(READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.)
"Mr. Baxter! Come quick!"
"Yes, Tommy? Did you find Matt?"
"No! He's still missing! I can't find him anywhere!"
"Okay. Calm down. Breathe. We'll find him."
"He was just here a few minutes ago. He said he was going outside the cabin to get more wood.
He was gone such a long time I went to search for him. Remember?"
"Yes, I remember."
"I took my flashlight--"
"As all good scouts do."
"--and went outside. I circled the cabin. Twice. It's dark. DARK out there! I thought he was
playing one of his usual jokes, but now I don't know." Tommy places his flashlight in his jeans
pocket.
"I heard you call his name. He didn't -- he hasn't answered yet. I'm sure he's just playing one of
his usual tricks on us."
"You always say a good Scout would never play a harmful trick on his fellow Scouts, Mr. Baxter."
"Yes, I did, but not everyone listens to me like you."
"What's the big deal about Matt?" Spike interrupts. "He's just playing a joke on us like you said!
That loser will show up soon. Why the panic?"
"Because we're out here in the middle of nowhere!" Tommy shouts. "He's been gone for over an
hour!"
"He's been going for ten minutes, you Nancy!"
"That's enough, Spike!"
"Sorry, Mr. Baxter."
"Now, there's no reason to panic. Matt is out there somewhere, and we will find him, as good
Scouts do!"
"What if he fell down and hurt himself or got bit by a snake and lying dying somewhere, or--"
"Will ya stop it, you drama queen?"
"Spike! That's enough! We will discuss your punishment later!"
"Sorry, Mr. Baxter."
"Tommy, you stay here in the cabin with Jack. Spike, you and Kris take flashlights and search
for Matt. Good Scouts always stick together and help each other in need. We will find him!"
"Mr. Baxter?"
"Yes, Spike."
"If good Scouts always stick together, why did Matt go for wood alone?"
"We will discuss that later! In the meantime, I will circle this cabin and keep a close eye on
all of you," Mr. Baxter promises.
"Yes, sir," the Scouts reply in rehearsed unison.
And with that, Spike and Kris go out as bravely as they can into the black to search for Matt. Jack
stays inside and does his best to comfort Tommy. Mr. Baxter steps outside, and locks the only door to
the cabin. Jack and Tommy see Mr. Baxter's flashlight reflecting and bouncing off the four
windows on all sides of the cabin.
Mr. Baxter checks his watch. It is almost 11PM.
A lonely wind brushes Mr. Baxter's face.
Inside the cabin, the only source of light had mysteriously distinguished not long ago along with
the dying embers inside the potbelly stove. Less than a handful of candles try in vain to illuminate the
interior to no comfort to Tommy. Or the other Scouts. Or their leader. Though none will admit to that.
Except, of course, maybe Tommy.
Outside the cabin, the wind can barely make itself audible in the density of the woods. Leaves
and branches rustle against the starless sky. What animals that are lurking behind the trees are
remaining still until the proper moment.
Even Mr. Baxter could not have predicted how loud silence could be. In the still of the night,
the quiet is anything but soothing. In the middle of nowhere, the lack of sound threatens.
In the not too far distance, the two boys' flashlights dance in the darkness. The two Scouts are
careful not to holler the name of the missing boy so as not to arouse any critters.
"Everything will be alright, Tommy," is the cliche that exits Jack's mouth. "Matt will show
up. I promise."
A high-pitched scream pierces the air.
Jack and Tommy shudder together on the floor.
"MR. BAXTER!" It's Kris's voice. "MR. BAXTER!"
The leader arrives to find one flashlight on the ground, shedding its beam along the blades of
grass and dirt patches. He also find Spike's companion trying desperately to explain what just
happened. He places his hands on the boy's shoulders and attempts to interpret the words
escaping the youth's mouth.
Amidst puffs and pants, the leader hears the words "man," "cloak," "grabbed," and "Spike!"
Mr. Baxter's mouth goes dry.
GET KRIS INSIDE!
GET KRIS INSIDE NOW!
GET THE BOYS TO SAFETY!
Another high-pitched scream pierces the air.
The leader grabs the boy's arm, and they race in the darkness toward the sound. Toward the cabin
where the sound is coming from.
Mr. Baxter and Kris stumble into the cabin where Jack had been.
As the leader rushes to Tommy's side, Kris slams and locks the door and joins his
companions, dropping his flashlight on the bare, wooden floor.
The leader must decode again, after he turns off his flashlight and places it carefully on the floor
next to him.
Amidst sobs and breaths of terror, Tommy manages "man," "cloak," "grabbed," and "Jack!"
911! THIS IS A FULL-BLOWN 911 EMERGENCY! THIS IS IT! Why didn't I take action before?
Because before -- oh, I wish it was "before" again -- I thought -- I KNEW I would find these boys, and
we'd all return to safety! But now -- things are different. Where's my phone? Where's my cell phone??
When I was these boys' age, we didn't have cell phones. When I was there age. I want to be their
age again.
Mr. Baxter pulls his phone out of his shirt pocket.
He flips it open.
He turns it on.
He waits for a signal.
He waits.
And waits.
The two remaining boys wait.
Nothing.
No signal.
Mr. Baxter throws the phone against the wall, and shattered phone pieces fly and land on the
floor.
Mr. Baxter apologized for his behavior. The boys understand.
The two boys shriek in response to something behind their leader's head.
He turns around and feels every hair on his body stand on edge.
The face.
There is a face in the window!
The light from on the remaining candles cast shows on the expressionless face.
"Who are you?" Mr. Baxter commands. "What do you want?"
The face turns to its side.
The left eye darts at them.
The mouth alters into a puckering position.
"What doo I want??" the face taunts.
Mr. Baxter feels his stomach drop away from his body, which turns cold.
"You already gave mee what I want! But I want moore!!"
"GO AWAY!" demands the leader. "GO AWAY!"
The face turns and faces the leader. "Okay!"
The mouth puckers and blows against the window as if to blow out a candle.
Which is exactly had happens.
The candles extinguish, leaving the remaining troop members in the black, save for Kris's
flashlight, which he has dropped after his final entry into the cabin.
"Are you guys okay?"
"No, no we're not," whimpers Tommy.
"We'll get through this," the leader promises.
"Enough, guys! The joke has gone too far! Come back! Come back now!" Jack demands.
A confused leader looks ahead to find Matt, Kris, and Spike entering sheepishly from the back
door of the cabin.
"So," begins Mr. Baxter, "this was all some elaborate prank to play on your leader!"
The five Scouts hang their heads in shame. Even they know there isn't any use in apologizing.
"We will all go to bed and return home in the morning. Your punishments shall be severe!"
The Scouts remain silent.
"Just one question. Which one of you was at the window? I didn't recognize the face."
The Scouts look around at each other, giving Mr. Baxter more chills than he has already
experienced so far.
"We don't know," answered Tommy.
Mr. Baxter and his Scouts pack it up for the evening and never speak of that night again.
Copyright 2010 Scott C. Forrest-Allen & Paul McCarthy
