In response to Harper Lee’s depiction of the Boo Radley House in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, M was asked to create his own short story featuring a place that children might be afraid to encounter:
The wind blew against the house’s windows, making an eerie tapping sound.
People would walk past the house faster than they would walk past any other, attempting not to look directly at it as they hurried by.
The house was made of a blood red brick, and was overgrown with ivy which surrounded an old wooden door.
The house was owned by a old man who hadn’t been seen for years, and according to all the children in town stole pets and killed them.
There was a post box across the road from this old house and, on the night that this story took place, behind the post box were three young boys: Jack, Fred and William.
“I dare you to go ding dong ditch the house.” Fred whispered to William.
“No way am I going near that place, he kills pets.” replied William, with a small shiver.
“It’s not like you to say no to a dare Will, It must be scary.” assumed Jack.
Just then a shadow like figure appeared in one of the four windows of the house and it seemed to be looking directly at them.They ran.
Later that day they returned to the post box.
“So, have you plucked up the guts to go ding dong the house yet?” asked Fred.
“I told you this morning, I am not going to ring the door bell!” William said hoping that this time Fred would get it.
“So, that means you are a chicken” Fred joked, flapping his arms and clucking comically.
“No!” yelled William, with an angry tone.
“If I go and ding dong ditch the house, will you shut up?” asked Jack.
“Oh yeah, like you could ever ring the bell over there” Fred sniggered.
“Watch me.” Jack said over his shoulder as he strode towards the house.
Jack surveyed the house, hoping that no one was home.
“Ok, here I go” thought Jack to himself.
Jack’s right index finger rested on the door bell’s button.
“Press the button. You are here now.” Jack said to himself.
Jack pushed down on the door bell with a soft a touch he could, the bell rang inside the house and Jack turned round, putting all of his weight on his heels.
He started to run, he could see the safe post box on the other side of the road.
“Come on!” yelled William.
But William’s cries could not help Jack from falling. Jack’s feet left the ground, he closed his eyes and tried to cover his head with his arms, but that did not help.
Jack opened his eyes and looked towards the post box, William and Fred were gone. Jack knew exactly why they had ran and it chilled him to the bone.
“Are you ok?” a voice asked.
Jack jumped up and turned to see a man with a black shirt, a grey jumper and blue jeans and round glasses.
This is not how Jack expected the owner of the house to look at all.
“Yes” Jack replied in a very high pitched voice.
“Can I help you with something, or were you just here to ring my door bell and run away?” The man asked with the slightest hint of a laugh in his voice.
“The second one, sorry” Jack confessed.
“It’s ok, you’re not the first kid to do that.” The man said, putting on a fake smile.
The man walked back towards the open door, Jack looked past him and saw that the inside of the house was clean, warn looking and had bookshelves from floor to ceiling, filled with books.
The man waved at Jack and closed the door. A smile appeared on Jack’s face as he closed the gate and began to walk down the street. He thought to himself, “What was I scared of again?”
THE END
