Scary Mansion 2

   Mavey joined our gang around the time we were awaiting the summer vacation. He was a strange kid, bright-eyed, ever ready to play and string along. He was a quick runner, pushing me to second place, something I didn’t mind in the least. We had cycling expeditions, cricket matches, catch n’ crook, and swimming races on the agenda. The days were just packed. An incursion into a neighbors’ yard ended in our being ejected as pilferers, something which filled us with indignance. The problem was we weren’t very presentable, leading the man to mistake us for street urchins. We foraged like goats and ate like wolves, stripping whole mango trees, leaving neither ripe nor green fruit uneaten. We competed with bats, ants and birds for nature’s treats. 

   The haunted manor was now a taboo subject and too overgrown with weeds in any case. Towards the end of the vacation, we were sitting around the parapet of the tree which served as our fort when we played with our toy guns. I think it was Lisa who brought up the subject of Mavey and where he lived. We hadn’t thought about that and not cared much. The next day after playing, we asked him. He gave an evasive reply and disappeared into the quarry, another of our haunts. Some days later, I caught sight of him carrying a grocery bag.

   To my surprise, he veered off the road and plunged into the narrow path we had named ‘‘the forbidden way’’. It led to the haunted manor; after a temporary delay I ran in after him. To my surprise, the place hadn’t been overrun with shrubs. I saw Mavey sitting on the step, looking blank and hailed him. He sprang up surprised and took a packet of lassi, tossing it to me as I advanced. I was full of curiosity and wanted to ask if he had seen something spooky. I did not know where to start and paused, filled with vague fears.&nbs

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p;“Come meet my maker”, he said in a solemn voice. “You mean your mater, don’t you?” I queried, taken aback by his tone. 

   We were past the threshold, and I saw the stairs which had terrorized us so. Seeing me looking, he smiled: “That’s the stairs I love to swoosh down all day long. Come let’s give it a try.’ We raced down, on the balustrades winning, losing and finally tying. Seeing the book cupboard, I ran in and was pleased to see he had a lot of comics. He followed and handed me a bunch of comics and excused himself. I sat down on the armchair and began to read. Someone came into the room, but I was too engrossed in the comic to care. Something white caught my eye and I happily caught up the tea mug, glad it was not the lassi again. 

   I heard voices, hazy, as though they were a dream. Three beautiful maidens had gathered around me. They were looking down with great longing while I gazed at them, attracted by their colorful apparel. Then they opened their mouths, reddened with lipstick and their tongues darted out. “Flowers and tongues” they kept muttering, “flowers and tongues” till I could bear it no more. I rose with an effort, relieved to be in the same armchair and not some scary bedstead. The maidens disappeared; the place seemed darker with little light streaming in the windows. It was a daymare, then, just a dream. 

   Mavey appeared by my side, appearing concerned. “Here is my mother”, he said nodding to the side. I turned and looked at a dark apparition with skeletal fingers and shining eyes. It was the same figure I had seen, all those years ago. We had been scared for no reason. It was only Mavey’s mum, perhaps inspecting the place. Armed with a fresh bunch of comics, I headed home exhausted but happy. At last, the gang had a meeting place.