The Haunted House, a possiblitiy.
The Raccoons,
The Haunted House, a possibility.
Rodney@general-products.demon.co.uk
Many thanks to Kevin Gillis for creating The Raccoons.
Mr Willows looked up from his stockbook as a stranger entered the
shop. "And what may I do for you, er?, sir?" said Mr Willows, as the
stranger stopped in front of the counter and looked around at the shop
with intrest. The stranger was a skunk, taller than Ralph, shorter
than Bert, with red hair, thick rim glasses, and wearing a shirt,
jumper and cords. Mr Willows had to look twice before he was sure he
was looking at a male, an adult male. It was unsettling because at
first he thought he was looking at a juvanile female. The skunk spoke,
"Oh, Im sorry, am I disturbing you, but I was hoping if you could help
me. Im looking for a house, a particular house, that I was told was
somewhere out here." Mr Willows winced, he thought the voice to be a
cross between a soloist, and a cheese grater. ~As bad as his
appearence~ he thought. "Well, I know all the houses and people round
these parts, so I belive I can help you there. Is there anything
else?" "Oh, sorry, yes. I would like some basic supplies please, some
flour, eggs, milk, water, veg, bread, oh, and peanut butter and
strawberry jam, oh sorry, you call it jelly. Thank you." Mr Willows
busied himself with collecting the supplies together, while the skunk
wandered around, looking more closely at the shelves. "Ah, thats what
I forgot, a cylinder of gas for the cooker." The skunk plucked a small
gas cylinder up and palced it on the counter next to the small
mountain of supplies. "I think that should do if for a couple of days,
I hope I can stay longer" Mr Willows looked puzzled at this statement,
but then shrugged it off as a camping quote. Before he had chance to
speak, the skunk placed a $20 bill on the counter and said, "Please,
keep any change, if Im going to be well out of the way, I might as
well stick to a store I know." He then started to pick up his
supplies, then paused. "You dont mind if I take these in a couple of
trips, Ive got to put them in the panniers." The skunk waited for a
second, then went out of the store for a couple of minutes beofre
returning empty handed. As he picked up the remaning goods, Mr Willows
gently reminded the skunk, "And the house youre looking for?" The
skunk winced, "Im sorry. Its on its own, large, hasnt been lived in
for a while, and is by a lake. The guy said there was only the one
round here that met that description. Please, do you know where it
is?" Mr Willows sighed, "Shure do," he said, "I dont know if you were
told, but the only house round here like that is way up the roads
about 5 miles, and is called The Haunted House. Its said that wierd
things happen there, strange sounds and mists, you better be careful."
The skunk looked puzzled, then broke into a smile. "Thats alright," he
said, "I dont tend to bother ghosts. They just stay out of my way."
With that, the skunk nodded his thanks and went out of the store, his
arms full. Shortly after, Mr Willows heard the whine of gears and the
scrabble of gravel as the skunk moved off, but he just missed seeing
what the skunk was driving.
A minute later Bert burst in through the door. "WOW, did ya see the
size of that bike! And the trailer! I bet it cost the guy a fortune!
Er, Mr Willows, you dont happen to know anything about this do you!"
"Actually Bert," said Mr Willows, "The person I think you are refering
to just came in for some supplies, said he was staying for a while, I
didnt see the bike. In fact, I didnt hear him say his name." He looked
suprised as he said this, because he just realised it. Bert carried on
"Oh what a beut! Alloy wheels, Carbon fibre frame, Hydraulic
transmission, Automatic gears, comfey seat, and a motor! What a bike,
What a Bike!!" "Really Bert," said Lisa as she entered the store, "I
think you get excited so easily. Hello Mr Willows, we just came round
for some stuff, especially peanut butter. Berts almost cleaned us out
again." "Well Lisa," said Mr Willows, "Ive got just the one jar of
peanut butter left, the person you just missed bought the other, and
Im not expecting supplies for a few days." "Only one jar!" wailed
Bert. "What am I going to do for tommorow nights tea." "Oh Bert,"
exclaimed Lisa, "Theres other things to eat besides peanut butter."
"Yea, but they just dont taste the same." "Who was she then," said
Lisa, "Actually my dear," said Mr Willows, "that she, was a he, adult,
and a skunk. I had to look twice before I got it right. I didnt get a
name, but he said he was looking for the empty mansion, up by the
lake. It seems hes thinking of moving in." "To the mansion? But its
haunted!" cried Bert. "No one in thier right mind would go anywhere
near the place." "Thats what I said," said Mr Willows, "and do you
know what he said? Thats Ok, I dont tend to bother ghosts, they just
stay out of my way." Everybody looked confused at this, then Bert said
"Hey, we'd better get back, George is cooking his special tonight, and
we dont want to miss that." Lisa agreed, and, after picking up the
groceries and paying Mr Willows, she followed Bert outside to the
bikes. "I think we should go call on our new neighbour," said Bert,
"tommorow. I think Ill let tea settle first." "Oh Bert" exclaimed
Lisa, as they set off laughing back home.
"Hi hon" said George, as Bert and Lisa pulled up outside the house
tree. "You just missed the new neighbour, he stopped to ask directions
to the old house by the lake, and stayed for a coffee." "Stayed?, but
we just passed him at Mr Willows store! He must have broke every speed
record round here." exclaimed Lisa. "I dont see how." said George. "He
was pedalling when he pulled up. Anyway, teas almost ready. Go and put
the things in the kitchen and sit down at the table. We'll see to the
food." "Thanks George," said Bert, "Im starving. Hey Lisa, wait up!"
Lisa and Bert went into the house tree while George shook his head and
put the bikes in the shed. Inside, during the meal, Bert was having
difficulty eating and talking at the same time. "Did any of you guys
get who he was?" inquired Bert, "cos Mr Willows didnt get a name, and
he went past us before we got to the store. He almost got the last jar
of peanut butter as well." "Now that you mention it, he didnt tell us
his name either, he just asked about the mansion" said Nichole
"although why anyone would want to go there...Brrrr." "Neat bike
though" chipped in Bently "he had some awesome computer gear on there,
which he said was solar powered, but I couldnt see a panel." "We
almost had to drag him away from that bike," said George "we had to
promise him a guided tour in the future just so he would come and
eat." "Wow" exclaimed Bert "Er, can I come too?" "Sure Bert" said
Bently, "actually, he asked if he could come back down tommorow, you
know, find out a bit more about the area, especially when I said Ralph
was the editor of the local paper." With that, tea passed off with
general chat about the stranger, his bike, and the wierd way he
avioded mentioning his name. "Good night Bently" called Bert as he set
off back to the Raccoon Dominion "Ill call down tommorrow for you and
we'll both look at that bike, and maybe find out who that new guy is."
"OK Bert" called Bently, "see you tommorow." With that, Bently went to
bed, and Bert pedaled back home.
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