The wind howls like a banshee down the boardwalk.
The pink lights of lucky leo’s arcade are a sign of life on
a dead off-season boardwalk. The bat
black ocean sneered at the few souls braving the moonless night. The boardwalk
is so weird this time of year, John thought. Each board is so heavy…and yet it
creaks with every step. John keeps turning around…and then laughing to himself
at the emptiness. He knows his weight pushes the boards down but when it pops
back up behind him…well he’s just going to make sure it’s the board popping up
behind him. No harm in walking a little
faster. And that wind sounds alive. Or dead. One time in the Pine Barrens…he
and Adjin were searching for the Jersey Devil and heard the howl of probably….a
coyote and a screech owl…way too close. He begins to walk faster towards those
glowing arcade lights. Inside his friends would be there and all of this would
seem silly. Like who is going to grab him? He has no enemies. He has no money.
If he walks closer to the buildings they may block the wind. And besides, the
ocean is way too dark. What if there’s a rogue wave. The ocean could just reach
out and take you out to sea. Sandy did that. Made you feel unsafe here….far
away from New York City…where the latest nut jobs from the Middle East…that
ISIS…is making everyone look for something.
John walks towards the buildings. And they do block the
North West wind. West…the best witch was from the West…the Wicked Witch of the
West. She was after those ruby red
slippers. And I’m wearing red sneakers John thinks. The wicked wind is rattling
the steel grates in front of the closed stands. Like the wind is trying to get
in. Or something is trying to get out, John thinks.
All of a sudden, a figure in a hoodie jumps out in front of
John.
Adjin
Ahh…I’m
the Stalker!
John
You’re an…Adjin!
John
That’s not funny.
Adjin pulls his hoodie off his head.
Adjin
Well, aren’t you all about the Stalker. I got your tweets
talking about that new show…with that American Horror guy in it.
John
Dylan
McDermott…still not funny Adjin.
They walk into the arcade. Every game is screaming fun and
strobing lights Adjin spots the Wizard of Oz game.
Adjin
Hey, we gotta time winning that game when Jeremy tries to
hit on some girl.
John
Why?
Adjin
Cause he’s short and it plays Follow the Yellow Brick Road.
Picture, Jeremy leans on some machine. Hey baby, scary night out there. If you
need me to walk you home…I’d protect you. Right then, we make the machine play
the munchkins singing: follow, follow, follow follow the yellow brick road.
Adjin laughs at his own joke.
John
You
are your biggest fan.
Adjin
Hey, maybe he could walk you home…protect you. You delicate
thing.
John
Shut up
Adjin
You should have seen your face when I jumped out…the
Stalker!
John
The
Sucker…you suck.
Patty walks up in a tight, sport shirt.
John
Hey,
you look good. How’s the nursing going?
Patty
It’s Alyssa
Milano…Touch AM.
Adjin goes to touch her shirt.
Patty playfully slaps his hand away.
Patty
I didn’t say for you to touch. Hey, this is played out today. Wanna walk
around the town…before it gets too cold to go for our walks?
Adjin
Would
you protect Johnny out there. He’s scared.
John
The nut, pulls up his hoody…so you can’t even see his
face…and jumps out from behind a closed building on the boardwalk…right in
front of me.
Patty laughs
You used your hoodie? Serves you right John. I’ve read your
tweets about that Stalker show.
Adjin
With that American Horror guy.
John
Dylan McDermott. Dylan McDermott. Dylan McDermott.
Girls nearby
Here? In Seaside
Heights?
Patty
Yes. Hollywood stars hang out in Lucky Leo’s arcade in Seaside
Heights. They can be themselves.
Jeremy walks up to a girl. Just as Adjin hits the Wizard of
OZ machine and it plays: follow, follow, follow, follow, follow the yellow
brick road.
Adjin
Well Patty, the Munchkins hang out here.
Patty
Well I don’t
want to hang out here tonight. Come on. Let’s leave this clambake.
As they go back out onto the boardwalk, a mist has rolled in
from the bayside of the island. Whispers of grey white run across the boardwalk
and onto the sand. They are like the ghosts of summer…people long gone. John pauses for a moment as Adjin and Patty
hit the boards.
Adjin
I’ll
protect you Johnny.
John
Great, I’m being protected by the first Stalker wanna be.
Adjin
Starring that American Horror guy
John
Dylan McDermott dam….You are not
going to make me curse.
Patty and Adjin scream out curses that echo down the empty
boardwalk. Anyone out there…knows they are coming.
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