Mother Ghost Grimm Page 5

  I can’t see them. Never have. While I don’t know what they look like, I'm certain that they’re a lot worse to behold than anything I could ever dream up, since they can make themselves sound so much like people.

  “Now then, where were we?” Bed Monster.

  “I believe we were talking about the others.” Closet Monster mutters in disgust.

  “Ah, yes. Now, and this may be none of my business, but isn’t Basement Monster losing his touch?”

  Another thing I have always found odd. They use their human-given titles instead of whatever names a monster might have. I’m too afraid to pipe up and ask why that may be.

  “True. Not as ruthless as before, and he always lets his victims get away with nothing more than a little scare. Honestly, how pathetic.”

  “Um,” I ask bashfully, not wanting to insult. “... don’t you and Bed Monster do that all the time? After all... you haven’t eaten me or anything yet.”

  “There is a difference, child,” Closet Monster snaps. “We are on hiatus. Monsters need to rest, too, you know. And we wouldn’t bother with eating you unless you were much fatter. Now shut up and let the monsters speak.”

  “Too true,” Bed Monster murmurs. “By the way, isn’t it appalling how Pantry Monster believes he can hold the rest of us in such disdain? I mean, no one’s heard of a Pantry Monster.” He asks, “Have you?” I don’t answer.

  “As I thought.”

  “The others couldn’t possibly compare to us.” Closet Monster chuckles. “I don’t know why they bother.”

  “True, but I’m worse than you are, Closet.”

  “You wish, Bed.”

  “You hide among clothes. Some of which aren’t very fresh.”

  “And you hide among whatever filthy junk that brat has built up under there.”

  “I could steal away the child any time I wanted.”

  “And you think I couldn’t?”

  “Um, me again,” I whisper. “But it seems to me that since you’re the only monsters I’ve heard of, that you’re both the scariest?”

  Silence.

  “You believe we’re the scariest?” Bed inquires.

  “Yes.”

  “Honestly and truthfully?” Closet asks.

  “Yes.”

  “The most powerful and cunning?”

  “Yes.”

  “The deadliest?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh, my,” they chime in unison. “It seems you’re mistaken, child. Ceiling Monster is the one you have to look out for.”

  Kevin’s Super Adhesive Band-Aid

  Story // Wynne F. Winters

  * * *

  Alright kiddo, you’ve been wearing that band-aid for three days now. It’s time to take it off.

  No, it’s not going to hurt. Well, maybe a little. That’s what happens when you get sticky stuff on your arm hairs. But it’ll only hurt a little, I promise.

  Not ready for it, huh? That’s fine. You’re not the first kid I’ve met who didn’t like taking off his band-aids.

  When I was your age, I had this friend named Kevin. He liked to climb trees, skateboard, and play soccer, just like you. Of course, he got hurt sometimes, and he always put a band-aid on it.

  But when it came to taking those things off? Man, Kevin hated it! He’d holler every time like he was fighting for his life.

  One day, Kevin and I were riding our bikes to the recreation center. When we were nearly there, Kevin got hit a crack in the sidewalk and fell, skinning his knee. It was pretty bad.

  Back then, we didn’t have cell phones, so we couldn’t call our moms. I was really anxious because there was blood everywhere and I didn’t know what to do.

  I looked around to see if there was anyone who could help us, and I noticed we were right in front of a convenience store. I was surprised, because I’d never noticed it before. Most convenience stores have some kind of bandages, so I helped Kevin up and we shuffled inside.

  The little bell dinged as we opened the door, and the cashier looked at us. He was an old man with a bunch of hair growing out of his ears, but none on his head.

  He didn’t even blink when he saw Kevin limp into the store, covered in blood. Didn’t ask if he was okay or anything. In fact, the old man didn’t speak at all. When Kevin asked if the store had bandages, the old guy just pointed down an aisle, never once looking away or blinking.

  And it wasn’t just the old man that didn’t seem right. The whole store was kind of dark, and there were cobwebs everywhere. It was like we were the first customers in a long, long time.

  At the very end of the aisle, there was a whole section of bandages. Most of them were plain and boring, but they’d get the job done. Kevin was just about to reach for a box when something caught his eye.

  A box lay on the floor, half-under the shelves. When Kevin picked it up, it was a box of band-aids, but it was very different from the rest.

  First off, it had pictures of space on it, and the band-aids had aliens and planets on them. Second, the box said that the stickers were glow-in-the-dark. Third, on the front, in all-caps, were the words “SUPER ADHESIVE.”

  (Hm? Oh—“adhesive” means “sticky.”)

  Kevin was uber excited. I mean, what a lucky find! But when we got up to the register, the old man looked at the box, then at Kevin. Then, in a voice like a rusty nail, he asked, “Are you sure you want these bandages, son?”

  That made me think that maybe buying them wasn’t a good idea. But Kevin loved space, and he especially loved glow-in-the-dark, so he decided to get them. The old man just shrugged his shoulders and rung him up, and that was that. Kevin slapped a couple of band-aids on his knee, and off we went to the rec center.

  The weird thing is, on the way home, I looked for that little store, but I couldn’t find it. In fact, I never saw it again.

  I saw Kevin a lot, though. Even weeks after his fall, the band-aid was stuck in place. Over time, bandages usually get limp and dirty, like that one on your elbow. But this one looked just like new. Nothing seemed to affect it. Kevin even went swimming, and the bandage was still there at the end of the day.

  Eventually, Kevin’s parents told him he had to take it off. He was afraid it would hurt, so he held his mom’s hand while his dad tried to pull the band-aid free.

  Only, it wouldn’t come off.

  Kevin’s dad tugged harder, then harder still. Then he yanked with all his might. The bandage stuck tight. No matter what Kevin’s parents tried, it wouldn’t come off.

  Worried, they took Kevin to the doctor. What they learned horrified them:

  The band-aid had grown into Kevin’s skin!

  Since the Super Adhesive was so strong and Kevin had worn the bandage for weeks longer than he should have, it fused to his skin. He had to get surgery to get it removed and had a big, ugly scar for the rest of his life.

  Welp, it’s getting late, kiddo. Time to get ready for bed. Why don’t you brush your teeth, and then I’ll tuck you in . . . .

  What’s that? You want me to take your band-aid off? Alright, I’ll make it quick.

  There! All off. That wasn’t so bad, right?

  Avoid the Maple Woods

  Story // Scott Savino

  * * *

  My mother always told me to stay out of Maple Woods. The things that you’ll discover there are very far from good. My mother always told me this. I always understood: Trespassing there is dangerous. Avoid the Maple Woods.

  First, save yourself from worrying

  There are no bears out there,

  The worst things aren’t wolf howls

  Or spiders skinned in hair.

  The worst things aren’t monsters

  With jagged claws that reave.

  The worst things aren’t shadows

  That rustle in the leaves.

  The Maple Woods is not the place

  For playing children’s games,

  Any ball that’s lost there

  Is a ball the forest claims.


  If you are a climber,

  Don’t go climbing up through leaves,

  And hide-and-seek’s forbidden.

  You can’t hide from trees that see.

  My mother always told me to stay out of Maple Woods, And now I’m telling this to you; so listen, if you could? Everyone should know this warning, so make sure you’ve understood: Trespassing here is dangerous. Avoid the Maple Woods.

  If you find you’re lost inside,

  It is best you try to leave,

  For if you dare stop moving,

  Roots constrict around your feet.

  And as they wrap around you

  They’ll plant you in the ground,

  A sense of dread will fill you

  As your skin grows hard and brown.

  Your arms will stiffen; branch apart

  You’ll reach into the sky.

  It’s then the bark surrounds you,

  ‘Till you’re full of rings inside.

  And as the leaves begin to sprout

  At speeds you won’t believe,

  The sticky sap will fill you

  And you will join the trees.

  My mother always told me to stay out of Maple Woods, For everywhere a maple stands, there once, a person stood. And you will hear two sounds there, both certainly not good: You’re best off hearing neither. Avoid the Maple Woods.

  The first of these two awful sounds

  Is meant for you and I:

  Consider it a warning

  The trees themselves imply.

  Their horrid shrieks surround you,

  Their ringing screams don’t cease.

  A foreboding awful noise

  Carried to you on the breeze.

  The second terrorizing sound,

  Not meant for you and me...

  Is not the nesting of the birds

  Nor the buzzing buzz of bees.

  It sends a shiver down

  Their rigid hardwood backs.

  It’s not the sound of chainsaws

  Nor the whooshing woosh of ax.

  The thing that scares the sentinels

  Is echoed clinks of brass,

  As Maple Syrup Men swing mallets

  And pound in the draining taps.

  Genie Jinn - Grant My Wish

  Story // Edyth Pax-Boyr

  * * *

  Sophia stared at her reflection in the dark bathroom mirror. A scented candle burned beside her on the counter, making shadows dance across her face. She’d wanted to use a normal candle, but since she wasn’t allowed to have any candles of her own it was the best she could do. She just hoped it wouldn’t count as a mistake since the instructions didn’t say anything about tropical fruit smells.

  She looked at the instructions the boy across the street had written on a piece of notebook paper. His name was Aiden. He said he’d heard about Genie Jinn from his older brother, who’s friend said her cousin had summoned Genie Jinn last summer and had a wish come true. Aiden wanted to try it but was never home alone. He said if anyone else was home, then Genie Jinn wouldn’t come.

  That’s when Sophia asked him to write down the instructions. She didn’t know when she would be home alone, but she knew she couldn’t miss a chance to meet a real genie and make a wish.

  Tonight, she finally had the house to herself. Her parents had gone out for a movie and her little sister was staying with Grandma Lisa for the weekend.

  Everything was perfect.

  Or would be, as long as she followed the instructions!

  ***Step One: Go to the bathroom (but don’t go to the bathroom!)

  Sophia snorted. Only a little kid would make that kind of mistake. She was nearly twelve. How old did he think she was?

  ***Step Two: Make sure all the lights are off and no light can get in!

  The bathroom light was off, and it was dark out, but Sophia had covered the small window over the bathtub with one of her pillows just in case. She’d had to climb onto the edge of the tub and stand on her tippy toes to push it in, but it was just big enough to stuff into the frame without falling out.

  One of the guest towels was draped over the lights above the mirror, and another was pushed against the door to make sure no light could get in from the hall (even though she’d turned out that light, too). She knew guest towels were special, and her mom wouldn’t be happy about them being on the floor, but she couldn’t reach the extra towels in the hall.

  ***Step Three: Light a candle and keep it on your right!

  That one was easy. Sophia’s mom had probably a hundred candles all over the house. She didn’t think her mom would notice if she used one a little. And it was for a good cause!

  The candle sat to her right, filling the room with its tropical fruity smells, but she double checked anyway, pushing it a tiny bit further to the right. Aiden said all the rules had to be followed perfectly or something bad would happen, and she didn’t want to be grounded if something bad happened while she was home alone.

  ***Step Four: Pour a line of salt under the mirror! (DON’T SKIP THIS STEP!)

  It had taken her a while to figure out where her parents kept the big can of salt, but she’d found it after watching her dad refill the saltshaker. Now a bright white line of salt sat under the mirror. Aiden said it was like a fence to keep Genie Jinn from breaking out and hurting her.

  Everything Genie Jinn said and did would just be harmless as long as the salt stayed put.

  ***Step Five: Make a wish (but don’t say it out loud!)

  Sophia had been thinking about this step for weeks. Aiden said she needed to keep the wish simple, but make sure she wanted it with all her heart.

  That was important.

  The Genie Jinn would try to test her, and if there was even the tiniest bit of her that didn’t want her wish to come true, it wouldn’t.

  So Sophia had thought, and thought, and thought, and finally decided on what she wanted most in the world.

  ***I wish I had my own room!

  She held on to that single thought with all her might! She definitely wanted it with her whole heart. It was the simplest and most important thing she could wish for. She loved her sister more than anything, but she didn’t have a lot in common with six-year-olds now that she was nearly twelve, and it was embarrassing bringing friends over and having Olivia’s toys all over the floor. She needed her own space.

  ***Step Six: Stare at your face in the mirror and say “Genie Jin, grant my wish” five times. Don’t break eye contact or he wins!

  ***If you do win, blow out the candle before you turn on the light, or Genie Jinn won’t ever leave and you’ll be haunted by him forever!

  Sophia took a deep breath and stared into her own eyes.

  “Genie Jinn, grant my wish,” she said, her voice quiet and small. A tingle of fear crawled up her back and she was tempted to glance around the bathroom to make sure she was still alone.

  ***Don’t break eye contact or he wins!

  Sophia stared at her reflection even harder.

  “Genie Jinn, grant my wish,” she said, this time louder, trying to make herself feel braver.

  Something tickled the back of her neck and she shivered. Then it tickled again.

  She reached up and brushed her hand against something small and soft on her neck. She covered her mouth to muffle a squeak of surprise and flung the bug across the room. Tears made her reflection blurry in the candlelight, but she didn’t look away.

  “Genie Jinn, grant my wish!”

  The tickling spread from her neck down her arms. She could just make out little black spots moving down her reflection. It took all her strength to keep looking at her own face without screaming as she tried to brush the bugs off herself. She didn’t care where they went as long as they weren’t on her anymore!

  “Genie Jinn, grant my wish!” She yelled, crying as something big and dark filled the mirror space behind her. The bugs were in her hair, trying to climb down into her face as her reflection started to melt and twist.

&n
bsp; “Genie Jinn, grant my wish!” She screamed it, shaking all over, wishing she had actually gone to the bathroom before starting after all, and only barely not squeezing her eyes shut.

  All of a sudden, the tingling tickles stopped, as if the bugs had simply disappeared. The shadow still stood behind her, though, as a big shadowy hand reached for her shoulder. She kept her eyes on her own face, trying more than anything to not look at the horrible face hovering just above her head. She could still make out massive teeth and hungry glowing eyes.

  A deep laugh floated around her and the shadow slowly faded away as a voice whispered in her ear “You win, child …”

  She stayed still in the dark for what felt like a long time just to be sure it was over, then, still looking into her reflection’s eyes, she leaned down and blew out the candle.

  She squeaked, suddenly covered in real darkness, and hurried to flip on the light.

  Everything looked normal. Even as she searched every corner and crack for the bugs that had been crawling on her. The bathroom was just how it was supposed to be.

  Then Sophia remembered her wish.

  She ran into the hall and checked her old room, where Olivia’s toys were still all over the floor.

  But none of her own stuff was there.