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Just a story I wrote while taking a break from Mount Usher Reform School. Not sure if I will continue it until I have finished the other but hope you enjoy it! Juinfantji It was a miserable, wet day out and Jenny and her younger brother Karl were bored! They were at their granny’s house and had been told to go and amuse themselves while the grown-ups talked about things they did not want them to hear, but there was literally nothing to do. Normally going to visit Granny Sloane was a day to be looked forward to since she had huge gardens all around her country house with loads of places to play hide and seek, an orchard with plenty of trees to climb and jump down from, and great big lawns to run about and chase one another. However, with the rain literally bucketing down outside, so much so that the plastic barrel for watering the plants was over-flowing, they were stuck in doors where there was only a few of their father’s broken old toys to play with and a grainy tv which only showed three channels. Frankly, Jenny did not understand how Granny Sloane had managed to survive this long without dying of boredom – her house did not even have internet for goodness’ sake! With her phone almost out of battery, Jenny was just about to write the day off and resign herself to perhaps doing some loathsome reading to pass the time, when one of Karl’s frequently stupid questions prompted Jenny to have a brilliant idea. “What is that up there, Jenny” Karl asked in a way that only annoying nine-year-old younger brother can pointing up at the ceiling. “Nothing dung breath, its just the pull-down door to the attic” said Jenny in a superior tone, before a light bulb lit up in her mind and she realised how they were going to be spending their day. Even though she knew they probably were not allowed to play up in the attic, it did not take them long to find the attic pole which was stored in a closet just off the landing. Pulling the door and foldable stairs down with a creak and small puff of dust the two siblings could hardly contain their excitement at what abandoned treasures they might discover left to them from ancestors past. However, this enthusiasm was short-lived however when half an hour’s searching had brought them nothing but worn clothes, Christmas decorations, and out-dated furniture. It was only as they were about to go back down stairs and beg their Granny for a snack to make up for their disappointment when they saw it. Buried under some old suitcases, that Karl knocked over as part of his efforts to find something of interest on the way in, was a solid wooden board game unlike any Jenny had seen before. Picking it up from the floor and placing it on a box nearby, the only word on the cover was Juinfantji. Looking over at Karl and meeting his gaze Jenny knew that they were of one mind it that moment. Whether Juinfantji was any good or not they both had to play such a weird and mysterious game. Unfolding the game, Jenny shakily read the instructions aloud which were clearly written on the left-hand side of board. “Juinfantji A game for those who seek to find A way to leave their maturity behind. You roll the dice to move your token, Doubles gets another turn, The first player to reach the end Wins and cries out Juinfantji." Appearing to be simple enough that even Karl could understand it, Jenny took the ivory-coloured girl piece and placed it at a start point, while Karl took a boy piece and did the same. Since Karl was two years younger than her Jenny benevolently allowed him to go first and under the dim light of the attic’s single exposed bulb, he rolled the dice to begin the game. Karl’s dice landed on four and two giving him a total of six at which point his token started eerily moving forward on its on much to the sibling’s amazement. Jenny was not sure how the mechanism that enabled this worked and was anticipating a stupid question from Karl about it, when suddenly the blue glass dome in the middle of the board lit up and began to spell out a message. Haltingly Jenny read it aloud as it formed "Words imprisoned, silent you stay, To find your voice, a different way. Expression thrives beyond the sound, Through gestures, feelings, silence unbound.” “Words imprisoned? Beyond the sound? When I read the rules, I thought this game was going to be easy” mused Jenny aloud. “But after this I’m not sure what we are supposed to do… Still the dome and the moving pieces are quite cool. What do you think Karl… Karl?” she asked turning to him after realising that he had gone suspiciously silent for him. Seeing Karl, Jenny felt an immediate sense of panic as she could see straight away that something was wrong with her brother. It looked as though he was desperately trying to say something, his face red and straining with effort, but somehow his mouth was not responding as though he had just suddenly lost the ability to speak. It made Jenny worried that her brother was seriously ill or something and was just about to call her mother and granny when she caught sight of the board and suddenly remembered the message. “Words imprisoned” it had said, and now Karl could not speak. She may only have been eleven years old but Jenny always thought she was bright for her age; she took great pride in being able to quickly work out what her peers failed to comprehend. What had just occurred was too unlikely for it to have been a coincidence. Karl had rolled the dice, received a message about being unable to speak, and suddenly he could no longer able to say anything. Realising what had happened a fire lit up inside Jenny. “Okay Karl” Jenny said seriously. “Okay, okay” she said motioning to him to calm down. “I think I know what happened. Though I am not sure how, I think the game just took away your ability to speak.” Hearing these words Karl started to look panicked once more and Jenny knew he was clearly on the verge of tears. “Just hold on Karl okay. I know this seems bad” Jenny soothed him “but it may just be a temporary effect. Like you might just not be able to speak while we are playing the game or even while you are on that place on the board. If we run to mom and granny now and tell them we were doing something we probably were not supposed to, in a place where we probably should not have been, and the result of that is that you cannot speak, is going to get us into a mega, megaton of trouble. And since I’m older I’m going to get it twice as bad.” Karl looked as if he were about to object to this but since he could not talk Jenny just continued “Look let’s just keep playing for the moment. I know it is a bit risky as something else could happen to us but it’s my turn next anyway so whatever happens it will affect me”. Karl just stared at Jenny. “I know, I know” replied Jenny seeing the worry in his eyes. “But what else can we do? If after your next turn you still cannot speak, we will go to mum and granny then no matter what. I promise” said Jenny intently. “But let’s just see if we can get out of this mess on our own first, yeah” she finished gently. Waiting until Jenny saw Karl nod in confirmation, they both returned to the board and Jenny picked up the dice. “Wish me luck” Jenny said “…eh in your head I guess” before throwing the dice. This time the dice landed on six and one giving Jenny seven in total and her token began to move itself just like Karl’s had until it stopped just slightly further along the path than his. Following this, the blue dome lit up again forming a new message which Jenny read “Night's damp embrace, a puzzle to mend, Find the key to dryness, on this journey, ascend. Through patience and care, the answer takes flight, A step towards progress, in each dawn's light.” “Night’s damp embrace?” Jenny puzzled. “Is that something to do with the rain outside? What is this game about? Anyway…” she said turning to Karl “can you talk again now?” Karl looked as though he were trying to say something with his eyes and facial expression but again, he still did not seem to be able to form words. “Oh” said Jenny sounded disappointed for a brief moment before feigning confidence for Karl’s sake “well nothing seems to have changed for me, so maybe it is something to do with the square you landed on. Just try one more roll and if things do not go back to normal, we’ll find mom as we agreed”. Karl nodded his head at this and then seemingly almost trembling with nervousness and trepidation he picked up the dice and took his turn. This time Karl got a five and a three, giving him an eight. Having now gotten used to the creepy, figurines Jenny did not even bother to watch as Karl’s moved forward, and simply stared at the dome until it formed its latest message and read it aloud. “Stuck in stillness, a puzzle to solve, To gain your freedom, let thoughts evolve. Close your eyes, find a world inside, Imagine movement, let your spirit ride.” “Well Karl” Jenny said not even bothering to wonder about new cryptic message “any luck?”. Karl simply shook his head causing Jenny to sigh and internally worry. If continuing on with the game had not caused things to return to normal and nothing had happened to her when she played, was it possible that the link between Karl losing his ability to speak and the messages was all just in her head? Perhaps she had just allowed her imagination to run away with her and Karl really was ill. Had she just put her brother through a whole lot of unnecessary stress and possibly delayed getting him help because she had allowed her belief in her own cleverness to entertain a silly idea that could not even be possible in the first place? Thinking things through Jenny suddenly felt a horrible mixture of guilty, foolish, and extremely anxious over Karl’s wellbeing. Angry at herself Jenny turned to go back to the attic stairs and said “come on Karl, I think I was wrong. We need to get mom and find out why you suddenly can’t speak.” However, when she looked back towards Karl as she was about to descend, she saw that he had not moved. She was about to give out to him and tell him to stop messing around when she saw tears streaming down his face and she felt her stomach drop. “Karl… Karl” she called out to him softly. “Please tell me you’re just scared” she pleaded all while knowing it was not true. “You can move, can’t you? Please don’t tell me something else is after happening to you as well.” Unfortunately, Karl was too upset to respond to Jenny in any sort of meaningful way. It seemed that on top of being unable to talk, he was now unable to move as well. Realising this Jenny also felt herself become overwhelmed and after rushing to Karl, hugging him while crying herself, frantic with worry, she reassured him that she was going to get mom and would be back in two minutes. Practically sliding down the attic stairs, Jenny then ran to the kitchen where she burst in on her mother and granny having a quiet chat over a cup of tea. “Mom, mommy, granny” cried a blubbering Jenny “There’s something wrong with KARL! Wewentuptotheattictoplayandstartedplayingaboardgameandnowhecan’tmoveorspeak”. Sighing her Jenny’s mother turned to the hysterical young girl and said haughtily “Slow down young lady. Neither myself or your grandmother can understand a single word you are saying when you speak like that. Now, I was just about able to make out from that garbled rush of words that something happened to your brother. Where is he and what is wrong? Speak clearly now” Forcing herself to slow down Jenny began “He is up in the attic…” “Up in the attic?” interrupted Jenny’s mother. “This better not be another one of your silly pranks Jenny. How would he have gotten up into the attic when he can’t walk?” she delivered sternly, fixing Jenny with a serious gaze. Jenny, not quite expecting this response, simply replied “of course he can walk, or well he could before he went into the attic” feeling perplexed. “Jenny” said her grandmother in a mirthful tone. “Are you trying to have us on? I know there is not much for you to do around here with the rain outside but you are a clever girl. Surely, you can come up with something to amuse yourself while your mother and I catch up. Or at least take the time to think of a better story than to tell us your poor disabled brother has somehow made his way up a flight of stairs.” “But…” said Jenny, not knowing how to proceed in light of such strange responses “But he really is in the attic and he is upset.” Jenny’s mother looked very annoyed and seemed like she was about to give out to her, when her granny put her hand on her mother’s lap and gently said “Peace Miriam. I think Jenny just needs a bit of attention. You put the kettle on and refresh the teapot while I’ll see what the matter is” Miriam, Jenny’s mother, looked as though she was about to protest for a moment, but then thought better of it and nodded at Jenny’s grandmother before getting up to boil the kettle. “Now then Jenny” her granny said “let’s see what has you so willing to risk your mother’s ire on this rotten afternoon”. Dissatisfied with what she had heard, but glad that she had been able to get her granny to go along with her, Jenny took her granny’s hand and led her through the door and over to the attic stairs. Although her granny seemed reluctant and muttered something about children not being allowed into the attic, she followed Jenny up to see what she was fussing about. However, when she saw Karl up their crying her former serenity seemed to disappear and she became quite cross. Rushing over to Karl, embracing him and trying to sooth him she said “Jenny! How in the good lord’s name did you manage to get Karl up here! I was willing to overlook that you went snooping in my attic which any sensible girl would realise is out of bounds without an adult present, but to force your brother to go along with you! Have you taken leave of your sense’s young lady? Stay with your brother while I go get your mother for help. I don’t even want to think about how you did it, but it is going to be one hell of a job getting him back down again” Jenny could only scarcely bring herself to stand beside Karl and place her hand on his shoulder while she tried to process the conversations she had with her mother and granny so far. She did not want to believe it, but it sounded to her like they thought it was normal for Karl to be this way. But then, how could that be? Karl had been just fine before they started playing… the game. Juinfantji, that was the source of their current circumstances she realised. She had not been letting her imagination run wild before as she feared. Everything that had happened, occurred after they had received the messages, and now it seemed like the world around them and everyone in it had been altered to adhere to the changes the game made. Jenny began to sob, feeling hopelessly lost. How was she supposed to get Karl out of this mess when the grown-ups did not realise anything was wrong? Just then her mother came up the stairs with her granny and seeing Karl said “Don’t bother putting on the waterworks Jenny. You are in big trouble young lady! I cannot believe you would do this to your brother. And in your granny’s house. You have embarrassed me BIG time here today with your unbelievable behaviour. You are going to help us get your brother down and back into his wheel chair and then he can watch as I redden you bottom something fierce…!” Jenny froze up, hearing her mother’s words. It seemed something else had changed too. Her mother had never spanked her before in her life. “And then…” her mother continued “After you have stood in the naughty corner for a good long time until you feel truly sorry about what you have put your brother through today. I’ll get you ready into your nappy and pyjamas and send you to bed early.” Corner? Thought Jenny. Nappy…? Why would her mother put her into a nappy, she was not a baby. Then in a rush, it came to her. “Nights damp embrace”. She had thought that nothing had happened on her turn, but what if something had. “Nappy”, “find the key to dryness”. Though it was hard for her to accept, it sounded like the game had taken away her ability to use the toilet at night and turned her into a bedwetter.