The Red Bicycle

A mist‑laden November afternoon finds a reluctant thirteen‑year‑old boy, Neddy, hauling a cart of fresh linens through winding lanes toward the parish rectory. He wrestles with a stubborn white donkey, Nelly, while his mother, the sharp‑tongued Mrs. Mellin, watches a looming, ivy‑clad mansion whose ominous name—Maranatha—fills her with unease. The house, half‑hidden behind dripping elms, seems to pulse with a dark history that both intrigues and unsettles the passing villagers.

Beyond the carriage, Neddy’s outward charm masks a mischievous streak: he skips school, hangs with the roughest boys, and spins lies as easily as he sings in the choir. Yet his angelic looks and beautiful voice earn the rector’s trust, setting up a delicate balance between innocence and cunning. As the cart finally reaches the rectory, the stage is set for a clash of personalities and secrets that will ripple through the quiet parish.