rural area; countryside; the sticks; hometown
superstition; superstitious belief
things like; something like; someone like; such a thing as; (the fact) that; to think that
to collect; to assemble; to gather
he; she; that guy; that; that one; that thing
in front (of); before (e.g. a building); before; earlier; (the) front; frontal part; forward
father; dad; husband; you (of an elderly person older than the speaker); he
companion; partner; other party; addressee; opponent (sports, etc.)
having in mind; happening to know (of); idea (of); inkling
after school (at the end of the day)
somehow; for some reason (or other); without knowing why
to turn one's face; to turn around; to look over one's shoulder
how many times; how many degrees (temperature, angle, etc.)
unpleasant; uncomfortable; creepy; spooky
certainly; of course; even if; no matter (who, what, when, where, why, how); without even; without so much as; at the (least, earliest, etc.)
to work; to labor; to function; to operate; to commit (e.g. a crime); to perpetrate
and; besides; because; since; the thing is; for one thing
one person; being alone; being by oneself; being single; being unmarried; by oneself
to return; to come home; to leave (of a guest, customer, etc.); to get home; to get to home plate
consultation; discussion; discussing; asking (someone) for advice
nonexistent; not being (there); unowned; not had; unique; not; impossible
search (esp. in criminal investigations); investigation; inquiry; enquiry
to be able to do; to be possible; to be good at; to do well; to come into existence; to form; to be made
to examine; to look up; to investigate; to check up; to sense; to study
although; despite; whereas; while; if only; I wish
oh!; good heavens!; ugh!; oh no!; ah!; the penny drops!
hey!; say!; I say!; I; me
(not) anything; (nothing) at all; and everything else; and all; (not) at all; (not) in the least
dangerous; risky; in danger; in jeopardy; uncertain; unreliable
how; in what way; by what means
to pile up; to make a heap; to lay (e.g. bricks); to acquire (e.g. experience); to build (a reputation)
that's enough!; cut it out!; get a life!
perhaps; possibly; maybe; if; in case; in the event that
strange; odd; unexpected; change; incident; disturbance