Outsmarting His Fears

Chapter 3 - The Party

Sitting in their limousine, Francis and Peter Morton were still talking in hushed tones, so their mother wouldn't hear what they were saying. It wouldn't have changed much, as their tall nurse and their opulent mother was also whispering away. Only their driver seemed tranquil and unconcerned, he was just there to drive. It was only at the end of the long drive that the four looked up and started chatting away excitedly about the year before and wondering if this years' party would be as much of a success. As if on cue, the rain stopped and the magnificent sun quickly took over, pushing away the dark clouds.

When they arrived at the mansion, the driver opened the door and they all filed out, with the twins' mother leading. The twins seemed to have made their appearance look even more perfectly matching than usual, they looked absolutely identical. Walking up the big marble staircase, with the twins looking around in awe at all the rainbow-colored stands, Mrs. Henne-Falcon, the hostess came out with a huge smile on her long pallid face, greeting them while shaking all of their hands in turn.

'Welcome! We were waiting for you! You've even brought the sun with you! Wonderful! Come in, come in!' They walked in through the overly large wooden doors and were instantly greeted by all the other guests who seemed as happy to see them as Mrs. Henne-Falcon. They spotted both close-acquaintances and rather distant ones. Francis turned a mixture of white and red when he spotted the 2 girls in the middle of the group of the older kids. Mabel and Joyce were there waving at them, smiling in their own snotty way. Francis ducked behind his brother, the only person there who he fully trusted. His mother had left with the other adults and the nurse was nowhere to be seen.

'Come-on Francis, let's go get some punch!' said, Peter. They both walked to the buffet, where others were crowded around the table. They were joined by Mabel and Joyce, who started a conversation.

'So! Are you guys ready for the game of hide and seek this year? I hope I get to start as seeker again!' Joyce said cheerfully. Francis' face was now changing from pink to very white.

Peter, once again sensing his brothers' increasing discomfort answered with a tentative smile 'Yes, we are, the Hiders will win this year!'

'We shall see!' Mabel Warren said with a knowing smile, looking straight at Francis.

'Err... I'm going to go look around a bit, Peter, you want to come?' Francis said looking even paler then before if that's possible. Peter looked apologetically at the girls before following Francis. They didn't look around much because at the same moment a tall and lean man cleared his throat.

'Welcome! I will be the master of the ceremony today, and I am in charge of the "sunset games" this year. We shall first have the egg race, then the small games like blind man's buff and spearing apples in basins of water, then we will have sack races, a treasure hunt, prize giving and finally the peak of the night, hide and seek!' The kids cheered and they all ran outside after the tall man.

As planned, Peter and Francis managed to be part of the same team for the egg race and the sack races, and they stuck together for the treasure hunt. They had a lot of fun and were out of breath after each game. The prize ceremony was overlooked by the adults and everyone cheered when Francis was given the prize for "Best all-round player." They had so much fun, they barely saw the time pass and very soon the sun had set and the ambiance was rising as everyone was looking forward to the "final game". Finally, the master of ceremony, cleared his throat, which was rapidly becoming his signature move, and said;

'It is time for hide and seek!'