The Book

As soon as I heard the car screech away I dragged the stool over, stepped up. Years of dust, dirt, dead flies and spiders dislodged themselves and landed in my hair and on my dress. I swore aloud while my fingers groped round until they finally found what I’d been looking for. My book.

I opened the wardrobe and took out Ted’s best shirt then used it to gently wipe the front cover. Then bought it back into my bedroom to read.

I loved that book. The story came to life in the hand-made pop-up pages.  Momma made it for me.  She read it every night for five years while I enthused over the hand-painted pictures.  The story told of Tim, a young boy whose brother had been an invalid and could never get out of bed.  One day Tim had found the door of the big grandfather clock  wide open and discovered a flight of steps.  These led to a magical place  where he met his fairy godmother who granted his special wish – to make his brother walk.  

I had taken off my sandals and cardigan and snuggled under my bedcovers to look through the book, memories bringing me back to the times when I had Momma to myself and I could smell her scent as she kissed me goodnight.  Then along came Ted and I was left by myself in a dark room with only a goodnight shouted  through the door.  I use to hear her sing to Ted and she even took away my special book and started reading to him.  
                                         
I hated him for being born and taking my Momma away.  I hated him even more after he grew up and took her away for good. He was bad, through and through and his gambling and stealing finally took my Momma’s health.  Now he was going to pay. Right now, if I was lucky. ‘Cos I had tampered with the brakes on his new Jeep.   Now he might be dead and serves him right. Taking my Momma away from me like that.

‘Ding Dong’  I looked down at my watch. Four o’clock. Right on time I thought waiting for the next three chimes but they never came.   Dad must have forgotten to wind up the grandfather clock.  I knew I could never settle back down until I wound it back up so I got out of bed and walked barefoot down the thick carpet stairs to the hall.  The glass door was wide open and the key on the floor.  That was strange as normally Dad kept the key locked up in a drawer in the hallstand.  Then I noticed that the chimes were all twisted out of shape. What’s going on here? That was my last thought for a long while as I felt dizzy and started to fall.

When I woke it was dark and I hurt bad all over.  Throat dry, bottom, arms, neck, head, all aching.  I must have the flu or something. Dad must be looking after me.  I felt round for the little bell that was always on my bedside cabinet, but all I felt was cold, damp stone all around.  Painfully, I brought myself to a sitting position and saw that I wasn’t at home at  all but on a landing above a steep flight of stairs.  The narrow corridor was illuminated by dangly  bare lightbulbs.  I started to cry. Seemed like hours before I scrambled up and started banging on the door behind.  It was filthy but I could see that it was glass.  I rubbed  the panes but couldn’t see much through as it was quite dark behind them.  There was nothing else to do but try the stairs.

Still sniveling and talking aloud to myself, I made my way down, conscious of every step in my bare feet. I prayed there wasn’t any glass.

At the bottom I turned the  corner and saw that I was in a small room, three high walls, no door. I cried even louder, and collapsed onto the floor.

‘Why ever are you crying my dear’

I looked up to an amazing sight.  A stunning lady was looking down at me. Golden hair curling down her back, shimmering white gown.

Before I had a chance to answer she spoke again.

‘Lara, what’s your special wish. What do you want more in the world than anything’.

‘Momma, I want my Momma to come back’

‘And so you shall’

The lady vanished in the blink of an eye and instead I was looking up at Momma.

She was wearing the yellow sundress and hat that she wore in the photograph that I keep on my dresser.  And suddenly I knew what this was.  A dream.  I’d been looking at the magic clock book, then fell into a nap.  I was so glad that I hadn’t woken up because I could have a talk with Momma.

She helped me up and looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes of hers.  I recognized that look, she had it just before she kissed me goodnight all those years ago.

‘Momma, you’ve come back to me.  We can be together again’

‘Yes my dear. We can be together’.  She stroked my cheek then added ‘but I’ve got an extra special surprise for you.’

In my heart I knew. She was going to read the book to me just like before.  I shut my eyes and waited a few moments before opening them.   I looked up in horror as Momma stood with her arm round Ted, both of the grinning at me.  Then they started to look funny, their handsome faces changing shapes, skin started falling off exposing black stuff underneath. Then they started to growl.

I don’t know how I did it but instead of screaming the place down I turned and ran back upstairs and started pounding and pounding on the glass door.  This time it was light behind and I saw Dad’s face peering in.  I shouted and shouted but he didn’t seem to hear.  I saw him turn the key and walk away.  Then I heard the most deafening noise and had to cover my ears.  Chimes.  Four of them.  I had to wake up now, I had to.  I started punching myself.

The silence was shocking. I was still in the dream but at least the clock had stopped.  I was sure it wouldn’t be long before I woke up.

Then I saw them.  Two oddly familiar shapes coming up the stairs.  I started biting my hand, willing myself to wake up, drawing blood but still I couldn’t wake up.  And as their claws reached out to me I started to scream………………