The Winter Mystery

The Winter Mystery

There was a knock on the door. A misty afternoon as it was snowing a, bit. Tina a, dark haired slim person as she was opened the door. The postman had, dropped a envelope and as she bend town to pick it up her mother asked whose it " Its nothing just a, mail and its, from granny she has invited us to stay with her for the winter holidays. " As, she went inside and closed the door. Her mother was, setting down tea cups on the table. " At this time as you like tea, so i made some " she said. " Yes that was nice of you i have to call up Erica too and ask her to come along " Tina, said rushing towards the phone. " First have your tea, or it will get cold Tina. " " And pack lots of clothes warm ones as its going to be too cold there " her mother said. " And by the way one of a, distant cousin called Josie is, there it says in the letter so there is going to be company and a new stable horse named storm granny has brought which we can ride " Tina read from the letter. As she called her friend Erica. It was coming engage for a moment. Then Erica picked up saying " you wont believe what i heard our teacher who used to teach us english lessons hes having an affair with one of his students " she said. " It was long back why are you interested in all this gossips. Instead hear what i have to say. My grandmother has invited you and, me to her house in the countryside for rhe winter " Tina, said. " That would be lovely " Erica screeched. " Dont scream i can hear you " Tina replied her.

So she kept the phone down. From

behind her mother said to her to help her a, little in the garden." The flowers have all come in bloom and lots of wild, shrubbery has, grown so we need to cut it " her mother said. " Okay i am joining you in a bit after i call Tom up and ask him as to whether hes joining us, in there and how the colouring of the, car has, come u " Tina, replied. " Now, why you had tp et te car get spray painted its colour is, pretty fine " Tinas, mother said. " Oh no i wanted it to get coloured in silver colour. Was getting a bored with its, maroon one so and Tom himself said, that he has started a car colouring workshop so i thought why not " Tona, said. " Whatever now hurry up and get in the garden and then later you can go and get your bags packed up. You can do some winter shopping too with Erica, " her mother said. After work in the backyard was, done Tina, went to her room to get some, packimg done. And then in evening she was thinking of buying that green sweater with Erica. But though she was feeling happy about this, trip a sense of mystery came to her about it. In evening in the twilight both she and Erica went first to Toms, garage and took her car. " Really its, looking brand new in its silver paint you did, a good job at it " Tina, exclaimed. " Ofcourse i would " Tom said. He was, a, tall lanky guy with his, long hair done in a, ponytail and one earring stud in his, left ear. Erica, had a crush on him but e, seemed to like Tina, more. " So as you already know we are going to my grannys, place so would you be joining us, therr. She has, got this new horse. And as i know you like horseback riding so you can have fun riding the horse " Tina said. All the while Rica, was, standing quietly by Tinas, side chewing a, gum which was, her habit. She said " yes Tom will surely come i think so. " " Yes, ofcourse i will come and give you both a, visit there its my pleasure " Tom told. Tina was, wearing a yellow and grey dress. A flower pattern given to her by her granny on her last birthday. The sky was filling with heavy clouds and it looked like it would snow more tonight. " Lets hurry back dont want to get caught in a heavy snow storm " Erica, said as Tom agreed with them.

They left from the garage. It was snowing heavily now and the sky looked as, dark as the night. Tina, was, driving the car. The wipers were not doing a good job and she couldnt even see properly her car glass was dripping with snow. She halted the carvon the side of the road and lighted a, cigarette and started to smoke. Erica was, beside her she too joined her. " Now what are we going to do the road is, almost blocked with snow and if we dont reach home fast then we, are going to get stuck here. For the night " Erica, said. " And we are in the woody areas too and soon its going to become late in the night too " Tess replied. She started the car but it wasnt starting. " Now we are really stuck here the car wont start. Wait i will call up my mother " Tina, said, and, took her mobile out. It was showing no signal. " Mine too showing no network now what. Lock the door " Erica said. " Can we, walk " Tina suggested. " What are you saying its, a, storm outside. Quietly sit inside and wait for some car to pass but even that not such a, good idea " Erica told. " Yes " Tina, said snubbing off her cigarette.

The smoke of cigarette filled in the car. Erica opened the window to let some fresh air in. " What are you doing " Tina said. " Ofcourse we cant sit in the car with all car windows closed " Erica, replied. " Lets take a, snooze now as i dont see any car bypassing from here " Tina said lighting another cigarette. And drinking coldrink from a, can. " Maybe they all heard on the radio weaher report of a, snowstorm and stayed at home only. We in our excitement of going to your granny for the winter holidays forgot to hear the news, " Erica was, saying. Freezing air was blowing. Erica, was shivering as she removed her earphones to listn to some music. Tina took another sip from her soda can. After sometime they dized off to sleep as it was becoming late in the night. A tap on the window woke Tina, up jerkily. " Whose it " she said. And was taken aback by seeing a, long haired, mans, face, outside. As, she slowly opened the car window he, asked " can i help you as it seems your car has broken down. " Erica too got up and gsve a signal to not to accept his help. Tina, listened to her. And ignored him. Erica lowered the window a little and asked him " do you have some rope with which you can tow our car " to which he replied " its fine if you dont want a, hike i thought some accident had happened with you " he said and drove off. Tina, said to Erica angrily " now look what you did out of the blues we got a chance of some, help and that too you ignored. Now sit here till dont know, when. " " What if he was a killer or something " Erica suggestedd. " He seemed pretty fine to me and you stop reading so much of books, on such topics ' Tina said. From a distance siren of a police van could be heard. " Now i think we can get out of here you heard that " Tina said happily. A cop got out after halting his car and asked them what was, thrir problem. After they explained him he said " dont worry i will tow you its not good to be stuck outin the snow like this. As its going to snow more heavily in the night " he said. " That was, really a, good thing that cop riding from this isolated road " Erica, said gleefully. " Yes really i thought we, would be stuck here till the whole night only " Tina said opening her car window more now.

The smoke of cigarette filled in the 6car. Erica opened the window to let some fresh air in. " What are you doing " Tina said. " Ofcourse we cant sit in the car with all car windows closed " Erica, replied. " Lets take a, snooze now as i dont see any car bypassing from here " Tina said lighting another cigarette. And drinking coldrink from a, can. " Maybe they all heard on the radio weaher report of a, snowstorm and stayed at home only. We in our excitement of going to your granny for the winter holidays forgot to hear the news, " Erica was, saying.

Freezing air was blowing. Erica, was shivering as she removed her earphones to liste to some music. Tina took another sip from her soda can. After sometime they dized off to sleep as it was becoming late in the night. A tap on the window woke Tina, up jerkily. " Whose it " she said. And was taken aback by seeing a, long haired, mans, face, outside. As, she slowly opened the car window he, asked " can i help you as it seems your car has broken down. " Erica too got up and gsve a signal to not to accept his help. Tina, listened to her. And ignored him. Erica lowered the window a little and asked him " do you have some rope with which you can tow our car " to which he replied " its fine if you dont want a, hike i thought some accident had happened with you " he said and drove off. Tina, said to Erica angrily " now look what you did out of the blues we got a chance of some, help and that too you ignored. Now sit here till dont know, when. " " What if he was a killer or something " Erica suggestedd. " He seemed pretty fine to me and you stop reading so much of books, on such topics ' Tina said. From a distance siren of a police van could be heard. " Now i think we can get out of here you heard that " Tina said happily. A cop got out after halting his car and asked them what was, thrir problem. After they explained him he said " dont worry i will tow you its not good to be stuck outin the snow like this. As its going to snow more heavily in the night " he said. " That was, really a, good thing that cop riding from this isolated road " Erica, said gleefully. " Yes really i thought we, would be stuck here till the whole night only " Tina said opening her car window more now. The police man towed their car. Snow was turning into a blizzard. Half an hour went by as Tina, said " now i am going home and just sleeping. You better go to sleep too as, we are going tomorrow to grannys house and packing still i have to do. " Erica said " no problem there i always pack light. " The cop as, he left them at their house told them to be careful. Tinas mother was, sitting in the hall and as, she entered said " its, snowing so heavily where you were the whole midnight " as, Tina explained her all of it.

Her mother was, relieved. To hear that they got help on the way. " Now you better go to sleep as you have a long trip. And did you ate something or not " Tinas, mother asked. " Its, fine we had some thing to eat in a, restaurant on the way before our car got stuck in the snow " Tina, replied and went upstairs to her room. She was, feeling so tired so as she was laying down to go to sleep a very chill breeze blew in from the open window. It was, a full moon night.

And dark clouds, were, around it. As she slept. In middle of the night she woke up to a, weird dream. Tina, saw in her nightmare that at hwr grannys, place a burglar had broke into their house and so they had bolted themselves in the upstairs attic. Where he was trying to break in through the slanting attic windows with a, saw. Tina was, sweating all over and has, goosebumps all over. " It seemed so real not at all like a, dream " she said and when she fell back asleep she didnt knew.

The next morning. When she woke up it was snowing like an avalanche. Her mother said " are you sure you will make this, trip today. " Tina, replied " ofcourse i dont mind the snow, and the soon we, get on our way the sooner we, will reach. And, Erica, should be on her way now why is it taking her, so long she will sure, get us, late, like always. " As the doorbell rang Tina, ran to answer it. And as expected it was Erica with her luggage a, small bag. " Lets go we, shoukd, start te driving soon if we have to reach before nightfall " Tina, said. " Wait up what about your breakfast you havent had, any " Tinas, mother said. " On the way somewhere we will have it ok but that coffee i will drink up " Tina, said rushing towards the table and grabbing the cup.

On their way as, they were, driving. " Guess what i brought with me, " Erica, asked and, removed a camera from her purse. " Whats, new, about that " Tina said. " So that i can take some, nice pictures, of us, riding your grannys, horse what else " Erica, said. Erica took a picture of the countryside. It was late in the afternoon. " Do you think we will reach before night because the snow looks, quite heavy " Erica asked. With her curly air and blue eyes Erica always doubted things. " If you help me with this driving we will now its your turn you drive " Tina said. Soon the rural side took turn into a forest road as Erica took the wheel and Tina slept. Erica felt like they were the only one driving. For miles no one was around. And she hoped they reached quick before the car fuel ended because there didnt seemed to be any petrol pump in sight.

A crescent moon could be seen up in front surrounded by dark clouds. Soon they reached. Tinas grannys cottage was surrounded by rose bushes of light pink colour and an iron rusty gate was in front.Around the cottage all wild forest was there and no other house was near for miles. Erica, saw that Tinas granny lived all alone in this wilderness. Sure, it was a, good holiday spot for adventure. Wouldn't it be lovely to go hiking in the woods one day. Erica, parked the car out and, woke up Tina, who was still asleep. As, she saw in her wristwatch it was 11 30 in the night and nearby the sound of a, owl hooting could be heard. Tina, woke up and exclaimed " so we are here come lets, get inside fast im shivering. " " My hands, are all cold inspite of driving " Erica complained. The iron gate was open so they pushed inside and went in. Some wild shrubs had overgrown and scratched their knees as they walked. They rang the doorbell. Twice but no one answered. " She must be fast asleep ofcourse now " Tina, said. And they waited. The door opened a woman in a tight bun was standing in front of them. " So you are Tina yes your grandmother had told me about you that you would be coming was it a hard drive in that snow " the woman said letting them in. Inside a huge fireplace was there lighted and the curtains drawn on the windows. A lamp was also on and on a big chair a furry cat was sitting. It jumped on them hissing and tried to scratch their legs. " Here come here Tappy " the maid said. " I didnt knew granny had a, cat " Tina, said. " As ypur granny is,asleep should i wake her up till you have dinner " maid asked. " Nothing much just something like soup will do we just want to go asleep now full day were driving and dont wake her up , tomorrow in morning we will meet her " Tina said. " Okay so you sit down and i will go in the kitchen and get you some thing " maid said going inside as the cat followed her. She led the table after few minutes and hurriedly they ate and soon went to an upstairs room showed to them by the maid. " I didn't knew there was an attic too " Erica said. " Its not an attic its a upstairs room ! " Tina replied as they went inside the room and kept their luggage besides the bed. " No i mean i thought it was just a ground floor cottage " Erica said as she went to open the wall to ceiling window which overlooked the forest. " I feel like laughing look at the size of the window there is a balcony too we can sit here and have tea seeing all of this beautiful forests and their hidden mysterys and lurking wilderness " Erica, exclaimed. " Close it that window you are letting in all the snow Erica. in sunshine tommorrow we will sit their with granny " Tina, said. " And look in this, darkness i cant make out but i think its, a shed and see that is horses sound isnt it " Erica turned to say to Tina but she was again fast asleep. " Even i will go asleep too " Erica, said and closed the window.

In middle of the night. Tina woke up to the sound of a wolf howling. She got up and went towards the balcony and looked below and there was a, wolfish type of dog or maybe a wolf only who was standing just below their window. She thought it strange and went to sleep. In morning they were woken up to the door knocking. It was their grandmother she had come to meet them eagerly. " So dear you atlast came inspite of it snowing so much. And is that your friend Erica who you always talk about. Come downstairs breakfast is ready

especially made for you by my maid " Tinas granny said.. Quickly they both got ready and went down. In the kitchen sunlight was coming. As they ate their break fast with coffee served by the maid. Tinas granny said " and as it has slowed down with snowing now come with me i will introduce you to a horse trainer i have hired and my new horse named Storm. " " Sure we would like to go horse back riding in this woody areas " both Tina and Erica, echoed. Suddenly a man entered the room and both of them looked at him in surprise. He was so good looking. " This is Zack, he will show you how to do horse riding. Meet them both she is Tina and er friend i told you about them " her granny said. " Oh yes it will be fun to teach them " Zack replied. " And yes very nice meeting you both " he added. Both of them hurried. With the breakfast and changed their dress to a more of a horse riding one and went outside to the stable. The weather outside was frosty inspite of the sunlight. Zack was waiting for them outside and showed them the horse. It was black in grey in colour and was a real beauty to behold. " He really seems, to be friendly with you " Tina, said as the horse was listening to everything that Zack told it.

Tina was very eager. To ride the horse through the mountain side. " Fast lets go horse back riding its such a nice day the snow too has stopped falling " Erica said to Zack. " No problem both of you climb on it and i will follow you with an other my horse " Zack said. " You have an other horse " Tina asked. " Yes its, my own horse named Blueluelight " Zack replied bringing out a, chestnut colored horse from the shed. The sky became cloudy. Impending a snow fall. " It looks like its going to snow heavily. Shall we go on a horse back ride or go inside the house " Tina asked. Zack replied " I think we keep our horse riding for some other day maybe. tomorrow now you go inside. "

So they went inside. The house as their grand mother was coming out. " Whats with you people why arent you going horse back riding. Dont be afraid Storm is a, well behaved horse. " " Its not that Zack said its going o snow so we cancelled it " Tina replied. And they went inside. Their granny stayed with Zack talking with him about the horse. " So tomorrow you can take the girls for a, ride. As i heard on the news on the radio that it will be a sunny day and this snow will decrease " Tinas grandmother said. Zack replied " sure i will be be along with them with my horse. The girls, are eager to learn too to ride. "

As they went inside the cottage. The maid was feeding the cat. " So what happened to your plans about riding in the forest " she asked. " Will wait till evening if it slows down with snow fall we will go or we are in only for today " Tina, said. Eica went and sat near the fireplace and asked Tinas granny " so is there anything we can do. For today to while away our time. " I will call up my neighbor friend to come over here with his son or we can go over there " Tinas, granny mrs Bluer said. " Where is, she because i dont see any house in the vicinity. Its, all woods here " Tina, asked. " She stays one kilometre away from here in our car we, can if its in working condition " Mrs, Bluer said. Yes its running as last week only we brought it from garage " the maid said. " Or we can take our car too " Tina suggested as Zack entered the room.

The cat jumped at him. Zack moved back as it came towards him. " Quite a wild cat you have got over here " he said. " Dont worry Tappy will soon become friendly with you sooner then you think " Mrs Bluer said. " Till then you better stay away from it " Tina, said. Tina took the cat away. The maid brought them some lemonade and they drank it. Zack said " so you are going to your friends house so you want me to drive the car for you. " " No need Tina, likes driving she will do it "Mrs Bluer said. And added that " lets hurry up now its a one hour drive and if we have to reach by afternoon then we should move on now. So they quickly went in the car and reached her grannys house. Mrs Bluers friend was watering the shrubs as the parked outside a, small house. She said " i was getting so bored nice you came with your grand daughter isnt she. " " They couldn't go for horse riding because of the snow so i said, lets make a, long awaited visit to you " Mrs, Bluer said. " Yes, fast come on in its, very cold outside. Lets, play some game too. My nephew is, also there " Mrs, Bluers friend Joyce said. And they entered the house. She had baked some cake and her nephew a, green eyed guy was sitting. He got up as they entered. Joyce introduced them and told them to sit down. " I have made vanilla cake a, perfect day you chose to come. Leopold chat with them entertain them. Tell them about your trips to France and that hiking you took in the Arizona forest and had a ghostly incident whike camping in the night " Joyce said. " Sure not only that i suggest we go camping here in this forest itself with you people " Leopold said. " Granny will love accompanying us too " Tina, said. Erica, was observing some novels on a book shelf. Mrs Bluer replied " you people go i cant bear this cold of the wilderness too much for my bones. "

Leopold asked them if they drink. As, he himself was drinking. Tina, said " Maybe just one quarter of a glass will be okay by the way what are you drinking. " " Its scotch it will do some good to you in this bitter cold. Here have some. My aunt and i always share drinks at this time of the year " Leopold replied. Erica who was all the while quiet said " i reallywould like some of it. " Joyce told Leopard to give some to Mrs Bluer too. All of them took a drink as Joyce removed a truth and dare games idea. " I suggest you sleepover here your maid is, there to take care of your cat there and its snowing too heavily now too. And its better you dont drive on such a night. " So they stayed the night over. As it was, decided so. Leopold said " so shall we start with the game or not. " Tina said " little bit we can play but after that we would rather sleep as im feeling quite tired after that drive. " Her grandmother said " its snowing so heavily i think we rather all retire for the day now. "

Erica thought it was a good idea to play. A little bit and then sleep. Joyce said " So starting with you Tina what did you do anything which was wild. " Tina said " once i smoked a weed. " " Okay moving on to Erica " Leoplold said. Erica replied that she dated two guys. When Mrs, Bluers turn came she, said that she used to feed her cat only milk. " But i dont think that this, is intresting enough for a, truths, game " she said. " Well as, on for dare is, concerned i will take it as i used to smoke cigarettes much but i have decreased now so shall i dance as, a, dare because i am a, very bad dancer " Leopold, said. " No please dont dance its, allright with us lets, just go to sleep now " Joyce said.