property.
The owner came in and told him he had exposed her motives and that she is banned from the club. The musician was grateful and went on to finish his night out. He had ordered food from the kitchen and sat at the bar eating when a woman came up to him and handed him a tip. While he sat there more and more towns people continued to come up to him with kind words handed him tips for his playing that evening. The musician was shocked and headed to his room for the evening. The following morning he went with the owner to look at a home across town. The musician knew this was the one as it has a beautiful room with a piano where he could play while at home. They spoke to the owner and she agreed to the purchase and told the musician they could complete the sale that day and everything in the home came with it as she had moved out the week before and didn't want the items left.
They went to the bank and the club owners lawyer drew up the sale and he paid the woman for the home. After he purchased the house he went back to the club and got all his belongings. The owner of the club congratulated him and said he would have to have a housewarming party after he made it his own. The musician went to the store near his new house and purchased groceries and stuff he would need. The owner of the shop arranged to deliver it to the house within the hour.
He went into the house and started to go through the Piano room cleaning and washing the curtains. He found an empty box and anything he did not want to keep he boxed up and walked it over to the local thrift across the road. He had told the owner he would be bringing more and the owner gave him credit for each box of items he took over. When his store delivery arrived he put everything away and continued to clean the house. When he was done on the first day he had made a difference in the house and hung up the freshly washed curtains before he sat down to eat dinner.
The following day he cleaned until it was time for him to go to the club to work. When he arrived on his bike he saw that his parents were in the parking lot. The bouncer of the club let him in and stopped them from entering. He heard his Mother yelling after him and he shook his head. His boss came over to make sure everything is okay. Looking at his boss he said, "Yeah my parents just think I owe them after stealing from me all my life."
After his first set the young man went back to the workers lounge and sat down with a small plate of employee food waiting for his next set. While he sat in the room one of the servers came in and said, "Hey man just so your aware your parents have tongues talking. Your parents told everyone you stole from them."
Boss man came in and said, "Don't worry kid I have a plan."
The Lighthouse Keeper
The Naughty Children
The Sailor
The Priest
The Cook
The School Teacher
The Doctor
The Cop
The Crone and Her Sons,
