Chapter one: Meetings
It was October 14th of 1959 it was a rainy, murky late evening. No one would leave their homes during these dark times when young children would go missing. Even the bravest of adults wouldn't venture out unless they were in packs. In Derry that is.
For a number of weeks children and a number of elders have been reported missing or dead. No one knows why, investigation said it was a psycho path. Well they got that right.
No one except a young girl named Iren Smithers. A perky red head that loved to go outside, but today she was on an errand. A mission from god in her mind. Mama had been ill for the past year. Daddy was a drunk and wouldn't even lift a finger to help his girl child and wife. His instructions were simple take the prescription and take it to the pharmacist and get Mama's medicine.
Wearing her beloved long red coat and favorite yellow willies as she sang her little tune through the rain, skipping to the beat of her song. Her white knitted cap circled her head and covering the majority of her bright scarlet bob that framed her baby like features. Green eyes scanned the empty street and roads for oncoming traffic.
A smiled graced her angelic baby face. She felt just as grown up as her daddy explained she would be if she done her errand. Not much further now, just a little bit further. She thought to herself. Crossing the road she stopped immediately as a voice from the forward drain spoke. Uncertain whither it was just her imagination but curiosity took over and she rushed over to the drain, bending down she saw something white and tusks of red.
"Who's there?" She asked all in innocence. Then suddenly a head popped up from the darkness. "You're a clown!" she exclaimed Happily, she loved clowns. The man smiled, his thin crimson painted lips pulled upwards. Showing nice, straight square teeth. His face painted pure white and framed with strait scarlet ring ran from his ears to the back of his skull. His eyes were grey but dark.
"That's right!" he exclaimed, eyes bright. "You like clowns?" he asked, high pitched laughing rumbled through his chest as she happily bobbed her head up and down. Lifting a white gloved hand through the bars he reached out for her to grab. "You like balloons?" He asked another laugh at her meek answer.
"My, you're a cute one, what're you doing here in the rain?" He asked concerned. The girl answered shyly, knowing for well what her mother would say if her daughter was talking to a stranger. "I can't tell you, I'm really not allowed to talk to strangers, you know. Mama told me so."
"No? Well, mama is a bright one she is. Say, how's this? My name is Pennywise and as you know I'm a clown. So, what is your name?" he asked, The little girl smiled "I know I can see that you are one, you wearing a silly yellow and red clown costume with stupid girly frilly things that make you look like a poof. And a huge red nose to top it off, don't you think painted your nose would be better?" She knew what games this clown was making. Daddy warned her of these people. She put one her grown up voice. And the selective langue was definitely her fathers. He said that they were freaks and poofs playing dress up to entertain people, he figured they couldn't get decent jobs. And that's the kettle calling the teapot black. (even if she didn't know what poof meant.)
The clown named Pennywise's mouth dropped nearly six inches. Clearly insulted by the infant. "Why you little brat!" he exclaimed, baring his teeth. Trying to reach through the bars to grab her, she stood up crossing her arms tightly against her chest.
Rising her tiny nose up at the man she insulted she huffed and said clearly in her tiny but highly adult mannered voice "If you must know my name is Iren Smithers, Mr. Pennywise. Now if you excuse me I have an errand to run." Looking the clown deep in the eyes she gasped.
The clown Pennywise's face crunched up, his eyes narrowed angrily, he snarled pulling his thin lips backwards to show ragged, razor sharp teeth. "How dare you, you silly, little brat! How dare you talk and insult me!" His eyes flashed, his gloved hands pulled the bars apart with ease.
He turned his horrid snarl into a sickening smile as his big head pooped up between the separate bars, and reached towards the red head. She screamed as he grabbed the sleeve of her red coat. It was like watching a cartoon.
"Come here!" Pennywise snarled through clenched teeth. Iren the small child tugged against the clown. "Let me go! Please!" Iren begged Pennywise whom just laughed and twirled the girl into his arm, wrapping tightly around her.
"Not a damn chance, girl!" Pennywise laughed, and dragged the young girl down into the drain. Many thoughts went through her mind, why didn't any one answer her pleas and cries. Pennywise last words shook the foundations of her soul; "you're dinner!" Her voice rang through the neighborhood "MAMA!"