Do you believe in magic? Young author Dhriya Das of Class 5, Epic Public School, weaves a heartwarming tale of science, mystery, and wonder as a brave scientist discovers a magical door in a once-haunted house in France. A charming story that might just change your mind about the impossible.
Do you believe in Magic? Well, I as a child do believe, and if your opinion is negative, read this story, perhaps you will change your mind.
Many, many years ago, a man named Johnny used to live in a house in France. It was a beautiful house with a huge garden. But after the death of Mr Johnny the house remained unoccupied. In a few years, the house lost its charm due to a lack of maintenance. The paint had worn off and the house looked dirty as leaves covered the ground and the floors of the rooms. Soon residents started believing that the house was a haunted house and no one used to go near it, especially at night.
Moving on with the story let us move to Portugal where a scientist named John Pereira used to live. John was a reputed scientist and was respected for his knowledge. That year it was the time of Christmas when John decided to go for a holiday in France. He wanted to see the Eiffel Tower and other tourist places in France.
John boarded a flight from Humberto Delgado Airport and reached Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. After arrival, he checked in at the Ritz. His room had a great view. The next day John decided to go for a walk after he woke up. The streets of Paris were beautiful and John could not help but notice the roads were filled with cafeterias. John started feeling a strong urge for a cup of coffee as the aroma from the nearby shops touched his nostrils.
John walked into one of the Cafeteria and found a seat near the window. He ordered for a cup of coffee and a croissant. He started feeling quite relaxed, but then all of a sudden some words came to his ears. He looked around and found some people were discussing about something. He concentrated and realised that they were discussing about a haunted house and ghosts.
Being a scientist John never believed in ghosts or haunted houses or any such supernatural things. So when he heard the people discuss about ghosts he smiled. He thought how silly these people are. He decide that he will visit the haunted house, explore it and break the myth.
“Excuse me.” He approached the group, “Are you talking about some haunted house?”
“Yes, it is old Johnny’s house.” They replied.
“Is it true that it is haunted?” John asked.
“Of course it is.” A man replied.
“Have you seen it yourself?” John asked again.
“Well, I haven’t but many people have seen it,” they replied.
“Anyone that you know?” John enquired again.
“Oh come on everyone knows about it.”
“I see,” John paused for a moment, and said, “I was thinking of visiting the house and check myself.”
“Are you out of your mind?” they screamed, “Please don’t do that it is big trouble.”
But John refused to believe them and the next morning he woke up and got ready to go to the infamous haunted house.
After a brief walk, he reached the old mansion. He waited for a while and opened the gate and found the house to be very dirty with dry leaves scattered on the ground so much so that it covered the entire place. Passing then he reached the front of the building where he found a huge door. He opened it slowly. To his surprise he felt a sense of fear, ‘come on John don’t be silly, there is nothing called ghosts’ he told himself.
Gradually he went inside and reached the hall room where there was a sofa and a coffee table. The walls of the house were filled with spider webs and so were the other areas. After a while he found a staircase, he gathered all his courage and started to climb up to check if anything paranormal. He found nothing suspicious ‘See John there is nothing to be scared of’ he told himself.
He continued going up and on the second floor of the house, he found a door yellow in colour. He wanted to open it, but the moment he touched the doorknob the door started to talk to John’s surprise. It said “I am a magical door. You need not be scared of me. You are the first person who is visiting me after old Johnny died. Let me tell you a secret. I can take you anywhere you want. Many people don’t believe me but I am actually a magical door don’t be afraid of me.”
“But why are people so scared of this house?” John asked the door.
“Ten years earlier here lived Mr Johnny all by himself,” the door started, “I used to take him to so many places. But after his death, the house remained unattended and neglected. Many people had come to stay in this house, but the neighbours started badmouthing about the house, they said that this is a haunted house and ghosts stay here, and that is how no one has come here for ages.” The door informed.
John didn’t believe the door, he asked “Can you take me to India?”
“Of course I can.” The door replied.
And soon John found himself in the streets of India. John was surprised but then he realised the door was indeed magical.
After he returned back a few days later, he started thinking and suddenly an idea struck him. He decided to take all the people of France to the house and show them the magical door. But then he realised that people may not come because the house indeed looked haunted in its present state.
He decided to speak to some of his friends and ask them to come to Paris to renovate the house. Later that day he called some of his friends and told the incident about the house and the door. They were very curious to know about it and to explore it. Soon they arrived with some workers and cleaners to renovate and clean the house.
In a few days, his friends arrived in Paris along with some workers and cleaners. The workers renovated the house and the cleaners cleaned the house, and within a few days, the house looked as good as new.
Mr John started an announcement all across France informing about the house and its magical door. Initially no one was willing to come as they were very afraid of the house. But after a while when they heard about the renovation and the changes they decided to come and see for themselves. When they arrived they saw the newly renovated house. Everyone was shocked to see the changes, but they were surprised and started to wonder who did this as no one ever visited Old Johnny’s House.
When they explored the house it seemed like a museum all of Old Johnny’s belongings were decorated on the table, sofa, and other furniture. When they reached upstairs Mr John explained everything about the door.
Soon people started asking for a trip to random places which the door happily did. Everyone present was very happy and thrilled. After this, the people of France were no longer afraid of the house anymore.
Within a short while what was known as ‘Old Johnny’s Haunted House’ got renamed to “Old Johnny’s House with The Magical Door”
Now almost every day everyone in France goes there to reach various places from France. And since then till today the magical door is never unhappy.
You must be wondering what happened to Mr John. Well, he was awarded for his bravery and courage. And since then no one in France believed in Ghosts.
