THE WIMBLEWARD MANSION
Once upon a time, in the sleepy village of Northumland, there lived a boy named John, who loved eating candies. Throughout the day, be it summer or winter, sun or rain, home or school, he can be seen chewing, and chewing, and chewing candies. Continuous licking the candy pops made his tongue-coloured red, and he was a bit obese. Despite continuous warning from his parents not to eat so many candies, he didn't pay a jot of heed to them. It seemed that his life's aim was to suck on candy pops and coloured toffees.
The day was cloudy. John hadn't gone to school, as there was an exam that day, and he hadn't studied anything at all! So, he thought, why go to school? Besides, he thought, (although thinking was much taxing to him if there wasn't any candy pop nearby) he would rather go to the Wimbleward Mansion to spent the time.
The Wimbleward Mansion was a dilapidated shack standing at the corner of the village. A very old man, named Jason Wimbleward once built the shack to spend his post-retirement life. It is said that he worked as a vet, and had acquired much riches from his childless uncle. Legends say that on one stormy night, a dreadful thing occurred there- the death of one of the maid-servants – though nobody, not even the coroner, could ascertain the cause of her death. Since then, nobody could remain in the house for long, and the house stood alone.
By the time John reached there, the sky was already covered with thick, black clouds. It had already started to rain, so John had no alternative but to go inside the house.
Inside, it was very dusty and shabby. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling, covering every nook and corner, forming a veil upon the Picassos and Rembrandts. The mould grew diligently, assisted in its job by the darkness and the damp environment of Northumland. John sneezed. The faint light coming from the windows failed to produce the desired illumination.
Suddenly, a faint laughter came from one of the rooms. Curious, John peeked in.
What he saw there could never be known, because only his mutilated dead body was found.
The coroner said that somebody had cut away his tongue.
© Arunabha Dutta