Bungalow Horror Tale

Chapter Two

Teddy hadn't been able to see his mother for weeks by now, since his nanny forbade him to visit her. Feeling frustrated, Teddy started having trouble sleep. Rikki could be waken up by him almost every day during midnight. It worried him a great deal. One day early morning, after Rikki made sure Teddy was soundly asleep and no danger could be spotted nearby, Rikki went to the garden to meet with his friends.

Darzee's wife was already waiting there, so were Chua and Chuchundra the muskrat. Only Darzee was nowhere to be seen. 

"Where's Darzee?" asked Rikki.

"I sent him back to guard our little hatchlings," answered Darzee's wife, "he's no good in this meeting. He keeps saying gibberish about Teddy's poor mother these days, so I come here alone instead. By the way, what're we going to discuss?"

"Something terrible's happening to Teddy's mother," Rikki said in a concerned tone, "I am afraid she's becoming seriously ill. I want to take a look at her, so to comfort Teddy"

"Seriously ill!" Chuchundra the muskrat exclaimed, "this sounds so...so terrible!"

"Teddy's nanny forbids anyone to come near her, especially Teddy," said Rikki, "she also tells everyone to keep absolutely quiet. I wonder what's going on. I tried to get into Teddy's mother's bedroom last night, but the door was shut. I wasn't tall enough to get to the door handle. So I request you guys to help me"

"I want to, Rikki," Darzee's wife said pensively, "but the curtains in Teddy mother's bedroom are completely drawn. I am unable to peek inside"

Chua the Rat volunteered. "I will go!" He said, "There're small holes and pipelines everywhere inside this bungalow. I am small enough to squeeze into any of them. I should try tonight when nanny is not around"

"Strangers! Strangers!" Darzee flew towards them in an alarmingly fast speed.

"What gibberish are you talking about, dear?" Darzee's wife reproached him, "also - why did you come here? What about...our hatchlings! Oh no, I should never let you take care of them!"

"Don't you worry, dear!" cried Darzee, "they're perfectly safe! I checked them only five minutes  ago. But, ahem, that's not the most important issue. The thing is - I did not talk gibberish! You guys should take a look yourselves. A carriage's coming this way, along with two brown horses and four villagers."

At this moment, Nanny walked out of the bungalow and stood near the gate in a timid manner. When the carriage came, she opened the gate and let everyone in. One of the villagers opened the carriage door politely. An old white lady, who was slightly chubby and dressed in black, stepped out. Her face was filled with sorrow.

"My poor Emma! My poor dear little Teddy!" Upon seeing the bungalow, she cried out loudly.

All the small creatures quickly scattered and hid themselves into the shrubs. Darzee and his wife flew onto a nearby tree.

"What's going on here, dear?" Darzee's wife asked, "intruders?"

"Shush! Shush!" Darzee tried to keep her quiet, "Don't let them see and hear us! What if they have sticks and guns with them? We should leave now. This is their problem, not ours!"

"Their problem, Darzee?" Darzee's wife was not happy, "this is everyone's garden now. Everyone should take turns to protect this place, not just Rikki!"

Darzee's wife insisted on staying on the tree. Darzee had no choice but to sit there with her.

Nanny ran back to the bungalow to fetch Teddy. When she was back, she held Teddy's little chubby hand in her hand. Rikki followed her all the way just to make sure Teddy was safe. The old lady came forward and was about to hug Teddy, before letting out a shriek. She saw Rikki and was shocked by the sight of him. 

"My dear! What beast is that?" She asked loudly, "such an ugly cat, yet looks more like a rat! What is it? Why is it here in the bungalow?"

Rikki was clearly not pleased by the old lady's words.

"Oh, madam," said nanny, "that's not a cat. It's not a rat either. It's called a mongoose"

"A mongoose? I have never seen or heard such thing in England!" old lady exclaimed.

"Yes, that's true, ma'am," replied nanny, "there's no mongoose in England. But there're mongooses everywhere in India."

"Everywhere in India!" old lady exclaimed again. She began fanning herself with a small silk handkerchief, "oh! This is horrible, horrible! Beasts everywhere, the weather is not pleasant either! Too hot and humid, unbearable! I must not stay here for long. The weather is so bad (worse than London's?). This is such a wild and dangerous place. No wonder sweet little Teddy and poor Emma become like this!"

"He's not harmful at all, ma'am. He's Teddy's friend. He won't hurt anybody here."

"Yes, grand aunty," Teddy pleaded, "let him stay with me. He's my friend!"

"Oh, sweet Teddy, let great aunty hug you," said the old lady, who hugged Teddy and kissed his forehead. "You never know, dear. Those wild beasts are untameable, in my opinion. But let's not talk about this distressing matter right now. How's your mother? I can't wait to see her. Poor Emma, she must be heart broken!"

Upon hearing Great Aunty mentioning Teddy's mother, nanny's face went pale. She whispered to Great Aunty, whose face turned even whiter.