Molly’s parents and brother were out of town visiting relatives for the weekend so I went to stay with her so that she wouldn’t be all alone. Molly kept saying,“Kathy, it’ll be the great ‘Horror Movie Palooza.’” Problem is that I don’t like scary movies. Never have. Never will. I don’t like feeling like someone is looking over my shoulder. I don’t like gross stuff and can barely stomach sci-fi. I can’t imagine why anyone would. But some people do, and sadly for me, Molly is one of them. I had to work Friday night and didn’t get there until late. As soon as I arrived, Molly clutched my arm and said,“Oooh! We’re going to get good and scared, Kath.” She could barely stand still.
Scared of the Dark by Kathy Luder
H I G H E R T H I N G S __ 16
“Molly, why can’t we just watch TV?” I asked. “Because you agreed, that’s why. Just relax! You’re going to love it.” I had agreed, but she had bullied me at the lunch table and now I regretted giving in. But I didn’t want to go back on my word. I flopped myself down on the couch and tried not to pout. I pulled my knees to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. Molly turned on the VCR, flipped the lights out, and sat down on the other end of the couch. Molly was fast-forwarding through the previews with the remote when we heard a car pull into the driveway.“I wonder who that is,” she said. She stopped the movie and went into the kitchen. I followed her. She peeked through the blinds.“They’re leaving,” she said.“But their lights are off.” She started to stand up, but then she gasped and let the blinds snap shut.“Kathy, it looks like there is someone in your car!” “Where?” I asked, moving up beside her.
