The Haunted Doorbell

Two kids rule a deserted house with tricks, giggles, and fearless fun.

Title: The Haunted Doorbell
Description: Two kids rule a deserted house with tricks, giggles, and fearless fun.
Word Count: 295

Behind the weeds and broken shutters of the old Bramble House, Sam and Mia were kings of mischief.
Their throne? An upside-down crate. Their crown? A bent lampshade. Their kingdom? A crumbling front porch where spiders paid rent.
"Ready?" Mia whispered, crouched beside the dusty window.
Sam grinned, holding their sacred weapon: a string tied to the doorbell.
The rules were simple. Tug the string, doorbell rings, passerby jumps. Victory.
The first victim was old Mr. Higgins, who strolled by muttering about taxes. Ding-dong!
"Sweet onions!" he yelped, flailing like a startled duck. Sam and Mia collapsed in laughter, their giggles echoing through the empty house like ghosts who'd had too much soda.
Next came a cyclist. Ding-dong! He pedaled faster, convinced invisible salesmen were chasing him.
The kids cackled so hard, Mia nearly fell off the crate.
By sunset, the Bramble House had claimed five terrified pedestrians, three angry cats, and one delivery man who left a pizza on the porch "for the spirits."
Sam took a solemn bite of imaginary pizza. "Mia, we are legends."
In their world, no one yelled at them to clean their rooms, no bullies stole their snacks, and no grown-up rules applied. The house was theirs, and for a few golden hours, they were invincible.
Of course, that was before Mrs. Higgins marched up with a flashlight.
Ding-dong!
She didn't flinch. She just opened the door, squinting into the gloom. "Nice try. Bedtime, prank goblins."
Sam and Mia froze. Their kingdom had fallen.
But as they trudged home, they were already plotting tomorrow's reign.
Because kings of mischief never retire.