Once upon a time, in a small town named Oakville, lived a clever young boy named Timmy. Timmy was known for his quick wit and was always at the top of his class. He was a curious child with a thirst for knowledge and adventure.

One day, while exploring the town's old deserted mansion, he came across a mysterious boy who introduced himself as Benny. Benny was unlike any other boys Timmy had met before; he was pale, translucent, and had an eerie glow.

Timmy was not scared but intrigued. Benny invited him to play a game. The first game was a simple game of hide and seek. But Timmy soon realized there was something unusual about the way Benny played.

Benny seemed to teleport from one place to another, making it impossible for Timmy to find him. It was then Timmy understood that Benny was not an ordinary boy. He was a ghost.

The games became more dangerous. Benny challenged Timmy to climb the old, rickety staircase in the mansion, which was on the verge of collapsing. Sensing the danger, Timmy refused.

Benny did not take the refusal well. He started throwing tantrums and caused paranormal activities in the mansion. Doors slammed, windows shattered, and strange sounds echoed.

Timmy knew he had to end this. He decided to confront Benny. Mustering all his courage, he stood before Benny and told him that he no longer wanted to play these dangerous games.

Benny was furious. He threatened to trap Timmy in the mansion forever. But Timmy, with his sharp intellect, had a plan. He challenged Benny to a game of riddles.

The condition was, if Benny failed to answer any of Timmy's riddles, he had to let Timmy go and never bother him again. Benny, confident of his superior ghostly knowledge, accepted the challenge.

Timmy asked riddles one after another. To his surprise, Benny answered each one correctly. But Timmy was not deterred. He had one last riddle, a riddle nobody in his town could answer.

"What can you hold without ever touching, or without using your hands?" Benny pondered. He tried to think, but he couldn't come up with an answer.

He admitted defeat, and according to the deal, he had to let Timmy go. But before leaving, Timmy revealed the answer to the riddle, "A Conversation".

Benny was astounded. He realized that Timmy's cleverness was not something he could compete with. He let Timmy leave, and promised to never bother him again.

Timmy exited the mansion, feeling lighter and happier. He had survived a ghostly encounter and came out victorious. He promised himself never to venture into the mansion again.

News of Timmy's adventure spread across Oakville. He was hailed as a hero. His cleverness was admired by all, and he became an inspiration for the town's children.

Timmy continued to be the clever, curious boy he always was. But he also became more cautious and learned to trust his instincts. He realized that not all games were worth playing, especially when they were with a ghost.

Benny, on the other hand, remained in the mansion, alone. He learned a valuable lesson about respect and fairness. He vowed to never try to harm anyone again, not even in the name of a game.

The haunted mansion of Oakville, still stood as it was, holding within it the tale of a clever boy and a ghostly playmate. But now, it was just a building, no longer a place of fear.

And so, the story of Timmy and Benny became a legend in Oakville. The tale of courage, intellect, and fairness was told to every new generation, inspiring them, and reminding them of the town's clever hero.

Timmy's cleverness was not just about answering riddles or scoring high in school. It was about knowing when to say no, standing his ground, and outsmarting the danger. And that made him truly clever.

The story of The Haunting Playmate is a reminder that bravery and intellect can overcome any challenge, even if it comes from a ghostly friend. Remember, true courage lies not in not being scared, but in facing the fear.