After only two weeks in the new town, Summer was over. Violet didn’t like starting a new school or making new friends. She had tried to make some already but it didn’t work. She wasn’t like them, she didn’t have the shine every Perfect person had. The kids in the town were nice. They talked to her and some even asked if she wanted to play. That was it though, they were too nice.

Her mother wouldn’t listen.

“I’m sick of it Violet, too nice, what does that mean? You’ll really have to start making an effort here. You’re embarrassing me in front of all the other mums!”

‘Mums’, when did her Mam ever use a word like ‘Mums’? Violet’s Mam was never like her friends mothers. She didn’t bake, burnt every dinner she ever made and always wore odd socks. But in this town she was different.

Everyday she got up early and made breakfast for the family. Once she’d said goodbye to Violet’s Dad and cleaned the house, she’d head out to meet her new friends, the ones whose children Violet had to pretend to like. Sometimes it was for bookclub, or cookery lessons or even golf. In her short time in Perfect Violet’s mam had become head of the town’s baking committee. Her mother was delighted, she smiled from ear to ear when she got the phonecall and baked cupcakes for the rest of the night. The cupcakes were nice but it was still a little odd. Her old mother was a terrible cook, hated golf and would laugh at the idea of bookclub. Now she was a “Perfectionist” and shone like everyone else.

Her Dad had changed too but his change was different. He wasn’t shiny at all. He was dull, lifeless and always tired. Even his smile had faded. He looked older, in two weeks he’d put on five years. Violet had never seen him sad and felt partly to blame. She still wasn’t speaking to him. They used to talk about everything, but for the last twelve days and five hours she hadn’t said a word. In the beginning he tried to talk but by day four he’d given up too.

The way her parents were around each other was also different. Before they were never apart, always hugging and kissing which was really embarrassing. Now Violet wanted to be embarrassed even just for a second. Her mother acted perfect and her Dad, who began to look like a homeless person, worked forever locked in his office. They didn’t talk like they used to.

The night before school started Violet overheard her parents in the kitchen as she climbed the stairs to bed. Her father’s voice made her stop. He sounded worried.

“Rose,” he sighed, “will you please put that away and sit down. I need to speak to you.”

“Have a word from there,” her mother replied, “I’m almost finished this pastry. I can hear you perfectly from here.”

“Rose. Please. Now,” her father almost shouted.

Violet stiffened. She’d never heard her father that angry before.

“Just a minute darling, I’m almost finished.”

“I thought you hated cooking?” he snapped.

“Oh no, what ever made you think that? I love it. Since I’ve moved here a whole new world has opened up.”

“I’m worried about this place,” his voice softened.

"What was that darling?”

A chair scraped the kitchen tiles then heavy footsteps headed across the kitchen. Violet froze.

“Rose,” he father said, stopping in the doorway.

“Yes darling?”

“You know I love you, don’t you?” he sounded lonely.

“Of course darling. Now do you want sprinkles on your buns or will I make icing? The ladies loved the icing last time round.”

Her father didn’t reply. He left the kitchen and headed up the hall. As quietly as Violet could she climbed the stairs and jumped in under her duvet. A few minutes later her Dad’s figure appeared in the doorway.

“Violet,” he whispered, “are you awake?”

She pulled the covers tight, rolled over and pretended to sleep. Her father tiptoed across the floorboards and sat gently onto the edge of her bed. Violet’s heart beat faster. He rubbed her hair. She wanted to sit up and hug him, she knew he was sad but she couldn’t. He had gotten them into this mess.

“Violet,” he whispered, his voice was shaky, “I love you pet.”

He bent down and kissed her forehead, gently tucked in the edges of the blankets and slipped quietly from the room. She opened her eyes. What had gotten into her family?

Her parents were crazy. It made her sad to see her Dad so upset but in another way it made her happy. He wasn’t enjoying their new home and the more he didn’t like it, the quicker they would move.

Violet stayed awake for a long time. She was nervous about school the next day and couldn’t sleep. At about four in the morning footsteps passed her door heading downstairs. It was her Dad, his shadow outlined by the dim morning light. She began to doze off listening for his return when something hit the floor.

Quickly she reached for her glasses on the bedside table. She ran her hand blindly across the smooth wood but found nothing. She threw her arm over the side of the bed and felt along the floor.

“You’re new here, aren’t ya?”

Violet jumped and ducked back in under the blankets. Someone laughed. It was that laugh again.

“Why are you hiding? Sure you can’t see me anyway ya eejit!”

Violet pulled the duvet down a little to peer. The room was fuzzy but she could make out a black shadow moving in the corner. Quickly she ducked back under.

“What do you want?” she shouted, her voice muffled by the sheets.

“I want all your money and as many penny sweets as you can get or the doll gets it!”

“I don’t know where to get penny sweets” Violet quivered.

The boy laughed again. She was sure it was a boy.

“I’m only messing, you really are some eejit! Oh no,” he sounded panicked, “I have to go they’re coming. Here’re your glasses. Enjoy school tomorrow!”

Something landed on the covers and she reached out to find her glasses. Footsteps ran through the room as if three or four people were fighting at the end of her bed. Quickly she pushed on her frames. Everything stopped.

She turned on the bedside lamp. The room was empty. Her heart pounded as she pulled the blankets back over her head. She fell asleep a little later, her dreams full of ghostly boys.