Wait!

Bartholomew

Bartholomew … he wasn’t exactly crazy about the name he had been given. It was hard for him to say when he was little, and even harder for him to write when he started school and was learning to write.

His dad liked telling him the story about how he got his name. He said that he was named after a character in a book that he read way, way back when he was a child. Then his dad would laugh and wink, like he wanted Bartholomew to believe that way, way back meant that he was like hundreds of years old.

Bartholomew had fallen for the joke at first but, somewhere along the way, he realized that it wasn’t possible for anyone to be that old. So, after he understood that fact, he wasn’t fooled anymore. It became just one of the old stories that his dad would tell … like the one about how his family travelled across the country in a covered wagon long, long ago and discovered California.

He liked his dad’s stories – that is, the ones that didn’t include him. Sometimes his dad would stick him into the story – like the one about when the family went to the moon and found out that it was made of cheese and Bartholomew had eaten so much that he got sick … because the moon was made of green cheese … a kind that you can’t eat.

When Bartholomew was about six years old, he realized that the stories were made up because they seemed too farfetched to really be true. His dad told him that he always put Bartholomew into the stories to make sure he was listening and to make the stories seem more interesting.

But, his dad wanted him to know the story of how he got his name and to know that it was actually true. The book was about a kid who had 500 hats. It was his dad’s favorite story as a kid and he decided that when he grew up and had a son, he would name him Bartholomew.

He wanted to be called Bart. To him, it sounded like it belonged to a stronger, tougher person. His mother was the only one who still called him Bartholomew – when he did something wrong or when she wanted to get his ‘undivided’ attention.

Now, today, Bart was so bored. His best friend, Devlin, was away on vacation with his family. School was out for the summer and he didn’t have anything to do. The weather had turned really bad and a storm had rolled into the neighborhood. The thunder was really loud and scary. The lightning was bad enough that his parents wouldn’t allow him to go outside. The rain came down in buckets – his grandmother said it was raining cats and dogs. He had heard her say that before and he had never seen any animals falling with the rain. Now he knew exactly where his dad got his storytelling talent.

He knew there wouldn’t be any outside activities that day. He had tried to keep himself busy all day. He read for a while, he played darts in the garage for a while, and he worked on a dusty, old jigsaw puzzle he found on his bookshelf. It had been on that shelf for a long time. He had promised himself that he would put it together sooner or later, but he had never found the time. Then, he cleaned his room and did some other chores that his mother gave him to do. He watched television for a time but it didn’t keep his attention. After hours and hours and more hours, he ran out of things to do.

He decided that if the long, long day didn’t end soon, he might have to start pulling out his hair for something to do. It seemed like just about the longest day of his life.

Normally, he would be with Devlin. When they weren’t able to go outside with their skateboards or basketball or Frisbee, they would spend time at each other’s house and find things to do indoors. It seemed like they could always think of something to do.

Devlin lived directly across the street. They had been very best friends ever since kindergarten when Devlin’s family moved into the neighborhood. There weren’t any other young boys in the neighborhood at the time and Bart was so glad to meet him. There were some girls who lived on his street, but it wasn’t the same thing as having a guy to hang around with.

The two boys were the same age and they became instant friends. Since then, they had spent all of their time together. Every night, before they went to bed, they would signal each other across the street from their windows with flashlights. They made up their own secret signal code when they were eight years old and they had only missed a few nights in the past three years.

They missed one time when Devlin had his tonsils taken out and once when Bart had to have his appendix taken out. Besides those two times, the only times they ever missed was when their families went away on vacation.

The rain stopped just after dinner and the storm moved on to somewhere else. Bart looked out of his bedroom window and saw that fog was drifting into the neighborhood. It looked like it was pretty heavy. It was settling around the houses and wrapping around the trees like it was sticky. It looked spooky out there. He could barely see across the street.

Bart looked over at Devlin’s house. It was dark over there. The house was covered in fog. It looked like a blanket was wrapped around it. He couldn’t see the downstairs windows at all. He thought the dark, empty house looked lonely and cold. He was lonely too, just looking at it. He missed his best friend. He decided he would just pretend that Devlin was over there in his room and he would signal to him before he went to bed – just like a regular night. He thought it would make him feel better if he acted like Devlin was there … even if he didn’t signal back. He could just make believe that he did signal back.

Bart turned out his bedroom light so the room would be dark and his signal would be seen better, just like he did every night. He got his flashlight and went to the window. He turned it on and pointed it toward Devlin’s window. He pressed the button to blink the light that would spell out their code. It did make him feel better. It made him feel so much better that he signaled again. Then he signaled once more.

Suddenly, there was a light in Devlin’s window and it was blinking! At first, Bart was excited to think that maybe Devlin had come home and he was signaling back. Bart signaled again and the light in Devlin’s window answered.

Wait! It’s the wrong signal, he said out loud. It wasn’t their code! Something wasn’t right! When the light blinked again, Bart was suddenly scared. He dropped down on the floor below the window. He was afraid of someone seeing him. It wasn’t Devlin! He slowly raised his head so he could peek over the edge of the window. Sure enough, the light blinked again.

Bart was terrified! Someone was in Devlin’s room and they were using his flashlight to signal! He knew that Devlin’s family was gone out of town. Who could be over there?

Bart peeked over the edge of the window again. Devlin’s window was dark – the light wasn’t blinking anymore. He watched for a few minutes. There was no light. Maybe he imagined it, he thought to himself. Maybe what he saw was his own light reflecting on Devlin’s window. Yeah, that had to be it, he decided. That was the simple explanation. That was easy to understand. He had just made a mistake, that’s all.

He decided that he would shine his light on Devlin’s window and move it around. That way, he could see that it was just his light shining on the glass and it would prove he had made a mistake.

Bart got up on his knees and shined his light across the street. When his light hit the window of Devlin’s room, he moved it around and around in a circle. He could see the pattern he was making.

Wait! All of a sudden, the blinking light flashed again! Bart dropped flat on the floor and crawled to the side of his window. Oh, no, he thought, he hadn’t made a mistake! Someone was over there! He was more scared than ever. He inched up close to the window and peeked around the curtain. The light was still blinking! Now he was certain. A monster or something was in Devlin’s room!

What could it be? How could a monster get into Devlin’s house? Wait a minute – he had seen a movie where there was a vampire next door and a boy saw him from his window. The vampire tried to get the boy to come over so he could attack him.

That’s it! That had to be it! A vampire got into Devlin’s house and now it knew he had seen it. It would probably wait until he was asleep and come after him. He was terrified. His knees felt wobbly. He felt very tired all of a sudden. Was the vampire putting a spell on him? That was it! The vampire was making him feel sleepy so he couldn’t get away when it came after him. Vampires had that power, right? Bart thought that he learned that from the movie. Vampires could put you under a spell so you would do what they want!

He had to go tell his dad! He was afraid he wouldn’t be able to move. He felt heavy and sleepy. But, if he didn’t go for help, the vampire would get him, he decided. He had to move, he told himself. He forced his feet to move and he inched his way around the edge of the room in the dark. He was careful not to pass in front of the window. He slowly crept toward the door.

When he reached the doorway, he ran down the hall to his parents’ room. The room was empty! His parents were still awake. They were downstairs. He backed out of their room and ran down the stairs to the living room.

Dad, he shouted when he entered the room, there’s a vampire in Devlin’s house!

Whoa, there, Sport, his dad said, throwing up his hands. What’s brought this on?

Dad, I signaled with my flashlight and someone answered back with Devlin’s flashlight, Bart said. He was breathing heavily.

Whoa, his dad said, catch your breath and tell me what’s going on. You know Devlin’s family is out of town. There’s no one over there. They won’t be back until next week.

Bart stopped and took a couple of deep breaths. Yeah, Dad, he answered, I know, but I signaled over there to Devlin’s window, just like I always do because I was pretending that Devlin was there and someone signaled back using his flashlight. I think it might be a vampire and he knows that I saw him. He’s trying to put a spell on me! He’s going to come after me because I saw him!

His parents looked at each other and then his dad looked back toward Bart. He smiled and said, I don’t think vampires come out until later in the night. He winked at Bart’s mother.

No, Dad, Bart pleaded, I’m serious. There’s a vampire or something over there in Devlin’s house. It signaled back with his flashlight. Really, I’m not kidding!

His dad asked, What do you want me to do about it, son?

I don’t know, Bart answered, call the police or something!

I’ll go over and check it out, his dad replied. I have the key to their house. I’ll go find out what’s going on.

No, Dad, you can’t go over there! What if the vampire is waiting for you? He’ll get you. Don’t go! Bart begged.

You wait here and watch your mother and I’ll be back in a few minutes, his dad said, getting up from his chair. He went into the hallway, picked up the key for Devlin’s house from the hall table, and went out the front door. Bart sat down next to his mother and she put her arm around him.

Don’t worry, she said. It’ll be okay. Your dad’s a tough old guy. You don’t have to worry about him. He’ll be just fine.

Bart was still afraid, not only for himself, but especially for his dad. He wondered if his dad could fight off a vampire without being put under a spell.

It seemed like his dad was gone for a long time. Bart worried when he didn’t come back right away. After about ten minutes they heard the front door open and close. Bart breathed a sigh of relief when he saw his dad in the doorway. He came in and sat down in his chair.

What happened? Bart almost yelled. Was it a vampire? Did you kill it?

No, his dad answered. It’s nothing like that. It’s just Devlin’s cousin. He’s here from college and he’s housesitting for Devlin’s family while they’re on vacation. He said that he’s sleeping in Devlin’s room. He said someone over here was shining a light in the window so he just answered back. So, there’s no vampire or monster. Everything’s fine.

Bart was relieved. He couldn’t wait to tell Devlin.

The End

Cameron and Paul

Wait! Paul said suddenly, looking up from the card game they were playing in the tent. Did you hear something?

No, Cameron answered, I wasn’t listening for anything. I was thinking about the game. You heard something? What was it?

I don’t know, it sounded like something walking around out there, Paul whispered. Something was rustling and moving around.

I didn’t hear it, Cameron whispered back. Want me to take a look and see?

NO! Paul said hurriedly. It could be a monster.

A monster, Cameron said, like what?

Maybe it’s the Wombat, Paul said.

Oh, Cameron said, shaking his head up and down like he agreed that it was a possibility.

Remember last summer at camp? Paul asked. They told us not to go outside the tent after dark because the Wombat would get you.

Yeah, I remember, Cameron answered. Do you think it could really be out there?

Maybe, Paul said. Just listen for a minute.

The two boys sat quietly, holding their breath, and listening closely.

Hey, Cameron said in a low tone, I think you might be right. I can hear something moving around out there now.

They were leaning toward each other and they were speaking in low, soft tones. They were starting to get nervous.

It’s prowling around the tent. Probably looking for a way to get in, Paul offered.

Good thing we pulled the zipper on the door all the way closed, Cameron said as he looked toward the flap that served as a door to their tent.

The boys looked at each other, almost holding their breath. They listened keenly for any sounds outside the tent.

It was Saturday night and Cameron and Paul were ‘camping out’ in Cameron’s backyard in a tent his uncle gave him for his birthday. Their parents didn’t think that two ten-year-old boys should be out in the yard alone overnight.

The boys promised them there wasn’t anything to worry about. They practically begged. Then they tried another tactic. They tried to reason with their parents. They were trying to make it sound like it was no big deal, but it actually was, because they had never camped out in the yard before.

But, we’ll be out in our own backyard, Cameron said to them. We’ll be right out there where you can see us anytime you look out.

I’m not sure about this, Paul’s mother said.

But, the whole backyard is fenced in, Paul said.

Well, then, Cameron’s mother started to say something, but that was as far as she got.

We’ll be okay, Paul interrupted.

Please, Mom, please, Cameron pleaded. We’ll be right there. He pointed out the window to the big tree in the backyard.

Cameron’s mother had her arms folded in front of her. He knew it meant that she was undecided. She could be stubborn when she wasn’t sure about something.

Oh, Jeannie, Cameron’s father said. I’m sure they’ll be fine out there. There’s nothing out there that can harm them.

Well, Cameron’s mother said, throwing up her arms, if you feel comfortable with it, then I guess it’s all right with me too.

And me, Paul’s mother added.

Yay! Paul said, hugging his mother. His father wasn’t there. He was out of town on a business trip.

Yeah, Cameron said, and we promise to come into the house if anything happens.

Their parents were still a little concerned because a storm was coming. The boys were quick to point out that the tent was waterproof. They were sure they would stay dry.

Cameron’s father explained that the concern wasn’t the rain, but the lightning. They were worried about the lightning that would come with the storm.

The boys went out and set up the tent in the afternoon, but their parents wouldn’t let them go out there until the lightning had passed over.

What do you think it is? Paul asked. I think it has to be the Wombat. What else can it be?

It’s probably the storm, Cameron answered. It’s kind of windy. I’m hoping that that’s what it is. I keep wondering what else it can be, but I can’t think of anything else that’s going to be out in the yard.

But, the wind doesn’t walk around, Paul said. He thought that made very good sense. It’s the Wombat I tell you. It’s a crazy monster and it’s creeping around because it saw us come out here.

Don’t get scared yet, Cameron whispered. "We