Jack and Annie's Magical Garden

By I C Henderson

Jack had been in an accident his injuries kept him up at night, he would often sit in his conservatory looking out over his garden, one night he had visitors that took him by surprise .

Never in his wildest dreams would he had ever thought what he was seeing was real.

At first he thought it might have been his painkillers so he reduced them, then it came the day that he had to show his wife, to make sure that it was not his imagination.

Sure enough what he was seeing night after night was real.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 17, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483636955

I C Henderson

Ian Henderson Author of Jack and Annie I started to write this story in2003, I had been in a car accident that left me with a number of injuries. Like Jack I would sit up looking out into the garden late at night and early hours in the morning, watching all sorts of creatures some that I had never seen in my garden during daylight. Since starting this story I have been blessed with four grandchildren, the youngest at this time now in heaven and who I dedicate this to: Frankie Michael Henderson Always in my thoughts

Book preview

Chapter 1

IN A LITTLE village in the north east of England, there lived Jack and his wife Annie

Jack was in his late thirties but liked to think of himself as younger he had worked hard all of his life, he had always been fit and active, but just now, things were not looking too good.

Jack had been in a car accident and had hurt his back, when walking the pain was too much, so he used crutches, these helped him to push up and ease the pain in his back.

He spent most of his time in the conservatory at the back of the house.

They had had it built, just before the accident; so it had come as a blessing, as they never thought it would become their main room.

Over the next few months they would spend most of their time in there as Jack could not get comfortable on any of the other chairs in the house.

The conservatory chairs were comfortable, it was warm and it looked out over the back garden, down and out over the small patio.

At the end of the patio they had a bridge over a pond, this led down on to the lawn, at the bottom of the garden they had a greenhouse with a large shed beside it, at the side of this there was a small vegetable patch, where Jack, who was a keen gardener used to grow his own vegetables.

During the day lots of different types of birds visited the garden the bird table was always full, both Jack and Annie loved to sit and watch the wild life, where they looked out they could even see the fish as they swam in the pond. Jack was getting fed up sitting down all day, so he would try to get up and go into the garden, but it was too much too soon. Jack could not lie down for long, as this would irritate his back, so even during the night he would get up and go into the conservatory and look out at the garden, sometimes the moon would give the garden a little light which would help Jack relax.

This was Jacks favourite time as early in the morning he would often see different variety of animals, some that he would not see in daylight. If he was luckily enough to see anything that he did not recognise, he would often look it up on the internet.

This would keep Jack busy he could learn about other things when doing this, he would learn about all sorts of things that he had never thought of before.

This also helped Annie Jacks wife, as she could still go to work and not worry too much about Jack getting himself up to mischief, and maybe hurting himself trying to do something that he was not ready to do yet.

Annie would help him all she could when she was at home or even when she was at work she would phone him, just to make sure that he was alright

Jack would often wake her when he was trying to get out of bed, even when he was trying to be quiet; the moans he would make when he was pulling himself up out of the bed, often woke Annie

Chapter 2

ONE MORNING AS dawn was breaking, Jack was sitting in his chair looking out of the window down towards the waterfall, when he noticed something scurrying across the bridge—looks like we have mice he thought to himself,

Upstairs Annie had woken up and was getting up to see where Jack was.

Annie knew that he was getting depressed, since the accident sleep was something they did not get a lot of.

Jack just could not get comfortable for very long, because of this He was getting fed-up with this and the pain.

Annie often awoke through the night when Jack was up, and she would get up to see if she could help.

Jack could hear Annie coming down the staircase, the floorboards often squeaked near the bottom of the stairs.

Annie come look at this he called Quick see this

What’s the matter? Annie asked as she came through the living room.

We must have mice running around the pond, after our breakfast will you get two or three mouse traps, when you go out? Asked Jack

Annie agreed as she did not want the garden overrun with mice and she knew the mouse traps would keep Jack occupied for some time, so she would go along with it.

Jack told Annie that they could put one in the greenhouse and some in the flowerbeds around the fishpond.

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All at once he had his day worked out; this was the best Annie had seen him in months. He was making plans and had a day to fill.

Are you coming with me to the shops? Annie asked Jack. You could see what things you may need

Annie knew that there were a lot of different types of traps. It was also a chance to get Jack out of the house.

Yes I better come as there are a number of different types of mouse trap’s available so when do you think you will be ready? Jack said all ready and wanting to go.

Jack you have not been this keen for a long time, give me a chance replied Annie as she started to get herself ready I’ve just got up let me at least get a cup of coffee

Jack was full of enthusiasm, he had not been like this for some time; Annie was pleased to see him full of excitement.

Annie got her drink and took it back to the bedroom so that she could get dressed, when she was ready off they went to the local DIY store; while there they looked around, then they decided to buy two rat traps and two mousetraps.

Jack as eager as ever, paid for them, and then wanted to get straight back and sort out what he was going to do in the garden. This will sort them out, I’ll get started when I get back, do you think we could go back now? he asked Annie.

Annie smiled to herself, not saying anything she thought to herself he’s like a young boy wanting to play with his new toys.

Yes we will not be long now Annie replied.

When they got back Jack looked around the garden to see the best place to put the traps,

Then Annie came out Jack don’t put them out just now, just the birds might get hurt in them Jack agreed I’ll just look to see the best place, and I’ll put them out tonight

Jack had not thought about the birds so he was glad that Annie had realized that he was just going to put them out.

So he went back into to the house so that he could draw a diagram, so he could remember where he had put the traps

That night Jack placed the traps, one under the bridge, one near the waterfall, the other two he placed in the greenhouse.

Well, he thought to himself, this should help clear up the mouse problem.

Chapter 3

THE NEXT MORNING Jack was first up as always, he looked out of the window he could not see the trap under the bridge.

Looking confused Annie was up and half-asleep.

What’s happening Jack? She asked as she rubbed her face trying to wake up properly.

The trap, it’s gone! Jack replied in a disappointed tone.

Looking and feeling confused Jack could not work out what had happened to the trap .He got his crutches and went outside.

I’m going to see if it has fallen into the pond

Annie shook her head as if he was an old fool.

I’ll stick the kettle on for a cup of tea, do you want one Jack?

Jack gave no answer as his head was all over the place, he was determined to find his trap.

Don’t answer you old daft… muttered Annie

Just then Jack put his head back in the door with a smile on his face.

I’m not old, and yes I will have a cup, hurry up, just put it on the table I’ll not be long

Annie having been caught out laughed, and got on with the breakfast.

Jack went out into the garden; he looked around the pond, but could not see the trap he had placed under the bridge.

The one near the waterfall was still there.

Jack then walked over to the greenhouse to see if the traps had been sprung.

He noticed one of the traps in the greenhouse had something in it. Whatever it was looked bigger than a mouse but smaller than a Rat it was like nothing he had ever seen before, so Jack buried it at the bottom of the garden.

He wondered if he needed a rat trap near the pond, as he only had small mouse traps around there, so he decided to move a larger trap from the greenhouse, closer to the fishpond.

Chapter 4

THE NEXT TWO weeks were the strangest, the traps were set off, but there was always a stick near them or even in them.

Jack picked the sticks up then put them into the compost bin but the next day there would be more sticks beside the traps.

This went on for weeks. A little bit confused Jack was now set on finding out what was happening.

Annie can you get some of those solar power lights? Asked Jack with a smile on his face.

What do you want with them Jack? Annie asked, as if she did not know.

Well when I’m sitting late at night and early in the morning, I’ll be able to see what’s there, and it would make your garden look nice Jack told Annie trying to make it sound as if he is doing her a good deed.

Annie thought, he is going mad, but it would keep him occupied, and give him something to do, plus it will make the garden look nice at night. So she soon came around to the idea.

Are you coming then, to get those lights? And who’s paying for them!

Annie knowing that she would have to pay still liked to ask, to see what Jack might come up with.

Well Annie I’m not working and you are, so if you can I’ll not mind, He said with a smile.

Well come on then, I don’t have a lot of time, so hurry up. As I have to be at work, so it’s straight there and straight back ok? Annie replied not too happy with having to rush around before she had to go to work.

How about that store at the end of town, they have a special offer on? Annie asked. Jack knew Annie did not have a lot of time, so he thought the store was the quickest to get to. And then he could get on quickly