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again. Penny on the other hand saw it for what
it was in its current state. A big, old, dilapidated
haunted house.
“Well, let’s go in,” declared Laura. Penny
grabbed the bags and Laura took the rolling
crate by the handle and began dragging it up
the stairs, one step at a time.
“Be careful,” cautioned Penny, “it looks like
you could fall through this porch at any minute.”
know free meeting space is hard to come by. The “Don’t be such a worry wart.” Laura reached
house will be renovated soon. Besides, it will add into her purse and pulled out a smaller skeleton
a little spice to our meetings.” key, the kind you don’t see anymore, hanging
“That’s what Table Topics are for. Is there from a red satin ribbon. She pushed it into the
electricity or heat?” grumbled Penny. keyhole, turned it back and forth several times
“Of course, there’s electricity,” she snapped. then jiggled it a bit until the bolt finally moved
“Park your car over there.” Laura pointed to a and the door opened.
spot in the large circular drive in front of the “Isn’t this exciting?” Laura was grinning from
mansion. “We need to get set up for the meeting, ear to ear as she stepped across the threshold.
everyone will be here soon.” Penny parked the Before them stood a sweeping staircase. “It’s
car, got out, and opened the trunk. As Sergeant magnificent, just like in a castle.”
at Arms, Laura hauled the meeting equipment “How can you tell, it’s so dark in here?”
back and forth every week. She pulled out the grumbled Penny. “It smells musty, and I think
bags with the banner and banner stand. Penny I’m going to sneeze. Where’s the light switch?”
helped her lift the rolling crate out and set it on “Oh, I’m sure it’s here somewhere.” Laura ran
the ground. It was filled with everything they her hands along the wall in search of a switch.
needed to conduct a Toastmasters meeting. “Here it is.” She flipped it but nothing happened.
Armed with their supplies, they stared again She tried it again, flipping it up and down several
at the imposing structure. Despite its state of times, but still nothing. “I guess we need to find
disrepair, Laura could see through the peeling the breaker box.”
paint, hanging shutters, and dirty windows that “And where might that be?” Penny hissed.
it had been a place of grandeur. And it would be “Most likely in the basement.”
VOICES! | SEPTEMBER 2022 25
