Ghosts and Mice

Olivia thought she heard something while she was watching television. A faint sound, an echo of a thin whispery scratch coming from the kitchen, somewhere near the stove. She didn't mind. It was probably nothing, and much like most strange sounds derivative from old houses, it was likely not to happen again. Except it did.

This time, she moved her head sideways and and her eyes away from the telly. She kept still as a statue as if it would magically grant her enhanced hearing skills. It didn't. But she was able to think she had heard the sound once more. A third time, if we are to be more accurate.

She stood up and made her way to the kitchen. The crime scene right in front of her showed no signs of a struggle. It was all peaceful and merry, and most importantly, soundless. As Olivia stood there looking for a sign that would point her towards her prey, she only managed to succeed at hearing absolute silence. Her respiration became loud enough that it started to bother her, and because of such failure, it was wise, she thought then, to simply give up, and hope that whatever was causing that scratching sound was now long gone... It wasn't.

"Oh, fuck off, will ya??" Ollie yelled just as she sat down again across the live world cup match. Spain and Portugal. Why did she care at all? She was neither. She was, however, a home owner, and that filthy little mysterious critter was getting to her nerves, and apparently at least, to her stove. She dashed her way back into the kitchen furiously. Her mere presence, however, seemed to intimidate her unwelcomed guest, for once she set foot upon kitchen territory, all would be well and quiet. Too quiet.

She then began what desperate hunters do when they are by all odds bound to fail. Outsmarted by the inferior creature, Olivia started moving her stove sideways and farther from the wall. She opened its door, and checked its insides. Then she moved on to the cabinets which were located to the right side of the stove, then to the fridge on its left, and ultimately to the cabinets above the counter...

"Mommy... What are you doing?" Olivia's daughter asked as she walked into the kitchen. "Are you looking for the ghost that spooked me yesterday? I told you it was in the bathroom!"

"Hey, sweetie. Mommy's looking for a mouse. Definitely a mouse. There are no ghosts remember? Okay?"

"But, mommy, the lights went off by themselves!" There must be a ghost!"

"Sweetie, the lightbulb went out. It happens sometimes. Mommy replaced it, remember? Besides, you didn't see any ghosts at all, did you?" Ollie said as she impatiently removed whatever useless objects she could find inside the cabinets only to throw them onto the floor angrily.

"So... You have seen the mouse you're looking for. Right?"

"That's different. I know for a fact mice are a real. Just because you can't see something, that doesn't mean it's not there. Get it?"

"Yes! What you're saying is, that ghosts are just like mice. I don't actually need to see 'em to know they're there."