by Brian Gola (6th)

The autumn trees rustled in the evening wind. Turkeys were spread across tables in the abodes of the residents of Carroll County Pennsylvania. Smoke gushed out of chimneys above the fireplaces. Everything in the town was calm, peaceful, and festive. 

Everything was fine, except the old, but well taken care of Manor. Whistle Manor was abandoned, twenty years before, in 1963, by a family who had committed tax fraud. Now, it was accompanied by a maid and a servant. They took good care of the old Manor. But all would change after the night would end. 

A station wagon pulled into the driveway, a man came out and walked to the door. Two hounds on leashes jerked to the man, the man who reluctantly threw a slob of hame over to the left. He dashed to the right and rang the bell before they could notice. 

Inside, a man in a suit was dusting a very expensive vase, as a radio played early 80’s jazz. He walked over and polished his shoes. After a scene cut, he was seen setting the wooden table for dinner. Then, the bell rang and dogs barked. He walked to the door and opened it. He said, “Hello, Mr. Cougar,” who’s name was now known. 

Mr Cougar said back, “Hello Wadsworth, long time no see,” now Mr Wadsworth, whose name was now known as William, grinned. He said, “Would you like to make yourself comfortable while the other guests arrive.” “Yes of course,” he replied, before he smoked a cigar. 

After Cougar, whose first name was revealed as William, entered the lounge, the bell rang again. 

“Hello,” Mr. Wadsworth said after he opened the door. “Hello,” said a young and attractive woman. “I haven't seen you in a while, Doreen, " said Wadsworth. “Yes, but I like to be called by my last name now, it’s catchy, " she said, chewing on a piece of gum. Call me Mrs Tiger.”

Mr Wadsworth said, “Alright cool cat, would you like to shimmy down to the lounge, dinner will be poppin’ in 15.” “Alright cool chick, see ya,” replied Mrs Tiger. Mr Wadsworth gave her a grin.

(At the lounge)

Mr Cougar smoked a cigar, and the smoke drifted up in the air before it disappeared. He reclined the chair, then heard footsteps. “Doreen” Mr Cougar said, “I haven't seen you in years!” Mrs Tiger  replied, “Jacques, It’s amazing to see you around here, but I actually go by tiger now, I like to be a cool kitty in the ball of yarn that is this world.” “Alright, but it's funny, William invited two of the four college roommates.

(Back at the door)

“Ring,” the doorbell rang, and Wadsworth slowly walked over to answer it. He got to the door, but before he answered it, he polished the vase. He turned the doorknob and opened the door. “Hello Constance!” He said cheerfully, “Long time no see.” “Ahh, William Wadsworth! How gracious of you to invite me for dinner tonight. I can't believe the graduation ceremony at college was the last time we saw each other,” she replied. 

“Would you like to stay in the lounge until our last guest arrives?" he said. Constance, whose last name was Marrion, said, “Sure!” So Mrs. Marrion walked to the lounge in her asymmetrical dress. She opened the door, and in she went.

(Back at the lounge)

(Mrs. Marrion enters) “Constance!” Cried Mr Cougar and Mrs Tiger. “How are you doing after all these years?” Asked Mrs Tiger, forgetting she was trying to be a groovy cat. “Splendid” Replied Mrs Marrion. 

Mr Cougar stood up from the lounge chair he was laying back in. “Isn't it funny that all of us are here after 17 years?”  “Well a little,” Mrs Marrion replied. “Why would our old college roommate, William Wadsworth, invite us?”

Mr Cougar suddenly grew a grim look on his face, “We are forgetting someone.” “Who?” Mrs Tiger replied. “Thomas Faroe, the last roommate.” “Ooh” Mrs Tiger and Mrs Marion both said excitedly. “Well that settles it, the last guest is him”, right as Thomas Faroe walked in with Mr Wadsworth. 

“Thomas!” Mr Cougar shot over to him and gave him a big bear hug. “Hey buddy!,” replied Mr Faroe. “I can't believe I haven't seen you in 17 years!” “Guess what, the last time you saw me was now” replied Mr Cougar. They both chuckled very hard. The two women and Wadsworth gave a funny look at them. 

“Alright,” Mr Wadsworth said after all the guests were situated, “Dinner is ready! Would you like to come in the dining room and join me over some beef stew?” “Of course,” all the guests echoed. “Well come along then!” 

All the guests followed Mr Wadsworth past the vase, but Mr Faroe screeched “I have a clear paper on my hand!” “Let me get that” Mr Wadsworth said and then he rushed out over to the vase and then came back. 

“Alright, here’s the dining room” as he led the guests into the dining room. All the guests sat down and talked while having beef stew. “Well it's awesome to see you all, William, Thomas, Constance, Doreen” “Tiger!” Mrs Tiger interrupted, “Okay Tigar”, said Mr Cougar, “It feels like the old college days.” 

“Well I’m glad I could get you all here tonight,” Mr Wadsworth said, “I’m so joyful.” “Well I am too,” said Mrs Marrion, and everyone echoed here. After that they had cheers, and clinged their wine glasses together.

They ate dinner in the moonlight, chatting and eating delicious beef stew, and drinking world class brandy. They thought about college memories, and talked about how bad Professor Jasoiu was. 

They had a few cigars and a few laughs, and dinner was splendid!  

After that they got up, “How about a chat in the lounge, anyone?” asked Mr Wadsworth. “Me,” echoed everyone. They got up, they entered the lounge, and everyone sat on a lounge chair. They got comfortable. 

“Man, does anyone remember Mr Duran?” asked Mr Faroe. “Ohh, the one who liked cole slaw” said Mrs Marrion. “His whole room was filled with that awful stench. But just then, the lights flickered off for a second, and then back on. “It is awfully windy tonight, I'm sure it's just the power acting up.

“Just then they heard a click, then darkness. The power had been turned off. Then they heard the door open, then close, then, they heard steps fade away. After that, it was silent, the only thing heard was the crickets evening chirping, and the wind brustling the tree.

Then, the door opened, then shut. Then, the lights came back on, and everyone was right at the place they were when the power went out. “What happened?” said Mrs Tiger. Then they rushed to the main entrance. Then they saw what had happened. “Oh!” “What!” “Ahh!” “No!” “Where did it go? Everyone had something to say, the shocking discovery they made was no joke. 

Mr Wadsworths face turned more red than a cherry, he gave an angry look. He said, “Who has stolen the Le Falore, one of the world's most expensive vases!” After that he was at a loss for words. “But- But- How- Why- Wha- But-”

“Alright” Mr Wadsworth said with a loud tone, “We shall split into groups, I will go alone. Tiger, Cougar, your group one. Group two is Faroe and Marrion.” “Okay” was what echoed in the room. “We shall set off for clues,” said Wadsworth.

(Group 1’s search)

“Let's go,” said Tiger. “Alright, we'll take the upstairs,” replied Cougar. They walked up the stairs and they decided they would search the bedroom first. They walked in the hall and searched the floor looking for anything, but by the time they reached the bedroom, they had found nothing.

They entered the bedroom, “I'll take the right, you take the left,” said Mrs Tiger. Mrs Tiger checked all around the bed, nothing. Mr Cougar checked the closet, and in all the suits and dresses, all the socks and dress shoes, nothing.

They went to the bathroom, they checked all over. They checked the toilet and sink. They checked to see if anything was wedged in the pipes. They looked in the vent, and in the shower, the drain, and the soapsuds covering the other sink. 

They went to the laundry room. They checked the dryer, washer, pipes, nothing in all of them. They checked in the clothes basket, every sock, nook, and cranny, nothing. They checked in the laundry sink, in the pipe, the soap bottle, and everything. They found nothing.

They checked in the second study. They looked on the desk, under the desk, the lamp. They checked the drawers, the trash can, and the bookcase, they checked everywhere! They checked the couch and behind the television, they found nothing.

(Group 2’s search)

“Well, let's take the downstairs”, said Mr Faroe, and so they went. First they went to the lounge, then they checked behind the chairs. They checked on the book case, under it, under the chairs, under the couch, and everywhere in the lounge.

Next they checked the dining room, and there was nothing on the table. Nor the candles, nor the chairs, nor the plates. But they finally saw something, and started to get excited. They looked under the red napkin, but it was just a stain.

Next they checked the kitchen. They checked all the pots, the pans, and all the silverware, nothing. The stove, nothing, grill, nothing. They last checked the refrigerator as one last hope, but they found nothing.

Finally, they checked the main entrance, and they looked all around, but then. “Look,” said Mr Faroe in an excited tone, “A little piece of see through paper, and it looks like it has a little fuzz!”

“Wow,” said Mrs Marrion joyfully. 

Mr Wadsworth walked in and said, “I’m sure it's nothing,” then he took it and stuffed it in his pocket. “Well that concludes the search”, said Mrs Marrion. And at the same time, Mrs Tiger and Mr Cougar walked down the stairs, “Nothing,” said Mr Faroe in a confused voice. “Nothing,” said Mrs Tiger. But then, there was a knock on the door.

“This is the police, we are looking for William Wadsworth.” Mr Wadsworth opened the door and said, “Hello!” “Hi, are you William Wadsworth?” “Sure am,” replied Mr Wadsworth. “Can I please talk with you for a minute?” “Sure,” said the police officer. 

Mr Wadsworth and the officer entered the lounge. The group outside heard talking, but they couldn't make out what they said. After a brief moment, they opened the door. The police officer said, “Which one of you is Thomas Faroe?” “I am,” replied Mr Faroe. “Lead me to your car” the officer commanded.

The group followed Mr Faroe to the car, Mr Faroe walked nervously. The leaves fell after they were past the driveway and on the sidewalk. Eventually, they got to Mr Faroe’s green modern station wagon. 

“Pull up your trunk,” said the police officer. Mr Faroe opened his car's trunk, and what they all saw amazed them. It was the Le Falore! “Oh Thomas, it, it, it was you!” said Mrs Tiger. “Now, now, not so fast everyone,” said Mr Cougar. “Why did William call the police and report Thomas Faroe if he didnt know it was him?”

Mr Wadsworth’s face turned red, “You, you put the little slip of paper on Thomas’s hand to forge his fingerprint on the vase,” Mr Cougar continued, “I saw it coming down the stairs, I saw Thomas find the paper you forgot to put on the vase! You took it and acted like it was nothing.” 

The police officer looked at William Wadsworth, “Is this true?” “Yes,” Mr Wadsworth gave an embarrassed look. “Why would you do this William?” said Mrs Marrion. “I wanted to sue Tom for a large sum of money.

The police officer put William in handcuffs, and they drove away. “Good riddens,” said Jacques, “I never really liked him anyways.” “Same,” echoed their voices. They all went inside to celebrate over Brandy. Before they left, they exchanged phone numbers so they could stay in touch.

 

(10 years later)

Epilogue

The 4 members have stayed in touch and had many visits to each other, all their young kids are friends.

The only time William Wadsworth was seen by a group member again, was when Thomas was a Chaperone at his daughters field trip to the jail.