Chapter II
Date: August 3rd, 1992; Time: 12:30pm; Location: Kitchen of the Pickles' residence
Lunch time was unusually quiet. Didi was watching all of the neighborhood kids (as usual), who were all sitting around the kitchen table. Everyone was inhaling their food except for Tommy. He was just sitting his booster seat staring down at the floor below him. He was shaking all over, still traumatized by the clown incident a few nights ago. The image of an evil clown had been lingering in Tommy's head for what seemed like ages.
"What's wrong with Tommy?" Chuckie asked Didi, "He looks really sad."
"He accidentally saw some of a scary movie," she told him, "I think he'll be just fine though".
"A scary movie? What could be so scary that Tommy couldn't handle?"
"Well—"
Before Didi could finish her thought, Tommy knocked his plate onto the floor pretending it was an accident. As she kneeled down to clean up the mess, Tommy whispered into her ear, "N- No taaaallllll Ch- Chuckie". He wouldn't dare let his best friend know that their worst fears were mutual.
Later that day, the kids were all playing outside and trying to get Tommy out of the sandbox. Didi and Betty were watching this through the window.
"Maybe you should bring him to a therapist," Betty told her, "Howie was acting the exact same way after we saw 'IT'. After like a week in therapy he was pretty much cured."
"I had considered that," said Didi in response, "but I'm not sure if we can afford it right now. Tommy's birthday party is right around the corner. I haven't been able to teach ever since I went back to school, and Stu is only making enough money from his toy business for us to barely get by."
"Don't worry about that," Betty laughed, "We got a good deal from Dr. Freeman. Go on. Guess how much we paid!"
"How much?"
"Zero. Zip. Nilch."
Didi narrowed her eyes in skepticism.
"We won a free 90 day trial," explained Betty, "They were giving it out via raffle ticket at the end of a concert. Howard's ticket had the right number."
"But you said it was only a week."
"It was. And the trial is completely transferable if you want the remaining 2 ¾ months."
Didi thought for a minute. "Okay," she said, "I guess we'll take it."
"You got it, Deed."
"By the way," asked Didi after a brief pause, "what kind of concert was giving out therapy sessions as a raffle?"
"Oh, just some Seattle grunge band. It was a gimmicky sort of thing."
Meanwhile, out in the playground, Tommy was still sitting in the sandbox with his head in his knees. Chuckie came up to him, putting a hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" Chuckie asked.
"Yeah," responded Tommy, lifting his head, "I just can't stop thinking about that thing."
"What exactly was it, Tommy? If it scared you it must've been really bad!"
"I can't tell you, Chuckie. It would give you nightscares. It gave me nightscares!"
They sat there in silence for a few moments. Chuckie then decided to break the ice. "So," he said, "I hear your birthday's coming up. What do you want for a present?"
"I didn't think about that," said Tommy, slowly taking his mind off of the evil clown, "I've been busy thinkin' about other stuffs," he paused to think for a moment, "Well I could use a new toy screwdriver…"
"What's wrong with the one you gots already?"
"Yeah," Tommy began, his face turning red with embarrassment, "It kinda' got ruined…cuz of the place I used to keep it…"
Chuckie giggled, "Suzie's warning was right all along then!"
Tommy also giggled. He was in a much better mood at that point. The two boys then got up and started playing with the rest of the gang.
