6
When they came back through the attic, the wooden handles on the doors were back on where they should have been. There was no metal chain and no mess.
Aoife looked at Niamh as they peered out of the opening. “Let’s hope it’s fixed” said Aoife hopefully and climbed out again. “This has to be the last time” she said to herself.
They ran downstairs and checked the couch and the paint and the fireplace – everything looked as it had been – everything looked normal. Aoife went over to the loose stone and pulled it out. She was very surprised. There were lots and lots of pieces of slate in there.
She pulled out the one closest to her. It read – Thank you Aoife and Niamh – 1856. Aoife held it in her hand and tried to work out the date. “That means Lizzy would be about 70 then” she thought.
“We did it! We did it Niamh” she shouted and they hugged each other with a huge sigh of relief.
“Dad!” she shouted. Dad shouted back – “Yes Aoife?”
“Where are you?” said Aoife.
“I’m in the kitchen,” he replied.
Both girls ran through and looked at their father.
He was sitting at the kitchen table just reading a newspaper as if nothing had happened. He looked up and just stared at them. Are you girls ok, you look kind of weird.
“Is it you Dad” said Aoife?
“Is it me? Yes it’s me – are you alright? Is your ear hurting you again?”
Aoife looked at Niamh and they let out a big laugh …
“Dad we are just fine” and they ran to give him a hug.
He stood up to make them both a mug of hot chocolate.
He looked at his watch. It had stopped.
What time is it Aoife?
Both girls looked at each other, rolled their eyes and let out a scream …..