Willam The Helper

William the Helper

Introduction

  • The Brown family hires three men to move furniture to their new home.

  • Their son, William, offers to help, causing concern among the adults.

Initial Mishaps

  • Several small ornaments break as packing begins.

  • The movers face challenges with the piano in the drawing-room:

    • First Attempt: Damages the doorpost.

    • Second Attempt: Marks the piano.

    • Third Attempt: Knocks over the grandfather clock, shattering glass and a plant-stand.

  • Mrs. Brown reacts: "It's like some dreadful nightmare!"

  • The movers pause to catch their breath, expressing despair over the situation.

Moving the Piano

  • Mr. Blake decides to make another attempt to move the piano.

  • It is eventually moved to the hall, causing only minor damage (broken door handle, torn chair-cover).

  • The challenge remains to lift it into the van:

    • After attempts fail, the gardener, cook, housemaid, and Ethel assist, finally succeeding.

  • Exhausted, the group rests against whatever they can find for support.

Mysterious Voice in the Van

  • A voice from the back of the van (William's) exclaims he is trapped.

  • Ethel questions him sharply about why he went in.

  • William explains he was resting, unaware of the loading process.

  • Term Clarification: "Unseen presence" refers to someone absent from view, not visible.

William's Determination

  • Mrs. Brown informs William that he must remain in the van until the unpacking is done.

  • William protests, insisting on getting out, causing loud commotion as he tries to escape.

    • Sounds of ripping material and breaking glass are heard.

  • Mrs. Brown, resigned, suggests removing the piano again to free him.

  • Upon removal, William emerges disheveled, showing signs of the struggle.

Reactions to William's Behavior

  • William expresses indignation about being trapped with furniture, arguing about the need for air.

  • Emotional fatigue among the adults leaves them speechless for a moment.

  • They take a significant time to reposition the piano before attempting the rest of the move.

Moving to the New House

  • William is thrilled to be at the new location with new workers.

  • He tests the freshly painted gate, leaving an impression on his trousers despite clean-up attempts.

  • He attempts to 'help' by moving a heavy medicine cupboard, causing chaos with broken bottles.

Locked Door Dilemma

  • The discovery of a locked door complicates unpacking.

  • William proposes to climb to the roof and enter through the chimney to unlock it.

William's Predicament

  • The scene darkens as Mrs. Brown and Ethel arrive with more supplies.

  • They hear a frantic, ghostly cry from the roof—it's William.

  • Mrs. Brown instructs him to stay put for safety.

Rescue Efforts

  • The removal staff attempts to rescue William using ladders from neighboring gardens.

    • First ladder is too short, prompting the retrieval of another.

  • A frustrated William declares he can't stay up there forever.

  • Mr. Blake finally rescues him from the roof.

William's Explanation

  • William explains his desire to help and the misadventures that led to his predicament.

  • He insists he wasn't scared, merely eager to assist in the moving process.

Conclusion

  • Despite the chaos, William experiences a day full of excitement and challenges.

  • He is eventually persuaded to go to bed earlier than usual, admitting to being tired from his helping efforts.