Getting the Mail

It was a crisp sunny morning, as Jim walked outside and down his driveway to collect his mail, left inside his mailbox. Across the street, neighborhood kids were gathered together looking at an old shabby house. Making his way towards them Jim wondered what was wrong.

“What’s the matter, kids?” Jim asks.

“Cody hit our baseball over the fence. The Witch took it. now it’s gone forever.” A kid moaned “I did not!” Cody argued. “ Mister, can you get us back our ball? Just don’t let the Witch get you.”

“Who?” Jim asked, confused.

“An old lady grabs kids and pulls them inside if they get too close.” Another kid states.

Jim tells the kids that he will retrieve their ball and bring it back, safely. Making his way past the broken gate, he examines the exterior of the house. It was rundown with pieces of the siding chipped or completely ripped off. There’s tiles missing from the roof and the front yard is overgrown and unkempt. But, Jim still wasn’t sure if anyone was still living inside, as he approaches the door and knocks.

“Hello, I’m here about a ball that you found.” A second knock causes the door to nudge open as if it wasn’t closed all the way. Jim looked at the kids, who stared right back, mouths agape and dumbfounded.

Feeling a slight bit scared himself, Jim gulped hard and went inside the house, closing the door behind him.