The Mysterious Top Floor By Florence Springle
“ I got that sunshine in my pocket, got that good soul in my feet. Mmm, mmm, ooh!” the radio was blaring as I sang along.“ Just imagine, just imagine, just imagine!” I was driving back from Derrick’ s house after a brilliant weekend away with his family. Derrick is my best mate- we’ ve known each other since primary school and that was a long time ago. I had planned to set off earlier but I couldn’ t escape his motormouth mother. When 6 o’ clock came, I knew I had to go as I had a long night ahead of me.
I’ d been driving for about half an hour or so and I turn onto a single country road, surrounded by tall trees. I could just about imagine little rabbits hiding away in their underground burrows, nice and safe. The road is never ending and I haven’ t passed another car for ages. Come to think about it, I don’ t remember this road from the way here. Has my satnav taken me the scenic route again? It loves getting me lost.
The daylight is starting to fade and my headlights flash on. It’ s dusk already and I’ ve only just set off. My good mood crashes as Monday morning looms so I try to lift my spirits by re-living snapshots from the weekend. As quick as a flash, I’ m back on the London Eye cracking a joke with Derrick and looking forward to an afternoon of sightseeing. That lunch we had was delicious, you can’ t beat a great roast dinner, but cost me an absolute fortune.
Suddenly, the radio stops, my headlights are out and I come to a standstill. I’ m back on the dark, desolate country road. None of the electrics are working. I grab my iPhone and I try to ring for help, but there’ s no signal. It is too far to walk home( I have over 100 miles to go!).
Up on a hill, in the misty distance, I see a huge mansion. It looks creepy but it’ s the only house in sight. I decide to walk over to see if I can use their telephone. I’ m going nowhere in my useless car tonight and there is no passing traffic for me to flag down.
Walking up the long, stoney path towards the house, the sky darkens and the wind starts to gust. All of a sudden it’ s really cold, so I pull the collar of my coat up around my ears. As I get nearer, I search the windows to see if anyone is home. The lights are on right at the top of the house. I see a shadow cross the window of the attic room so I’ m relieved someone’ s home.
I ring the dusty doorbell. Simultaneously, lightning flashes in the distance and the curtains of cloud drew back to reveal a full moon. Under the stone porch, I hear a‘ pat, pat, pat,’ of the rain starting to fall, then quickening footsteps getting nearer and nearer. Someone is coming to answer the door.