Terror in the Suburbs!

It all started in this lovely little house. It was the early sixties and suburban living seemed an American ideal. Charming dwellings with manicured lawns and colorful hedges nestled cozily between neighbors seemed a wonderful place to call home. Falls were always magical and winters were a wonderland. Storybook, really. But they always say, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is.

So, here’s the real story. There were four of us in the family - Mom, Dad, my older sister and myself. Plus, the family dog, Chippy, made five.

The house was nice enough on the inside, a living room, dining room, kitchen with a big bay window over the sink and a beautiful yard lined with evergreens and oaks. Bedrooms were upstairs and in the morning I would look out the window and watch the sun rise over those majestic trees. It was fantastic the way the rays filtered in - lighting everything up. But when the sun went down, my serendipitous life took a quite a dark turn, ending my in a ghastly nightmare. The same ghastly nightmare from the first day I remember being in that house until the day we moved out.

It went like this . . .

The famiy and I were down in the basement having a merry time. It was a big room, split into two sides. We always sat to the left. Mom filled the corner with a comfy couch and big stuffed cat that my dad won her at a carnival. Above the couch, hanging from the ceiling, was a net filled with all sorts of stuffed fishies - in particular I remember a blowfish and a porcupine fish. Kind of cool. The concrete floor was covered in gold and black vinyl squares. Moving to the back of the room was a shelf with a few statues of terriers (Chippy look-a-likes) and assorted cocktail glasses. To the left of that was the washer and dryer, and then there was the boiler room. Hearing those flames ignite to heat up the water in that monstrous furnace followed by the sound of the water rumbling - I dared never to go cleared the doorway, even Chippy. I was always the last one up. Just as I was ready to leave the horror scene, the door would slam shut! Everyone was out except for me.

Klunk, klunk, I could hear him stomp. And breathe. I turned around and there he was. Slowly rounding the stairwell. He got his big foot on the first step and klunked some more as he slowly started climbing towards me. I screamed at the top of my lungs. I shut my eyes tight and howled with all my might. After feeling like I was going to have a coronary, I woke up. Just like that. In my bed. Sweating. Shivering, Shaking. But safe and sound in my room. My sister fast asleep in the bed next in there. Not to mention that was where the “man” lived. Yes. The man. The man that my mind imagined. It was petrifying. He lived in that boiler room and he would leave everyone alone as long as we were quiet.

So there we were, in my dream, the famiy downstairs sitting at the card table playing Rummy or Hearts. We always enjoyed a good game of cards, but no one really spoke for fear of being too loud and waking up the man. Still, we had fun.

Then, out of the clear blue, I would scream. Very loudly. I don’t know why, I just did. Then I stopped. Mom, Dad, my sister, even Chippy, looked at me like I was crazy. And then the horrible happened. The man woke up. It was dreadful - the sound of him groaning and banging into the furnace as he got up and started walking.

Quickly, we gathered the cards in a pile, then shuffled to our feet and pushed our chairs in. One by one, as fast as lightening, we were at the stairwell heading upstairs. I could see the light shining from the living room upstairs as everyone to mine. Chippy, cozily tucked in next to me. The traitor. But I was happy to snuggle with him. I was even happier when we moved from that wretched house. Storybook, my a-s-s!

As time went on, Chippy and I got closer and closer. Whenever I was alone, in the dark, or having trouble falling asleep, there he was, looking at me with those silly doggie eyes, little black snout and his cute beard. He never left my side and I never had a nightmare like that again.

Since then, I have always had dogs. They are my protectors, my buddies, my best friends. My children share my love for them and together, we always feel safe.

FUN TRIVIA: This took place in Seaford, NY. There were/are several spooky houses on Long Island but there was one in particular that was not far from this location. That family’s story became a huge hit in the movies, 1980s. I tell, there’s something about Long Island. Be the first one to email us and receive a complementary print copy of this issue!!