The Tree House Mystery

Chapter 3

I stroll down the lane to my house, which is almost at the end of it. My bag is heavy today, and my shoulders are beginning to ache--it's a quite long walk from school to my home, which I take alone everyday, and have taken since I joined this school.

I'm absorbed in thoughts of astronomy class today, when someone calls out from behind me.

"Ashlee!! Wait for me!!"

I turn around and watch as Ned(yes it's him alright, but where did he come from now?) comes running toward me, and stops beside me, bending over to catch his breath.

"Um...Hi." I say, startled at his sudden appearance.

He stands up straight now, grins at me(again!) and says, "Hi!"

I start walking, and he falls into step with me.

"So, do you live nearby?" I ask him.

"Right. You do, too?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm....." He's really quiet now, exactly opposite from the way he was in school.

"Never seen you around here before..." I try to get him talking. Believe me, it's really awkward when someone is walking beside you, and not saying a word!

"I came here just a day before yesterday, so of course you didn't."

"Hmm....."

I stop when I reach my home, point toward it with my thumb, and say, "This is my home. See you tomorrow at school, then."

"Oh. Yes, okay. See you then. Bye." Ned seems distracted. He starts walking ahead on the lane, without waiting for a reply.  After thinking for a moment, instead of entering the front gate of my house, I call him.

"Ned? Stop." I catch up to him--he hasn't gotten very far from my home.

"Yes Ashlee?"

"Is anything wrong? What happened? You seem...distracted."

He looks up at me, and a slight smile comes on his lips.

"Thanks for asking. But there's nothing wrong, I'm completely okay--"

"I can see it on your face--tell me, what is it? I'd love to be of help to you, after all, you were by my side the whole day, helping me out with so many problems...Please, don't hesitate."

"Umm...well...okay. I'll not hide anything from you, either, because you became my guide and friend on my first day at a new school, and I'm grateful to you for that."

I blush a little, then say, "Spill it."

"Okay, okay. I'll tell you, but first, I need to show you something, so that you believe me, when I actually tell you about it."

I look at him quizzically, and wonder what he's talking about. But I have no time to think carefully, as he suddenly holds my hand and drags me along with him to a house a few metres down the lane.

He opens the latch to the smaller front gate, and we step onto a stone path going through a tiny yet beautiful, well-kept garden, full of greenery. As we reach the front door of the house, Ned takes out a key from his jeans pocket, and unlocks the door. Opening it wide, he steps inside, and says, "Welcome to my home, Ms. Ashlee!" with his characteristic grin.

"Uh...thank you, Mr. Ned?" I say, and enter his house. It's really beautiful--most of the furniture is wooden, there's a big glass door in place of one wall which opens into the garden, at the backside of the house, and the living room's looking so simple and pretty! There is a sofa set, a TV, a bookshelf, a small desk at one corner of the room, and there's ample space overall.

Ned laughs, shuts the door behind me, and faces me before saying, "So, what would you like to eat?"

"If I remember correctly, we are here 'cause you need to show me something?"

"You have a really good memory, Ms. Ashlee. Sure I will, but first, I'm very hungry, and you must be too, I guess? So let's stock up on some food before going on the adventure."

"Huh?? Adventure? What exactly are you talking about?"

"Wait!! Have patience, if you want to know why I was worried. Let's first fill our stomachs. Would you like a pizza?"

"Um...sure. Sounds good, actually."

Ned dumps his bag on the sofa, then proceeds to the kitchen, which is visible from the drawing room. I call out to him, "Ned? Can I have your phone for a minute? I need to call my Mom to tell her I'm here,  else she'll be worried."

"Of course, check that small table over there, near the bookshelf, you'll find what you're looking for." He replies from the kitchen.

I walk over to the table he describes, and sure enough, there is a landline phone there, which is kind of rare and antique nowadays. I like old and antique things a lot, so I'm quite impressed with it.

After I make my call and inform Mom that I'm at a friend's house nearby(and give her the address she asks for, so that she can come to the house to pick me up herself--even though my house is walking distance from here), the smell of cheesy, delicious pizza wafts in the living room, and I realize I'm pretty hungry indeed!!

Just then, Ned appears from the kitchen, holding a tray with two pizzas, and keeps it on the table.

"Ready for the attack?" He asks playfully.

"I'm coming!" I say, and we both plop down on a sofa, and gorge on the cheesy, creamy, pizza, till it's totally vanished from our hands and we're licking our fingers! It was the best pizza I'd had in quite a while.

"Whoa, Ned! Really, you cook well!" I compliment him on his culinary skills.

"Thanks, though there are only a handful of things I can make, which includes pizza, so I'm not even such a good cook, after all."

"Of course you are! It was so tasty...I can just imagine how well you'd make other dishes if you learn all of them."

"Well, thank you." He says shyly, then proceeds to pick up the tray and put it in the dishwasher.

"Now shall we go?" He says, reappearing from the kitchen, wiping his wet hands on a towel.

"Um, what?....Oh! I almost completely forgot what I was here for!! Let's go."

After the melt-in-the-mouth pizza, I feel like sleeping on a comfortable bed, but Ned reminds me of our impending "adventure", as he calls it. Whatever "it" means, that is.

Both of us move out of the house, Ned locking the door behind him, and we are on our way. To where, only Ned knows.

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↑ This sign indicates start of author's note. ◘ →This will mean end of author's note. (just to clarify)

So, how do you like the story so far? I won't be writing looooooooong author's notes, but please do read them every time I do write one.

BTW the pic above the chapter is how I'd imagine Ned's house to be like. And the one in the middle, is the path to his house, surrounded by the garden I described. As always, pic not owned by me.(first pic edited on 03/03/17)

And, though I don't think it needs to be said, but anyway, PLEASE vote and comment! I'd be really grateful to all who do. :) Thank you to all in advance, for reading the chapter/story so far!! Hope I haven't disappointed you. ☺

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