Timo and Teddy Saville in Sneezlewood
Chapter 1 - A Visitor
Timo flung open the flimsy fly screen door and stood on the back steps. His face tingled in the warmth of the bright sun. The back garden was all lush and green, and the monsoon rain had turned it into a tumble of vines, thorns and flowers. They climbed all over each other, pushing and pulling their way to the sun. The sparrows were back too. They twittered and swooped while chasing butterflies under the mango tree, and nearby ladybugs wandered around on big fern leaves. The winter had been so long and so cold but now, finally, it was summer. He wanted to run and tell his mum. She loved the early days of summer, but she was sick in bed and had been for two months now. She was probably asleep, he thought. Instead he stared out into the garden with a smile on his face.
Out of the corner of his eye, Timo saw a little patch of red poking through a mess of vines near the fence. That’s strange, he thought. Whatever it was it was surrounded by leaves and bushes, and covered with spiky thorns. He walked down the gravel path then stepped into the garden. His shoes sank into the muddy ground and he could feel his toes getting wet through his blue sneakers. Moving closer he could see it was an old red mailbox. It was like the ones he’d seen in postcards from London; big and red and made out of lumpy iron. It had a slot for letters and a big foldout flap for packages. It looked like something the queen might put her mail in. He carefully pulled away the spikes and big leafy branches that were covering the front of it.
‘Ow!’ A stray thorn cut deep into his hand when he reached for the handle. He pulled away quickly and a tear of blood ran down his finger.
The rounded bronze handle was stuck hard. Timo pulled and pulled with all his strength till finally he heard a slight creaking sound. Suddenly a voice came out of nowhere.
The rounded bronze handle was stuck hard. Timo pulled and pulled with all his strength till finally he heard a slight creaking sound. Suddenly a voice came out of nowhere.
‘Easy there boyo. Gentle now. I’m not as young as I used to be.’ It was a deep voice, deep, husky and a little sad. Timo jumped back and fell into a pile of nettles.
‘Ow. Ow. That hurt!’ He swung his head from side to side pulling nettles out of his backside trying to stand up again.
‘Who…Who are you?’ He could hear a tremble in his voice but he tried to sound like a grown-up. ‘A-a-and where are you?’
‘I’m right in front of you,’ the voice said in. ‘Just open your eyes.’
Timo peered behind the mailbox.
‘No. Not there. I said in front of you.’
It sounded like the voice was right next to him and he jerked his head back again and stared at the mailbox.
‘Yeah that’s right. Now you’re getting there.’
Timo peered at the mailbox trying to figure it out. It must be Jordi playing a trick on him, he thought. But he wasn’t anywhere to be seen.
‘Is it so strange that I can talk?’ the voice said.
Timo looked at the mailbox.
‘I guess not. I just never met a mailbox that could before.’
‘Call me Milton 3057, it’s my name and area,’ said the mailbox.
‘Milton… It’s nice to meet you. I’m Timo.’
‘I know,’ said Milton in his deep voice.
‘Do all mailboxes talk?’
‘Some of them. If they want to, that is. Most just prefer to read everyone’s letters.’
‘Other people’s letters? That’s not a very nice thing to do,' said Timo. 'Do many people know?’
‘Well, most of the time we keep quiet, so no. Not many. It means the crillows don’t freak out so much.
‘Crillows? Who are the crillows.’
'Why they’re those who don’t believe. Those who only see what their brains tell them is possible to see. Nothing else.'
‘Really?’
‘In this crazy world of elephants and giraffes, aeroplanes and computers, is it so crazy to think there might be mailboxes that talk. Our iron bellies are so full of stories all day long sometimes we have to read to pass the time on long journeys.’
‘Can you tell me one?’ said Timo excitedly.
‘I thought you said it was the wrong thing to do?’
‘But you’ve already read them, so it can’t hurt to tell one of them to me.’
Milton laughed a croaky laugh.
‘You make a strong case young Timo. But sadly I have another letter to deliver. I’ll have to tell you a story some other time. Anyway. There is a letter addressed to you, so I think maybe you have your own story right here.’ Milton seemed to sparkle as he said this. ‘There’s one thing that’s very important.’ Milton’s voice went very quiet and Timo leaned forward. ‘We’re not allowed to talk to grown-ups. Not ever. So don’t go telling your mum or dad about our little chat.’
‘But they would have seen you!’ Timo pointed back to the house. ‘I saw you from the back step.’
‘Sometimes grown-ups don’t see everything that’s in front of them, Timo. You’ll see that soon enough. Children can be just as smart as them, sometimes even smarter. Anyway. Enough of that… I’ve got an important letter for you. It’s from Teddy Saville.’
‘Who’s Teddy Saville?’ asked Timo.
‘Who’s Teddy Saville? Who’s Teddy Saville?’ Milton’s voice rose and he sounded offended. ‘He’s only the smartest, kindest, bravest and most mysterious creature in the whole wide world.’
‘What is he?’ said Timo.
Milton laughed. ‘He’s Teddy Saville. That’s enough to know right now.’
Timo’s eyes were ablaze with excitement. ‘Is he a teddy?’
‘Of course not. He’s Teddy Saville. That’s all.’
‘What’s so great about him then?’ Timo asked.
‘Ok boyo, it’s time you stopped asking questions. Things will happen and then more things will happen. We can’t ever hope to know them all so lets just find out as we go along.’
Timo looked at Milton the mailbox and for a second he thought that Milton smiled. But of course Milton couldn’t smile, he was a mailbox after all.
‘Go on then, open the flap and take the letter,' said Milton. 'I can’t stand around talking to you all day can I?’
Check in for the next installment soon.
