The mist whirls across the empty boardwalk. Adjin, Patty and
John walk past the palm trees and empty picnic tables. The sea oats wave in the
breeze looking almost like a skeleton’s hand. The final bar will mark the end
of a gathering place. Ahead, it’s tall dunes that anyone or anything could hide
behind.
Patty
Hey what about Canada…killing the soldier and getting into Parliament.
In Canada!
John
Big brave ISIS. Shot the unarmed soldier in the back. Adjin
what did your dad say? They are perverts….perverting the true nature of Islam.
Adjin
Did he? Sounds about right.
I see them as a weird death cult…killing people to get God’s favor.
John jumps as a red fox runs between the dark dunes.
Patty
You aren’t afraid of the ISIS nuts…beheading people but you
are afraid of a red fox?
John
I think I’ve been watching too much scary TV. Stalker on
Wednesdays…downloading American Horror…for Thursday’s. Discovery ID …murder all the time. But the
town does get creepy when there’s no one around.
John looks behind him and sees the bar light fading…like a
light house in the midst….as if to say…you are on your own.
Patty
I was walking on the boulevard in broad daylight. And I saw
this tall guy with dirty long hair walking towards me. And I thought, I’m not
crossing the street. He’s the creep. Let him cross. But as we passed each other…he
stared at me…in the eyes and then looked me up and down. He was really dirty. I’ll
be someone rented their beach house to him cheap. That’s something to be afraid
of down here in the winter.
The sound of creaking shot between the dunes or was it from
across ocean boulevard?
Patty
looks at John and smiles.
Wanna
check out what that is?
John
What if someone is over there making it creak…so we come
over and check it out?
Patty
That’s it. We have to check it out…just so you can face your
fears.
John
Curiosity killed
the cat.
Adjin
Meow
Sandy and John cross the street towards the darkened house where the creaking noise is coming from. The house has a raised front porch, with pillars holding up the house. It creates a pitch black area under the raised porch.
John
You’re
right Patty. It’s nothing. This is close enough.
Patty looks behind her at John and continues towards the creaking. It’s coming from the darkness, under the porch. Something is moving under there. Or someone…. Patty rushes under the porch. She screams. John screams and runs in after her. A man’s voice screams from under the porch. Adjin comes in from the other side of the step and says:
Adjin
Boooo
A man from under the porch
Man
There is no
money here.
Patty, John and Adjin move from under the porch. An Indian
man follows them. He is carrying a wrench.
Patty
We’re so sorry. Do you live here?
Indian Man
Yes. I was lighting up the house
for Diwali The fuse box is rusty from the salt air.
John
Sorry we
scared you. I live up the street.
Indian Man
Nice to meet
you…boo to you son.
They walk away. John says to Adjin.
John
Boo? Really Adjin? Do
you think this is the time for Muslim guys to be jumping out and saying Boo?
Adjin
Yes. And screw ISIS. I say both.
