Chapter 10: Scary Movies and Night Monsters
Written by Vincent B Berkan and Heather Trousdale.
Thursday, March 14th, 1957
Lincoln had now been living with the Perkins Family for a few days now. He enjoyed school with Julie and Stanley. But today was very special. It was Heather's birthday and Vincent planned to take her out dancing, leaving Julie in charge. It was a normal Thursday night, Lincoln and Stanley were playing Monopoly, Julie and Averell were watching TV. At that moment, Vincent and Heather came out of their room. Vincent was wearing a black pinstripe blazer with black pants, a blue shirt, and a black tie, complete with his black fedora and Heather was wearing a velvet green handmade dress with a white lace trim around the waist with black heels. "Wow!" said Stanley, "you guys going out tonight?"
"Indeed", said Vincent, "Me and your mother are going out for her birthday. Julie, you're in charge." "Got it daddy", said Julie. "Hey, what about me? said Stanley, "Why can't I be in charge?" "Because your sister is the oldest in the house", said Heather. "Okay," said Stanley, then he went back to playing Monopoly with Lincoln. "Now, you've got the list for Averell, Julie, dinner on the stove and I know I'm forgetting something." "Relax, mom. I'll be fine", said Julie. "I know, it's just that worry about leaving you kids alone, now you know not to open the door for anyone, not even Ralph." "Got it", said Julie. "Why not Ralph?" asked Lincoln. "I wouldn't even trust Ralph with my dead grandfather", said Vincent. "Dead Grandfather?" asked Lincoln. I'm sorry about that." "Thanks, kiddo", said Vincent.
"Now I know I'm gonna forget something." said Heather. "Don't worry honeybun. I'm sure you'll remember", Vincent said, "Now let's go have some fun". "Okay, Bye kids, be good." said Heather. "We will." said Julie. With that, Vincent and Heather left the house. The kids, plus Lincoln watched as the two parents climbed into Vincent's red and white Plymouth Plaza and drove off. "We're free!" said Stanley, Time to raid the cabinets!" "What do you mean?" asked Lincoln. "I mean, time pig out on junk food and stay up late." "Whoa little man", said Julie, "Mom and Pop said I'm in charge so I have to watch you guys".
"Just like my sister Lori", said Lincoln, "every time my folks go out, they leave her in charge." "We should definitely meet someday," said Julie. "By the way Julie, I think mom and dad said for you to watch Averell since he's only a baby and I can look out for myself," said Stanley, pulling Ritz crackers from the cabinet. "I think they meant you and Lincoln too", said Julie. "This is exactly like Lori, except for when her cell phone rings. Then she talks with her boyfriend Bobby". "Interesting", said Julie. "Wanna watch a sci-fi movie Lincoln? I heard from Martin that "Attack of the Crab Monsters" is coming on tonight", asked Stanley." "I don't think I should", said Lincoln, "I got very spooked the last time I watched a horror movie".
"What was it about?" asked Julie. "Well, it was called the Harvester", said Lincoln. "What was it about?" asked Stanley. "Well, it was about a farmer who went nuts when a drought destroyed all of his crops and he went on a killing spree. I showed the trailer to my parents and they told me not to see it. But I wanted to see it so bad, that...that I went behind their backs and saw it. But I later regretted that." "What happened?" asked Stanley. "I became traumatized and I tried to stay awake all night." "Well if you don't want to see it, it's your loss", said Stanley. Stanley turned the channel on the movie. "See, it's not scary, Julie, you guys were worried over nothing." "Why do I have a feeling that he's going to have nightmares?" asked Julie. "I got the same feeling," said Lincoln.
So after a while, Lincoln and the Perkins kids watched the movie. Lincoln was amazed at how movie magic was like back in the 50s. Unlike back in 2017 where everything was made with CGI, the producers had to work with models, costumes, and other kinds of magic to make the movie realistic. It didn't bother Lincoln any bit, but Stanley however, it was a different story. After the movie was over, Stanley was hiding under the blanket that was laid on top of the couch. "So you think that was scary, little brother?" asked Julie. Stanley didn't say anything, he just stayed under his blanket. "Looks like somebody is gonna be bunkin' with me tonight", said Julie.
Soon after the kids began to have dinner. Luckily, Vincent and Heather left out some roast beef for them. Julie warmed it up in the oven and they began to chow down. But Stanley was still shaking. "Told you so", said Julie. "C-Can I skip my bath tonight?" asked Stanley. "Why," asked Julie, "'Fraid the crab monster is gonna come after you through the drain?" "N-no, what makes you say that?" said Stanley, trying to defend himself. "I swear, you were like this when you saw "Earth Vs. The Flying Saucers", last year." "Yeah, s-s-so?" Julie rolled her eyes and put her plate in the sink, and then picked up Averell, "I'm gonna put L'il Averell to bed. Lincoln, can you clean up?" "Sure", said Lincoln. "Thanks," said Julie, as she carried Averell upstairs. Lincoln put his plate in the sink and saw Stanley looking out the window. "Uh, Stanley what are you looking at?" "Ohhhh, uhhhhh, nothing. Nothing at all", said Stanley.
"Are you sure?" asked Lincoln, "Because I know how you feel, it's nothing to hide about being scared of a horror movie." "Who-who-who s-s-said I'm s-scared?", asked Stanley. "Stanley, would it help if you went to bed and read a book?" "S-s-sure, that would work", said Stanley. But as Stanley was heading for his room, he suddenly jumped. "Eek!" "What is it?" asked Lincoln concerned. "I-I-I-I thought I saw something outside the window!" "Outside?" Lincoln looked outside the window, but he didn't see anything there. "It must've been a raccoon", said Lincoln. "No-no, it was bigger than a raccoon", said Stanley. "What could be bigger than a raccoon?" wondered Lincoln, "well whatever it was, it's gone now, Stanley."
"Are you sure?" "Of course I'm sure", said Lincoln, "Say if you want, you can bunk with me tonight". "Thanks", said Stanley. A little later, "Okay, I got Averell down for the night, you guys good?" asked Julie. "Yeah, we're good", said Stanley. "Alright then, goodnight," said Julie.
That night, Stanley bunked with Lincoln. Lincoln slept well, but Stanley was still nervous. Everywhere he looked, there were scary shapes in the darkness. "Just calm down Stanley", he thought to himself, there is no such thing as Crab Monsters". He tried to lull himself to sleep, but everything looked like a terrifying monster waiting to grab him. Then, he felt something. He needed to use the restroom. "Aw nuts", he thought. Carefully, not to awake Lincoln, she slipped out of bed, carefully opened the door, and tiptoed to the bathroom. The floorboards creaked under his weight. After what felt like ages, he made it to the bathroom and did his business. After he washed his hands, then carefully tried to tiptoe back to his room. It was now very late and very dark.
"MEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOWWW!"
Stanley had been so busy looking out for monsters, he accidentally stepped on Cookie's tail. This made him yelp a bit. "Sorry Cookie", he said. Cookie then got up and went to find another place to sleep. As Stanley went back to his room, he suddenly froze. There was a figure, looking through the window. But because it was so dark, he couldn't see what it was. So he quickly scurried back to Lincoln's room. He locked the door and violently shook Lincoln. "Lincoln! Lincoln wake up!" "(snore) Wha-huh? What's goin' on?" "Lincoln, there's something outside!" "You must've been seeing things Stanley, I-" Then Lincoln saw the figure outside their window. It then ran off. "Whoa!" "See See! What did I tell ya?" "Okay, okay", said Lincoln, "Let's see what we're up against". "I'll go get my BiBi gun from my room", said Stanley.
Stanley and Lincoln quickly tiptoed into Stanley's room. Stanley then grabbed his Daisy Red-Rider BiBi rifle whilst Lincoln grabbed a baseball bat. "Okay, now I think we should call the police and tell them what's going on", said Lincoln. "I know the Sheriff's number", said Stanley. "Good, after you call the Sheriff. We'll go see what's outside the house", said Lincoln.
So Lincoln and Stanley carefully walked into the living room and found the phone. Stanley then picked up the phone and began to dial the number. He listened to the rings until finally he heard a voice say "Royal Woods County Sheriff's Department, Deputy Donnelly speaking". "H-h-hello? This is Stanley Perkins. I live at 1117 Bluebird Lane. I think there's something outside my house!" "We understand. I'll have the Sheriff investigate". "Thank you", said Stanley, "And get here quickly!" "Don't worry son, help will be there soon!", said the dispatcher before hanging up.
Stanley then hung up the phone. "Help is on the way", said Stanley. "Good", said Lincoln. Then at that moment, they heard something outside, it sounded like a car. "Hey, Maybe that's your folks!" said Lincoln. "Yeah", said Stanley. Suddenly, they saw the dark figure again, it looked like it was heading towards the driveway! "OH NO! MOM! DAD!" shouted Stanley, "WE'RE COMING!" At that moment, Stanley, with Lincoln in tow, went charging out of the house towards the dark figure. Stanley began shooting like there was no tomorrow. "OW! OW! OUCH! STOP! HEY STOP! OW!"
"What's goin' on here?!" asked a voice. The two boys looked and saw Vincent and Heather climbing out of their car. Then at that moment, they heard a police siren and a red light and they watched as Sheriff Johnson's 1957 Plymouth Plaza police car arrived on the scene. The Sheriff then climbed out of the patrol car and walked towards them. "Okay, what's goin' on?" he asked. "We caught a crab monster Sheriff!" said Stanley. "Crab monster?" asked Heather. Lincoln explained everything. Vincent sighed. "Stanley, what have I told you about watching sci-fi movies? You know what they do to you!". "But pop!", said Stanley, "I caught a monster!" "That's not a monster", said Vincent, "That's an idiot!" Stanley and Lincoln looked down at what they thought was a monster only to see it was their neighbor Ralph. "Ralph?!" said Heather, "what are you doing here?" "Keep an eye on that Red!" said Ralph. "Red?" asked Vincent. "Y'know, that white-haired kid you have in your household! He could be collaborating with the Soviets!"
Vincent slapped his face. "Ralph you moron! He's not a Russian spy! He's an orphan me and Heather took in." "That's what he wants you to think! He's probably plotting world domination as we speak!" Then the Sheriff spoke up. "Ralph! How many times have I warned you not to go creeping around other people's houses!?" "I'm only doing my patriotic duty Sheriff. That white-haired kid could be giving out secrets to the commies as we know it!" "I'm not a Russian Spy!", said Lincoln, "I don't even have a Russian Accent." "That's what they all say, kid! You're coming with me for interro-" "He's not going anywhere Ralph!" said the Sheriff, "Now I've already warned you several times about spying on other people. This time, I'm not going easy on you!" With that, the Sheriff pulled out his handcuffs. "N-n-now hold on Sheriff", said Ralph nervously, "You gotta understand. I-" "I've heard enough from you for tonight Ralph! You're gonna be spending the night in the cells!" said the Sheriff as he slapped the cuffs on Ralph and dragged him to the back of his patrol car.
Lincoln and the Perkins watched as the Sheriff took Ralph away. Vincent and Heather then looked back at Stanley. "We'll deal with you in the morning", said Vincent, "Right now, it's late and I want to get to bed". "Come on you two", said Heather. Lincoln and Stanley got back on their feet and walked back inside the house. Now that Stanley knows it wasn't a monster, he went back to his room while Lincoln went back to his. Once back in bed, Lincoln lulled back to sleep and went off to dreamland.
To Be Continued...