Our story begins with a girl. A teenage girl, around 14, who was reading a book under the shade of a tree after a long day of school and before heading home to her dad and little brother
This girl was blessed with beauty many could see right away; long blonde and slightly wavy hair with red streaks, blue eyes and a healthy, athletic figure. She wore jeans, a jean jacket and a pink-black shirt.
Not too far, someone watched her. Someone not fully of this world.
This presence kept to the shadows, carefully sneaking out of the bushes and waiting for an opertune moment to move closer. That moment came when a dog walker passed along their area and they rushed past, barely avodiing being seen when the dog whimpered slightly.
The girl sensed this and looked over. Aside from a walker motioning their dog forward, she found nothing and continuned reading.
The one who had been watching her was now right behind the rree, their back to it and a smile on their face. They began to levitate off the ground, slowly turning arou...
"Don't even think about it, ghoully girl." The girl said as she flipped a page, not even turning around.
The presence faltered, frowned, pouted and then landed on the girl's lap. The girl simply smiled as she placed the book down, getting a look at her supposed 'attacker': A four year old girl in a large white T-shirt with black hair, pale skin and unique yes; black with a white centre. In spite of her appearance, one would be hard pressed to not call her cute.
This was Erma Williams; the daughter of town legend and famed novelist Sam Williams and his wife Emiko, a mysterious woman with an odd past of being near disasters.
Erma raised an eyebrow in confusion and with a sad smile on her face, as if asking 'how did you know?'
"Years of practice with Terry." Was all her target has said before rustling her hair. "Who you are much cuter than."
This cheered Erma up and she nestled into the older girl's lap as she reached to continue reading her book
"Yep, this is one of your dad's books." The girl beamed. "You want me to read it aloud?"
Erma nodded
"Okay, one chapter, then I better take you home."
She cleared her voice and began to read:
"The floor creaked as the faucet's drip echoed through the air, putting all on high alert. Heavy breathing just barely lessened the silence..."
Erma listened wholeheartedly as the girl's memory flashed back.
3 Months ago
"And that concludes the evening. Please pick up and line up your chairs as you leave."
Sam Williams loved doing book launches at smaller book stores. They just had a nice little charm about them; more humble, welcoming...and the fact they often provided snacks certainly didn't hurt, even if it was mostly cookies, cheese, fruit and non-alcoholic wine.
(AN: DEAR GOD DO I miss Book launches and Literary Open Mic nights! CURSE YOU 'You know what'! CURSE YOOOOOOU!)
There was also the fact of actually being able to talk with readers and his fans, to see familar faces in order to further motivate himself. And even here, just a few minutes from southwestern Blairwood, where only a few shops and a retirement home or two were around, he saw a few familiar faces.
After they had put their fold-up chairs along the wall, four familiar faces came up to Sam with copies of his latest book. He already had his pen out and ready to sign.
"Hey, fancy seeing you four again!" He beamed.
The Sam Williams fan-club.
Now, many celebrities may not want to associate with some of their fans, but Sam was not one of those. These four kids made up the one fan-club he KNEW he had, and where all local kids. They had been following his words since his first novel and had even exchanged letters with him. Sam, being the modest and humble fellow he was, grew delighted that as much as they loved his work, they were not CRAZY about it or him.
His fan club often sent him letters asking for clarity in his book's imagery, some tips on writing and maketing their own works...and where HIS primary consideration for Erma's babysitters; he just needed Emiko's approval first.
"We would never miss a launch, Mr. Willaims!" The girl assured him as he signed her book, the three boys nodding in understanding.
"And I'm happy to hear that...Faye, right?" Sam asked.
Faye Korey's smile grew. Her literary knew her rather...unqiue name (she vowed to make her dad pay for giving her THREE names associated with horror) but not once made a comment aboit it being 'cool'. And for that, she was grateful.
A thinner and taller boy with curly black hair, yellow eyes and glasses in a hoodie was next to step forward.
"Am I signing it Vincent or Vinny?" Sam asked.
"For this occasion," The boy said, "I would be most gratified if your penmanship would transcribe the latter, Mr. Williams."
"Got it." Sam smiled. "There ya go, Vinny."
"Most esteemed gratitude, Mr. Williams. And as usual, I am most ecstatic towards this new book, especially after that unexpected event at the end of the previous one."
The other audience members turned to surprise of the boy's vocabulary.
"..Y-yeah, we don't understand him either sometimes." the second boy, a rounder one with red-brown hair and green eyes in a vest and khakis admitted.
"And in spite of the vernacular and language barrier, you three keep my company, of which I am eternally grateful."
The rounder boy handed his book to Sam and patted Vinny on the back.
"Why wouldn't we?" He asked with a beam. "You know more about movies and horror fiction than anyone else, even the librarian, DVD store and Theatre staff!"
Vinny chuckled
"It also helps that you're the perfect minute keeper and paperwork handler." Faye added. "AND! The best writer."
"Oh yeah, that reminds me!" Sam noted. "Did you get my email on yoru manuscript?"
Vinny nodded.
"It was most informative and I am grateful you took time out of your toiling schedule to help me."
"Hey, writers stick together, right? And you got a good idea, Vinny? Far more classical horror than me, but love it all the same. So did the wife." Sam smiled as he finessed signing the rounder boy's book and handed it back to him. "Here ya go, DJ."
"Thank you so much, Mr. Williams!" DJ beamed.
"Hey, no problem!" Sam smiled. "Least I can do for the future best chef in Blairwood."
DJ chuckled and rubbed his hand behind his head as the final boy stepped up with a silent wave and a smile.
"Ah, Tack!" Sam beamed. "Did you like the last one?"
Tack nodded with happiness and gave him a thumbs up.
The silent boy had red eyes, a tanned complexion with spiky hair and wore a T-shirt with a muscular older man that most older Blairwood natives recognized, and who help a special place in Tack's heart.
"Hey, I thought..." Sam started.
"The Honorable authoritarian of sentencing overruled our lovable delinquent's sentence when upon closer examination the details simply did not add up...that and the defendant verbally did correct the misunderstanding of who was at fault." Vinny explained
Again, many stood in awe at Vinny's choice of words.
Tack merely shook his head with a smile as Sam signed his copy.
"You actually kind of have Tack to thank for us being here, Mr. Williams." Faye said. "His sister works at the Grocery store next door; the one with the sandwhich bar?"
Sam rose an eyebrow with a bemused smile, his interest peaked and his appetite growning.
"Wait, does that mean we were helping your dad's competition?" DJ asked. During the show, he had been munching on a sandwich, wrap and salad from said grocery store.
"Hey, it doesn't have ready to take meals." Faye shrugged,
"The state of their producer is rather lackluster, though..." Vinny mused, Tack nodding with an exaggeratedly disgusted face.
"Another success, honey?"
The five turned to see a woman with long, dark hair that covered her eyes in a white dress, holding in one hand a grocery store bag and in the other a similarly dressed little girl, who was stifling a yawn.
"Well," Sam mused. "Judging by the fact the store is already down to only three copies, it was a full house and my fan-club made it on a school night? I'd say yes."
He then took the little girl into his arms and kissed her forehead.
"Kids?" Sam said. "This is my daughter Erma and my wife Emiko."
"Aw, she's so cute!" Faye and DJ cooed, Vinny and Tack shyly waving back. Erma smiled brightly and waved back as well.
"So, YOU'RE the famous fan-club Sam mentions from time to time?" Emiko smirked. "Lovely to meet you at last."
Her gaze primarily focused on Faye and Tack.
"..Terry didn't do anything, did he?" Faye asked in worry. Her littler brother was...a handeful.
Erma was quick to shake a frantic 'no!' which made some chuckle. She then locked onto Tack as well, who smiled and did several hand-signs.
Erma replied back with some of her own.
Tack then bowed his head at Emiko.
"I've heard a lot of things about you, Tack." She said bluntly. "And..I like what I hear."
Tack's eyes widened in shock as Emiko leaned in
"I may not look it now, but when I was about your age, I was something of a...less than model student not afraid to fight, if you know what I mean."
Tack's face began to soften in a mix of shock and awe that where shared by his friends...
'Mrs. Williams was/ is a badass!' Faye tjought.
'Intriguing tale that must be; a humble scribe of fiction and a no doubr rebellious, hard...Suekban, I believe the term was? Best research upon arrival at home, assumption makes a donkey out of one.' Vinny mused.
'...I wonder how that happened. Oh and where?! Japan has Sakura trees that would make for a cliche but beautiful scene!' DJ thought.
But Tack also felt a bit of shame in his actions...
"But at least whenever you do that, from my understanding, you're doing it for a good reason." Emiko added. "More than I did."
Tack's eyes widened again and his smile returned.
"Yeah, Tacky here lives by the phrase 'Actions speak louder than words.'"
Entering just now was a woman who was clearly Tack's sister; same complexion and eyes, but with shoulder length hair and a tired smile on her face.
Her brother walked up and hugged her.
"Have a good time?" She asked, getting a nod. "Happy to hear. My shift git boring after you kids left, speaking of! Faye? Vinny? DJ? Wrap up and hop in, I'll give you each a ride home."
"Thanks Thursday!" The three said before turning to their idol. "Thank you again, Mr. Williams! Great meeting you, Mrs. Willaims and Erma!"
The family waved as the kids hopped into Thursday's car and drove away.
"...So?" Sam asked.
"...Trial run/" Emiko said. "I know you like them and I like them too, plus with their interests they MAY turn out better than Connor's sister..."
Present
Faye looked to see that Erma was reaching for the next page.
"Sorry Ermy." She cooed. "One chapter, like I said."
Erma pouted.
"Tell ya what; next time we babysit? We'll read ya two chapters, okay? I'll even text the others"
Erma shrugged but didn't complain otherwise.
FVDT
Across Blairville, three different phones got notifications of a text.
Vinny, who had been designing several costumes, smirked at what he read before rolling his chair over to see if he had the materials he needed.
DJ, taking a drink of water at his family's diner, gasped a little in shock...before sneaking a mozzlarella stick and carrot into his mouth
"I better read ahead!"
And finally, Tack stopped doing his push-ups and smiled before leaping to his feer and practing his katas while spying a picture of himself, Erma, Faye, Vinny and DJ. Unknown to him, Thursday saw this and a tired but pleased smile crossed her face. As she passed the pciture of her parents, all she said was.
"I think he's got this, mom and dad."
She then left for her shift at the grocery store, mentally counting down the days untiln her 21st birthday...
Next: Vinny the Overly Vernacular
So, thanks to Tim Curry's Toxic Love, I have fallen head first into the Erma fandom. This idea popped up in my head and the story finally became clear, so, I am putting it out there:
The cutest Ghoul with a gang of understanding and adventurous babysitters, who are big fans of her father. I hope that the characters have made an impact thus far
I will aim to update with shorter chapters every second of third day for this story, at least for the month of October (barring the Thanksgiving Weekend, due to overtime at work). This is mostly as part of setting up a big plot element at a real-time relevant point involving the OTHER big October holiday.
Here is the first profile of the members of the SWFC (Sam Williams Fan club) or FVDT (Faye, Vinny, DJ and Tack). Each will get their own chapter with a profile at the end.
Full Name: Faye Gora Mina Korey
Hair color: Blonde with red streaks
Eye Color: Blue
Background: American, with some British descent
Family: Terry (younger brother), Sarah (Mother), Glen (father)
Likes: Reading just about anything, animals. swimming, pot-stickers, babysitting, her friends, Tack
Dislikes: Damsels in distress, Terry whenever he acts up, poetry, remakes of classics
Personality: The leader and founder of the Sam Williams fan-club, She is a cool big sister to all, even if own brother tests her.
Inspiration: named after actress Fay Wray, actress/ persona Fangora and the heroine of Dracula, Mina Harker.
Stay safe and Happy Thanksgiving!