“Ah..” Jimmy exhaled an entire breath out of relief. Finally, he had reached his destination, an out-of-place cabin near the edge of the town. Being a backpacker through the Asia’s remote locations meant Jimmy had to find exotic places to stay overnights. The cabin where he would be a sleepover was recommended by a fellow backpacker a few days ago, based on the night market nearby. Immediately, Jimmy could see and smell the remains of the night markets from the night before.
“Hello!” Jimmy raised his voice at the door. The garden was full of rubbish and mud. Once in front of the main door, Jimmy could see the door had no door handle and wondered if he should have pushed to enter the cabin. But the door creaked and an elderly man opened the door with a smile with gaps between the remaining teeth. He nodded a few times after showing the hand phone number and showed Jimmy to the bedroom for the night.
The house was bigger from inside than from outside with 2 storey with the staircase at the left side. Jimmy observed there was a fish tank near the main door with no fish and also an empty plate with milk on the floor, presumably for a cat. The flooring was made entirely of bamboo which would explain the creaking noise from Jimmy’s steps. There was a black and white painting at the living room, a young man and woman and a bright colour photo of 2 young children. Jimmy noticed the resemblance between the elderly man and the young man but too tired from the bus station to make any conversation. Perhaps, over the breakfast the next morning, he thought to himself.
After a quick shower, the sun was near the horizon and Jimmy could see the stalls lighting up across the street. Soon, there was a sizable crowd accompanied by the sound of music over the radio and dancers moving to the rhythm. Jimmy had a wonderful night at the market and near midnight before he returned to the cabin. The housekeeper was not seen, but Jimmy could open the door himself with the key given earlier and made his way towards the bed walking unsteadily from the beer he had.
He paused near the stairs to pick up the plastic ball at the base. It was a cheap toy for the little boys. Jimmy reminded himself to tell the owner as someone could have tripped over the toy and fall coming down from the stair. He made his way towards the bedroom and jumped on the bed with no more toys in his path.
Sounds of children playing from above.
Jimmy was a heavy sleeper, but a rather loud noise coming from the room above awoke him. From the sound made, Jimmy imagined one or two children playing with the marbles, a rather popular game on that side of the world. Jimmy reluctantly sat up from the bed and reached towards his watch on the table. It was 5 AM. Jimmy wondered what kind of children be playing of the night? His eyes closed as soon as he lay down on the bed again.
The morning came and Jimmy was still sleeping. It was near noon before Jimmy woke up and rushed for the bus towards the capital city. He quickly changed his clothes and ran out of the house without saying goodbye to owner sitting near the main door or the two children playing with marbles on the second floor near the stair. Thankfully, the payment for the night was pre-paid via the reservation website or else he would have to wait for the next bus as he was the last passenger to board it. Just as the bus was leaving the town, it slowed down to allow for a funeral procession to proceed.
There were 2 small caskets passed by the bus and pictures of the children followed. Jimmy thought he had seen them before so he asked the man besides whom he recognized as the stall owner from the night market that he bought the beer from.
“Those two children drowned last week playing at the river.” Jimmy heard the reply and the subsequent answer chilled him.
“Don’t you know? You stayed with their grandpa last night.”