The Crooked House of Benjamin Barker

This is my first public  short story I usually write poetry and was inspired by one of my poems to write this piece. Hope you enjoy!!

Benjamin Parker was a man indeed mysterious, he lived in a white colonial crooked house surrounded with dry eerie trees without leaves. Its yard never met rain it remained in an eternal desert drought. The inside was never known, you see Benjamin never left his crooked fireside. The only moments the awkward man left was on Wednesdays at 4:30am and returned 4:30pm from the market. Twelve hours he left his nest without security, no locks, no guardian dog, confident man you may think. A story is told among meddling of two beggars that once broke in the house. They expected to find some rustic antiques that could be resold for a good amount of money.

The old man left with some market bags ready for the heavy day. The beggars, Mctwain and Bango, watched the man disappear with the fog of dawn.

"It is now or never Bango the old man left his house we'll have enough time to search the place and take the stuff. I just hope there are no traps inside the mystery box." Mctwain seemed confident with just a pinch of doubt in his ogre eyes.

The only thing Bango and Mctwain did not know was the incredible world inside that small crooked house. They entered and found a normal living room filled with darkness and an interesting trunk with a radiant lock resembling to silver. Together filled with courage they reached unto the lock, and it was opened.

"Well Mctwain if you give me the honors to the trunk I'll be very grateful."

Mctwain with a glance filled with rage said: "Will I? Seriously ...do it Bango!"

He opened the trunk; they were sucked in by an inexplicable force to the insides of the mysterious trunk. There was nothing, but the same living there were in at the crooked white old house.

"Don't move Bango, do not even blink. Where are we?"

"In the same place we were I believe so. Though that door is quite new, shall we?"

"Alright", he said with fear "but let's do it together."

They opened the door and suddenly were sucked off the trunk and placed right back again the real living room.

"We are back, but we are under attack!" A war was in its zenith and soldiers surrounded the house armed, shooting, shouting and dancing! They ran into the kitchen and the whole crew of a circus was cooking. The trapeze melted the cheese, men on stilts baked corn quilts, clowns made cookie frowns and the agile acrobats cooked flambé bats. Bango screamed: "Run Mctwain to the chambers there we will be safe!" Or so he thought without knowing the chaos they were to live. While running to the chambers an awful tintinnabulation filled their mind. Scared they opened the door and they couldn't believe their eyes. "A zoo, we entered a zoo! Bango what are you laughing at we are inside a living madness, in a zoo!" Mctwain was horrified while Bango laughed his guts out.

The animals felt their presence and stared steadily, every single one was disturbed. The dogs playing poker stopped the placing bets, the chimpanzees climbed off their trees and the birds stopped their singing.

"We come in peace. My name is Mctwain and he is Bango." The animals laughed, laughed and laughed. Until the soldier gorillas entered. Gorillas ruled they were the absolute power of the Pandora box.

"Who are you strange creatures?" Said the sergeant gorilla with a voice filled with curiosity.

"We are Bango and Mctwain. We come in peace."

"You came to see Him."

"Him? We don't know Him."

"Nobody has ever met Him, but he said you were to come to steal the crown. Soldiers get them and bring them to court!"

Mctwain and Bango were totally puzzled and did not move a finger as they were pulled onto the court room. The judge an old baboon named by Zachweisser. He gave a sudden moan ordering silence in the court room, for the session to begin.

"Mctwain the tall stick and Bango the side drummer you are accused of trying to steal Him's crown the king of Zooland. Any arguments from the accused, any defense?"

"We..."Mctwain couldn't finish the sentence he totally forgot language.

"We, you what?!" Said Zachweisser in the tone of a mocker.

"He meant Mr. Judge Baboon Sir Zachweisser we are innocent we came here by accident."

"I feel doubt ... gorillas take them to Him, his sentence will be the best." Everyone was puzzled for Judge Zachweisser was never doubtful. Sending them to Him was shocking. People were only sent to Him if he summoned the souls that never returned after being in an audience to him.

Him was the king of Zooland, the circus master and the army's general, he was the house lord. As they walked through the throne fading images of the real living room appeared. Until finally they arrived. The throne had the shape of a lock made out of silver and as they waited for the king some dancers danced some safari-like tunes. Until finally the harsh sound of the royal trumpeters announcing the entrance of Him the king, filled the thieves' heart of hope and fear.

"It is you old man!"

"Hello Bango, hello Mctwain you little thieves. Yes it's me and please more respect to your king."

"Him? That is your name? Amazing! Bango can you believe this?" Bango was perplexed the old man named Him was a king of Zooland and of the rest as also.

"Your Highness, we are really sorry we are poor ignorant beggars that broke into your kingdom looking for antiques to sell and have money to survive. Forgive us specially Mctwain for being such awful plebian but your kingdom's rabble overwhelmed his little brain."

"Mctwain the tall stick and Bango the side drummer I forgive you, leave with one condition say nothing about the place. Here take some cheap antiques and leave by the means you came."

In chorus they both said "Thank you Him!" As fast as they could they left with the gear, jumped in the trunk and suddenly appeared in the living room filled with fear. Mctwain and Bongo rapidly took off and never said a word about the crooked house of Benjamin Parker and its little world.

I will probably publish the poem versión when this hits some likes :)