Story of the Day: A boy hides in a creepy house during a thunderstorm and discovers his photo among the resident’s belongings.
Alex went inside a spooky mansion to get away from the storm. There was a terrifying old lady who lived there, he had heard. He was stuck, though, while the massive storm roared outside. His gaze suddenly fell upon an old photo book. Alex gasped in shock to see a picture of himself as a little child!
There was an old home with whispered tales and intrigue just on the border of a little town. It was claimed to be the residence of an elderly woman who was so elusive that some people didn’t even believe she existed.
While playing a game of hide-and-seek, Alex and his buddies were engrossed in a gusty day when thunder erupted like a giant’s rage. Alex, his imagination as large as the sky, pedaled his creaking old bike towards the fabled home while his buddies stayed close to the well-known streets.
“Wow, that’s amazing!” The storm was booming and he could not be heard.
With its windows shimmering like blinking eyes, the home was in front of him. The limbs of the trees reached out to him like gnarled fingers, crooked and twisted.
Alex jumped as he heard the thunder that followed a lightning strike that split the sky.
He cried out, “Yikes!” as his bike shook and he fell, falling on the soggy grass. He scampered to his feet, shivering from the intense, chilly rain.
As he often did when he was alone himself, he exclaimed, “This is insane!” The home seemed to be his sole shelter as the storm grew more violent.
He mumbled, “Okay, Alex, you can do this,” and pushed his bike in the direction of the home. “It’s not a monster; it’s just an old house.”
With his heart racing, he ran inside. To his astonishment, however, the interior of the home was not at all like the eerie lair he had anticipated. There was a nice, hearty fire crackling somewhere in the distance, and potted flowers were in full bloom.
“Wow, this place is really pleasant,” Alex muttered. He felt at ease as the aroma of cinnamon and vanilla wafted around.
“Hello? Is anyone home? His voice resounded through the rooms as he cried out.
On a little wooden table, he happened to come discover an old photo album. He opened it by flipping it.
“Not in a way!” A picture of him as a young child was present. “How on earth is this possible?” His thoughts were racing.
The stillness was broken abruptly by a voice. It appears strange, doesn’t it? That picture in my album?”
Alex was startled as he turned to find the elderly woman behind him, smiling in a way that was both tender and solemn.
“Oh, I, I, I.” Alex stumbled and retreated, his pulse pounding with anxiety and perplexity.
“I took that picture myself, a long time ago,” the woman added, her voice husky and full of unspoken tales.
Alex took a deep breath and spoke in a trembling tone, “But how? Why not?
His curiosity was supplanted by terror before she could respond.
His instincts were telling him to get out of this uncomfortable circumstance, so he shouted, “I… I gotta go!” He hurried out the door without turning around, becoming wet all over again from the downpour.
His thoughts were racing just as quickly as his bike as he pedaled through the rain.
“Alex, it was insane! An image? An elderly woman? What is happening? He yelled into the fierce wind, attempting to interpret the bizarre experience.
Drenched from the storm, Alex rushed inside his home.
“Mum! He started, eager to tell his incredible journey, saying, “You won’t believe what happened!”
His mother, though, remained at work. He shivered and hurriedly cleaned his hands, undressed his wet garments, and covered himself with a fluffy, soft towel.
He pulled his childhood picture album off the shelf, went back into the sofa, and turned through the pages as a reassuring warmth began to flow back into his body.
His toddler years were patchworked together in the album. However, when he turned the pages, he found spaces where pictures ought to have been.
Where did these go, he said to himself?
At that moment, the front door creaked open, and his mother Julia entered, worn out from the day’s activities. She stopped when she saw Alex curled up on the couch with the record open in front of him, covered in a towel.
“Honey, what are you doing?” Shutting the door behind her, she joined him on the couch and requested.
Alex hardly had time to say hello to his mother when he inquired, holding the picture he had seen in the elderly woman’s album, “Mom, who took this photo?”
With a sigh, Julia sat next to him and put a kind arm around his shoulders.
“That photo was taken when you were just a little boy by your grandmother Anna.”
Alex’s mind raced as the words lingered in the air. Could his grandma, Anna, be the mystery woman from the eerie house?
“Aunt Anna?” Alex’s voice faltered as the revelation set in, altering his mental picture of the elderly woman.
With her fingertips trailing the spaces left unfilled, Julia drew the record nearer. “I removed them,” she mutely confessed.
It was difficult to see her face since we knew she wasn’t with us and was someplace else. She had given me the old bike in the garage. Shortly after her departure, she sent money for it.
Mom, why did she leave? Did she not think about us? Alex’s voice was full with uncertainty.
Julia said, “She always said she wanted to see the world, to do something big.”
“I genuinely did try to understand. I wrote her several emails pleading with her to return and emphasizing how much we relied on her. A sour laugh leaked out of her. All came back, sealed. As if she had simply deleted us.
Listening, Alex felt his heart pound. But why, mother? Why would she act in such way?
“I’m not sure, Alex. Pulling her son close, Julia said, “I wish I did.”
More to himself than to Julia, Alex remarked, “Maybe we can bring her back,” his impressionable mind already working over his grandmother’s enigma like a jigsaw that needed to be pieced together.
The storm outside appeared to mirror Alex’s inner thoughts as they sat there, and the seeds of a plan were starting to take shape in his head.
With a determined look in his eyes, he thought, “Tomorrow, I’ll turn this into a real investigation.” I was afraid of that woman in the home. I require evidence.
***
Raising his hand, Alex knocked on the front door of the mystery home. The house creaked slightly in response to the morning air at first, but there was no answer.
Then a little peephole moved to expose two wrinkled eyes that were examining him intently.
The hefty bolt was pulled back after a little delay, and the door creaked open. Alex’s breathing became labored upon seeing the elderly woman.
“Hey, Alex,” she said to him.
A glimmer of anxiety shot through Alex as he blinked.
“How… how are you aware of my name?” He stumbled.
She said with a strange smile, “I know more about you than you might think,” and moved aside to let him enter.
The aroma of freshly cooked cakes filled the room as Alex walked in. He was nervous, yet there was a peculiar comfort in his presence.
“I… Alex said, his interest piqued, “I didn’t even ask your name.”
“I can see why you’re bothered. Most likely, you came across a few pictures from my album. “Hello, Alex, I’m Anna, your grandmother.” she said.
“If you know where we live, why don’t you come see us?” Alex pondered.
“I’ll have these cookies and some tea. Anna said, “I’ll explain everything,” and she led him into the charming kitchen.
***
After taking a leisurely sip of her tea, Anna cast a serious glance at Alex from across the table.
“Alex, you see, I put in a lot of labor abroad. In the hopes that it would make things simpler for you and your mother, I sent money home every month.
“You tried to assist us, then?” Alex chewed his cake and nodded.
“Yes, each and every month.” Anna grinned.
However, the letters I sent along with the money were never answered. After some time, it occurred to me that perhaps your mother was still upset with me for going. Perhaps she no longer wanted to interact with me.
Alex let out a sigh as the truth of the circumstance set in.
Then, what action did you take?
A trace of melancholy could be seen in Anna’s eyes.
When my health prevented me from working, I went back. I was too afraid to talk to your mother. I moved into this old house, so to speak,” she said, pointing.
“I’ve watched you grow from afar over the years,” Anna said, her voice growing softer. I’ve witnessed you playing in the neighborhood with your pals, and I’ve even gone to your school performances. Mom frequently couldn’t make it because of work, but I was there, quietly supporting you and feeling pleased with each step you made on stage.
“Being close to you, even without you knowing, comforted me,” she said, her eyes glistening. It was how I tried to be involved in your life, even in the background.
“It makes sense,” whispered Alex.
Anna softly squeezed his hand as she stretched across the table.
With a forced smile, Alex responded, “Thank you, Grandma.” Simply said, I’m happy I discovered you now.
Alex felt it was time to go after a lengthy talk. He was about to leave the room when he stopped and turned back to see Anna.
He added, “Thank you for the bicycle; it has been my best friend for years.”
“Alex, you’re always welcome here,” agreed Anna.
Alex trusted the tales told by his grandma. Still, a persistent notion tore at his thoughts: the unopened letters, the purposeful distance between his grandma and mother. His mother never received the letters from his grandma because someone had been snooping on them.
Alex turned his bike around and rode straight to the source of assistance for this crucial issue.
***
Alex suspected foul play after hearing his grandmother’s stories of the letters that were never delivered to his mother. He made the decision that it was time to round up his pals and set off on a journey to find the truth in real life.
Ever the adventurer, Alex called out to his companions, “Guys, we need to play secret agents.”
Grandma Anna’s correspondence and funds have been intercepted by someone. It appears to be Uncle Martin.
His pal Lily raised an eyebrow and said, “Why him?”
With a frown, Alex considered Uncle Martin.
Have you ever observed that he began receiving expensive things at the same time as Grandma’s letters stopped arriving? In addition, he has never really been a couch potato. In an attempt to get him work, Mom nearly dragged him to the post office.
“Yes, and those missing letters didn’t start at the same time?” Max added his voice, making the connection.
“Just that!” “And I’ve never liked him much,” remarked Alex. He’s a slacker who was often begging his mother for money before she gave him the job.
“What is your suggestion for us to do?” John said, his gaze narrowing with interest.
“It would be good if we looked into his house,” Lily said.
They all agreed right away, and they started getting ready for their secret mission. They agreed to get together the next day after school.
To prevent leaving fingerprints, Alex and his buddies packed a few essentials: gloves, a tiny camera, and flashlights.
As they went over their strategy one more time, Alex gave the order, “Remember, we need to be super stealthy.”
“We must prevent anyone from seeing us, particularly our neighbors. They are constantly prying into things.
Friendship nods of agreement circled. Despite being aware of the dangers, their desire to learn the truth kept them going.
***
Knowing that Uncle Martin would be at work in the late afternoon, Alex guided his squad to his residence. Alex got a helping hand from Max to force open a window that was just ajar, and the three of them crept inside.
The home was silent. As they cautiously made their way to Martin’s home office, they were greeted with an unorganized scene consisting of several heaps of documents and old mail. After searching through the chaos for many minutes, Alex’s fingertips eventually found a bundle of letters tucked behind a stack of outdated magazines.
“Look at this, guys!” He displayed the letters. His mother’s handwritten and now somewhat faded name appeared on each envelope. “We’ve located them. This demonstrates his dishonesty!
He glanced at one of the letters and carefully opened it.
“Hello Julia,
*Some money for Alex’s new clothing and other requirements is enclosed. I really hope this helps a bit, since I miss you both a lot. Kindly respond in writing as soon as possible.
Kindly, Anna
Alex read the touching words, tears welling up in his eyes. “She really tried to reach us.”
They decided to bring the letters to the local police station after gathering them all.
***
To the on-duty officer, Alex said, “We’re like secret agents.” “And we’ve found a really big secret.”
“These are solid proof, youngsters, but because they were taken without consent, I can’t accept them. Though aware of the seriousness of their finding, the officer calmly said, “You’ve done well, but I need to handle this legally. I’m bound by the law.”
Alex and his buddies were disappointed and didn’t know what to do, so they departed the station. Julia arrived at that moment after being contacted by a neighbor who had saw the children enter Martin’s home.
As Alex went over everything, Julia’s eyes started to well up with tears. She gave her kid a firm embrace.
“Alex, you made the correct decision. She continued, her voice stifled with emotion, “I’m proud of you. The money that Uncle Martin stole doesn’t concern me. Bringing Grandma Anna home is what counts.
Julia then went over to Martin and made amends with her mother. With the truth out and long-standing hurts starting to mend over the following few weeks, the family gradually came back together. When Anna moved back in with Alex and Julia, their house was full with stories and laughter. Uncle Martin asked for forgiveness when he realized how dishonest he had been, and Julia and Anna hesitantly granted it.
The family’s years of estrangement vanished as they reestablished their ties, which were now stronger and closer than ever.