The Forest Cottage

The Forest Cottage

1 

It was a cloudy day.  On a windy road with the sky overcast with dark clouds impending a heavy rainfall.  Clara, a teenager who had straight brown hair and lovely eyes was going with her family to their new house they had bought in the woody areas.  Her father was a engineer and he had decided to move into this new place the estate agent had been boasting about.  Her mother was sitting in front.  She was a nurse. And her small ten year old brother Tony. " " You know the estate agent was saying that the house has a view of the lake from the back " her father said.  " I am more interested in making new friends in that new college " Clara said.

They arrived at the cottage. It was a one storeyed cottage wooden with a balcony and verandah. There were some lily shrubs around it.  Tony her brother ran out towards the foresty side.  " Dont go there ,come here Tony " their mother shouted. As Clara was, alighting from the car she saw some movement at the window.  " Father l saw someone at the window. A man he was standing there " Clara said.  " Of course dont be a fool.  The main door is locked. Its uninhabited. You are imagining lets go inside " her father said.  Clara felt a shiver run down her inspite of the jacket she was wearing. " You  sure no one stays here " Clara asked. " Its giving me the creeps " Clara said. " You will get used to it. I think it is nice and was quite a, deal " their  father Mr Cary said. From inside it was dark with not much sunlight coming inside as Clara, said " the weather inside matches the weather outside. " " A few cheery curtains and its all ready to go " Mr Clint said. Their mother Mrs  Nancy said " now you both go up to ur room with your luggage.  "

They had dinner at night. Claras mother had made some soup broth. All of their things were adjusted to teir places.  In night Clara was, sleeping. Outside the moon was half full and a, few, drizzle of rain wss fallimg. She went towards the window and looked down. The woods, were, all dark in the night. Suddenly she saw something. It was, a, man in a hood. He was standing outside their porch.  Still like a statue.  And had something in his hands. Clara felt frozen.  That man whoever he was, knew tha they had just arrived oday.  He must be a burglar. Clara quickly closed the window and went back to sleep.  " I think i should tell my parents now about it or let itbe tomorrow only i will let them know " she decided and went back to sleep. 

Next day as she was getting ready to go her new college. Her father said " that light blue jeans and white shirt is looking nice on you. Hope you slept better.  We were so tired.  Didnt knew when we slept " over breakfast. Mrs Nancy their mother was making coffee. " I wanted to tell you something about yesternight.  I saw a creepy man below our window lurking there you know " Clara, said. " Do not worry , now we are notin the city. This are the woods. So maybe it was someone roaming. But do not go out there alone in the forest at night.  I will do something about putting up new fences their father said. " Really you saw someone.  I am not liking this " Mrs Nancy said. " Now you dont start on this. You have a good first day " their father said. He dropped Clara at her highschool in his car and went ahead in his car.

At the school the nights incident had, freaked Clara, out.  And she was not able to remove it out of her mind.  She met a new girl with curly hair whose name was Greta.  Immediately they became friends.  Greta always, seemed to be cracking some jokes or the other. Clara also met a new guy. He was quite nice looking with light brown hair. The three of them ate together in the canteen. His name was Joy.  He told that he was going to participate in the college swimming championship. " So you like to swim " asked Clara. " Last year he won a, medal in his old college " Greta said. " So hows ur cottage " asked Greta.  " Its cozy but the next house is quite far and in between its all the forests. So it's kind of different from the city life. You know what I mean " Clara said.  " This weekend Greta and I will come to your house. And we will see some movies together and play some game " Joy suggested. " That would be nice ofcourse. My parents will be happy to know that i have made some new friends.  They will like meeting you people " Clara said.  " So then this saturday i will pick up Greta and we both will drop at your place " Joy said. Clara liked the way he was so friendly. 

After Clara returned from college.  Her mother was preparing some dish. And Tony was sprawled on the floor playing with his toys.  " Where is spotty " Clara, asked.  Spotty wss their pet dog. " He has gone out i think to play. He was just here " Mrs Nancy said. " He shouldnt venture out too far in the woods. Mother are you sure there are no wild animals there " Clara said.  " I dont know dear.  Go out and see if Spotty is in the porch. " Clara went out and started searching for Spotty but he was nowhere to be found. Outside the air suddenly became very chill.  And she started shivering. She ran back home and said that Spotty was nowhere to be found. Mrs Nancy said " he was right here in the storeroom.  " 

At night again as Clara was lying on the couch and reading her homework. She was sure that someone was outside the window tapping on it. A movement of the branches and there was no wind to speak of. " I did locked that window " she was wondering. When there wss, a knock on her doot.  It was her mother.  " Your friends have come.  Joy and Greta they say " Mrs, Nancy said.  " I just forgot only that they were going to come this weekend " Clara got up to go downstairs. " No need they already are coming up. I told them so " her mother said and went.  " Joy and Greta entered. " Hey see what i bought some slasher films for the night " Joy said. And i bought a, poker game " Greta said. " Would you people like some coke " mrs Nancy asked. " Yes " Clara told. 

" Before you people came there was someone at the window. He was, trying to get inside. " Clara told them. Joy went towards the window and checked. " Theres no one here. Hey there is something. A sock,  mens its hanging from the tree branch here " Joy said showing them a, sock in his hand.  " It must be of some burglar or that man i saw under my wondow.  He knew i saw him.  As he saw you people coming he ran away.  " You should tell your mother immediately " Greta said with concern. " I told them they said it must be just random weirdo lurking around " Clara told them.  " Your parents said that!  " Joy was surprised. He really looks, nice the way his eyes crinkle Clara noticed. 

They started playing that poker game. And decided to watch the movie later. " This is my favorite movie " Joy said. " Its 2 am in the night how will you people return he " Clara asked after the movie was finished.  " in my car we will go " Joy said.  " But its not safe.  You can obviously sleep here for the night " Clara suggested.  " My parents will say the same thing see " Clara said.  " Okay so where i sleep on that couch below " Joy asked.  " Yes its big you can sleep comfortably. And you Greta sleep herr or Joy you sleep in Tonys room " Clara said.  " The couch is fine if you are insisting for us to not drive at night. I will tell my and Gretas mother that we are here Joy said. As he went downstairs. 

Joy went downstairs. To sleep on the couch.  Clara, had given him a maroon blanket in case if he felt cold.  Clara hurried down and told him that  " and yes dont open the door if someone knocks.  " " Of course  I won't " he said.  Later Clara, slept on the bef and beside her Greta. Clara checked the window whether it was locked or not. She remembered how she had almost screamed as the man outside the window was lurking. But by the time as Joy and Greta came and Joy went to check the window he was gone.  Greta said to Clara " i think Joy likes you kind of. "  " Yes he is a, likeable guy " Clara replied. 

As Joy was trying to sleep.  Some one knocked on the door. He got up and went towards the door and did not heed Claras advice and opened it because from  the peephole he couldn't see anything. Bit of a darer as e was.  But no one was outside. He went outside and searched in the trees too if anyone was hiding but no one.  Joy returned back and slept. Next day Joy and Greta had breakfast with Claras family.  Her mother had made pancakes. Then they all together went to college. Joy told them hesitantly about the nights knocking on the door thing. And Clara told about that man outside the window. " Maybe its just some miscreant or some kid pranking around " their mother answered. 

In the college Mr Honer their professor was lecturing them. On the subject of history of ancient America.  Claras favourite subject it was.  Suddenly Mr Honer said " Clara get up and tell something about the native tries culture. There was a, slight snickering at the back. " This is not a joke so no laughing " Mr Honer said. Clara got up and said whatever she had studied. In her homework assignment. " That was well done. You can sit now." Mr Honer said and she sat down.  The day went in a, flurry. In evening her mother told her to paint the one corner of the attic. Clara said okay and went up with the light yellow paint can in her hand. When she went up it was, all dusty there.  And lots of cardboard boxes were strewn all around. Slowly she started work on her painting job. From the corner of her eye as she was paiinting she saw that the attic window was open full wide. Surely it must have been closed.  How it can open like this. Maybe because of the wind. Yesterday there waa rainstorm and gusty winds. Or a chilling thought came to her.  What if it was that man. Surely i do remember hearing some sounds coming from here in the attic and i thought it was some cat or something. Clara ran down and asked her parents.  " Mother the attic window was, all open. Did you open it. " " I did " Tony said as, he was drinking milkshake. " Why did you go up " Clara, asked. " I just went upstairs to play but it was very suffy there so i opened the window " Tony said. Clara heaved a, sigh of relief. " No going upstairs next time but. There are some heavy stuffs lying all around there " their mother said.  " Okay " Tony replied. 

" And you have you finished with the paint " her mother asked. " Yes " Clara said.  " And now i want a nice cup of tea.  " " Okay but after tea if you want you can join in the backyard. I am trying to plant some flower plant there " their mother said.  " It would be lovely. To sit in the greenary and the smell if wet soil " Clara told.  " So you go ahead and have your tea with the cookies i made. Till then i will go in the backyard. It willturn out into a, lovely garden you see.  I am planting magnolias " her mother said. Clara had her tea. In between Greta called her.  " Hey hows it going. I  reading a, new gothic book if you want i will lend it to you tomorrow at college " Greta said.  " Sure why not and i have been looking forward to go into the library too " Clara said. " Now i am going in the garden " she said. When she went to the backyard her mother was watering the plants. " Hey you already done with the magnolias " Clara, asked. " Yes. Just get me that shovel some soil has to be dug here.  As Clara went to pick up the shovel. She screamed.  Her mother came rushing. " What happened " she asked.  " There are some footprints here of a, mans, shoes trailing into the woods. Of course father must have not come here " Clara said.  " No and they seem large too. I have to remind your father to put up those fences here. Not getting a, carpenter too. Ask if Gretas mother knows or Joys " her mother said. " I think someone walks here at night then returns " Clara said. As the evening light became darker.  And a cold wind was blowing. The woods were around them in the shadow of the twilight. A few stars also came up in the sky. " You know what i think maybe we will do a barbeque here. In the night " her mother said.  " But after the fences are done " Clara, said and went inside.

In the night Clara was sitting on the couch. " Lets go outside and do barbeque " their mother said to Clara and her father. " I am not feeling comfortable going out at night. That man tried to break in through the window and the footprints today.  Why you not taking it seriously " Clara said angrily. " Listen you have to get used to such woody areas " her mother said.  " Woody areas!  There's a man prowling there " Clara said. " I think lets just go for the barbeque now. Tomorrow i will find some, carpentar to fix up the fences " Her father said. " Okay but will have to keep looking back if someones sneaking upon us out there " Clara daid. " Dont get so angry nothing will happen lets go outside " her mother said. 

So they went outside for the barbeque. And as they were roasting Joy arrived.  Clara was delighted to see him.  " What a, surprise dear " her mother said.  " I was just driving around so i thought i will drop by.  So you people are having a barbeque " Joy said. 

Joy joined them. Claras mother was roasting. " A, barbeque under the starry skies thats, nice.Mrs Nancy i will help you in it " Joy said. As Clara arranged the chairs. For them to sit. " Such a nice boy yoy are.  I am really glad you came here " Mrs Nancy said. They all sat on the chairs, and ate. There was pineapple juice too. The weather was windy. " It looks, like as, if a heavy rainfall is coming. Are there wild animals out there in the woods. A wolf or such " asked Claras father to Joy. " Maybe i am not sure.  So you should not venture too far " Joy said. A howl from very far off could be heard. " Lets go inside and eat " Tony said. " Dont be afraid.  Its far he wont come here " Mrs Nancy said.  ".I dont think i can eat anymore with this animal sound " Clara, said. " Clara its okay those, animals, dont come outside the woods " Joy said.  " But what about prowling people " Clara, asked.  " You mean that weirdo creepy guy who is, wandering here " Claras father asked.  " ofcourse I am talking about him only.  You people are taking this very lightly. What if he breaks into the house and do burglary " Clara said. 

Joy got up to go. He gave Clara, a, peck on the cheek and went. They all went inside. " Check out the back door if its locked or not " Claras mother said.  Clara, went to check and saw that it was open. She bolted it and went up to her bedroom. After she went to sleep.  In night she heard some sceatching sound. Clara thought maybe it was the tree branches.  Then she heard it clearly someone was knocking mildly on her window. Of course this wasnt because of the tree branches swayingin the wind. Then Clara turned and a silhouette of a, man could be seen from outside the window. Clara, felt chilled. Clara screamed. Her parents came rushing up. " Now did you have some nightmare " her mother asked.  " A man he, was outside the window " Clara, said. " No ones here " her father said checking. " Close the window dont open it " Clara said. " I think it was maybe a nightmare " Mrs, Nancy said. " Why dont you go and sleep with yout mother " her father said. " No i am fine my sleeping in other room is not going to solve the problem " Clara decided and went.

Clara made coffee in the morning. And then went out in the garden. " Maybe Joy and Greta can come with a, hiking trail or camping here in the forest. Two days holidays we have got here. It so cool out here. And it would even be cooler in the woods " Clara was thinking.