Day Twenty Four - Wand

The air outside is cool and crisp this morning, and I can’t see anything. I’ve got a blindfold over my eyes and Teddy’s hand is in mine, holding me tightly.

“I’m going to count down from five and then you’ll take off the blindfold.” Teddy says to me.

I feel my heartbeat rise with anticipation. I can’t see the ghosts around me, but I know they’re here with their murmurs of excitement.

“Five,” Teddy says to me.

“Four,” Calvin’s voice joins in.

“Three,” Mrs Thompson too.

“Two,” Mary and Billy say.

“One!” Teddy says and I pull off the blindfold away from my eyes.

I’m temporarily blinded by the sunlight, but when my eyes focus again, I’m stunned by the sight.

Whispering Woods has been transformed. What used to be an old house with moss on its corners and faded paint now stands a bright, sunny, yellow spectical. A brand-new roof, no more shingles falling off the edges. It looks like a new house, and it’s mine. Instead of just a house, it looks like my house.

Everyone around me is clapping and cheering. I’m unable to react other than to stare at in awe.

“What do you think?” Teddy squeezes my hand again.

“It’s incredible,” I say, with a smile stretched wide across my face. “Thank you.”

He then lets go of my hand and the jogs over the front porch where there’s a small white sheet hanging.

“But that’s not all,” he says as he waves his arm around like he’s holding a magic wand.

He does one more dramatic sweep and then I see Calvin pull off the sheet with an unamused look on his face. I have a feeling Teddy roped him into this not considering that I can see Calvin moving the sheet. But somehow, that makes this even better.

Underneath the sheet is a brand new sign for Whispering Woods, in all rainbow colours. It looks as if it’s been assembled by hand. And it’s perfect.

I clap my hands together and Teddy comes running back to me. I wrap my arms around him and pull him close.

“It’s all absolutely perfect!” I exclaim and he lifts me up in the air, twirling us both around before setting me back down.

Slightly out of breath he says, “And there is something else waiting for you inside.”

He grabs my hand again, and guides me inside. He takes me through the front lobby and to the entrance of the sitting room.

“Please have the honour of this reveal to yourself,” he bows and gestures towards the white sheet.

I pull it back and I’m stunned once again.

The room has been transformed, once a room that saw no use, and really only collected cobwebs, was a place I could only dream of.

Bookshelves across the walls, all filled with colourful spines. New sitting chairs, a table to sit around, a plush rug. It’s as if new life was put into the room by him. Lavender is already curled up comfortable high on a shelf with a pillow just for her.

I immediately feel my throat well up and I want to let out a cry but I’m immediately distracted by another white sheet in the corner of the room. Which Teddy is standing in front of, and Calvin is also there, holding onto the sheet, his face away not looking pleased.

“Calvin, you really don’t have to do that.” I say to him.

Calvin shakes his head, “I promised I’d go through with it.”

I laugh and Teddy once again makes a grand gesture with his arms for Calvin to pull off the sheet.

And what’s behind it sends me into a fit of laughter.

A beautifully crafted wood and glass case with a sizeable lock on it. And inside are the three dolls which Teddy could hardly make eye contact with.

“What did you do to them?” I ask wiping a tear away from my eye.

“I had to give them a nice home too. One where I can also feel safe sleeping at night for the rest of my life.”

“Rest of your life?” I ask. Mary and Mrs Thompson giggle from behind me.

Teddy ruffles the hair on the back of his head, and looks away from me. “Or for however long you’ll have me around?” he asks as a question rather than a statement.

I place my hands on both side of his face and look deeply into his blue eyes.

“I never want you to leave,” I say before kissing him deeply.

“I’ve had enough of all this kissing lately,” Calvin says with disgust.

“Not my favourite thing either,” Billy says and I hear him yelp when Mary must obviously nudge him.

Everyone then breaks into a fit of giggles, and Teddy does too after I explain it to him.

My house is finally starting to feel like a home.