We called him the mummy, though none of us had ever seen him...rumors were abound in my small town. Every kid for miles around, knew of the horribly disfigured boy, who lived in the big house at the end Cherry wood Lane. They called it the Kessle Estate…

It was owned by the richest family in town and was once said to be beautiful, with its three story Victorian house and vast cherry wood trees. However after the mummy was born, the estate fell into disrepair. The trees were now overgrown and the house looked more like tomb...a tomb for the mummy.

It was indeed an ominous sight to behold. I'll never forget the first time I saw it…no kid ever would. Tragically, the Kessle estate also happened to be located next to an empty field and the best fishing spot for the river that ran through Corning.

Any kid, who wanted to have any real fun, had no choice but to pass by the Kessle Estate. Of course no kid ever walked, when they passed by the Kessle estate. After all the rumors, the legends that had been passed down, any kid with two cents knew to run as fast as they could. From the beginning of the tall cast iron fence to the end and of course, you didn't look back….no... once you passed it you didn't dare.

It was rumored Jetry Mintz had once looked back. He swore up and down he'd saw a ghost, of course Jetry Mintz was always fibbing. No one with any real credit had seen a ghost, of course no one had see anyone from the estate in years.

Rumor had it, after the mummy was born, the family had taken him out, only once. He was said to be covered from head to toe in bandages...a real mummy baby. After Mr. Kessle died that same year, the mummy and his mommy were never seen again.

Of course...sometimes you'd hear noises...coming from the house… A wailing that drifted eerily on the wind. Some people swore they saw an open window but no one had ever seen a person, come from the Kessle Estate...not until my ninth summer.

It was hot that summer...if you wanted to do anything you had to start early, when it was still cool. Whenever I had to go by the Kessle estate I never went on my own. No kid did, if they had a choice. It was always better to go in a group, the more kids the safer you were.

Usually I hung out with my best friend Chuck. We used to love spending the summer playing stick ball, fishing and swimming in the river. We were always competing to see who was the best. We would race each other, when we ran by the Kessle Estate to see who was faster. I almost beat him once but he said his shoes were untied so it didn't count.

That day I left the house first thing and met up with Chuck on the corner. We didn't live on the same street but he was only a few blocks over. The plan was to have a rematch of stick ball with our friends against the Fillo brothers, Rick, Patrick, Lil Rick, and Mick. They were always cheated but of course they'd never admit it.

We walked to the empty field and as soon as we got to the Kessle estate gate, we'd book it. Most everyone was there by the time we arrived. We played stick ball for a few hours and probably would have played till we got over heated or sundown but we got into a big argument.

Like always the Fillo brothers were cheating, we kept calling them on it but the last straw came when our pitcher Carry had thrown the ball and Mick dived in front of it, saying it was a walk, cause it hit him. Everyone knew the ball had to hit you where you were standing for a walk. You you couldn't just jump in front of it.

The twins Rich and Patrick said it was a fair play and argued we were trying to cheat Mick since he was a little kid. He was only a year younger then me, he was no little. They wanted to keep playing but we weren't gonna let this go. We got rather loud and at one point everyone was yelling.

Things got heated when Lil Rich, pulled on one of my braid. He pulled it so hard, I screamed at the top of my lungs. Normally I wasn't a wus but it felt like he was gonna rip it out of my head. Chuckie jumped him and then it was an all out battle. Everyone was kicked and punching, throwing any curse words you knew.

Before we knew it someone was screaming about the Kessle estate. We all froze, just in time to see an old man rushing out of the iron gates. He called out to us and we did what any sensible kid would do, we ran for out lives!

The Fillo brothers jumped into the river while Chuckie grabbed my hand. The old man started to chase after us but we ran around him and then the Kessle Estate. Not once did Chuck let go of my hand nor did we look back until we were on my street. I knew right then and there that Chuck was a true friend. I owed him my life but he said he'd settle for my marbles.

Carry caught up to us a few minutes later and told us his cousin Andrew hadn't been as lucky as us. He'd been caught...Carry didn't stick around but the last thing he saw was Andrew kicking and screaming. Chuck said maybe he got away but after a few minutes it was more then clear he hadn't…

I suggest we tell someone, an adult...the police...the army but both Chuck and Carry agreed Andrew was a goner. It was a shame too, he was our best hitter and always shared his bubble gum but I guess every kid had his day and that day was poor Andrew's.

Carry walked home alone, we knew he needed to take care of Andrew's things. I went over to Chuck's and we played marbles. When it was time to go home I gave him my bag but he changed his mind and said I could keep um but I owed him one.

I got home just before dark and washed up like I always did. I set the table with my little brother Stew but just before supper someone knocked on our door. I went to answer it but screamed, when I saw it was the old man from the Kessle Estate. I quickly ran upstairs and hid.

Tragically I didn't warn my mother and she opened the door. I don't know what she said but a few minutes later she called me downstairs. I didn't want to go but when she called me by my full name, I knew she meant business. Thankfully the old man was gone by the time I got down stairs.

My mother was in a real sour mood thought. Apparently Andrew was alive and well. He had also spilled the beans, telling the old man who I was and where I lived. Apparently my screaming had woken the mummy. I tried to explain I'd nearly had my hair ripped out but my mother wasn't hearing it. She told me she made arrangements for me to go to the Kessle Estate first thing in the morning and apologize.

I couldn't believe it, no one...especially a kid had ever gone into the Kessle Estate. Once on a dare, Willy Amsly had touched the front gate and then his arm fell off but no one could really confirm it, as he'd long since moved away. That night I couldn't eat my supper. When my father got home mother told him I'd been rough housing with the neighbor hood boys and had upset the Kessle boy.

Stew and me just looked at each other and whispered, the mummy, my sister little Patty Jane, would have whispered it too but she couldn't talk yet and nor could Baby Ben but one day they would know the horror that was the mummy. Once they was old enough to understand I'd set um straight.

My father wasn't happy about me getting into a fight, he sent me to bed early...not that it mattered. I barely slept, worrying about what was going to happen. The next morning I hoped my mother might forget but she made me put on my best dress and brushed my hair. I tried to warn her. I tried to tell her about the mummy even though, every kid knew parents just didn't understand these things.

I was desperate...desperate to make her understand we were in danger. However, when she learned we call the Kessle boy, "the mummy," she got even more sore at me. She told me I was grounded. That when we got home I wasn't allowed to play with my friends today...Normally I would have been upset but...in order to be grounded I'd have to be alive which I doubted I would be after the Kessle Esate.

A fancy carriage arrived at nine. I'd only ever been in a carriage twice in my entire life, once to visit my grandmother when she was wick and the second time to bury my big brother Hayes, when he didn't come home from the war. Of course neither carriage had been this fancy. I remember the seats being wooden while these seats had cushions like our couch.

The old man was the driver and helped us to get in. We sat in silence on the way over. My mother had made a little something as a peace offering, some of her sponge cake. I liked it but doubted I'd get any. When I saw the gate, I swore my life flashed before my eyes. I kept expecting something to happen as we passed into the yard. I took in the long drive way worrying a ghost or two might but out but they didn't. When the carriage stopped I almost didn't want to get out but when my mother threatened to leave me by myself I ran after her.

Of course she had to drag me onto the front porch. The old man opened the large double doors and I knew we were done for….This was it... Amina...age nine died...killed by the Kessle Estate. The old man motioned for us to follow him inside and my mother hissed at me to follow her.

When we got inside it was dark and stuffy. Everything inside was old or covered in sheets, it was beyond creepy. When a grandfather clock chimed I nearly had a heart attach and died, right then and there. The old man had us sit on a sofa by the door and then left us. My mother kept fussing with her sponge cake and squirming in her seat. I realized she was afraid too…she didn't want to admit it…

Out of nowhere a voice called out. "Is this the child..."

The voice sounded strange and sharp. It had a power about it that made me shrink in my seat.

"Yes mam," said the old man, "This child t'was the only girl."

"Only girl... what did that mean." I frowned.

Suddenly a woman appeared at the top of some stairs. It took me a moment to spot her as my eyes were still adjusting to the shadows of the room. The woman looked very, very tall. She was wearing a long purple dress that went up to her chin. Her dark hair was in a tight bun and as she seemed to drift down the stairs. When she was before us, I noticed how thin she looked, her skin looked was stretched over a her skeleton. When I met her eyes they were dull and unkind.

I shuttered as she lips pursed her lips at me. She lifted her nose a moment later and I felt even smaller then I was, like really really small. I could have been a mouse. I swallowed as my mother quickly took a breath and stood up. I stood up as well as she spoke "Mrs...Kessle? I am so sorry for my Amina's poor behavior, yesterday"

She glanced at my mother as she offered her a plate of sponge cake. Mrs. Kessle just snapped her fingers and waved her hand. A maid appeared from the shadows and quickly snatched the plate from my mothers hands. I saw my mother flinch and we both knew we weren't getting that plate back.

When the maid was gone, Mrs. Kessle glowered and said,"The child...will apologize..."

My mother nodded, "Of course...of course," She prodded me and my voice came out so quiet, like an echo at the bottom of a deep well. "I...I'm sorry..."

"Not to me," said the Mrs Kessle sternly"To Atley..."

"Atley?" I said confused…

My mother gave me a look and then pushed me forward. I was confused, who was Atley? Mrs. Kessle turned and walked back to the stairs as my mother whispered, "Behave,"

She pushed me again and I reluctantly followed Mrs. Kessle. We walked up a flight of stairs and then turned going up another flight, I was half way up the second set when I realized who Mrs. Kessle must have met...Atley...Atley must have been the mummy's real name.

My eyes widened, I was sure, beyond sure now, I was going to die. It was said the mummy was a real monster, twisted and deformed beyond all imagination and I had a quite the imagination, every rumor, every horrific detail, I'd ever heard began to flooded my mind and I froze.

"DO NOT DODDLE CHILD!" said Mrs. Kessle and I held my breath.

I knew I was suppose to behave to...to…go and apologize but...I just...could not ...not to him. I turned to go back down but the old man was behind me, looking ominous. I wanted my mother but couldn't see her. I wondered if I cried out...would she hear me...would she even help me. Why...oh why had she brought me here... couldn't she understand my life...my life was in mortal danger. I was about to die… didn't she get that. They were taking me up to a monster that ate the bones of children...the devoured eyes balls...and would condemn you to darkness eternal.

Mrs. Kessle turned and flashed me a gaze...like no other a gaze...that clearly stated...if I did not move now she would move me. I whimpered but quickly rushed up after her. When we got to the top of the stairs we walked down a long hallway and then she opened two double doors. The room was even darker in here...lit barely by candle light.

My eyes widened, I stumbled into the dark...for nearly a minute I couldn't see a thing and then my eyes adjusted...I saw a large four poster bed...covered in dark curtains. My ears honed in on every noise as every hair on my body came alive. I felt like I would fly up and out of my body at any moment.

I bit my lip as Mrs. Kessle approached the curtains. I wanted to look away and yet I couldn't. She moved them aside and leaned down to something, no someone, the mummy. I couldn't see a thing, suddenly I heard a voice it was soft and soothing. It took me a while to realize it was Mrs. Kessle.

I could barley hear her but she...she was talking like my mother talked to Patty Jane and Baby Ben. Soft cooing, again I was confused, wasn't the mummy older then me. Hadn't he always been around? She was talking to him like he was a baby.

"Mommy's here….yes...mommy loves you…..my dear precious…"

I though I heard a child, whimper. I heard someone whisper but it was so soft I couldn't make out what they were says. Mrs. Kessle quickly responded "Yes...yes...mommy brought you the voice you hear,"

I heard what sounded like a squeal of delight and then clapping. Mrs. Kessle pulled from the curtains and then called out flatly, "Apologize,"

I swallowed hard, knowing she was talking to me, the change in her tone was more then clear. My voice caught in my throat but after a few second I managed to say."I...I am sorry...for waking you the other day."

I heard weird noises behind the curtain, it sounded like laughter and then gurgling and maybe grunting. I thought I saw a hand...or a maybe it was claw I wasn't sure, I quickly looked away. I wanted to run back down stairs, to my mother but Mrs. Kessle called out to me, "Again?"

"Again?" I said.

"Apologize," she spat.

"Uh," I sputtered, I'd already done it two times and now she wanted a third. "I'm sorry…" There was wheezing, followed by more strange noises and then a whimper.

"More..."said Mrs. Kessle, "Keep speaking"

"I...uh….I'm so very very sorry I woke you…uh...uh...Mum...Atley."

There was a roar of excitement, behind the curtain then, it frightened me so much that I stumbled back to the doorway. The clapping got louder and then I heard it...his voice. "It said my name." The voice sounded weak, fluttery.

"Yes..." said Mrs. Kessle, "It did,"

"My name, it said my name,"said the voice repeated. It sounded so...so excitedly.

"Yes...my precious," said Mrs. Kessle.

"More...make it speak more,"

"Another time, you should rest." said Mrs. Kessle.

"No! NO!NO!" the voice cried out. "I want to hear it. I WANT TO HEAR IT!"

Mrs. Kessle waved to the old man. I watched him walk over to a cabinet. He lifted a bottle and poured something onto a rag. He handed it to Mrs. Kessle as I began to hear crying, "MORE! MORE!

"Tomorrow, my sweet child, sleep, sleep," said Mrs. Kessle she leaned into the bed.

There was a slight protest and then silence. Mrs. Kessle handed cloth back to the old man and sighed as she moved something. When she was done she pulled from the curtains and closed them.

Her voice was stern once more as she ushered me out of the room. Freedom had never tasted sooo sweet. I nearly flew down the stairs and into my mothers arms. I gave her a great big hug happy to be alive...so so very happy.

My mother patted me and asked, "Did you do it? Did you apologize,"

"I did," I said nearly in tears. The whole situation was nearly overwhelming.

Mrs. Kessle continued down the stairs and approached us. My mother quickly apologized again, "Again we are ever so sorry. I shall make sure she's quiet...that her and her friends play somewhere else."

"She will come back tomorrow," said Mrs. Kessle sternly.

"What," I said. "No way,"

My mother hushed me," Tomorrow...did she not apologize, madam,"

"She did and I have decided, she will return tomorrow and read to my Atley. She can read, can she not…I never know with your lot"

I felt my mother stiffened, her voice grew harsh...which was rare for her. "She is very well educated but-

"But nothing," said Mrs. Kessle it was clear she was used to getting her way. "The child will return tomorrow and read for my Ately."

My mother went to speak and Mrs. Kessle quickly shut her down, "Of course she will be compensated two dollars for the entire afternoon."

My mother gasped holding her breath. When she did not respond, Mrs. Kessle said

"That...that is more then a day's wage is it not?"

"Uh..."My mother burst out coughing. When she'd cleared her throat, her voice squeaked "Yes...quiet so."

"Then 1'o'clock Dr. Stayle will pick the child up and return her at 6, home in time for dinner,"

"I...I shall have to discuss it with my husband,"

"Then discuss it," said Mrs. Kessle. She waved her hand and the old man, Dr. Stayle came to lead us back out.

"Mother," I said as we left. "I don't want to come back."

My mother pulled on my arm quickly silencing me."Hush Amina,"

The entire way home my mother was silence even as I pleaded with her not to make me go back. I made it clear I didn't want to read to the Kessle boy that I didn't want to go back in that house ever again. Yet she just sat...thinking.

When we got home Chuck was at out house. When I hadn't shown up on the corner he got worried. Our neighbor was watching my little brothers and sister. She was happy when we got home. My mom thanked her and then went to take care of the baby. Chuck wanted to know where I had been. Stew hadn't told him anything he just kept saying the mummy and widening his eyes.

I worried my mother might make Chuck leave. I wanted to tell him everything. I knew there was no way he was going to believe me but I also knew I was grounded. I told him I'd seen the mummy and he quickly wanted to know more. I tried to take him upstairs but mother didn't like us having guests upstairs.

She quickly shouted, "Get back down here you know the rules,"

"Please...mom...please...I was good," I protested.

"He can wait outside...go change,"

"Really," I said. "I can go out and play,"
"Yes," said shaking her head "But don't leave the block and take Stewy,"

I opened my mouth to wine about taking Stewy but quickly shut it knowing I was getting off easy here. I ran up stairs and in two seconds flat I was back down in my shirt and suspenders. Chuckie and I both grabbed Stewy and ran outside with him.

I told Chuck everything that had happened and he really didn't believe me. He didn't think there was anyway I'd been to the mummy's house and survived. He ran off to talk to Carry and asked if Andrew had survived. I wanted to go with him but mom said I couldn't leave the block. When Chuck came back a few minutes later he believed me and found out what had happened with Andrew.

Just as I'd thought Andrew was alive and had spilled the beans he'd given the old man all our names and he'd wanted to know who had screamed. He gave us all up to save his life, what a traitor. Chuck and I both shook our head knowing he wasn't a true friend. Stew shook his head to even thought he was only six he knew what was what.

Chuck told me the others wanted to hear my story but I reminded him I couldn't leave the block so Carry and Andrew came to me. While I was talking Stewy told his friends and soon everyone knew I Amina Liera Lark had entered the Kessle estate and survived.