Once there was a house, far hidden in a dark wood, with a black metal fence and creaky wooden doors. The house was called Canberry Manor and everyone in the neighboring town of Clenich were scared to go near it. Not because of it's dark hallways and cold kitchen. Not because of the dusty old photographs hanging on the walls. It was because up in the attic, all alone, there resided a ghost named Jun. He was not a scary ghost but the people of Clenich still stayed away in fear. Jun was all alone inside the dark house, except for a cat named Pearl.

Pearl was a beautiful black cat who's ears had pink fur at their tips. Her eyes were purple and she wore a red ribbon around her neck with a little gold bell in the front. She was a special cat who enjoyed Jun's company very much. They would often talk of silly things and would play with old toys in the attic. Pearl could leave the house freely, and sometimes she would disappear into the woods for hours, but Jun tried not to worry. He knew that Pearl would come home. Jun was scared to leave the house, so he would watch out the window in the attic, overlooking the front of the house. When Pearl had returned, she would politely tell Jun about the things she saw outside. She told him about a blue bird that was singing happily to himself, without concern for anyone else. Or the lady bug queen and how she was so nice and lovely that she would dance with you if you simply asked her. These stories always made Jun happy.

One day when Pearl got home, she didn't seem very happy. Her paws were damp even though it had not rained, and her fur was messy and dirty. She didn't want to tell Jun this story, but he insisted and so she eventually did. She spoke of a place that was slightly farther away than she normally visited. The squirrel had told her that something interesting was just past the roads bend and that if she walked straight she couldn't miss it. Thinking this would be an interesting story for Jun, Pearl headed past the road.

For a while she wondered if the squirrel was mistaken or simply just playing a silly trick on her, but soon she came to a break in the trees. The ground was muddy and squished between her paws, and in the open space were large slabs of rock. These rocks were varied in size, some in lovely shapes and some plain and boring, but all with words carved into them. Thinking this place splendidly fun, Pearl walked around and read the stones. She soon learned that they were graves, and when she was about to leave, she was startled by a loud cracking sound. One of the grave stones had fallen and shattered into pieces. Standing where it used to be was a boy made of only bones. At first, Pearl thought the boy was going to say hello, but instead he started screaming. Terrified, Pearl ran all the way home, tripping and falling many times along the way.

After telling Jun the story, Pearl thought that she really shouldn't have, because Jun became silent. When he finally spoke he simply welcomed Pearl back and went upstairs to his room in the attic. Pearl didn't intend to leave the house anytime soon for fear of the skeleton.

A few days later, there came a knocking at the door. This was peculiar, because no one ever came to Canberry Manor. Pearl opened the door to find a figure covered in a dark cloak from head to toe. They said hello to Pearl and asked if they could find refuge in her home, for they were feeling awfully cold. Pearl said she would have to ask Jun, for it was his home. The figure repeated the name slowly, as though they recognized it, but Pearl did not notice, she had hurried up the stairs to tell Jun.

Jun was scared at first but when Pearl explained that they only wanted to warm up, for it was terribly cold outside, Jun agreed. The figure was brought inside and seated in a large reading chair by the fire. Jun didn't need the warmth, but Pearl enjoyed the heat. The figure lifted their hands to warm them by the fire. They looked very thin and white, and Pearl wondered how cold their poor visitor had been. Jun paid little attention to their guest, feeling shy and self conscious. It wasn't until a few drops of water fell from under their hood and splashed onto the floor, that Jun really looked at them.

The figure turned toward them, sorrow clear in his voice. "Why can't I feel anything?" He said, his voice hitching as he began to cry. Jun was surprised at first, but then his eyes softened as he understood. He felt nothing but the cold too.

Jun went over to the stranger and asked if he could remove the hood. After a moment, they nodded and Jun lifted off the hood to find a skeleton staring back at him with tears streaming down his face. Pearl was shocked upon seeing this, but Jun's unusual calmness kept her silent. Jun asked for the skeleton's name and he identified himself as Wolly.

Jun was surprised, because he remembered playing with a boy named Wolly when he was a child. They were the best of friends. Wolly remembered their fun times together too, and the memory seemed to give him comfort. Wolly apologized to Pearl for scaring her in the graveyard. He didn't know what was happening and was scared himself upon seeing his own body.

Pearl forgave him and the three of them were good friends. Wolly would sometimes stay inside all day with Jun, but also sometimes adventure out with Pearl. On a very special day, Jun would put his fears behind him and leave the house as well, but that's a story for another day.