What's behind the door? by Caitlin Petty, age 13, Year 8, Budmouth Academy

One rainy day, I was bored out of my misery . I had read all of my books, I couldn’t play in the garden, what was I supposed to do? Until my sister came up with the idea to play hide and seek.

What a brilliant idea I said to myself! It was my turn to hide. I was so clueless on where to hide. I was very keen to win this, so I had to find a good place where she wouldn’t find me.

Under my bed, No! She would easily find me there. Maybe behind the door, what if she squishes me?  Wait, Why don’t I hide behind my wardrobe. So I climbed over the mountain of clothes and hid, I waited 5 minutes just sitting there, while my sister was scavenging around to try and find me.

As quietly as I could I turned my body to get in a more comfortable position to my surprise instead of facing the original wardrobe door I was facing a peculiar looking door one that I had never seen before, the door was a dark oak embellished in gothic styled twist and turns.  

I couldn’t scream or shout anything on what I had found because I would lose the game, and I hate losing!

Minutes felt like hours, I just sat there thinking on what I should do. I had decided, I was going to see what’s behind the door. I was terrified on what could be there, but you have to always face your fears.  

Noticing that the door was slightly damaged I carefully opened the door,  and crawled in, I was having second thoughts but then I heard a curious voice, “Hello” the mysterious  voice whispered.

I was starting to shake, I saw this shadow of a tall, thin type figure. I closed my eyes hoping it was a dream but then I felt a hand on my shoulder, I jumped, I turned round but nothing was there.

But then more curious voices occurred “ Stop moving she will see us.” I followed the sound of these things speaking. I couldn’t see anything but all I could hear was little footsteps all around me. I reached into my back pocket to find my phone, I needed some sort of light     to see what was beneath me. I grabbed my phone and put my torch on…

I glanced down to see all of my old toys scattered and some talking, I rubbed my eyes to see if this was a dream or real. I decided to say “ hello, do you talk?” I thought I was insane to ask  some toys if they talk. But then my old teddy bear answered, “ Hello we are the  toys of the forgotten, we are the toys you put in the cupboard and never used again!”  

I replied saying, “ oh yeah I remember you, I used to play with you when I was 6.”  “ where did this room come from I have never seen it before?” I asked.

“ As we got put at the back of the wardrobe we couldn’t all stay in a cramped place, so we decided to explore this door we found, we then made it into our own home.” The teddy bear replied.  

I suddenly could hear my sister shouting, “ sis I’m not playing anymore I give up, you win.” I was happy that I had won, but I was curious I wanted to explore more. But if I spent anymore time there my mother would be panicking on where I was. I decided I had to go, but I said I would return soon.

Leaving the wardrobe I shouted “I won”.  My sister wanted to know where I had been hiding and I explained I was in the wardrobe, as we sat down for a rest I asked “Do you remember the teddy bear I used to play with when I was 6?”.  “of course! Do you remember the toy cars you used to play with and also the horses and dolls”

My sister looked up with a smile and a wave of memories sweeping across her  face “We remember, but I think they all went missing when we moved house”  she sadly exclaimed.  

With a big smile on my face I said “Follow me”. Making are way through the wardrobe we hit the old door, my sister started to squeeze my hand I squeezed it back “Its ok, trust me” with that she stopped squeezing and nodded on.  

Switching the torch on the silhouettes of toys appeared.  My sister gasped and crawled towards her ponies and dolls with such excitement, she embraced them as if they were a long lost friend.  “Please can we take these out of here, I thought we had lost them”   “Of course” I said.  

As we rounded all the toys together not leaving any behind we made our way out of the wardrobe.   Going through the toys was like a wave of warmth and happy memories of a childhood that was so fun and not dominated by technology.  

My sister was so happy playing with her long lost toys  I looked at my smart phone  and decided that teddy looked more appealing  and decided that this lockdown would not be as boring after all.