Danny nearly turned to run. He didn't want to see the owner, he didn't want to see inside the house. His heart told him it was a monster ready to swallow him all. He turned and his legged sent a sharp pain through him. He winced. The door was opened now, he didn't look back.
"Goodness me, are you ok?"
The kind voice shocked Danny out of his panic.
He turned back to the door.
"Oh my paper thank you."
The kindly old woman took the newspaper from his hand. She was little, a bit shorter than Danny, and she has big rosie cheeks and a round face. Big glasses, like his nans concealed the big green eyes beneath. Her hair was gray and curly, not long. She wore a grey woollen cardigan and a dark brown skirt.
"Look at your leg your poor thing."
Danny looked down at the leg, it was bleeding still and his jeans were torn.
"Let's get you cleaned up."
Danny complied and followed the woman as she turned around the corner and in to the kitchen. It was warm in there, a little too warm for summer. The air smelled of porridge and the orange tiled floor gave the sun's light a warming reflection.
She pulled out one of the two chairs and patted it.
"Sit yourself down...."
"Danny" he found his voice through the bemusement.
"Danny! Nice to meet you Danny I'm Alice." She smiled and started rummaging through the top shelf of a cupboard next to the sink.
She pulled out a tin, biscuits or something. It was older than he was. There were pills, bandages, plasters and cotton wool. Danny fancied a biscuit.
"Sorry no treats in here." She said reading his mind.
"You can finish my slice of cake if you like."
The table next to him has a floral plate with a bit of victoria sponge and a cup of tea.
"Can I please?" He asked.
"You can, but first let's pull that leg up so I can get this."
She dabbed some TCP on to a cotton wool ball as Danny lifted up his leg.
"This might sting, so get stuck in to that cake."
Danny grabbed the slice and took a big bite. She was right it did sting.
She worked quickly to clear the grit and dirt from the scratch and graze. Danny sat eating the cake not minding so much. When it was done the cut was much smaller.
"That's better"
She went back to the box, picking out a big plaster and placing it on his leg carefully just as Danny finished the cake.
"Very brave! How did you manage that?" She asked
"It was a car." Danny said.
"Oh dear, there's not much patience in the world these days.
Danny stood up.
"Thank you Mrs Alice and thank you for the cake it was delicious."
Alice smiled gently.
"I have to take my bag back now."
She nodded.
"Of course dear. Go steady will you!"
Danny left, thanking her again as she went, she stopped at the door and waved before closing it.
Danny's ride back the newsagents was filled with confusion. Why was he ever scared of that house? What was that feeling at the door? Alice seemed a really nice lady.
He was still running through it when he walked through the door of the newsagents. Not noticing the closed sign was up. Walked to the back of the counter but Mr Jones wasn't there. He stepped round it and went to the back as he had done sometimes to put the bag in the pile next to his desk.
He threw the luminous bag down before he saw what was occurring.
The creature stopped its meal and stood up off the floor. It's size was massive, it could barely fit in the confines of the room, it crouched as it reached the ceiling. The bright green skin, mottled and weathered. The hands were bigger than Danny. It's eyes black and mean. Whisps of white hair protruded from just above it's long pointed ears.
Mr Jones.
Danny looked at it and its meal, she couldn't see much behind the creature massive foot, but a small leg stuck out. Wearing sneakers.
"I thought I locked that." The creature spoke, it's voice wasn't raised but the noise boomed in the small space.
"Thing thing is with you paperboys." The thing grinned wide, disgusting stained, pointed teeth line it's mouth.
"Not very filling." It stepped forward Danny stepped back.
"So I'm glad for seconds." Danny bolted for the door but Mr Jones was quicker.
Without any effort it held him up by his leg and leaned down so his massive face filled Danny's view.
"You're not even a snack." He growled.
The door to the newsagent opened and Alice walked in.
"I thought I smelled a troll." Her voice said in a single song way.
Mr Jones hissed like a cat and dropped Danny to the floor.
"Witch!" He boomed.
Alice clicked her fingers and Mr Jones burst in to flame.
Her roared in agony as the the fire grew brighter and brighter and in an instant he was gone.
Alice walked towards Danny. She leant down to speak to him.
"Would you like to have a chat over some more cake?"
