2

The tour of the Overlook Hotel had only been going on for twenty minutes, but to Theodore, it felt like hours. His legs were short and his tummy was large, and to keep up with his brothers, Dave, and the hotel caretaker, he nearly had to run. The caretaker, a sandy-haired man named Jack Torrance, seemed nice enough, but he kept making jokes that Theodore didn't understand and talking about rooms that Theodore didn't care about.

"Yeah, we've been here about three weeks now," caretaker Jack was saying to Dave as they stopped outside the kitchen. "It's been good, but I'm glad that you finally showed up. You get a little stir crazy with just the wife and kid around, you know?"

"I sort of know," said Dave, smirking at Alvin in a way that Theodore didn't understand. "You see any rooms that you think would be good for recording?"

"Hell if I know anything about acoustics, but you're welcome to claim one of the hotel rooms. Just clean up after yourself. The owners don't know I'm letting you stay here."

"You hear that, Alvin?" asked Dave. "No bubble gum wrappers lying around."

"No acorn shells, either," said Jack.

Simon rolled his eyes. "Oh, of course, because all chipmunks love acorns. Traffick in stereotypes much?"

Jack's eyes narrowed, and Theodore thought they looked a little pink. "No hard feelings, champ! I'm learning as I go. Now! Who wants to see the old ballroom?"

The thought of trudging through another series of rooms was too much. Theodore raised a paw. "Mr. Jack? My feet hurt and I was wondering if there's a place where I could just play for a little bit?"

"C'mon, Theo," said Alvin. "We need you to help us scout for places to record."

"I'm not…" (keep your voice strong Theodore you're not a baby) "I'm not as interested in that stuff as you guys, and I just want to play for a little. Mr. Jack said that there was a playground..."

"There sure is," said Jack, pointing. "Can you get out to the main lobby? From there, just go out the front doors and you'll be able to see it."

"I think I can find it," said Theodore, though inwardly he wasn't so sure. He had only been at the hotel for a morning, after all, and there was a terrible sameness to the rooms and halls that made him feel like he was walking in place. But then he thought of playing outside and how sweet that would be.

"Alright, Theodore, we'll catch up with you there," said Dave. Theodore noticed that Dave didn't look at him as he said it. That troubled him. There was something sad about Dave recently, some look around his mouth that reminded Theodore of a child knocking over his own block tower.

Theodore wanted to ask Dave about it, but now wasn't the time; the group was already continuing on the tour. Simon gave him a brisk wave, Alvin made a face, and then they were around the next bend. Theodore turned around.

Just pass the kitchen, go through this hallway, then past the staircase, and the lobby will be there, thought Theodore. He began to plod forward, thinking of what they might eat for dinner in an attempt to ward off homesickness. Maybe mashed potatoes with melted butter on top? And he had seen some packets of macaroni and cheese in the kitchen! His stomach churned and he giggled at the low growling sound.

The hallway came to an end.

No staircase, thought Theodore. There was a turn that I forgot. Both left and right hallways now looked identical, beige papered walls lined with old wooden doors. He thought about turning around and searching for the group, but the thought of what they'd

(baby, baby, lost little baby)

say hardened his resolve and he picked left at random and began walking.

The soft growl came again and Theodore frowned. He hadn't felt his stomach move. With a chipmunk's instincts, he froze and listened. There was nothing but the hum of electric lights.

Baby, baby, lost little baby

"I'm gonna eat mashed topatoes tonight!" he cried to the silence. His high voice sounded like the squeak of a chew toy in a dog's mouth. Theodore took another step and heard the growl again, lower and louder.

Something wild has gotten inside. Dave was wrong Dave was wrong there are WOLVES here and they want to GET me.

Theodore began to run. The snarling sound now seemed everywhere, as if each door that Theodore passed contained some beast that was pulling at a chain, baying and yapping…

No, not in the rooms. Around that corner.

A corner was approaching and Theodore knew, he knew that there would be an open mouth beyond it, but he couldn't stop, his legs were moving on their own as if in a nightmare, and the growls were now howls and shrieks and in terror Theodore rounded the corner and collided into someone else.

It was a little boy, who stumbled backward as Theodore ran into him, but didn't fall. The boy smiled at Theodore, who felt his panic start to ease.

"Sorry," Theodore squeaked. "I thought I heard something."

"That's okay," said the boy. He looked no more than five, though he had a calm maturity in his eyes. He stuck out a chubby hand, and Theodore grasped it. "My name's Danny Torrance."

"Theodore."

"I'm going to the playground," Danny said. "Want to come?"

Theodore felt a huge sense of relief. "Yes, please. You have no idea how happy I am to have found you."

Danny cocked his head to the side. "I do know, Theodore. Your mind was shouting. It was real loud."

"You can read minds?"

"My friend called it Shining," Danny said. He frowned. "I can't do it all the time, especially with grownups. But animals are easier. You might be able to do it too, if you try."

"I don't want to get inside anyone's head," said Theodore. "I'd be scared to…"

"You shouldn't be scared." Danny looked at Theodore with wide, earnest eyes. "Make yourself be brave, no matter what."

"The hotel wants you to be scared."