Count MacGrady
By RichieD.
(Author's Note and Disclamer: The madness that is me decided to make this story on a whim. No rhyme no reason; just enjoy it for what it is. I don't own Arthur or any of the creations associated with him. Enjoy the show.)
Elwood City a quint little town no? Nothing out of the ordinary with it usual of suburban living; theaters, churches, schools, a library, even a little malt shop that one doesn't see too offer in towns such as this. Course it usual populace has gone on into the 21 century which is clearly defined by it cultures. Well that and that this world populated by anthromporhic animals but that beside the point. The city had managed be standing for 100 years which is definitely nothing to sneeze at. However even in this day and age, one can find something ancient that they don't really expect to come up till it does.
"Annnnd that should do it." A elderly yet spry woman said as she finished grounding up meat into a pan then proceed to cook it on a stove before adding the sauce to it then pulling out buns. She then dipped a gloved finger into the pot "Mmm ah perfect sloppy joes if I do say so myself." After which the woman carried it to the front and sat it next to a few other dishes that contained various foods and set up the other fixing just as the school bell rang and the school student body filed in to get their food.
"Afternoon, Mrs. MacGrady." An aardvark child greeted her.
"Oh hello Arthur" She responded back "School life treating ya well?"
"Eh more or less Mr. Ratburn giving us more work as usual." He groaned "Sometime I don't think he satisfied till he buries us under piles of work."
"I hear that." A girl ape said as she came down the counter "And then came down with a dump truck to finish the job."
"Could he really do that?" A bunny kid ask coming up beside her. "Cause if they do I gotta ask mom for a helmet."
MacGrady laughed at that. "Now now Francine, Buster. Am sure he just doing his job as best he can."
"We know we know." Buster said longingly "Just wish he tone it down a bit."
"Ah well hang in there" She beamed "And here something to help you cheer up." Buster's face lit up as two sloppy joes were placed on his plate.
"Oh oh oh thank you Mrs.MacGrady you're the best."
"Ahh think nothing of it."
"No I agree with him." Francine interjected "If it wasn't for you, we never survive these boring day during school time."
"Makes looking forward to the next holiday all the more bearable." Arthur added to which he and his friend agreed.
"Face it Mrs. MacGrady you make the school days interesting." A bear looking kid told her.
"Aww you guys." O' Grady said blushing as she waved a hand to the, "Why thank you Brian and everyone else as well. All second servings on me!"
All the kids cheered at that while MacGrady smiled in kind before she continued her job. Afterwhile the kids were called back to class, MacGrady cleaned up and checked over the stock and ingredients for tomorrow's lunch before she packed them away. Before long the school bell had rang allowing the students and most of the staff out for the day, including her. Thus she clocked out, grabbed her coat, said hi to the janitor on the way out and was soon walking to the bus stop which would take her home.
"Hmm, awfully cloudy today." She comments noticing the weather and the stormy looking clouds overhead. "Mmm must've just blown in" With a shrug she continues onward and reaches the bus stop. Then waits and waits and waits…
"That funny the bus should've been here by now. Must be running late."
She sit back and continues to do so, watching the cars go by and humming a few tunes. Time passes quickly and soon the streetlight begins to turn on signifying evening. "I guess the service really took a hit today." She then get up and stretches her back "Guess I'll called Maude and see if she can give me a ride." MacGrady gets up and starts to head across the street to a nearby to call for a pickup. However halfway across the street a nearly skidded into her trying to beat the red light though thankfully the vehicle had good brakes to prevent a tragedy, not to say that Mrs. MacGrady didn't almost have a heart attack.
"Oh am sorry about that." The driver, who oddly had his face covered by his bowler hat, leaned out and said. "I saw the yellow light and well…are you alright?"
"Y-Yes just really startled me there."
"Hehe I suppose so, please let me make up for my recklessness by offering you a ride home."
"Oh well…don't wanna insult a generous offer." MacGrady said and hopped into the passenger side.
"Hehe thank you. Oh my name Barlow by the way."
"Ah MacGrady. Nice to meet you."
And soon he continued on with Mrs. MacGrady pointing the way to her dwellings. Soon the two went into idle chit chat with MacGrady telling what she does and Barlow mentioning he was on his way to a another town call Jerusalem's Lot as he had brought a town there, basically just passing through Elwood to his destination.
"Oh so your in real estate huh?" MacGrady asked, "That must be something to travel from place to place."
"Eh its not all bad. See lot of place, meet lot of people, eat…a lot of different delicates"
"Heheh I'll say." She says, "I would love to travel but…well I could never leave this place."
"Oh whys that, lack of money?"
"No not that. Just…well the kids. They need me, said so themselves this afternoon and when I see their face after I cheer them up during a humdrum day. Well…" She smiles "Let just say it makes it worthwhile to do what I do."
"Is that so…"A little smirk crosses Barlow's lips at that. Soon the car pulls up to her apartment. "Here we are."
"Oh thank you Mr. Barlow, I really appreciate it."
"Think nothing of it, it was nice to talk to someone before I have to head out on my lonesome." He told her adjusting his mirror. "Oh could you do me a favor and tell me if this looks right." Mrs. MacGrady obliges and looks at the view in the mirror
"Hmm look fi…" She notices something, she could see the reflection on her end, but on Barlow's side there was…nothing.
"Um is this one of those trick mirrors?" She asked chuckling a little but Barlow only responded with a sly grin.
"No my dear…" Barlow told her as he locked the door. "It is what you think it is" He lifted up his bowler hat revealing red eyes and a bat like face causing MacGrady to gasp.
"It can't be…you're a….vam…?!"
Before she could finish, a flash of fangs entered her vision before she felt her head forced to tilt to the side and something puncture her neck. There was a brief feeling of pain however, it quickly passed and her eyes widen as she felt an odd feeling coming into her. She then passed out the only feeling she felt being her landing on bushes near the household.
"Mrs. MacGrady?…Mrs. MacGrady are you alright?"
"Hmm?"
She opened her eyes to see a bunny woman with glasses staring at her worried.
"Oh thank goodness." She said, "For a second I thought something terrible had happened."
"I know you, Paige Turner, the librarian right?"
"Yes that right, I was on my way home when I saw you passed out in the buses. Was just about to call the ambulance too, but you seem fine. Looks like you had a nasty spill."
"RAWR!"
Before Paige knew it, MacGrady had sprung up and was inserting her canines into her neck, blood soon dribbling from her mouth as she silently drank Ms.Turner's blood. Soon Paige's body when limp in her arm while MacGrady raised her head and looked up into the night sky, her eyes now tinted with red and fangs protruding from her mouth along with the blood she drank before a rather serpentine tongue licked it away. MacGrady then smiled picking up Pagie's body, her shoes slipping of her feet during the raise up, Though MacGrady paid it no mind as she head to her apartment, only one thought on her mind.
"Yes master…the undead shall rise in the city of Elwood. And I shall lead them in all consuming evil."