The Adventures of Mark and David

By Ronald Bonett

For Mark David and their friends, the wide side yard of the boarded up Drezden mansion, was one of the only safe places to play a game of baseball or football. For twelve year olds living in an industrial and row home inner-city neighborhood, it was a place they would gather almost every Saturday.

This particular Saturday would be different from all others. By chance, their baseball rolled against the wall and stopped near a basement window. Mark seeing the window partially open, decided to climb in. After coaxing his friend David to go in with him, they find while exploring, a large vestibule mirror with a bench seat. To their surprise, they're able to pass through the mirror and get a glimpse of the past. It becomes the explorers delight, filled with new friends, fun and adventures.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Nov 10, 2020
• ISBN: 9781098344979

Book preview

Adventure

Introduction

For Mark, David and their friends, the wide side yard of the boarded up Drezden mansion, was one of the only safe places to play a game of baseball or football. For twelve year olds living in an industrial and row home inner-city neighborhood, it was a place they would gather almost every Saturday.

This particular Saturday would be different from all others. By chance, their baseball rolled against the wall and stopped near a basement window. Mark seeing the window partially opened decided to climb in. After coaxing his friend David to go in with him, they find while exploring, a large vestibule mirror with a bench seat. To their surprise, they’re able to pass through the mirror and get a glimpse of the past. It became the explorers delight, filled with new friends, fun and adventures.

Chapter 1

Through The Window

The Old Drezden Mansion stood on the south side of Allegheny Avenue since the 1880’s, and had been vacant for many years. Mark and his friends always felt a sense of foreboding walking past it, especially on Halloween night. The huge three-story brown-stone had a large front porch with four tall pillars supporting its roof. The side of the mansion had a covered entrance, large enough for a horse drawn carriage to load or discharge people on rainy or snowy days. With its boarded windows and doors, it seemed like a huge tombstone waiting its fate, just as the other mansions that were once here. One by one, they disappeared, making way for the factories and row houses that now occupy the neighborhood.

To 11-year-old boys, Allegheny Avenue seemed as wide as a river. There was a lane for parking on each side of the street, two lanes for trolley cars in the center, and two passing lanes. It was almost impossible to cross from one side to the other without going to the corner and obeying the traffic signal. At rush hour, in late afternoon, when people were heading home from the many factories, the traffic resembled a giant log jam with trucks, trolleys and cars, often at a standstill.

The Drezden Mansion seemed out of place, but the huge side yard was the only piece of ground large enough to have a baseball or football game.

The family who owned the estate for many years, were industrialists. They were in the business since the early 1800’s making saw blades for most of the world. They were very prominent people and the neighborhood was referred to as the Drezden section of the city. The last person to occupy the mansion was Alice Drezden. Her grandfather had the house built in 1880, and she lived there all her life, and died a spinster, at the age of 72- around 1955 or 1956.

Mark and David were best friends. They went to the same elementary school with a few other boys and girls their age that also lived in the neighborhood. Most Saturdays, they would gather at the side yard of the old mansion to play. Sometimes they would challenge each other to see who was bravest, climbing one of the several large oak trees at the end of the yard. This particular Saturday would be different. It was the beginning of an adventure Mark or David would never forget.

It’s a strike! It’s a strike! yelled David.

No, it wasn’t. It’s a foul tip, replied Carl.

I’ll get it, cried Mark, as he ran for the baseball.

The ball had rolled across the lawn stopping against the wall, near a basement window.

Hey look, Mark said, The windows open. Pushing it in a little further, he stared into the darkened room. Trying to decide if he should be brave enough to go in, he finally felt courageous enough. Turning around, he pushed the window open with his feet, slowly descending into the darkness.

Hey Mark! -Where you going? David said, grabbing hold of his sleeve before he was all the way in.

I want to see what it’s like in this place, Mark said.

David pleading still holding his sleeve replied, Come on, we’ll get in trouble. Let’s finish the game.

All their friends had gathered around the open window, when another boy said, He’s right Mark. You’ll get in trouble. They’ll tell your dad you were one of those burglars. One of those guys that have to wear a black mask from now on.

Mark hesitated for a few moments, trying to decide whether they were right, then replied, No, I still want to go in. Pausing for another moment feeling a little less secure by himself, he asked, David, don’t be such a sissy, come on in.

Mark was now all the way in looking up at the open window, not venturing very far into the darkened room until he was sure David would follow. David was hesitant, still holding the window open staring down at Mark, until Mark said again, Well, are you coming?

Not wanting to show his friends he was afraid, David lay on the ground and feet first, began his decent.

Wait David, Mark said, I’ll put a box under the window so you can step down on it.

Sun light shining through the small window was the only light to see by, and the further away from the window, the darker the room became, and before very long, they had to find their way in almost total darkness.

Trying to find the stairs to the first floor was like going through a maze. The room was filled with old furniture, rolled up carpets, and other odd objects they weren’t familiar with. They passed things that were dusty that hadn’t been used for many years, things they had only seen in pictures or old movies. An old hand cranked record-player with what seemed like a large horn attached, was on a table shrouded in cob webs, with dusty stacks of records and old books piled next to it.

David asked, What’s that?

It’s a record player, Mark replied, My grandfather had one. After he died, we were cleaning out his basement, and I found it. They really sound funny, not like music at all, just a bunch of noise. Look I’ll show you how it works, Mark cranked the handle and the record started to play, making more noise than music, See, I told you, he said.

Hearing the strange noise that was supposed to be music, David’s first instinct was to climb back out through the window. As the record player slowly ran down coming to a stop, his fear ended. An old trunk with a rounded top and more dust covered books were on a bench nearby.

A massive coal furnace was in the middle of the room, with ductwork extending from the furnace that spread through the basement, like the arms of a giant octopus. Going around the furnace, David suddenly stopped.

Ah, Ah, look, Mark! There’s someone there. Stopping, they saw a ghostly like figure standing before them.

I’m getting out of here, David said, having all the adventure he could stand. Mark grabbed the sleeve of his jacket. Look, it’s only a dummy with an old dress hanging on it.

Trying to pretend it really didn’t scare him, David bravely continued following Mark to the basement stairs. Opening the door at the top, they entered the kitchen. It was brighter than the basement, but looking around they were surprised at its size. The cabinets reached from floor to ceiling, and there was a ladder in the corner to reach the higher shelves.

Two ovens for cooking, and a large iron ring was suspended from the ceiling, with different size pots and pans hanging from it. They were probably used to prepare delicious meals, entertaining great parties in year’s gone-bye. Wide eyed, taking in the view, Mark said, This kitchen’s bigger than the whole downstairs of my house.

Wow! Mine too! I never saw anything this big, David replied.

A large table used to prepare food was in the middle of the room, and different size knives and ladles hung from hooks along both sides. Curious to see what a small open door was, David lifted it and looked inside.

Hey, look at this. It must be an elevator for a midget.

Mark laughed. I saw a movie on T.V. once that had one of these. It’s for sending food upstairs.

Don’t they eat in the kitchen? David asked.

No, dummy, there aren’t any chairs. Are there?

Realizing his mistake, David replied, Well they have to eat someplace.

Opening a few cabinet doors, they saw dishes and a few old cans of food left from years ago. David picked up a large can examining it. Look at this can of peaches Mark, the price is stamped on it, seven cents.

Yeah, things were cheap in those days. My dad always says the prices were better when he was young.

After exploring what was in the cabinets and drawers, they wandered out through two large swinging doors into a large dining room.

This is where they must have eaten dinner. We didn’t see a table in the kitchen. They must have eaten their breakfast here too! David said.

Mark replied, We only eat our supper in the dining room. There’s too many of us to eat in the kitchen.

Candlesticks at each end of the massive table were covered with cobwebs and there was a vase in the center also shrouded with them. With the house being empty for years, spiders had woven their silky creations from a chandelier and other pieces of furniture in the room.

Going through another doorway, they entered a center hall. Beautifully carved wood panels lined the walls on both sides, and large paintings still hung above the paneling. From there, they could see the living room, library, and what looked like an office. As they wandered into each room, they saw dust covered sheets over most of the furniture.

Going into the Library, they were amazed at all the book shelves. On the end of the book shelves, were a few small statues, like the candlesticks, they too were covered with cob webs. The wind blowing down the large stone fireplace made a groaning noise, and they paused, trying to figure out where it was coming from.

"Wah! What’s that noise? David nervously asked.

I don’t know, I don’t think it’s a ghost though, Mark replied.

David nervously said, This place sure seems like it might have ghosts.

Each room on the first floor seemed