There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man's fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.
Speaking of time and timelessness, let's head to a small, Indiana town and meet a family.
The Webster family, a family headed into the Twilight Zone.
William Webster is forty eight years old. He's an optometrist, a family man, and an antique enthusiast. That very afternoon, he took his wife, daughter, and son to Fort Wayne to but an antique cuckoo clock, on he had his eye on for years.
"Tara, isn't it beautiful?" He asked his wife as they looked at the clock, which now adorned the den.
"To be honest, Will, it's the ugliest thing I've ever seen. But you like it and you bought it. I'll compromise."
"And what about you, Michelle?"
"Je voudrais pas cuckoo, pa pere." She spoke Her French, which she had to practice for school. "Non merci."
It's almost as ugly as his bald spot, and Tommy's big fat mouth.
At fifteen, Michelle was a smart girl, and hated it when he nuisance of a brother, Tommy, tried to ruin Her good time.
He was in sports and she wasn't. So what? To him, it was like war. Because that's what people in this town were into.
They say Leo is the sports capital of Indiana. What a bunch of garbage.
Tommy was thirteen. He was daddy's little angel. And the Webster family instigator.
"What do you think, Tommy?"
"Dad, it's great!"
Will smiled, "I knew you'd agree with me! That's my boy!"
He's always got to please Daddy, doesn't he?
Tara rolled her eyes and looked at Michelle. They were thinking the same thing. And there was not one thing they could do about it.
"Tommy, did you know what the man at the store said about this clock? "
"No, Dad! Tell me! "
"Well, son, he said that this clock is magical. "
"How exactly is this thing magical? It's the ugliest clock I've ever seen! " Michelle commented, while tying her dark brown hair in a ponytail.
"Well, as I was saying, this clock is magical. The man didn't know exactly how it was magical, but whoever finds the magic is doomed." Will glared straight at his daughter. It caused her to be frightened and leave the room.
I don't think I should fear that he'd use this 'magic' on me.. I mean, he'd be the one that'd be doomed and all.
Michelle and her dad never really got along. Their relationship was strained. He had no clue how to live with women,as his own wife was even planning to leave him.
"Take your antiques somewhere else! "
Another thing, again, Tommy was the king of the house, just about. Right alongside his father. He got everything he wanted and never got in trouble. That is, until that night before bed.
Michelle was just walking up the stairs when she heard it.
"Tommy, if you touch the clock again, you'll be in big trouble!"
Tommy said nothing and sped up the stairs, right in his bedroom door.
This was her chance. After thirteen years of constant belittlement by her brother, this was her chance to get back at him.
Because sometimes, he got Her good. Real good.
One instance was a few weeks earlier, when Michelle wanted to take a walk in the woods. So, she did, and came back to see blood all over the curb, leading right back into the woods again.
Crime? Here? No, that's nonsense!
So, being a bit curious, she followed the trail, where a squirrel marionette was waiting. Tommy was up in the tree, waiting as well.
When she arrived, the marionette attacked her. After that, one of Tommy's friends squirted ketchup, the so-called blood, right in her face.
"Michelle pas belle!" They shouted, having picked up her French to use as insults.
Michelle snatched the bottle and followed the boys back home. She tried to squirt ketchup on their faces, but the door shut right then, causing the beautiful front door that Tara spent days painting was ruined.
Michelle rang the doorbell and waited for her mother to answer.
When she saw her daughter, Tommy was standing next to her.
"What did you do? " She asked Michelle.
"Tommy did it! I just wanted to take a walk!"
"Sure, sure. Clean yourself up, and clean up that mess too." Tara walked away and left Tommy alone at the door.
"I got you good! Almost as good as at your birthday party!" Michelle groaned, remembering that afternoon a few months earlier.
She was opening presents when her mother had asked her to help with the cake.
She agreed and went to the kitchen to take the cake to the porch.
She took the cake, which was adorned with her name and flowers, and started walking. As she arrived to the glass door, she felt a hand over her ankle, and before she knew what was happening, she had landed face first into her birthday cake.
Her friends laughed at first, but were later unamused by Tommy's actions. Her mother was understanding, and went to town to buy a new cake.
To this day, Tommy still laughed about it.
And Michelle finally had a chance to get back at him. When the clock struck twelve, she grabbed the bird and twisted it's head backwards.
He'll get in ttrouble, I'm sure of it!
She ran to her bedroom and went to bed.
And she woke up somewhere else.