Best of 2023: Gloverville - The Neighbors Next Door Aren't What They Seem...

WEBVTT

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Well, hello, my spookies.
While I'm off on set making horror movie

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magic, I can't leave you guys
high and dry, so I decided to

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dig deep into last year's archive of
stories and pick out some that you may

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have missed or you desperately need to
revisit. And this one is by our

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good buddy, Charles Campbell. You
may know him better as your small town

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horror author or as the host of
the Horror for twenty one podcast. Well,

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Charles is a hell of a scribe. He writes great stories and I'm

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so proud that I get to narrate
them. So I hope you'll enjoy Gloverville

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if you missed it the first go
around, because it is truly a wild

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and fun and scary ride. So
kick back, get comfy, and get

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ready for some down home horror right
here on Weekly Spooky after these quick words.

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Gloverville by Charles Campbell, October nineteen
eighty two. It was a Friday.

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Gloverville, South Carolina, is a
very small town located on the stretch

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of Road Highway four twenty one,
affectionately known as the Valley. It was

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only a few days before Halloween and
it had been a rainy week. Ten

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year old's Denise Watkins and Charlie Banks
were best friends. Charlie lived with his

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granny, Louise Corley, on Oak
Street, and Denise lived across the street

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with her parents and older brother.
Charlie was sitting in the rocking chair on

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the front porch, watching the rain
and waiting for Denise. Charlie heard the

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stray cats that lived under the house
start scrapping. They yowled and hissed.

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Charlie listened as they rolled around until
they stopped. Then Charlie stood to go

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into the house where he would pick
up the phone and call Denise. Charlie.

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Charlie turned around and smiled. His
best friend was running across the street

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wearing a black raincoat that was twice
her size. It was undoubtedly her brother's

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hurry, Charlie shouted. Denise sprang
onto the porch and threw her arms around

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Charlie, soaking his T shirt,
but Charlie didn't care. She pulled off

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the raincoat and set it on the
back of the rocking chair. She was

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wearing a Spider Man T shirt and
had her brown hair pulled back into a

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ponytail. She loved superheroes. The
two of them had spent countless hours pretending

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they were Spider Man, Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman after marathon comic

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book reading sessions in Charlie's bedroom.
Charlie and Denise had literally grown up together

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since they were infants. Denise was
born in November nineteen seventy and Charlie came

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along in February nineteen seventy one.
Ever since they could walk, they were

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never away from each other for very
long. Charlie's mother, Margaret, worked

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two jobs, and it was just
easier and better for Charlie to live with

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his granny. Charlie's mother made sure
that he was taken care of and she

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would stay at Mamma Lu's house when
she could Mamma Lou cooking. Denise asked,

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yeah, it'll be ready in a
little bit. She said she'd take

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us to the video store. Later. I heard about this new scary movie.

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I heard it's the scariest movie ever
made. They say you might die

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if you watch it. Charlie said, his face was stern and serious.

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Denise chuckled, really, you might
die if you watch it. It can't

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be scarier than Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I hear it is, Charlie replied and

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plopped down on the couch. Denise
sat down beside him. It was true

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they were best friends, but Denise
loved flirting with her boy. It was

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a game. She kissed him on
the cheek and Charlie smiled. What's Mamma

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Lu cooking Sam and Patty's? Oh
yeah, Denise hollered, Meissi, that

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you making all that noise. Mamma
Lu stepped from the kitchen and into the

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living room. Yes, Mamma Lu, Well, come give me some sugar,

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Mamma Lou said, and opened her
arms. Neissi ran into them and

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planted one on Mammalu's face. Mamma
Lu, small woman years of deep fried

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Southern comfort food, made sure of
that. She loved Denise, whom she

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and Charlie affectionately called Nisi, as
much as she could love a child or

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grandchild of her own. Nisi spent
just as much time at Mamma Lu's as

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she did at her own house.
Charlie said, you're cooking salmon patties,

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I am, and they're almost done. You too, Go wash your hands

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and get in the kitchen. Yes, ma'am, Come on, Charlie Denise

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ordered. Charlie rose from the couch
and followed Nissi. The kitchen was quiet

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as Nissi and Charlie wolfed down salmon
patties. Charlie took his last bite and

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asked, Granny, you still taking
us to the video store? I plan

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on it. What time y'all want
to go? I'm ready now, if

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NISI is, Charlie said, and
looked at Denise. Yeah, Mama Lou,

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I'm ready. Okay, let me
get my pocketbook and we can go.

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Mamma lu chewed them toward the door. Charlie and Denise scrambled to the

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front porch. It had stopped raining. Denise grabbed the raincoat from the back

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of the rocking chair and set it
on the porch swing. A voice called

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out, hey, y'all. Charlie
and Neissi turned to see Libby standing at

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the edge of the front yard.
Her face had smudges of dirt and her

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sandy blonde hair was disheveled. She
was in a mud stained yellow dress,

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and her knees were skinned and scabbing
from an apparent nasty slide on the asphalt.

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She was the daughter of Mamma Lu's
next door neighbors Tommy and Betty Reynolds,

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Hey, Libby, Neissy hollered back, Come on, Neissy. Mammalu

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broke up the conversation before it could
begin. Don't talk to that girl.

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She lives with the creeps, Mamma
Lou said, and it wasn't the first

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time she referred to Tommy and Betty
as the creeps. To be frowned and

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walked back up her driveway. Charlie
and Nissi hopped into Mama Lou's humongous red

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and white Ford Thunderbird. A few
minutes later, they were in the neighboring

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valley town of Langley. Mama Lou
eased the Thunderbird into a vacant parking spot

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in front of Valley Video. Charlie
and NeSSI were out of the car and

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in the store before Mamma Lou could
even get out back here. Charlie yelled

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and pulled Nissi to the horror section. It's called evil Dead, Charlie said,

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he was excited. Nissi began looking
at one end of the row as

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Charlie searched the other. Found it. Neissi yelled and shook the display box

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proudly in the air, Charlie was
beside her in an eyeblink. Nissi handed

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over the display box and Charlie marveled
at the cover art, the hand shooting

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up from the ground with the Evil
Dead title covering the top half of the

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box in truly dreadful typeface. He
quickly read the back cover and knew immediately

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this movie had to go home with
him. Mama Lou was just walking in

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the front door. Messi and Charlie
were standing there waiting. Granny, we

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found the movie. You found it
that quick, yes, ma'am, I

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did, actually, Mesi bragged.
Put it on the counter. Then Mamma

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Lou said and set her purse on
the counter, Hey, Louise. Ricky

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Spradley said he was the owner operator
of Valley Video, the only dedicated video

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store on four twenty one. The
quick Shop had a small video section in

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their convenience store, but it was
almost always half empty and it was mostly

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just the Valley perverts that went there
because they had porno movies. Ricky had

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a lot of movies, but he
refrained from having porn movies. His wife

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wouldn't allow it. He had horror
movies out the yin Yang, though Hey

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there, Ricky, how's your mama
doing, Mama Lou asked, as she

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pulled the dollar twenty five from her
change purse, Fair to Midland. I

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reckon, I'm going to her house
for supper after work, Ricky replied.

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He smiled at Mamma Lou, and
she smiled back. Ricky was a good

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looking boy and had that signature dimple
chin that all the Spradley men had.

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Well, tell Arlen and I asked
about her, Mama Lou said, and

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Ricky pulled the movie from the case
behind him and handed it over to Charlie.

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I will louise you too. Y'all
might pee your beds when you watch

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this one. Watched it myself a
couple nights ago. It's a real scary

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one. Ricky grinned at Charlie and
Nissi Nisi stuck her tongue out and pulled

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Charlie by the hand. They got
in the car, and Charlie spoke up.

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When they got to Gloverville, Granny, can you stop at the minute

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shop real quick? I need to
see if they got the new Spider Man

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comic this week? You got money
for that? I got you all the

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movie. I can't spring for comic
books today, Mama Lolu replied, I

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got two dollars. Mama Lou,
you can stop, NESI said. Charlie

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grinned at her because he didn't have
two pennies, much less two dollars.

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Mama Lou turned into the minute Shop. Okay, Charlie, don't be all

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day in there. Now. I
know how you get in front of them

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comic books. Pick one and come
on. I'll make sure he hurries.

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Mama Lou. Nesi grabbed Charlie's hand
and they walked into the Minute Shop.

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Charles Prosser was in his normal spot
behind the register. He opened the doors

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of the Minute Shop in nineteen sixty
five and has been here every day to

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manage it ever since. Hey,
there, you two, we got some

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new comics in this mornin', Charles
proudly announced. Charlie spun the rack looking

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for the familiar red and blue costume
of the Amazing Spider Man, and he

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found him. Spider Man was battling
the high flying Vulture on the cover.

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Charlie's eyes lit up as he lifted
the comic from the rack. NISI held

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the latest edition of Wonder Woman in
her hand. Wonder Woman had Cheetah wrapped

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up in the Lasso of Truth on
the cover. The two of them rushed

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to the counter. Okay, that'll
be seventy two cents. Nissi handed over

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one of the two crumpled dollar bills
she had in her pocket. Thank you,

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mister Prosernisi said, as Charles handed
over the change. I want to

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read that one when you're done,
Charlie Denise said, as they walked out

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the door and back to the car. That was fast, Mamma Lou said,

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I made sure he hurried up.
Nissi grinned, and Mama Lou took

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them home. Libby was still standing
outside when Mama Lou pulled up. She

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waved at Charlie and Nissi. Nisi
waved back, but Charlie was too transfixed

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with the videotape they were about to
watch. Nissi, please don't be messing

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with the creeps, Mamalu scorned.
Libby makes me sad, Mama Lou,

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she just wants to be friends,
Neissi replied, as the three of them

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walked in together. Nissy, it's
nothing against Libby. Understand her parents,

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well, they ain't right in the
head. Mama Lou said, then she

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really needs a friend. Nissi responded
and poe Charlie in the back. Mama

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Lou walked to the kitchen. Charlie
wasn't paying attention to the conversation. He

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was rewinding the tape. Apparently Ricky
didn't practice what he preached of be kind,

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please rewind that adorned the signs throughout
his store. Charlie wondered if Ricky

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charged himself for rewind fee Huh what
Libby, Nisi said? Mamma Lou said

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that her mama and daddy ain't right
in the head. She ain't wrong,

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Charlie said, and continued, I
mean I never see them during the day

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and during the night, me and
Granny here strange noises coming from over there?

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What kind of noises? I don't
hear nothing at night? Nisi was

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now intrigued. That's because you live
across the street. You can't hear it

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way over there. Spend the night
tonight and I bet you'll hear it,

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Charlie whispered. The tape finally stopped
rewinding, and he couldn't wait to pray

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us the play button. Denise whispered
in his ear, I'll come back tonight.

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Leave your window open, Charlie smiled. He pressed play on the Vcrnissi

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and Charlie held hands as they watched
the movie that scared the shit out of

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them. It was the greatest movie
Charlie had ever seen, and he couldn't

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wait to watch it again. For
Nissi, though once was enough. Neisi

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stayed until her mama flickered the front
porch light. That was her signal that

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it was time to come home.
Neisi kissed Charlie on the cheek and whispered

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in his ear. Remember, leave
your window open. I'll be back tonight.

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Come on, Charlie, ride with
me to the l and M real

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quick ell and m yes, ma'am. Charlie jumped up and turned off the

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television. Normally, Mama Lou would
give Charlie a five dollar bill and have

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him walk to the well known Valley
di to pick up food, but the

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sun had already set. Charlie was
opening the car door when there was a

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high pitched scream coming from the creep's
house. Charlie jumped and Mama Lou looked

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irritated. Granny, what was that, Charlie shouted, Just get in the

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car. What if somebody's hurt,
Charlie asked. He was squeezing the handle

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of the car door, but not
pulling. Just get in the car.

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It's none of our business, Charlie, Get in the car, or you

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can go get a switch. Yes, ma'am, Charlie got in the car.

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Mama Lou drove the quarter mile to
L and M and gave Charlie the

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five dollar bill. The greasy paper
sack was sitting at the end of the

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counter. Charlie's stomach was doing cartwheels
as soon as he walked in. The

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smell of fried food and cigarette smoke
saturated the restaurant. Miss Linda was smiling

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behind the regist. She was so
thin she was the closest thing Charlie had

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ever seen to a walking skeleton.
It was funny that someone this skinny would

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be working in a place like this, where the calorie count was enough in

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one meal for two days. Hey, Charlie, your granny didn't make you

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walk, did she? She asked, with the throaty growl of a heavy

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cigarette smoker. She'd die of lung
cancer in fifteen years. No, ma'am,

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she's waiting outside. Good, Well, that's your bag at the end

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the usual two cheeseburgers all the way
and home fries. Charlie handed over the

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five dollar bill and didn't wait on
any change. He grabbed the grease stained

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bag and walked out the door.
Linda smiled through the five teeth left in

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her head. Oral hygiene wasn't at
the top of her list. Got him,

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Granny Charlie announced when he got in
the car. Smells good. Mama

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Lu said, I need you to
run in quick shop and grab some Co

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colas I didn't get by Freeman's this
week, Mama Lou said, smells good.

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Mama Lou said, I need you
to run in the quick stop and

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grab some Co colas I didn't get
by Freeman's this week. Mama Lu said.

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Freeman's was a local gas station where
Mama Lou would stop once a week

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for a fillup and a case of
Co Colas that Harold would put in the

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trunk of the car. Mama Lou
would always have a case of Empties for

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the return bottle discount. Charlie took
the two singles and went into the store.

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Hey, Charlie, ed Baker said, when he saw the boy walk

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in, you ain't been in here
in a while I got a comic book

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rack too, just like Charles Proser, Ed said while he was chewing on

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an unlit cigar. Granny wants me
to get co colas. We got food

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00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:56.200
in the car. I'll come look
at him tomorrow. You got any spider

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00:17:56.279 --> 00:18:00.680
man, Charlie asked, as he
pulled two cokes from the cooler. I

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00:18:00.720 --> 00:18:04.079
don't know exactly what they put in
the rack, probably do, Ed answered

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00:18:04.799 --> 00:18:10.559
to be blunt. Ed was fat, he had no neck, at least

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four chins, and he stunk to
high heaven of boh. Charlie didn't want

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00:18:15.680 --> 00:18:19.079
to hang around much longer and lose
his appetite. Okay, here you go.

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00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:23.759
Charlie put the two dollar bills on
the counter and Ed counted out sixty

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00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:30.079
three cents in change. Charlie was
trying to hold his breath and smile at

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00:18:30.119 --> 00:18:34.000
the same time. Why is your
face turning red, boy Ed asked.

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Charlie didn't answer. He bolted out
the door and took a big breath.

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Once he was outside, Charlie got
in the car. Mamma Lou started to

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00:18:45.000 --> 00:18:49.920
say something, but kept it inside. They went home eight burghers and watched

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00:18:49.920 --> 00:18:57.559
The Dukes of Hazzard eleven, twenty
two p m. Charlie's mother, Margaret,

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decided to sleep at her trainer so
the coast was one hundred percent clear

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00:19:03.160 --> 00:19:08.599
for Niss's late night visit. She
shined a flashlight in Charlie's window. Charlie

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00:19:08.640 --> 00:19:15.160
turned on his bedside lamp and went
over. He popped the screen out from

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00:19:15.160 --> 00:19:21.640
the inside and helped Nissi come in. She was wearing Batman pajamas and Charlie's

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00:19:21.680 --> 00:19:27.960
heart melted cool pajamas, Charlie said. Nissi hugged him and said, I

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00:19:29.119 --> 00:19:34.759
like yours too. Charlie was wearing
Spider Man underreos with blue sweatpants. When

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00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:38.640
me and Granny went to get supper, we heard somebody over there scream,

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00:19:40.400 --> 00:19:44.559
Charlie said, as he and Nisi
sat together on the edge of the bed.

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Oh wow, what kind of scream
was it? Was it Libby?

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00:19:48.839 --> 00:19:53.640
Maybe I couldn't tell. It was
real, screechy like an animal? Maybe

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00:19:55.160 --> 00:19:59.960
an animal? Huh? Nissi replied
and rubbed her chin as if she were

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00:20:00.119 --> 00:20:04.759
contemplating the possibilities. We stopped and
got co Cola's at the quick shop.

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00:20:06.759 --> 00:20:12.640
Charlie pinched his nose. You I
know ed stinks so bad, Mama won't

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00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:17.599
even let me go in there anymore. Billy Jean almost punched him the last

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00:20:17.599 --> 00:20:21.079
time he was in there. He
said he got comics now, like the

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00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:26.440
Minute Shop comics. Huh, you
think we could wear gas masks in there

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00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:33.000
and check out the books, Nissi
grinned at Charlie. Maybe. Charlie walked

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00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:37.279
to the window his room faced the
neighbor's house. Nissy, come here and

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00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:44.519
listen. Nisy's ears perked up.
They could hear noises coming from the backyard

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00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:48.400
next door. What is that.
They don't have a dog, do they.

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00:20:49.240 --> 00:20:56.319
Charlie stayed quiet and shook his head. No, look, Charlie said,

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and pointed toward the house. Every
light in the house came on the

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00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:07.119
same time, flickered and went out. What in the world, Nissi was

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00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:11.839
perplexed. Let's go see what's in
the backyard. No way, Nissy,

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00:21:12.599 --> 00:21:19.960
come on, Charlie, Spider Man
wouldn't puss out like that. Charlie was

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00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:25.200
frustrated. He couldn't look like a
coward in front of his friend wearing cool

240
00:21:25.200 --> 00:21:30.400
ass batman pajamas. Okay, let
me get the flashlights real quick. Charlie

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00:21:30.480 --> 00:21:34.960
rummaged around in the back of his
closet for a few moments before emerging with

242
00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:41.720
a red and blue flashlight. They
were equipped with fresh Dursel batteries, so

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00:21:41.240 --> 00:21:47.400
they should be good to go.
Good deal, Spidey. Nissi held out

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00:21:47.400 --> 00:21:52.079
her hand and Charlie gave her the
blue flashlight. She crawled out of the

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00:21:52.119 --> 00:21:56.480
window first, and Charlie followed.
They tiptoed along the edge of the yard.

246
00:21:57.519 --> 00:22:02.480
There was no fence separated the two
yards, but there were three rows

247
00:22:02.480 --> 00:22:07.240
of cinder blocks stacked on top of
one another that ran the length of the

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00:22:07.279 --> 00:22:11.640
two properties. Once Nissi and Charlie
made it to the backyard, Charlie pulled

249
00:22:11.640 --> 00:22:17.559
a five gallon half full paint bucket
from the back porch and sat it in

250
00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:22.960
the dirt beside the blocks. I'll
go first, he whispered. Okay,

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00:22:22.119 --> 00:22:26.960
hurry up. Charlie stood on top
of the bucket and pulled himself over the

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00:22:26.960 --> 00:22:33.119
top row of cinder blocks. Nissi
was right behind him. Charlie offered his

253
00:22:33.200 --> 00:22:36.839
hand to help her up, but
she waved him away to give her space,

254
00:22:37.240 --> 00:22:41.920
and she was over the blocks faster
than he did. The creep's backyard

255
00:22:41.039 --> 00:22:45.319
was overgrown with weeds. Charlie thought
he might be able to make a few

256
00:22:45.359 --> 00:22:49.359
bucks if his granny would let him
ask to cut their grass. Their back

257
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:56.960
porch was dark. Nissi and Charlie
remained still listening for the noises they heard

258
00:22:57.079 --> 00:23:03.240
just a few minutes ago. There
was a noise, but it wasn't like

259
00:23:03.359 --> 00:23:07.400
before. This noise was coming from
inside the house. It sounded like someone

260
00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:15.599
dragging something heavy across a wooden floor. It was like metal scraping on wood.

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00:23:15.119 --> 00:23:21.640
Hear that, Neissy asked. Charlie
nodded his head. Let's go up

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00:23:21.680 --> 00:23:26.519
on the porch. Charlie shook his
head. No, come on, Spidey,

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00:23:26.960 --> 00:23:29.599
We'll just put our ear up to
the door and see if we can

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00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:33.960
make out what's going on in there. Neissy began moving before Charlie could protest.

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00:23:34.799 --> 00:23:40.319
Charlie followed her to the bottom of
the back porch steps. There was

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00:23:40.359 --> 00:23:47.000
a noise cracking twigs. Charlie spun
around and sputtered, Nissy, Neissy,

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00:23:47.279 --> 00:23:52.039
you need to stop. Libby's behind
us. Don't go up there. Libby

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00:23:52.039 --> 00:23:57.640
whispered. She was in the same
stained yellow dress and she was shaking.

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00:23:59.279 --> 00:24:03.000
Oh my god, Libby, what
is going on? Nissi replied, sh

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00:24:03.680 --> 00:24:08.960
you don't want them to hear you. It might be too late. Don't

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00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:22.200
go away, weekly, Spooky will
be right back. Libby stepped back into

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00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:29.400
the dark shadows of the backyard.
Suddenly there was a loud screech coming from

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00:24:29.400 --> 00:24:33.319
inside the house. It sounded as
if it came directly from the other side

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00:24:33.359 --> 00:24:38.480
of the back door. Charlie and
NeSSI looked at each other and bolted back

275
00:24:38.519 --> 00:24:45.000
to Mamma Lu's house and through the
open window. Charlie slammed the window closed.

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00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:51.279
What's going on in there, Mama
Lou bellowed from her room. Nissi,

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00:24:51.400 --> 00:24:55.440
get under the bed. Charlie ordered
that would be the best place for

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00:24:55.559 --> 00:25:00.359
Nissi to hide, because Mamma Lou
could easily check his closet. It would

279
00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:03.720
be a mite bit tougher for her
to check under the bed because of her

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00:25:03.240 --> 00:25:08.279
size. Nesi crawled under the bed
and Charlie pulled the bed spread over until

281
00:25:08.319 --> 00:25:14.119
it almost touched the floor. His
door opened and the bedroom light was switched

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00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:18.240
on. What in the world is
going on in here? Boy, you

283
00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:22.200
have any idea what time it is? Mamma Lu looked at him with the

284
00:25:22.200 --> 00:25:27.519
look Charlie recognized as her switch contemplating
look. He certainly didn't want to take

285
00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:33.079
a switching, especially with Nisi under
the bed. I had my window open

286
00:25:33.119 --> 00:25:36.599
because I was hot and it was
sticking, so I pulled on it a

287
00:25:36.599 --> 00:25:41.279
little too hard. I'm sorry,
Grannie, it was just hot, Charlie

288
00:25:41.279 --> 00:25:45.359
said, with as much remorse in
his expression as he could. She was

289
00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:52.680
buying it. Grannie's switch contemplating look
gave way to something more compassionate. Okay,

290
00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:56.319
then next time it gets stuck,
either come and get me and I'll

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00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:59.880
unstick it, or at least let
me know before you slam the window shut.

292
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:03.680
I thought the creeps were coming in
to get us. Now go to

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00:26:03.720 --> 00:26:07.079
bed, child, Mama Lou flipped
off the bedroom light and closed the door.

294
00:26:07.920 --> 00:26:12.680
Neisi waited a full minute before she
belly crawled from under the bed.

295
00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:18.039
That was close Charlie. NeSy held
the flashlight to her face. She was

296
00:26:18.079 --> 00:26:25.359
the prettiest dark night Charlie had ever
seen. What were they doing over there?

297
00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:29.799
Why was Libby in the backyard?
I think we should tell Granny.

298
00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:33.839
Charlie was as nervous as a gazelle
in a lion cage. No, we

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00:26:33.880 --> 00:26:38.799
should not tell Mama Lou, Nesi
said sternly, we'll figure it out tomorrow.

300
00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:44.680
Okay, Libby'll be fine. She's
sleeping in their shit out back.

301
00:26:45.160 --> 00:26:48.240
I don't want to cause a ruckus
with whatever is in that house. Tonight.

302
00:26:48.759 --> 00:26:52.119
We'll come up with a plan tomorrow, Nesi said. It wasn't a

303
00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:59.680
debate. I don't know. Charlie
started sh before Mamma Lou comes back,

304
00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:02.359
and we we have a lot more
explaining to do. I'm gonna go.

305
00:27:02.480 --> 00:27:07.039
Now, watch me until I'm out
the window and across the street. I'll

306
00:27:07.079 --> 00:27:11.000
shine the light back towards you when
i'm clear. Nissi opened the window and

307
00:27:11.079 --> 00:27:17.240
lit out. Charlie waited until he
saw the light flash back at him before

308
00:27:17.279 --> 00:27:23.160
he carefully closed the window and went
back to bed. Surprisingly, he went

309
00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:27.240
right to sleep and didn't wake up
until Mamma lu knocked on his door and

310
00:27:27.359 --> 00:27:33.240
announced breakfast was ready. Nisi was
over, bright and early. After she

311
00:27:33.359 --> 00:27:37.559
and Charlie finished a breakfast that consisted
of scrambled eggs, grits, biscuits,

312
00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:42.119
and sausage patties, they went outside. The two cats that were fighting under

313
00:27:42.160 --> 00:27:45.400
the porch the day before were nuzzled
up to each other in the swing this

314
00:27:45.519 --> 00:27:52.640
morning. They paid Nissi and Charlie
no mind when they came outside. We

315
00:27:52.759 --> 00:27:56.319
need to check on Libby, Nisi
said. She had a wrapped paper towel

316
00:27:56.359 --> 00:28:02.680
in her hand. What you got
there, Charlie asked, I snuck two

317
00:28:02.720 --> 00:28:08.680
sausage biscuits out. Livvy's probably starving. Oh okay, I don't see her

318
00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:15.319
in the yard, Charlie said,
knowing exactly how Nissi would respond, We'll

319
00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:19.119
check the shed out back. I
don't think that's a good idea. It's

320
00:28:19.160 --> 00:28:22.839
broad daylight, Charlie, it's gonna
be fine. Come on, or I'll

321
00:28:22.880 --> 00:28:29.400
go by myself. Nissi had declared
what she intended, and Charlie knew he

322
00:28:29.400 --> 00:28:33.000
couldn't talk her out of it,
but he made one more effort. What

323
00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:37.559
about Granny? What if she catches
us at the creep's house, She'll switch

324
00:28:37.640 --> 00:28:41.759
us both, You know she will. She's done it. I'll take a

325
00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:47.880
switching from Mamma. Lu Let's go. Nissi grabbed Charlie by the hand and

326
00:28:47.960 --> 00:28:51.640
they used the paint bucket and scaled
the blocks. Like the night before,

327
00:28:52.640 --> 00:28:56.279
the backyard was far less menacing.
In the daytime. It was October,

328
00:28:56.319 --> 00:29:02.640
but the grass was still overgrown.
October in Gloverville was a lot warmer than

329
00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:07.559
most places in the country. The
small aluminum shed sat alone in the farthest

330
00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:11.640
corner of the yard. There were
windows on all sides of the shed,

331
00:29:11.160 --> 00:29:17.160
and they were all open. Nissy
felt the wet reeds of grass graze her

332
00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:21.400
arms as she moved, with Charlie
right behind her. She got to the

333
00:29:21.400 --> 00:29:26.559
front of the shed and whispered,
libby you in there. There wasn't any

334
00:29:26.599 --> 00:29:33.839
noise coming from inside. Nissi grabbed
the door handle. Charlie tensed up and

335
00:29:33.039 --> 00:29:41.559
actually held his breath. Nissy pushed
the door open and gasped, what what

336
00:29:41.759 --> 00:29:45.839
is it? Charlie looked over her
shoulder. There was a folding lounge chair

337
00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:51.880
in the back of the shed with
a Hello Kitty pillow and a matching blanket.

338
00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:56.640
There was an empty cereal bowl on
the floor underneath the chair, along

339
00:29:56.680 --> 00:30:00.119
with a naked barbie doll. The
inside of the shed was a lot neaterer

340
00:30:00.119 --> 00:30:04.599
and cleaner than the outside would lead
you to believe. It wasn't pristine,

341
00:30:04.759 --> 00:30:10.920
but it wasn't nasty either. There
were a few rubber made buckets on the

342
00:30:10.960 --> 00:30:14.319
other side of the shed, along
with a few gardening tools. But that

343
00:30:14.519 --> 00:30:18.720
was pretty much it. She's been
sleeping in here. That's so sad,

344
00:30:19.400 --> 00:30:23.680
Nisi said, as she began to
tear up. She felt regret at leaving

345
00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:27.880
Libby in the backyard the night before. She should have taken her home and

346
00:30:27.960 --> 00:30:32.880
explained it to her mother. Libby
could have had a hot bath and a

347
00:30:32.920 --> 00:30:37.960
warm meal before she slept in a
comfortable bed. The lounge chair was way

348
00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:41.880
on the other end of the comfort
spectrum. Hey, Charlie and Nissi,

349
00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:47.319
you came to play with me.
Charlie and Nisi turned to look at Libby.

350
00:30:47.880 --> 00:30:52.319
She was standing behind them with a
handful of yellow wild flowers. Libby,

351
00:30:52.759 --> 00:30:56.640
what on earth are you doing sleeping
out here? Nissi blurted out.

352
00:30:57.359 --> 00:31:03.799
I have to my mama and daddy. They get sick at night they get

353
00:31:03.799 --> 00:31:07.920
the hungries, and Mama said,
I have to sleep outside when they get

354
00:31:07.920 --> 00:31:11.640
the hungries. She says, it's
for my own good. Libby looked down

355
00:31:11.680 --> 00:31:17.200
at her feet. Libby was cleaner
than the day before. She was wearing

356
00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:21.680
a plain red T shirt and a
pair of old faded jeans, but they

357
00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:26.880
were clean. What are the hungries
Charlie asked. Nisi shrugged her shoulders,

358
00:31:27.279 --> 00:31:32.559
and they both looked to see if
Libby would answer the question. I don't

359
00:31:32.599 --> 00:31:37.000
know exactly, but I know that
it hurts them. They get the hungries

360
00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:41.920
and I have to leave sometimes.
Libby seemed to think better of the information

361
00:31:42.119 --> 00:31:48.000
she was about to share. Sometimes
what, Nissi prodded, Nothing, it's

362
00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:52.960
nothing, I just have to leave
the house. Mama's okay right now,

363
00:31:52.039 --> 00:31:56.240
though I got a bath and she
gave me clean clothes. Libby smiled as

364
00:31:56.279 --> 00:32:02.319
if no further explanation was needed and
the world was good again. Can we

365
00:32:02.400 --> 00:32:07.640
come see you tonight when you're in
the shed, Nissi asked. Charlie looked

366
00:32:07.640 --> 00:32:14.039
at her like she was a crazy
person. Will you? Libby's eyes lit

367
00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:19.200
up. Sure we will, won't
we? Charlie? Yeah, can't wait,

368
00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:23.640
Charlie said sarcastically. He was thinking
of the ultimate switching that he and

369
00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:30.640
Denise would undoubtedly get from Mamma Lou
when they were caught. Just do us

370
00:32:30.680 --> 00:32:34.799
a favor, though, Nissy began, and Libby nodded her head. Yes,

371
00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:39.200
don't tell your mama and Daddy were
coming over. Okay, they probably

372
00:32:39.200 --> 00:32:45.119
don't want us knowing about their hungries. Understand, I understand. I go

373
00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:49.759
to the shed just before dark.
That's what Mama says. I can't go

374
00:32:49.880 --> 00:32:53.039
back in the house until it's daylight
again. Okay, we'll come out back

375
00:32:53.079 --> 00:32:57.480
when Mamma Lou goes to bed.
We'll knock on the shed door so you

376
00:32:57.519 --> 00:33:01.440
know it's us. Yay, thank
you, Nissi. Libby gave her a

377
00:33:01.519 --> 00:33:06.400
hug, and Charlie was still trying
to understand what Nissi was up to.

378
00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:12.759
Oh, this is for you.
Nissi handed over the sausage biscuits. Come

379
00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:16.680
on, Charlie, let's go,
Libby. We'll be back tonight. Charlie

380
00:33:16.720 --> 00:33:27.920
and Nissi went back to Mama Loo's. Nissi, why'd you do that?

381
00:33:27.920 --> 00:33:31.039
That was the first question Charlie had
once they returned to Mama Lou's front yard.

382
00:33:32.039 --> 00:33:37.000
We need to see what's going on
with her Mama and daddy. Why

383
00:33:37.039 --> 00:33:42.319
does Libby have to sleep outside?
We should just tell Granny. She's not

384
00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:45.039
gonna do anything, Charlie. She
won't even look in their yard, and

385
00:33:45.119 --> 00:33:51.480
we'll be cutting our switches probably will
anyway before it's over. Charlie said,

386
00:33:52.039 --> 00:33:54.519
stop being a baby. Let's just
see what's going on with Libby's folks,

387
00:33:54.559 --> 00:34:05.079
and then we can tell my parents
and Mama Lou ten pm NISI showed up

388
00:34:05.079 --> 00:34:09.000
at Charlie's window, this time dressed
for a nighttime adventure. She was wearing

389
00:34:09.039 --> 00:34:14.960
blue jeans, a black T shirt
and a Clemson Tiger's ball cap with her

390
00:34:14.960 --> 00:34:19.960
hair pushed through the back. She
didn't crawl in, She waited for Charlie

391
00:34:20.039 --> 00:34:23.800
to come out. He had the
flashlights in his hand. What are you

392
00:34:23.800 --> 00:34:29.159
gonna do with those? Charlie asked
when he saw the comic books in Nessie's

393
00:34:29.199 --> 00:34:34.800
hand. I'm giving these to Libby. Any Spider Man comics in there?

394
00:34:35.440 --> 00:34:38.320
Charlie raised an eyebrow. No,
Charlie, come on, let's get this

395
00:34:38.400 --> 00:34:43.440
over with. The two of them
were at the shed thirty seconds later,

396
00:34:45.119 --> 00:34:50.760
Livvy Denise said and knocked on the
door. Livvy, it's us. It

397
00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:54.519
was quiet. Charlie was looking nervously
around, and Denise opened the door.

398
00:34:55.360 --> 00:35:01.559
The lounge chair was still there,
along with the pillow, blanket and Barbie.

399
00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:07.599
But no Libby. What are we
supposed to do now, Charlie asked,

400
00:35:08.000 --> 00:35:13.440
Let's go listen by the back door
again. I was afraid you were

401
00:35:13.440 --> 00:35:17.679
going to say that, Nissy,
Why don't we just leave well enough alone,

402
00:35:19.400 --> 00:35:23.360
Charlie asked, but knowing that she
wouldn't. NISI was ornery enough to

403
00:35:23.360 --> 00:35:29.440
see through whatever that meant. She
eased up to the back steps. Charlie

404
00:35:29.519 --> 00:35:34.960
followed behind. Nissi turned off the
flashlight when she put her ear up to

405
00:35:35.000 --> 00:35:39.760
the back door. Nissy, I
don't think sh Charlie, I'm trying to

406
00:35:39.800 --> 00:35:47.840
hear. Neisi listened and heard the
same sound from the night before, something

407
00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:54.320
heavy being drug across a floor.
You hear that, Charlie, Yeah,

408
00:35:54.400 --> 00:36:00.679
I think we heard enough. Charlie
was ready to bolt, rest her ear

409
00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:07.239
harder against the back door. It
opened, and she fell into the house.

410
00:36:07.159 --> 00:36:12.239
She had to suppress a scream as
she fell on her knees right into

411
00:36:12.280 --> 00:36:16.760
the kitchen. Oh shit, Nisi, Charlie whispered, and went in after

412
00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:22.760
her. I'm okay, I guess
the door wasn't locked, Nicey said,

413
00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:28.320
and cocked her head. The noise
was coming from down the hallway. We

414
00:36:28.480 --> 00:36:34.480
got to go, don't even Nissy. Charlie was beside himself when she started

415
00:36:34.519 --> 00:36:38.039
crouch walking down the dark hallway.
There was a light at the end of

416
00:36:38.039 --> 00:36:45.800
the hall. Another room. The
smell of lemon pledge got stronger the closer

417
00:36:45.880 --> 00:36:51.880
Nisi got to the door. Charlie
was still behind her, but she was

418
00:36:51.960 --> 00:36:57.599
definitely putting his loyalty to the test. He was fighting every instinct to run

419
00:36:57.639 --> 00:37:02.280
next door and wake Mamma lou.
Neissi was right outside the door. The

420
00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:10.559
sound of dragging stopped. Neissi turned, looked at Charlie and held a finger

421
00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:17.119
to her lips for him to stay
quiet. She could hear Libby. She

422
00:37:17.280 --> 00:37:22.480
was on the other side of the
door. It's okay, Mama and Daddy.

423
00:37:22.199 --> 00:37:28.440
I brought the food for the hungries. Neissy heard growling behind the door

424
00:37:28.920 --> 00:37:32.480
and tapped Charlie on the arm.
It was time to get the hell out

425
00:37:32.480 --> 00:37:39.079
of there. Suddenly light filled the
hallway, The door opened, and Libby

426
00:37:39.239 --> 00:37:44.840
was giggling. I told you they
would come, Mamma. The food is

427
00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:52.000
here for the hungries. Libby moved
aside. Neissy screamed and dug her nails

428
00:37:52.000 --> 00:37:54.679
into Charlie's arm to get him moving. They took off down the hallway and

429
00:37:54.719 --> 00:37:59.920
out the back door. Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit, char

430
00:38:00.320 --> 00:38:04.639
repeated as he and Nisi stumbled into
the backyard. They scrambled to jump into

431
00:38:04.639 --> 00:38:10.800
Mamma Loo's backyard, but something stood
between them and help. There were two

432
00:38:10.920 --> 00:38:20.199
creatures, both big and both had
fire red eyes. Saliva dripped from their

433
00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:24.360
fangs, and Charlie could tell by
the way they were dressed that they were

434
00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:30.960
Libby's folks, Betty and Tommy Reynold's. The one wearing the flannel shirt and

435
00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:38.760
jeans was Tommy and the one with
the oversized housecoat was Betty. Libby was

436
00:38:38.800 --> 00:38:45.440
giggling from the porch. I'm sorry, it was the hungries. I told

437
00:38:45.440 --> 00:38:49.280
them you were coming, and I
can stay in my room tonight, said

438
00:38:49.320 --> 00:38:54.760
Libby. Everything was right in her
world. The creature that was Tommy snarled

439
00:38:55.039 --> 00:39:01.000
and held out his claws. They
were long, black and ready to rip

440
00:39:01.079 --> 00:39:07.199
flesh. Nissi leaned over and kissed
Charlie on the cheek. I'm sorry,

441
00:39:07.239 --> 00:39:15.199
Spidey. She held Charlie's hands and
closed her eyes. They knew they were

442
00:39:15.239 --> 00:39:22.039
going to die, but at least
they would leave like they came together.

443
00:39:23.760 --> 00:39:29.760
It made the sound of watermelons that
Nisi's brother Billy Jean, used to explode

444
00:39:29.800 --> 00:39:35.559
with cherry bombs. Charlie and Nissy
opened their eyes and The creature that was

445
00:39:35.719 --> 00:39:42.840
Tommy was headless and flailing his arms, clenching and unclenching his claws before he

446
00:39:43.000 --> 00:39:47.840
fell into the grass. The creature
that was Betty turned to their attacker.

447
00:39:50.119 --> 00:39:55.440
Nissi and Charlie heard the shell being
chambered and witnessed the creature that was Betty's

448
00:39:55.639 --> 00:40:04.519
head explode in a gooey mis mass
of blood and brains. Chunks fell into

449
00:40:04.599 --> 00:40:12.960
Niss's lap and Charlie's hair gross.
Nissi muttered and pulled herself up. Charlie

450
00:40:13.039 --> 00:40:19.679
was sitting there in shock. Libby
was crying, Mama, Daddy, Mama.

451
00:40:20.480 --> 00:40:23.440
She ran to the bodies that were
once her parents and fell to the

452
00:40:23.440 --> 00:40:30.199
ground, sobbing uncontrollably. Get down
here, Mamma lu shouted from her backyard.

453
00:40:30.679 --> 00:40:35.760
She was holding the Remington pump at
her side. Nissi held out her

454
00:40:35.760 --> 00:40:40.280
hand, Charlie grabbed it and she
helped him up. Little Libby remained crying

455
00:40:40.320 --> 00:40:45.119
in the grass as they walked away
and jumped down into Mamma Lou's backyard.

456
00:40:46.159 --> 00:40:51.000
Didn't I tell you not to mess
with those creeps? I told both of

457
00:40:51.039 --> 00:40:54.000
you not to mess with that little
girl. Gon't pull your switches and don't

458
00:40:54.000 --> 00:40:59.840
get little ones. I'll be in
the house. Charlie and Nissi replied,

459
00:41:00.920 --> 00:41:04.199
yes, ma'am.