Hide and Seek

"Ok, start counting. You gotta count to fifty and no cheating," called Jessica, just before kids scattered in all directions.

Jeremiah and his cousin Jessica both ran off through the lounge room, Jessica turned into the breakfast room and Jeremiah ran down the hall.

It was a party for Jeremiah's 13th birthday. This was the first time they had a party at Granny Beal's. Her house was like Aunty Ethyl's house, big and old and so many rooms.

Jeremiah stopped in the middle of the hallway. He couldn't decide whether to hide in the broom cupboard or the room opposite. He chose the broom cupboard.

He stepped inside and closed the door. It was pitch black. He couldn't see a thing. After a short while, a dull glow lit the cupboard. The glow grew light enough for him to see but he couldn't see where the light came from.

The cupboard was quite spacious and not too many brooms or much else was stored there. He then noticed a door on the back wall.

Odd, he thought as he gripped the big brass knob and slowly opened it to peek inside. To his amazement, it opened onto an enormous room, furnished in the most luxurious manner.

"Come on in, Jeremiah,"

At first, Jeremiah couldn't see anybody in the room.

He looked toward the chair from where the voice seemed to have come. From where he stood, he was looking at the back of the chair. He person gradually swivelled the chair around to face him. He got such a shock, he froze.

"Don't be afraid, Jeremiah. Come in and sit down," said the woman, indicating to a chair at the end of the desk.

"A, Aa, Aunty Myrtle!" he stammered, "I thought you died. You were in The Team, so you must have died. You were with Uncle Endicott. He's dead."

The woman didn't answer. Jeremiah cautiously walked toward the chair she had indicated and sat down.

"It is your birthday party today Jeremiah. Thirteen! You certainly are growing up. Happy birthday."

"Thank you, Aunty Myrtle. You didn't tell me how you got here," he said, looking around the room.

"Never mind about it, Jeremiah. I want you to do something for me,"

"Yes, what is it, Aunty Myrtle?" he replied.

"Please give this to your Granny Beal." She handed him a gold necklace with a large sapphire set in a pendant.

"You had better go now, Jeremiah. I think I can hear them calling you."

"Ok, Aunty Myrtle, but you still haven't...."

"Jeremiah, I said don't worry about it. Nobody will ever understand. Now go and re-join the party."

Jeremiah went back to the large door with the big brass knob, opened it and closed it behind him. The broom cupboard was dark again. There was no glow as when he entered.

He heard Jessica calling him, so he pushed open the door of the broom cupboard and stepped into the hall. He glanced at the back wall of the cupboard and was amazed to see there was no door there. Just a blank wall.

"There you are! Where did you get to? I looked in there. Did you cheat and hide in there after I looked?" she asked.

"No, no. I was in there all the time. The cupboard is very big and dark. I was crouched right in the back corner," Jeremiah replied.

"Well I looked. What's that you have got? Show me,"

"I have to give it to Granny Beal."

"But how did you get it, Jerry?" Jessica persisted.

"Come on! I have to give it to Gran," Jeremiah replied.

They both ran toward the back verandah where Granny Beal and their mothers were sitting. As they ran off, Jessica called out,

"I found him, I found him! He was in the broom cupboard all the time but I think he cheated."

Jeremiah went to Granny Beal and held out the necklace with the pendant,

"Gran, Aunty Myrtle asked me to give you this."

"Aunty who? Aunty Myrtle? What are you saying, Jerry? She passed away over four years ago," said his mother.

"It's too hard to explain Mum, but it is true. I spoke to her in the room at the back of the broom cupboard," Jeremiah replied.

"What room at the back of the broom cupboard? There is no room there, Jerry," said Granny as he handed her the necklace.

Granny Beal turned pale and stiffened when she saw the necklace,

"Oh! Oh," she said in a dry croaky voice, "Oh! My Lord, this was her favourite necklace. She was buried wearing it, four and a half years ago!"