The House had stood empty for a time. It was a big rambling place, much too big for a small family, but Mr Chen didn't care. He liked the house. He liked everything about it. He smiled the whole time that the real estate agent showed him through the place. In his mind he had already picked out which room would be his study and where he could put bookshelves to make a small library. Mrs Chen could have that sewing room she was always talking about and Martin could have his very own playroom in the attic. After spending so many years in their cramped apartment, the Chen family would finally be able to spread out. It was just wonderful and he couldn't wait to ring Pauline (that was Mrs Chen) to tell her the good news.

Mrs Chen listened to Mr Chen's description of their new home with a big smile on her lips. Victor was always so enthusiastic about everything. She had been worried when he had got this new job. It meant that they would have to leave the city and move to a new town. There were so many things to organise, but the most important thing was finding somewhere nice to live. It seemed that Mr Chen had just solved that problem and, as soon as school was finished, she and Martin would be able to join him. What a great way to start the summer vacation! She sighed happily and turned to her son. "Well, honey," she said, giving Martin a big hug, "It looks like everything has turned out just fine."
"Does it have a pool?" asked Martin, "Are there kids next door? Can we go see it today? Can I have a dog?" Martin had a million questions he wanted to ask, but his mom just laughed, hugged him tighter and said, "You'll just have to wait and see, honey. Your father said you are in for a big surprise."

* * * * * * *

It was a beautiful summer's day when the Chen family drove up to their new house. Martin scrambled out of the the car when his dad stopped at the at the front gate and raced up the drive.
"Wow!" he yelled, "This is great, dad!"
Suddenly, Martin stopped dead in his tracks, his mouth open in astonishment, "Oh, wow", he whispered, "A tree house...."
"Mom! Dad! It's got a tree house!" Martin climbed up the ladder and looked inside. Wow! This was really something! Then he had a great idea, "Mom, can I sleep in here tonight?" Martin looked down, but his mom and dad weren't listening. Mr Chen had picked up Mrs Chen and was carrying her through the front door. Maybe mom was hurt! Martin climbed down the ladder and raced into the house to see what was happening. Oh no! It was just all that kissing stuff. How disgusting! Martin pulled a face and ran up the stairs. "Where's my room?" He yelled down at them, jumping up and down in excitement. They both grinned up at him, not caring about the yelling or all the noise, they were just too happy.

Up in the attic of the house, something stirred. A pointed ear had previously twitched at the slamming of car doors and the sound of a key turning in the lock of the front door. Now, one glittering yellow eye slowly opened, followed by another. The huge eyes blinked. Running footsteps and the sound of voices made the Chippetuck shift uneasily. It slid further into the shadows of the sloping roof and curled itself even more tightly around one of the thick rafters, listening intently to the voices that were coming nearer and nearer.
"And, I thought you might like to keep all your toys and stuff up here, Martin," announced Mr Chen as he flung open the door of the attic. He looked around with a grin, "It would be a great playroom. You could set up your train-set and the cars......."
"I don't know, Victor," said Mrs Chen doubtfully," I think I'd prefer to have him play in the sun-room at the back of the house. I could keep an eye on him there."
"Oh, mom," Martin hated it when she treated him like a baby.
"Hmmmmm...." Mr Chen thought for a moment, "Well, of course, it's up to you, Pauline. I just figured this way we wouldn't constantly be tripping over Martin's toys and........ I sort of thought, it might be nice if you could set up your sewing machine in that back sun-room..........." He gave Martin a quick wink before looking at his wife enquiringly.
"A sewing room........" Mrs Chen's eyes glazed over, "I've always wanted a sewing roonm......" she smiled.
"Let's go down and have a look." Mr Chen put his arm around his wife's shoulders. He and Martin both grinned at each other. Mrs Chen was dipsy-doodle when it came to sewing. She liked to make all sorts of things. There had been quilts and teddy bears all over the old apartment they had lived in. She even liked to make clothes. Yep! Somehow, Martin just knew that he'd be playing in that attic as soon as he could unpack his toys.
"Yes!" Martin cheered softly when they were gone.

He looked around one more time with a huge grin when he heard a soft sound. "Humpf!" It said.
Martin turned in surprise, but there was no-one there. Maybe, he had imagined it? He listened hard for a minute, but there was nothing. He shrugged his shoulders and turned to go. A soft, but definitely cross, "Humpf!" echoed around the room. Martin nervously opened his mouth to ask who was there, but he never got the chance to say anything because, just then, the house exploded with noise.

The Removalist's van pulled up in front drive of the house and was honking it's horn. Mr Chen whooped and hollered for Martin to come down and, in the craziness that followed, Martin forgot all about the strange noises he had heard up in the roof till much later.

* * * * * * *

H-h-h... hello...?" Martin peeked around the attic door. He inched his hand in till he found the light switch and then he flicked on the light. It hung way below the thick, old rafters and made the sloping ceiling look shadowed and spooky.
Is a-a...anybody there.....?" Cautiously he crept in trying to keep his eyes on every part of the room at the same time.
Silence.
"I know you're in here.." Martin spoke again, feeling a little braver now. His eyes flashing around the room made him feel rather dizzy, but he didn't want anything to come sneaking up on him.
"Are you a g-g-ghost...?" Martin knew all about ghosts. He'd read the scary books about them in the school library. Martin thought he liked ghosts. Having a ghost in the attic would really be something.
"If you're a ghost, knock once for yes and twice for no," said Martin feeling braver all the time.
Silence.
This was getting nowhere! It was nearly time for bed and he wanted to see the ghost before he went. Martin pulled a face and thought hard. Suddenly he had an idea on how to get that ghost to come out and face him. With a mean little smile, he said, "You are in here and I know it! If you don't come out right now I'll......" but the words froze on his lips as, from the corner of his eye, he saw a movement. Something small, floated down from the shadows of the rafters. It cicled overhead, in a strange fluttering way. Martin stood there, with his mouth open, watching it. He gulped. Round and round it went, with Martin's eyes glued to it, until finally it landed gently on the floor. Wartin grabbed it. He stood up and examined it carefully, turning it this way and that. He frowned. It was just an ordinary orange-coloured feather, How disappointing! He opened his mouth to call out again, when he found himself, face-to-face with the oddest-looking creature he had ever seen.
"You'll what, my dear?" asked the beast with great interest.