Bradley and the Team

Bradley and the Team

Saturday was chocolate day. Bradley savoured his final morsel; chocolate dinosaurs this week, Mum had chosen well. He was in the tree house with the Team: Zoltan, a green rubber alien with tentacles and a suction pad; Timmy, a plastic lion dressed in blue; and Tantor, a small white teddy bear with a tartan bow tie.

        They were watching the new neighbour, Mrs Lipscombe, scuttling around in her kitchen. She was old, not as old as Grandma, but older than his Mum. She had thin arms and wore her hair in a tight bun.

        ‘I don’t trust her,’ said Zoltan, waving his tentacles around as he spoke.

         She seemed to be cooking something in a large saucepan. She moved quickly, opening cupboards, adding new ingredients and frequently stirring. Suddenly, she looked up and waved. Bradley waved back awkwardly then quickly climbed down and went into the house, running straight upstairs to his bedroom.

         They reviewed the evidence against Mrs Lipscombe. She had a long sharp nose, she lived alone and she moved around in a suspicious cronish way. Plus, she had a weird smile. Last week his Mum and Dad had invited her over for a glass of sherry, to welcome her to the neighbourhood. Because of her long nose, she had to tip her head right back to drink it. She had licked her lips and accepted another from his Dad, then smiled that crooked smile.

         The sound of the doorbell interrupted their discussion. They listened from the top of the stairs.

         ‘Oh hello Mrs Lipscombe, do come in,’ said Bradley’s Mum.

         ‘Please, call me Enid. I can’t stop Barbara, I just wanted to invite you all over for dinner tomorrow night, bit of a housewarming thing. You made me feel so welcome last week.’

         ‘Oh, I see, well, I’m not sure what we’re doing. Let me quickly check with Arthur.’

        Bradley heard quick footsteps going towards the kitchen then returning.

        ‘Oh yes Enid, that would be lovely,’ she said.

         They made arrangements for the following night.          

        ‘What’s she playing at,’ said Timmy back in the bedroom.

         ‘I don’t like this one bit,’ said Tantor.

         They all agreed that the offer of food was highly suspicious. Just then Mum announced that lunch was ready. Bradley ran down to the kitchen. Tabitha was sitting at the table, with her head hung down so that her long black hair covered her face. When he sat down she pulled her hair aside and shouted,

        ‘Boo!’

        ‘You’re so scary,’ said Bradley.

        She looked at him blankly.

        ‘What sandwiches have we got Mum?’ he asked.

        ‘Beef, Bradley’ she said.

        He picked one up from the large platter on the table and opened it for inspection.

        ‘Mum, it’s all bloody again.’

        ‘I told you before, its meant to be like that. You don’t see your sister complaining do you?’

         Bradley looked at Tabitha who was chewing enthusiastically with her mouth open. A congealed pink mush oozed between the gaps in her small teeth.

         ‘That’s disgusting. Mum, tell her.’

         Just then his Dad came in. He was wearing his weekend cardigan and hadn’t shaved. He mussed Bradley’s hair with his large hand.

        ‘I suppose you want Peanut butter again do you?’ he said.

        ‘Yes please!’ said Bradley leaping up to fetch it.

        ‘Oh Arthur, you’ll spoil him you know,’ said his Mum smiling.

        Bradley ate his peanut butter sandwich quickly then returned to the tree house for a game of War. They all loved to play War, but Timmy loved it the most and bore the scars of many fearless battles.          

         Bradley lined the toy soldiers up on the far side of the tree house. The Team took turns to charge, knocking them over in droves; even Tantor knocked a few down. Soon they had completely annihilated the enemy. Zoltan played the bugle while they respectfully buried the enemy troops back into the shoebox. The next day, before they went to Mrs Lipscombe’s for dinner, Bradley and the Team had a bath. Bradley wanted to discuss their plan for the evening but Zoltan wasn’t paying attention. He could breathe under water and would often spend the entire bath stuck on the bottom, relaxing. Bradley swam down and signalled that he needed to come up.

         ‘This is important’, he explained on the surface. ‘We need to discuss our plans.’

         They knew it was pointless telling Mum and Dad about their suspicions.

         ‘They never think badly of people, that’s why we need to be extra vigilant,’ explained Bradley.          

         They decided that the Team would be undercover. Bradley put on his jeans with the deep pockets. He would smuggle them in so they could sneak around her house, looking for clues. He would keep an eye on the food and, if possible, stop them from eating it.

         ‘Why don’t you put those nice trousers on I put out?’ his Mum said when he came down to the kitchen. She had her red hair arranged in a complicated pile on her head.

         ‘Oh please Mum; they’re boring and itchy. These are my favourite.’

        ‘Ok, as long as you do something with that hair?’

         Bradley slicked it down with his hand.

         ‘No, come on Bradley, you need to do it properly. Go up and find your Father, maybe you can have some of his wax.’

         Bradley loved his Dad’s hair wax.

         ‘Get some on your hands, not too much, that’s right son. Now, we massage it into our hands a bit like this,’ his Dad demonstrated. ‘Then rub it in to your hair thoroughly, that’s it, good. Ok now we can style it.’

         Bradley spent a few minutes staring seriously into the mirror, shaping and sculpting his hair. He ran downstairs to show his mum. She was sitting at the table with Tabitha talking quietly.

         ‘Oh Bradley, you made me jump,’ said his Mum looking round quickly.

         ‘Check my hair Mum’ he said.

         ‘Very smart.’

        Twenty minutes later they knocked on Mrs Lipscombe’s door.

         ‘Hello, hello, please come in.’          

         Her hair wasn’t in a bun as usual but hanging loose. When she turned round he saw that it reached past her waist. She was wearing a flowing multi-coloured dress.

         ‘What a lovely dress Enid’, said Bradley’s mum.

         ‘Oh, thank you Barbara, I love your hair. Come in, come in.’ She bent down to Bradley and Tabitha. ‘I see you two brought some of your toys with you,’ she said. ‘Why don’t you play in here’ she said, leading them into the front room.

Tabitha ran in clutching her Cindy doll by its hair. She threw it on to the sofa then jumped up with it. Bradley walked in and sat in the middle of the floor with his Robosaurus: a robotic Tyrannosaurus Rex.

        ‘ Now Arthur, Barbara, can I get you a drink,’ said Mrs Lipscombe.

         They followed Enid out into the kitchen. Bradley played briefly with the Robosaurus. After a few minutes he carefully took the Team from his pocket and hid them behind one of the chairs. They knew what to do. He went and stood outside the kitchen and listened.

         ‘This is delicious,’ said his Mum.

         ‘Glad you like it,’ said Enid, ‘would you like another?’

         ‘Please,’ she said.

         Bradley looked round the door just in time to see his Mum empty her glass.

         ‘Barbara!’ said Bradley’s dad.

         ‘Oh gosh!’ said Bradley’s mum, ‘sorry, it’s just so delicious. Come on Arthur, live a little,’ she said nudging him.

         As he raised the glass Bradley rushed into the room and jumped on his back.

         ‘Surprise!’ he said.

         His dad’s glass shot out of his hand, showering his Mum’s dress. The glass smashed on the floor.

         ‘Jesus Bradley, what are you doing!’ he said

        ‘You’ve ruined my dress! What the hell are you playing at?’ said his Mum.          

        ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean it.’

         ‘Well its too late now, isn’t it’ said his Mum.

         ‘I’m sorry Mum.’

         ‘Please don’t worry,’ said Enid. ‘Come into the bathroom Barbara. I’m sure I’ve got something that can stop that staining.’

         ‘Thanks Enid, sorry about this. Now Bradley, go back and play in the front room.’

         ‘But Mum…’

         ‘Do as your mother says Bradley,’ said his dad.

         He trudged back to the front room. Tabitha was still on the sofa playing with her Cindy doll. She looked up as he came in.

         ‘What was that noise Bradley? What did you do?’

         ‘I knocked over Dad’s drink.’

         ‘You’re naughty.’

         ‘No Tabitha, I’m not, it’s just… oh it doesn’t matter.’

         ‘What doesn’t matter? Tell me.’

         ‘You wouldn’t understand,’ he said.

         ‘Bradley, tell me.’

         ‘Well, I’m worried that Mrs Lipscombe might be a witch.’

         He explained his suspicions and finally why he’d knocked the drink over.

         ‘Listen I know what we can do.  I’ll go in there and tell Dad you’re crying, can you pretend to cry Tabitha?’

         She looked up at him and nodded as tears began to form in her eyes.

         ‘Brilliant. Now you have to keep him in here while I check on Mum, Ok?’

         She agreed. Bradley went back to the kitchen and told his Dad she was crying. He ran straight out to check on her. Bradley walked over to the bathroom to find his Mum. As he got near he heard a crashing sound and a scream.

He opened the door and saw his Mum and Mrs Lipscombe rolling about on the floor. His Mum had a cut on her head. Mrs Lipscombe had her hands round her throat.

        ‘Get off her you witch!’ Bradley jumped on her back and pulled at her hair.

        ‘No Bradley!’ said Mrs Lipscombe.

        His Mum managed to wriggle free but she looked woozy.

        ‘Musht get Tabitha’ she staggered out.

        Bradley pulled hard on the witch’s hair and clawed at her face.

        ‘Ow, no, get off me Bradley.’

        She backed into the wall knocking the breath out of him. She shook him off and ran from the room closing the door behind her. Bradley staggered to his feet and tried to open the door but it was locked. ‘Mummy, run, she’s coming run, run!’ he screamed and banged and kicked at the door but couldn’t open it. Then he heard a terrible scream and a loud bang.

        ‘Mummy no, are you ok? Mummy please, answer me.’

        He banged and banged on the door. Then he noticed the window. He tried to open it but it was locked too. He took off his shoe and smashed it into the glass as hard as he could. He broke a small hole in it, cutting his hand at the same time.

        ‘Help, please help. Call the police help!’

        Suddenly he heard the door being unlocked. He rushed over and noticed tendrils of mist seeping under the door. The door handle was ice cold to his touch. He opened the door and could see nothing but thick swirling mist. He stepped out carefully.

         ‘Mummy! Daddy! Tabitha! Where are you?’

        When there was no response he crept out further, shivering now, unable to see through the mist. He heard the door slam shut behind him. He ran back to open it but couldn’t find it. He turned round, walking forward with his hands outstretched, blindly searching.  Suddenly the ground began to move, tilting backwards and forwards, knocking him to his feet. Several times he tried to get up but was hurled to the hard cold floor each time. He felt something touch his face lightly and realised it had begun to snow. It started to fall heavily and he began to cry.

        ‘Where are you, where am I?’

        He stood up and started walking again, still unable to see. His clothes were soaked through and he shivered as he walked. That’s when he heard the scream. It was Tantor calling his name.

        ‘Bradley, help, help us Bradley.

        He ran in the direction of the voice shouting out,

        ‘Tantor, where are you?’

        ‘Over here Bradley quickly.’

        He ran faster, arms in front of him. The mist was clearing slightly and the snow was beginning to stop. He heard a terrible roar up ahead then Tantor shouting.

        ‘Noo, Zoltan no!’

        Up ahead he could just see the Robosaurus, as large now as a real life Tyrannosaurus Rex. It was bending down, its jaws snapping and crunching. As he got closer he saw the green tentacle hanging from its mouth and knew he was too late.

        ‘Bradley?’

        Tabitha’s voice came from behind him. He looked round and saw her. She was standing at an open doorway, beckoning him. Tantor had run over to him. He grabbed him, put him in his pocket and ran for the door.

        ‘Where are Mum and Dad Tabitha?’ he shouted as he ran towards her.

        ‘They’re here, its ok, run Bradley!’ she said.

        Behinds him he heard a roar and turned to see the Robosaurus looking his way. It began to run. Bradley ran as fast as he could towards Tabitha’s outstretched hand. As he was about to reach her, Tantor fell from his pocket. He stopped to pick him up, but Tabitha’s hand clamped around his wrist and pulled him in. Her hand seemed incredibly strong and as he looked down he could see that it was not her hand. It was old gnarled and dirty.

        ‘Get in here you little brat’ said a voice that wasn’t Tabitha’s.

      As he looked up he saw the person that had been his sister changing. Her long black hair became straggly and streaked with grey, her teeth were large and blackened and her face was lined and old.

        ‘No!’ he screamed.

        She pulled him in and closed the door. They were back in their house, in the kitchen.

        ‘Who are you? Where’s my sister?’ he sobbed.

        ‘Shut up and come with me.’ She pulled him easily into the front room.

His Mum and Dad were sitting on the sofa. His Mum had a bandage round her head. He lurched towards her and his wrist was released. He ran over.

        ‘Euw, get away from me you filthy creature,’ said his Mum. Only it wasn’t her. She looked like his Mum but her voice was older and croaky.

      ‘Mum, Dad?’ he looked at his Dad who was shaking his head.

        ‘Wrong again,’ said a strange screeching voice from the Dad look- a- like.

        Two strong hands grabbed him from behind. He tried to struggle but it was useless. The Dad-figure came towards him with a large syringe and plunged it into his arm

        ‘He’s out, good,’ said the small witch that had been Tabitha. ‘Let’s keep him like that. Only two more days, and he’ll be ready. We have to be extra careful now though, these Seekers are getting smarter.’

        She walked over to the table, picked up a large snow globe, shook it, and then put it back on the table.

When the snow settled she watched the Robosaurus running towards a screaming woman in a multi-coloured dress. She cackled as the dinosaur’s jaws closed around Enid. She shook it up and watched it all over again. She didn’t notice the flash of blue at the end of the dinosaur’s tail, where Timmy clung desperately.