by John Wallis
Intermission
I hadn't told Mr Huntington all of this in one go. This was my third or perhaps fourth visit. I would not have continued the story but every time I went to see him he peered from behind that newspaper and asked for what had happened next. Mrs Huntington meanwhile refilled tea, brought out cakes, and kept up that polite smile as much as she could. It didn't disguise her disbelief for one moment. But it was nice of her not to say as much aloud.
Geoff on the other hand initially had seemed the same. But now he would ask for details and for the most part he seemed interested. It's how people are you see. It struck me talking to Geoff that some people never stop believing in the impossible.
“What about the man-bear?” Geoff asked.
It was the first comment he had made this visit. So far he had sat and listened giving only the occasional nod.
I thought about the hotel and for the life of me I couldn't remember where the man bear had gone. I told Geoff as such and he pulled a sour face.
“Did you trust him? The man bear?” Geoff asked.
“Honestly no, not at that point, actually I don't think I ever did trust him," I replied after giving it some thought.
"You thought he was in with the Duchess?" Geoff asked.
I shook my head.
"No, I just knew he was out to help himself, and himself only."
Mrs Huntington rose to her feet and began clearing away the tea mugs.
"Another cup?" she asked.
"No thank you," I replied standing up.
"I should really be going."
Geoff saw me to the door and I assured him I would continue the story tomorrow night after school. It was drizzling with rain as I began making my way back across the two zebra crossings. The black clouds were above me and the cold breeze reminded me of being in that hotel room on that night.
When I had been faced with talking man bears, elephant men, seagulls and owls the cold seemed somehow worse. Compared to those others the cold seemed a very real danger in an unreal world. That is what I was thinking as I buried myself into the sheets trying to get warm.
I had left the Huntington's because it was getting late and because I hadn't worked out how to tell them about the end yet. About the cold, our hopes ,and about coming face to face with the judgemental Duchess of Disapproval.
But also because the next part of the story is where it got difficult. It was hard to describe. But I was to make sure Geoff heard the end and you will too.
Yes the cold was coming in. The real danger in an unreal world was coming. It turned out to be one of the most terrifying nights of my entire life.