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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Teens
- Theme: Mystery
- Subject: Family
- Published: 02/25/2021
The Missing Statue
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Coal black hair flying in the wind, Jason Mitchell runs up the black porch step.
I paused and looked up at the attic window. It was a two-story, red brick house with black trim. In the afternoon the south sun would cast a ray of light and make an appearance of a silhouette of a maple branch on the glass window. I let myself into the front door of my home. I live here with my mom and younger sister, Ava.
"Mom, I'm sorry I am late," I said. "I had to make up some homework."
"Dinner is on the stove," she instructed, "Ava is in the study doing her homework."
"Will you be working at the library till nine?" I asked.
"A little later. Bye." she replied.
I was seven years old when my father died in a fatal car accident. I am eleven years old now. We moved here in Longmont right after the accident to be near family. My father was a magician and owned a magic shop in Denver. Mom didn't have the heart to sell his magic equipment so she stores it in the attic under lock and key. She hasn't gotten over his death and can't handle any reminders. She can cry for days.
I used to help my dad with his magic shows. I was really shy, but when I was the young magician I was on top of the world. I loved making the kids smile.
"Ava, are you ready to eat?" I asked.
"Can I watch, Space Rangers?" Ava replied.
"Sure, but you'll need to practice the piano right after dinner," I said.
"Fair enough," Ava said.
My sister is nine, four inches shorter than me, dark shoulder length hair, and blue eyes. She was Dad's pet. Every night he would sit her in his lap and read the "Velveteen Rabbit" to her. She was five when he passed. Afterwards she became a brat and did the opposite of what she was told. Then, she would giggle like a witch.
While Ava is busy eating, I am going to hunt for the key to the attic. I looked everywhere in the house while I listened to Ava playing the piano. I hear a piano key getting stuck over and over again.
"Ava, move over. I need to check the piano." I said.
She moves and I discover by looking under the piano keys an antique key is under middle C.
"Is this the key to the attic?" I asked.
Ava grabs the key. "I want to open the door." she cries.
"Give me the key, Ava." I shouted.
"No," she said and holds onto the key, runs into the bathroom, and locks the door. I hear her giggles coming from under the door.
Where is Mom when I need her. No, that wouldn't be right. She wouldn't want me to have the key.
"Ava, if you come out, I will let you play with my transformers for the key," I pleaded. She opened the door, without a word, she gave me the key. Then, she went straight to my room.
I head for the steps leading to the attic. I hope this is the key. It has to be. The key fit easily. I opened the creaky, old door. I took a deep breath not knowing what I would find.
The room was dim, and it was filled with old magic equipment that brought back memories of my shows with my dad. Everything was covered with thick dust and cobwebs. The Levitation Illusion was my favorite. I dusted it off with my polo shirt. Then, I laid flat on the wooden board. I closed my eyes. I am tormented with the every night dreams about my dad. Dad repeatedly tells me to find the statue. My blue, deep set eyes do not see it in the attic.
I remember my dad's magic shop. I always admired the unique Magician Statue on his countertop that was about two feet tall.
The room is filled with several pieces of equipment. Where's the Newspaper Dove trick and the Headless Box with the missing head and arrow? Something isn't right. I picked up the red, velvet cover to the silver-plated rings. I used to form designs with them. I made a rocking chair, a sphere that opened into a flower, and a Mickey Mouse shape. My stomach was getting queasy being around all these memories. Somehow I understood my mom's feelings.
At the end of the room there was a mantle with a roll top desk beside it. I opened it and removed some papers. I shuffled through and found a court document saying the bankruptcy was completed for John Mitchell. On another page it had a bill of sale for the statue. A name and address was written on the top in my dad's handwriting. It was in Denver. How am I going to get a ride there?
"Oh no, I have no idea," I exclaimed.
"Jason!" Mom called.
My thoughts were interrupted. Mom is home. I grabbed the bill of sale, scrambled out of the room, and locked the door. I put the key in my pocket and headed to my room.
"Ava, we are detectives so our secrets can't be told to anyone." I said.
"Okay," she said and gave her witch's giggle.
Ava and I went to the kitchen to talk to mom.
"What have you guys been doing?" Mom asked.
"Playing," Ava reported, "Jason let me play with his transformers."
"Really?" Mom responded with surprise.
"I had to concentrate on my homework so needed Ava to keep occupied," I said.
"Good thinking, Jason," Mom said.
I managed to slip the key back in the piano when my mom is busy in the kitchen. I precede to go out on the porch to call my Cousin Liam. He's a tall, husky fellow who received a Honda from his parents that he fixed up.
"Liam, I need a ride to Denver," I said.
"I can go tomorrow," he said.
"Way to go," I said. I went back into the house.
"Mom, are you working tomorrow," I asked.
"Yes, I am going to need you all day for a double shift," she replied.
The next day arrived. I dressed in a white polo shirt, dark blue jeans, and Head tennis shoes. Liam had holey black jeans, tee shirt and loafers. I paid Liam ten dollars for the trip. Ava wore a lacy blouse, faded blue jeans, and blue Adidas. We exchanged small talk on the way to Denver. Ava acted okay on the drive.
Christopher Baldwin, who now owned the statue, lived on Stewart Street in downtown Denver. We used the GPS to find where he lived. The house was a two-story brown house with green shutters. Liam stayed in the car while Ava and I went up the long driveway to the door. We rang the doorbell and waited. An elderly gentleman answered the door. He was dressed in a black suit and tie.
He smiled and asked, "What can I do for you?"
"Hi, Mr. Baldwin. I am Jason Mitchell. Son of the late John Mitchell, the magician who sold you the Magician Statue," Jason said.
"Yes, come in," he said. The entryway had white pillars on each side. White plank tiles covered the floor. Several fern plants hung in between the pillars.
Mr. Baldwin apologized, "I am sorry, but I sold the statue to a Walter Monroe in Masonville.
"Thank you for your time, Mr. Baldwin, I appreciate the information," I replied.
"Thank you," Ava said.
We preceded to leave the house and run down to the car.
Liam said, "it didn't take you very long."
Liam knew about the statue and I had alerted him that it was missing.
"He didn't have the statue," I responded.
"Now what?" Liam asked.
"We need to go to Masonville," I replied.
"I am ready to go now," Liam replied.
"Have you done any magic tricks lately?" Liam asked.
"No, not since my dad's been gone," I replied.
"Oh, then you would be willing to give me some of your equipment in exchange for transportation?" Liam asked.
"I would have to see," I said.
Ava said, "I have a Rabbit Pan trick my dad gave me I could give you."
"I wondered what happened to that trick," I shouted.
"No thanks, Ava, you keep it," Liam said.
"It will be twenty dollars, he said, "I am short on gas money to go to Masonville.
"Gracious sakes, Liam, this time you only charged me ten dollars." I check my wallet and I have only seven dollars and fifty cents. I need to look for something to sell or hit my mom up for babysitting money. Time is limited.
Liam replied, "Take it or leave it!"
I had a thought. "You know that red, metallic Model T model you like so much," I asked.
"Yes! Yes!" Liam responds enthusiastically.
"Take us to Masonville and it's yours." I replied.
On the way to Masonville we amused ourselves singing the words to a Country station. The time breezed by. We arrived at a four-story, grey mansion located in nowhere, many miles from a small town.
Liam stayed in the car while we walked up the cobblestone walkway. The mansion was rundown, the windows were dirty and the door was big and bulky. I rang the doorbell and the door opened slowly after we waited and waited. Being magician kids, Ava and I did not scare easily. An attractive woman in her fifties said, "hello."
"I am Jason Mitchell. I am looking for Walter Monroe who purchased a statue from Christopher Baldwin. The statue originally belonged to my father who died. I need to locate the statue, please," I said.
"I am Walter Monroe's granddaughter, Cecelia Monroe. My grandfather died last year. I welcome you. I live here alone so it will be nice to have the company."
Cecelia wore a floral duster and red slippers. It was hard to tell if she was all there.
"Please feel free to look for the statue. Let me give you a couple flashlights," she offered.
While she was gone I took Ava aside to tell her that she needs to cling to me like glue. I told her, "If you want to be part of this mystery, you will have to do what I say."
"Okay," Ava replied.
Cecelia is back and gives us the flashlights and we are on our way.
We went through the mansion. We went upstairs, downstairs, and another flight of stairs, small and long. It took a couple hours. We could not find the statue.
Miss Monroe was sitting in a chair drinking tea in the living room. We approached her regarding not being able to locate the statue.
"It has to be here," I stated.
"It probably is. My grandfather never parted with anything," Cecelia confessed. "Did you find the hidden loft on the third floor?" she asked "It's on the north side. We are south. I am sure you will be able to find it," she explained.
Cecelia looked straight ahead with no expression. It created a weird moment and quite an eerie atmosphere.
We climbed more stairs. Sure enough behind another staircase, there were more stairs. The mahogany staircase was steep and tiring to climb.
"Ava, are you going to be able to do this?" I asked.
"No," Ava said in a short breath.
"Let's go piggyback like we used to do," I replied.
It wasn't easy but we made it to the top. The loft was small, dark, and dusty with spiders and thick particles of webs. There was my dad's Newspaper Dove Trick, the Headless Box with the missing head and arrows, and The Dove Cage
with the six foot metal-net Illusion was there.
My heart started to pound when I spotted the closet.
Just then, I hear Liam yell "Jason!".
I was sure I jumped out of my skin. "You managed to get indoors," I replied.
"Is something wrong with the lady of the house?" Liam asked.
"She's just lonely and she's not used to company," Ava interrupted.
I opened the creaky, closet door to see the missing statue on a four legged table. I took my shirt off and dusted the magician. He had long, curly black hair with locks forming around his pudgy head. He was white with dark eyes set
back from his puffy cheeks. His red lips with his handle bar mustache formed his genuine smile. He wore a white lapel with a emerald green tuxedo with a long tail in the back. His shoes were black patent leather standing on a greenish marble base. His white, gloved hands were holding a black top hat with a white rabbit inside.
I was mesmerized by the sight of the statue.
"Jason! Jason!" Liam shouted. "What's wrong with you."
Ava shouted, "Are you okay?"
I snapped out of it. "I don't know, an evil feeling came over me that I can't explain", I replied.
"Liam, can you help me move the table and the statue into the room?" I asked.
As we moved the statue, I separated the rabbit from the hat. No sooner did I do this, a large cloud of green smoke came from the statue. A faded image of a man with bushy, white hair, a grey mustache who looks like Mark Twain appeared in the cloud.
"I am a wicked evil spirit," he said, "I am going to destroy this town."
"Why would you do that?" I said.
"I am the ghost of Walter Monroe, I will because I can," he angrily replied.
Just then, Cecelia Monroe came through the door. She didn't say a word and disappeared in the closed door closet.
"I hear someone coming, Walter, quick go back in the statue," I suggested.
Walter did as he was told and preceded back in the hat. I hurriedly looked in the desk beside the window. I found some super glue and squeezed it in the hat and pushed the rabbit in the hat. I checked the closet revealing no Cecelia - obviously a ghost.
Ava and Liam were in shock.
"Let's get the heck out of here," I shouted.
We all run down all the many staircases as fast as we can go. We were breathless, but happy to be seated in the car.
"What an experience, Jason," Liam said. "Nobody will believe what happened to us today.
"It was scary to see that man in the cloud," Ava said, and to see Cecelia disappear through the closet door.
"At least we found the statue," I said with relief.
Mom was waiting for us when we got home. Her face was stern, so I knew I was in trouble. My dirty, polo shirt was on the couch.
"Where were you?" Mom questioned.
"It is a long story, I explained. "We found Dad's statue."
"Why were you looking for the statue," she asked.
"It was missing," I replied, "I investigated in the attic."
"You know that anything regarding your father upsets me", Mom said, "That's why I keep everything under lock and key."
"It isn't fair for us to pretend that Dad did not exist," I said, "I am tormented every night with nightmares about him, He kept telling me to find the statue."
"Why didn't you tell me, Jason," she asked.
"I didn't want to upset you," I replied.
"I wish we could be a team and bring Dad back into our lives," I said, "I don't want to sneak around doing things behind your back, Mom."
"Can I tell Mom about us being detectives and solving the mystery of the missing statue?" Ava asked with her witches giggle.
"I must say Ava is acting better. Ava, you can tell me another time after dinner," mom replied.
"Mom, I would like to clean up the attic and all the magic equipment," I requested, "I want to do magic shows and be just like my dad.
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Rebecca Bortnick
03/08/2021
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