It was October 31 when the twins Mitch and Pam Cartwright of 12 and their friend Matthew Walker (13) came to a dark and empty house. They stood still.
“Shall we go inside?”, asked Mitch (the oldest of the twins).
He looked at his sister and friend. Around his mouth played a smile. Matthew and Pam nodded. They walked to the porch when George Clarke came by. He was at the same age of the twins but 10 times so scared.
“A witch lives there probably”, said George.
Mitch turned around and gave the reaction, “Then your mother does live here, doesn’t she?”
George groaned something unintelligible and went away. The twins and Matthew carefully went inside after they had knocked.
In the hall the threesome heard, “Who is there?”
“Mitch and Pam Cartwright and Matt Walker. Who are you?”, asked Pam.
Matthew was always being called Matt by his family and the Cartwrights.
“Molly Parker”, said a cracking voice.
The children went into the living room and saw and old lonely woman sitting at an open fire place.
“You live here?”, Mitch asked who at once realized that it was a dumb question.
“Yes, I live here. But I don’t have long to live anymore. I do have 1 great wish though”, said Molly.
“And that wish is?”, Pam asked who had sat down opposite her. Mitch and Matthew each sat on a side of Molly.
“That wish is to go to a big birthday party”, said the woman.
Mitch and Pam looked at each other and they thought the same thing.
“Miss Parker, you put on your mist beautiful dress and you go with is to our house. Tonight the birthday of our uncle Joe gets celebrated and you are the guest of honor”, said Mitch.
Molly first wanted to say no but Pam said, “Guests are always welcome at the Ponderosa. That is where Mitch and I live.”
Molly was convinced and went to change. Pam helped her with her hair. When they were ready Molly showed herself to the young visitors.
“How do I look?”, Molly asked Mitch and Matthew.
Both boys whistled of admiration.
“Miss Parker, do you want to be my date for tonight?”, asked Mitch.
“Of course Mr Cartwright”, Molly answered flattered.
They went away.
The twins discovered that Molly lived close by them.
“Do you live there all a long time?”, asked Pam.
“A few days. My daughter has left me there. Monica, she’s called that, said that she had met the man of her dreams”, answered Molly.
Mitch and Pam looked at each other and Mitch said, “Uncle Joe goes with a woman who is also called Monica Parker. She has red hair and quite a lot of self-conceit.”
“That is my daughter”, said Molly.
“I know for sure that Mr Cartwright, their grandpa, will be very charmed by you”, said Matthew.
Molly said, “If he is just as neat and nice as you are I will be charmed by him as well.”
“Grandpa is a real gentleman what ladies is concerned”, said Pam.
Meanwhile they had reached the yard. Cody, the shepherd dog of the Cartwrights, barked but when he saw the twins and Matthew the dog calmed down. Cody too got introduced to Molly.
Once inside Mitch introduced Molly to everyone. Ben Cartwright, the owner of the Ponderosa ranch, took care that Molly wasn’t missing out on anything. He saw how bad she looked and heard everything from his grandchildren.
“I want to state in the contract that my house will be lived in by your twins and Matt Walker. They have rescued me from a loneliness and I want to thank them for this”, said Molly.
“My attorney is here too so we can arrange it right away”, said Ben.
That happened and shortly later the birthday party began in honor of Joe Cartwright who became 33 years old.
A bit later in the evening the Cartwrights received the daughter of Molly, Monica Parker.
Monica saw her mother and asked shocked, “What are you doing here?”
“I have been invited by the Cartwright twins and Matt Walker. Are you seeing their uncle?”, asked Molly.
“Indeed I see him. And we are going to live in your house! My child has to be born in 5 months time so where can that be better than in your house?”, asked Monica.
Joe came to her and asked the questions. “Monica, is it true that you are pregnant? And that she’s your mother?”
“Yes, I have to deliver in 5 months time and she is unfortunately my mother”, snapped Monica.
The oldest brother of Joe, Adam, distracted the children by giving them a piece of cake, together with his wife Sally. Hoss and his fiancée Betsy also took a piece of cake.
Joe took Monica along outside to be able talk.
“Why do I hear this just now? We are seeing each other for 3 weeks”, Joe said indignant.
“Because I only know it since today. I have hardly gained weight. But by that rotten nephew and rotten niece + their nasty friend I come in touch gain with my mother”, said Monica.
“You are on your own now because when you insult my nephew, niece and their friend you do that to me as well. It’s over”, answered Joe.
Monica grabbed her carriage and left. Joe went back inside and told what had been said. The incident was soon forgotten and everyone enjoyed themselves.
Ben insisted that molly stayed the night over but she refused.
“Ben, how sweet it is too, I rather sleep in my own house. By Monica the house is jinxed and only if I die there the spell is over. You may take me home”, said Molly.
The rancher promised that.
On the way home Molly felt that she became weaker. Out of precaution Ben had sent Adam for the doctor. The rancher remained by Molly and took care of her.
“Ben, I must say that you have great children and grandchildren. You may be proud of them with reason”, said Molly.
“I am that too”, the rancher said smiling.
The old woman closed her eyes and began with her journey to the Eternal Hunting Fields. Meanwhile Doc Paul Martin had come too with Adam.
“Ben, Adam, she has passed away”, said Doc.
“We help with the dealing of miss Parker”, said Ben.
That happened and exactly at the moment that the Cartwrights and Doc went away with the mortal remains of Molly Parker the frightening house turned into a beautiful dwelling.
“Molly has left it to the twins and Matt as a thank you for the rescuing of her loneliness. It is legally arranged so if they are of age or getting married they can live there”, Ben told Adam who first didn’t understand anything of it.
“They will find it bad that she has died but at least now they have a place for later”, said Adam.
The twins and Matthew were deeply shocked by the bad news and resolved themselves to keep the house well maintained to honor Molly that way.