The Horror in Smithville - Part TEN

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[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Horror in Smithville[/caption]

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                      Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. I am very happy to introduce today’s edition of ‘The Horror in Smithville’! My Dear Readers I am so very happy to have, for this Thursday, another episode of this adventure for all of you to read and enjoy. I know that I… well, I missed a couple of weeks. I deeply regret that I faltered and failed to provide the continuation as planned. Believe it ot not, it keeps me up at night. Later, today, I am penning another edition of ‘Notes from Behind the Keyboard’.

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In it I will explain… some of the… difficulties I have faced, in the past few days and over the past three weeks. I really don’t want to get into it, here… it is kind of a bummer. SO! I am here to introduce ‘ Part TEN’ of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ for today’s publication and your reading enjoyment. I must admit, My Dear Readers, that I am a bit surprised that this story has grown to ten episodes and over eighty pages in length! We have had some fun, gone on a few adventures… Yet, the best is yet to come!

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This, the month of June, will see some of the best adventures, the most excitement and the biggest thrills! So, My Dear Readers, I am building to some really exciting adventures for Timmy and Archer. Not to say that today’s episode is not adventuresome or exciting. Well, before I ‘let the cat out of the bag’ and drop any spoilers let’s get on with the story!

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Without further adieu, Part Ten of ‘The Horror in Smithville’!

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Part Ten

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The final bell for homeroom rang just as Timmy and Archer had sat down in their seats. Timmy really didn’t feel like sitting quietly for the next hour. Actually, he had so much energy he felt like going out and running or playing in the snow. Timmy was daydreaming about just that when he heard his name called out, Ms. Steward was calling roll.

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“Timmy Marref! Timmy I see you right there, beside your side-kick Archer. Now, answer roll so we can get this day started!”

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“Here!´ Timmy answered to Ms. Steward’s roll call.

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“Well, Mr. Marref I don’t know what you did, but you are looking better than when your friend Archer dragged you onto my bus earlier this morning. I guess he was right… try to eat only one piece, at a time, of your mother’s blueberry crunch. I know it is quite good, but try not to make a pig of yourself!”

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Everyone in the class broke out in laughter. Everyone at the front of the class turned around to check out the star of today’s roll call, and Timmy’s color made a final change of the morning… to blush. Archer, sitting to Timmy’s right side, got a poke from Timmy’s one good arm right in the upper arm muscle! Archer looked shocked, at first, then smiled really big at Timmy. It was good to have Timmy back among the living. Now, Archer knew that sooner or later, the homemade ‘Red Devils’ would wear off and he would likely be hauling Timmy’s feverish half-aware body around. Yet, right now, he felt good and it felt good to have Timmy back to his old self.

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No sooner had Archer enjoyed the good feeling that he turned to his left and saw Timmy with a pained look on his face. Timmy had pulled his left hand out of his jacket, some, and it scared and upset Timmy. It was written all over his face. This made Archer start the process of figuring out just who he could call on the help with Timmy’s zombie wolf bite. The nurse, also Ms. Steward, was not going to be much help if any at all. Truthfully, Archer could think of no one within the school that he could tell any of their stories. There was nobody that would believe a word of their adventure, and nobody that could get past the story and help with this otherworldly bite and infection.

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Yet, failure was not an option. For all Archer knew, not finding Timmy the help he needed, soon, may well result in the loss of his best and dearest friend. Homeroom was almost over, that meant that Timmy and Archer would soon be heading over to their first period class, MATH! Yes, they would be heading to their math class to turn in their math homework to man… a man they had watched ‘The Tall Man’ rend skull and spine from his body. Archer, in dealing with Timmy’s grievous zombie wolf bite, had completely forgotten about watching their math teacher… eaten (right before their eyes) by ‘The Tall Man’!

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Now Archer looked over to see Timmy had put his head down onto his desk. It appeared that the effects of the homemade ‘Red Devils’ were already wearing off. Archer had really hoped that the sugar rush would have lasted at least until lunchtime. Then he had planned on spending the last of his money on as many sugary snack cakes and desserts he could stuff down Timmy’s gut. It would, likely, not have as strong an effect on Timmy but it would buy him so more time to look for a viable avenue of help.

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Well, Archer needed to get Timmy awake for the walk to math class. What better way than to remind him that they were about to walk into a class taught by a man they saw… killed and eaten less then twelve hours ago. This news might not put a spring in Timmy’s step, but the curiosity alone should keep him awake until they were done with roll call. When Ms. Steward was not looking Archer reached over and jostled Timmy by his right shoulder. It worked, Timmy looked up at Archer with a glare in his eyes and sppke.

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“WHY are you waking me up, Archer. The first bell, for first period, hasn’t even rang yet! What couldn’t wait?”

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Archer ignored the glare and the caustic questioning and merely answered with this…

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“Ummm, I just wanted to remind you, Timmy, that we are about to go into Mr. Albright’s math class. The Mr. Albright that we watched ‘The Tall Man’ drink his blood! Did you forget about that from last night?”

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Timmy still had some color left to his face. That was until Archer had finished his question to Timmy. Just as soon as what Archer had said had sunken in, the color immediately left Timmy’s face. Timmy graoned, rolled his eyes to the back of his head, and dropped his head so hard onto his desk it got the attention of Ms. Steward.

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“Is there a problem Mr. Marref?”

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Timmy groaned into the top of his desk, not so loud Ms,. Steward would hear, but loud enough Archer and all the students close by… did. Timmy lifted up his head and looked directly at Ms. Steward.

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“No Ms. Steward, there is no problem… I’m sorry I just felt a little faint and I had a problem holding up my head.”

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Ms. Steward just shook her head and scoffed, again. There was less than five minutes before the first bell for the next class. She didn’t want to get started with something there was no time to finish. Timmy, satisfied there would be no follow-up questions from Ms. Steward, slowly lowered his head back down to the desk. He closed his eyes, only to be met with the images of “The Tall Man’ licking blood from the bottom of Mr. Albright’s skull and spine. Quickly Timmy realized that as long as his eyes were closed, the images were just going to replay and replay on the inside of his eyelids. He opened his eyes and looked over at Archer, and spoke.

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“Archer? You just couldn’t wait until we were about to enter his math class, now could you? (Groan) Well, I guess we are about to find out something pretty darn important, huh Archer. We are about to find out if you die in that world… do you die in this world, too! Archer, I am really hoping that Mr. Albright is there for me to turn in my homework. For the very first time ever, I will be glad to turn in homework to a teacher!”

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No sooner had Timmy finished his observation the first bell rang for first period. Archer got up first, reached over, and helped Timmy out of his seat. Again, as soon as Archer put his hand on Timmy’s right arm, he felt the intense heat coming off of his friend. It wasn’t as bad as when he sat down beside Timmy on the bus, but it was so hot that it made Archer gravely concerned… again today. They made their way out into the hallway and over to their lockers. Archer opened his locker, then he reached over and opened Timmy’s locker for him. Timmy looked up, and smiled, then spoke.

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“Hey, Archer… I am… well, I am sorry for, like, barking at you earlier. I know everything you are doing to, like, help me… today and last night. I really don’t mean to be… mean… it’s just that I feel like something the tractor ran over and the dog dragged through mud to bring into the house. I am not mad at you… or even upset with you. I want you to know that… and I wanted to tell you, like, while I still can. Are we.. cool?”

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Archer had not expected that! I mean, he and Timmy had no problems talking to each other. Expressing themselves and keeping honest and truthful with each other. I mean for American boys… they had pretty open lines of communication. Long ago they had decided, together, that they were not going to fall prey to social ideals about how guys should and/or shouldn’t talk with each other. It’s not like they hug each other in the Wal Mart, or yell “I love you!” Across the track during gym class… they didn’t have a death wish. But, for two pre-teen American boys, they communicated very well. It was just that Archer didn’t think Timmy has genuinely aware of just how he had been treating Archer. It made Archer blush, at first, then he shook it off and spoke to Timmy.

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“Hey, thanks for mentioning it Timmy. I mean, I figured as much… with the balloon for a left hand and black veins of poison… but it was really nice for you to, like, say it to me. Now, try and conserve your energy. I am still trying to think of someone… ANYONE that we could talk to… about your hand, and not end up with more problems in the end. Thanks… it’s moments like that, Timmy, that make me glad I have you for a brother.”

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Timmy was struggling with his backpack and his math book, when Archer reached up and took the backpack and book out of his hand. Timmy looked up and all Archer said was that he would give the backpack and math book back to him once they got into class. Timmy nodded and the boys headed towards their destiny, and math class. With every step both boys pondered would Mr. Albright be there, or would Mr. Albright be dead!?!? Just as soon as they turned the corner, into math class, their answer was written in a strange hand on the blackboard.

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The name Mr. Champion was written in large letters right in the middle of the classroom’s chalkboard. Mr. Champion was their substitute teacher, and that meant only one thing! Mr. Albright was not in school today and for good reason too. Mr. Albright was dead and Timmy and Archer had witnessed his death at the hands of ‘The Tall Man’! Now, Archer had every intention to question the substitute teacher about why Mr. Albright wasn’t there to teach math class, today. He really doubted he would get a straight forward answer, like, ‘Mr. Albright turned up dead this morning… you boys know anything about that???” Archer did think he could get some kind of answer, from this substitute, that might help establish that Mr. Albright wasn’t out for a family funeral or because he flew to Las Vegas to get married.

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Archer helped Timmy get into his seat, put his backpack over the back of the chair and his math book and homework onto the desk. Then Archer put his backpack up and took out his math homework and math book. Mr. Champion took roll call, this time Archer didn’t even have to wake up Timmy when his name was called. Most likely, the suspense of finding out why they had a substitute was keeping Timmy awake, for the moment.

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Just as soon as the last name was called out, and Rebecca White answered “Present!” Archer’s hand went right up in the air. Mr. Champion saw Archer’s hand blot up, and his head turned over to the side, like a confused dog does sometimes. Mr. Champion looked down at the seating chart and called out Archer.

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“Yes, Archer is it? What is your question that just couldn’t wait until I gathered up last night’s homework assignment? Did a ‘dog eat your homework’ Mr. Archer?”

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Everyone in the classroom got a laugh out of that one. Great, the brand new substitute teacher was already scoring points off of Archer. What a great way to start first period! It’s cool, Archer was getting better and better at thinking, and speaking, on the fly. He was more than ready for Mr. Champion!

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“No sir, Mr. Champion… if that is your real name. Sounds more like a pseudonym for a wrestler, but I’ll take your word for it. I wanted to ask after Mr. Albright. Did he call-in sick? Is he out due to a family illness… or death? Or, did Mr. Albright finally find Mrs. Albright and they drove to Las Vegas to get married by Elvis?”

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Now, that series of questions nearly brought down the house! Even Timmy was laughing, even kind of loudly. Much to Timmy’s surprise Mr. Champion was laughing, too! Laughing big and loudly, like he actually enjoyed Archer’s sense of humor! Archer had not expected this course of events, but it was a lot better than Mr. Champion not finding his questions amusing and sending him to the principal’s office. A lot better, indeed!

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“Well, we now know who is trying for ‘Class Clown’ in Mr. Albright’s absence. Let me ask, is Mr. Archer always this funny, or is he making a special effort to impress me?”

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The game was on, and Archer was hoping that it could be over before Mr. Champion got the better of him. Archer just laughed, too, at what Mr. Champion said and hoped that what followed would just be an answer and not another jab at him. Timmy was laughing so hard that it gave him the hiccups, and this brought the attention of the whole classroom. No sooner than Archer had notice Timmy’s hiccups, Mr. Champion answered Archer.

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“Well, now look what you have done… You have given your friend (looking down at the seating chart) Mr. Marref the hiccups… as pale and weak looking as your friend Mr. Marref , is, I am thinking that hiccups could quickly turn into throwing UP! Could someone hand Mr. Marref a paper bag to hyperventilate into?”

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Ourt of nowhere a paper bag appeared and it was handed back to Timmy. Just as soon as Timmy got the bag in his hands, Mr. Champion went on to explain to Timmy just how to use it to get rid of the hiccups.

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“Now, Mr. Marref, just breathe normally into the paper bag. Slowly at first, then faster and faster. We want you to hyperventilate with the CO2 you are breathing out. That should result in your diaphragm halting its spasm… is it working?” Timmy holds up his right hand with the ‘Thumbs Up’ and keeping huffing into the paper bag.

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“Well, now that we have Mr. Marref’s hiccups in check, let me answer your questions Archer. No! No Mr. Albright did not call in sick today, nor did… to the best of my knowledge, any family member fall ill or die… and no not that anyone in the office knows did Mr. Albright drive all night long to get married by an Elvis impersonator. So far as I was told, nobody has heard a word from Mr. Albright. He did not show up this morning at 4AM to pick up the bus he was scheduled to drive, today. Someone went by his house, and knocked, only to have nobody answer the door. Nobody, from what I have heard, has seen or heard from Mr. Albright since dinnertime last night. Now, Archer, do you have any knowledge of Mr. Albright’s whereabouts since dinner time, last night?”

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OK… that was all the proof Archer needed… and NO! Archer was not about to explain to Mr. Champion, or anyone else, that he saw Mr. Albright. He saw Mr. Albright less than eight hours ago as a darkly dressed twenty foot tall giant drank his blood! Yet, even with all of Archer’s convictions to not tell Mr. Champion… Archer had a strange feeling that Mr. Champion did not believe that Archer had not seen Mr. Champion since dinner last night. Mr. Champion was still looking at Archer, starting even, and it was like he was looking right through Archer. It was very unnerving. Mr. Champion’s stare was only broken by Timmy speaking.

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“Mr. Champion, I am through with this paper bag, what should I do with it?”

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As Mr. Champion began to answer Timmy, his eyes were still locked with Archer’s. It was not until he was almost through speaking that he broke eye contract and shifts his gaze to Timmy.

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“Well, Mr. Marref, why don’t you pass the paper bag back up to me. I will keep it in this desk, just in case Archer, here, causes another student to laugh so hard he gets the hiccups. If anyone needs it, it will be in the top left hand drawer, Mr. Marref… that is the top LEFT HAND… drawer.”

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Ok, that was just weird! The way Mr. Champion, twice, stressed left hand… while gazing at Timmy. It was almost as though Mr. Champion knew Timmy had a problem with his left hand! Yet, that was impossible! Timmy had not taken his hand out of his jacket pocket since they were sitting in homeroom, almost an hour ago. Timmy had not taken it out in the hall, or any place where he thought that Mr. Champion might have seen Timmy’s swollen and discolored left hand. Come to think of it, this Mr. Champion, was making Archer’s skin crawl. Not, necessarily, in a ‘Bad Way’… yet, there was a familiarity to Mr. Champion and a level of comfort… that didn’t usually come with a brand new never seen before substitute teacher.

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Archer was mulling this, and the information that Mr. Champion had very easily shared with Archer about Mr. Albright’s absence, when the school intercom kicked on. The principal’s voice came over the intercom. The principal rarely gave any announcements. The principal handed off more times, than not, any and all announcements to the assistant principal. Everyone in middle school was very familiar with the voice of the assistant principal, and it was kind of disturbing to hear the voice of the principal over the intercom. This is what they heard;

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”Dear Students of Smithville Middle school, I have just received notice from the School District’s office of the supervisor. Notice that they have been contacted by the Sheriff’s office upon notification by the National Weather Service. Smithville is now under a ‘WINTER STORM WATCH FOR HEAVY SNOW’. This ‘watch’ will extend until noon today. At 1PM this ‘watch’ will be upgraded to a ‘WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW’ for all roads and bridges within Smithville and the surrounding farms and buildings. He have been given until 1PM to get ALL students and teachers into buses and headed to your homes. This is how the rest of the day will be spent. Upon the ringing of the next bell, ALL teachers and students will report to the lunchroom. We will take our normal one-hour lunch. When the next bell rings, you will report to your regular second period classes. One hour after that the last bell of the day will ring, and all students will report to the buses, ready to be taken home early.”

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Now, just as soon as the words “will be taken home early” were spoken the entire student body broke out into cheers and applause. Archer was pretty darn sure that the principal was not finished speaking. Pretty sure that there might have been even more important instructions for the students and the staff. Yet, everything was lost to the din of cheers and applause. Archer had stood up, like everyone else, and was clapping his hands frantically. Timmy, on the other hand, had no energy to get up and stand much less applaud an on coming snow storm. Timmy sat there, quietly, wondering if any of the children applauding right now had done the long math on this situation.

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Yes! They would have only three hours of school, today. Yes, they were going home early and likely without any homework. Yes, It was Friday and that meant that, in essence, they were being handed a three-day weekend. Yet, there was something else they had not thought of that would change everyone’s weekend. If there was a snowstorm headed for Smithville. A snowstorm so bad that the kids had to be sent home early from school?

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Then, what was to become of the first night of the Carnival? Yeah… the applauding children just hadn’t thought it through, yet. The pounding applause was vibrating something in Timmy’s head causing waves of pain, disorientation and pain. Thud, thud, thud, thud with every pulse of applause Timmy’s head shook and his stomach turned. With his right hand, Timmy reached up and pulled on the left arm of Archer’s jacket. Timmy looked up at Archer, Archer back down at Timmy, and with his all the energy he could muster Timmy said one-word “Help!”

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With that, Timmy passed out and fell in a neat heap on the floor of math class. Archer saw Timmy’s eyes roll back in his head, it was an unsettling sight to say the least. Archer tried his best to grab Timmy before he fell. Archer was very lucky, everyone else in the classroom was facing forward and standing up applauding the announcement. Archer grabbed Timmy before he actually hit the floor. Quickly he made his way around to the other side of the desk, grabbed handfuls of Timmy’s jacket, and set him up straight in his desk. Then Archer darted back around behind Timmy’s desk and sat down before anyone had noticed.

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That was just too close. Archer needed help, but he had nowhere to turn that wouldn’t lead to question neither he or Timmy was prepared to answer. The bell rang ending first period and signaling the start of , what was for today only, lunchtime at 8:30 AM. Just as Archer had pulled his backpack over his shoulder and went over to Timmy’s unconscious form Mr. Champion walked to the back of the class. ‘Oh, great… here we go, the end of everything… This substitute was going to bust him and Timmy… no Carnival any night!’ little did Archer know, at that point, but busting the boys was the last thing on Mr. Champion’s mind. He slowly, and casually, walked up to Archer and spoke.

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“Looks like Mr. Marref is not feeling well this morning, Archer. Looks to me, like, you two boys could use some help. How had you planned to move Mr. Marref, Archer, now that he is unconscious?”

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Now, Archer was not sure just what Mr. Champion was up to… but he wasn’t reacting to this situation the way he thought any teacher… would in this situation. Archer took a chance… a big chance with Mr. Champion and asked for help.

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“Mr. Champion… Timmy isn’t feeling well… he has a high fever and keeps going in and out of consciousness. I don’t want to get him, or me, in any trouble… but we need help.”

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Archer just said it, then let it hang there in the air. Slowly a smile formed on Mr. Champion’s face. It was a kind smile… a warm smile, the kind you get from a good friend or a longtime neighbor. Mr. Champion smiled, then he spoke to Archer. He spoke in a clam and soothing voice.

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“Archer, you need not worry. The last thing I want to do is to get you two in trouble after the night you guys had, last night. Fighting off mortui viventes Lupus… (smile)’ Zombie Wolves’… then a go with ‘The Tall Man’… and all on your very first night in _______. No, dear Archer, I am here to help you and Timmy. Help you both in more ways than you can imagine.”

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And, with that we come to the end of this week’s episode. Now, who among you saw that coming? I mean, really, most of us already knew that Mr. Albright was not going to be in class. We all sat there and watched as ‘The Tall Man’, like, drank him. No amount of clapping was going to bring him back, am I right? Yet, who saw that Timmy and Archer would find a friend substituting for Mr. Albright? Just who is this Mr. Champion? Why is he going to help Timmy and Archer? What will he do to help Timmy?

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Will he help Timmy feel better, get better? Will Mr. Champion rat out the boys? Are they headed to be helped or turned in? All of that, and more, awaits you My Dear Readers right here, next Thursday! I can tell you that I already know how this turns out… hehehe because, you see, I have already written a lot of ‘Part Eleven’! I just can’t wait to drop the next episode in your lap! You are just not going to believe, what comes next!

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So, My Dear Readers, I am off to pen another article for your reading enjoyment. I think I am going to write another ‘Notes from Behind the Keyboard’ for everyone to read. I have… some things that I would like to share. So, until I write and publish again… have a Great Week and remember to Share!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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http://www.ebay.com/usr/enzomatrixlt

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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

 

The Horror in Smithville - Part Nine

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[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Horror in Smithville[/caption]

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 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. As well, a big and heartfelt welcome to Part Nine of ‘The Horror in Smithville’! The past two weeks have been fraught with problems and hindrances, keeping me from publishing. All of my works have suffered, as have all of you, My Dear Readers. Two weeks ago, I was without a working air conditioner in my apartment.

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Let me tell you, 83 degree to 90 degree temperatures are not conducive to writing. At least they are not for me, in my current medical condition. As well, as I might have mentioned previously, I am working (writing, editing and publishing) on a notebook laptop computer that is well over ten years old. I hesitate turning this computer on if it is over 70 degrees in the room. Heat is the #1 reason for computer deaths. Since I bought this computer I have never operated it when the room is that hot. I am not about to start now, and loose the only computer I have to write!

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Last week, the air conditioning was back and working. Yet, my primary blog location was not! Yes, that’s right last week was the week to ten days that I had no access to The Other Shoe at blog dot com. This is the very first Thursday, in two weeks, that I have been able to write and publish. Therefore, you My Dear Readers get to rejoin Timmy and Archer in their adventures in Smithville. The other day I had a question from one of my newer readers. “Is there a Smithville? Did you grow up in a Smithville?” Some might think that is two questions, actually it is only one.

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Yes, I did grow up in a ‘Smithville’. It was called Pearland, but it was a Smithville by any modern day standard. The classes were very small; we were a small town off a main road coming out of Houston. We lived in the shadow of a major city, but we were about as rural as you can get. Now, My Dear Readers, I am very grateful to have grown up (at least part of my childhood) in Pearland. Say what you may about small towns, Pearland was made up of good and caring folks.

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My family moved from Houston out to Pearland when I was in the fourth grade. I spent all of elementary school, middle school, and high school in Pearland. Honestly, I wouldn’t trade that time of my life for anything in the world. I had very good friends, I never went without food… unless I failed to mention I was hungry, and when (in high school) I stepped up on stage… the great people of Pearland showed up in droves and stood on their feet to applaud. I just couldn’t have asked for a better, more polite and entertained, group of people in the whole world. Yet, yes I did grow up outside the big city in a smallish town out off of a ‘Farm to Market’ road. Smithville, for all intents and purposes, is Pearland. Maybe a bit more rural, and a little more removed from our time, but that is where the town comes from… my past.

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Today I have to share, Part Nine of our horror story. As you might imagine, having taken two weeks off from writing, it is taking a bit to get me back into character and back up to the level and speed I was writing, before. I am hoping, that over the coming weeks, I can get back to producing as much content as I did before. Today’s episode is a little shorter than those, before. Today, I came to a great stopping point… and I was overcome with pain and weakness.

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Rather than push myself… and really manage to hurt myself? I decided to stop at the logical stopping point within the writing. FYI I have already started on Part Ten! If all goes well, and I have nothing else ready for publication… I just might publish TWO PARTS of this story, this week. Now, I am not promising anything! I have to let my body… my pain… decide. Right now I am hurting like an old coon dog stuck under the back tire of a tractor.

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I am going to take a pain medication… just as soon as I press the PUBLISH button.

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So, without further adieu, I give you Part NINE of ‘The Horror in Smithville’!

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Part Nine

 

By the time the boys had reached the bus stop, the bus was about 3 miles away. That gave Archer some time to look at Timmy’s left hand. The bite from the zombie wolf had grown. The hand was swollen, yes, but the bite itself had grown and covered more of Timmy’s hand with a dark black circle. The hand itself was nearly twice its normal size and there were black veins radiating out from around the teeth marks. Timmy didn’t look so good, himself.

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Timmy was pale, in color, in his face and arms. Almost like he had been drained of blood. Archer pulled Timmy’s jacket up around his face and over his ears. As Archer’s hands passed Timmy’s face, he felt heat radiating from Timmy’s face. Jeeze! Archer had never felt a fever that hot before in his life. Timmy had to have a fever well over 100 degrees, and he was standing in a foot of snow by the edge of the road. The more Archer thought about it, the more he realized that taking Timmy to school in his current condition was not the best idea.

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Bad idea or not to, there was no turning back now, just as Archer was overcome with regret the school bus stopped directly in front of them. Archer grabbed their backpacks in one arm, Timmy in the other, and he began the process of getting Timmy on the bus and off to school. Ms. Steward, the homeroom and home economics teacher, was there bus driver today. She took one look at Timmy and immediately turn to Archer asking;

 

”Timmy looks like something the tractor ran over and the dog brought inside. Are you sure you should be going to school today Archer?”

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Evidently today was Archer’s day for thinking fast on his feet, because Archer immediately replied.

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“It ain’t nothing Ms. Stewart. Nothing more than eaten too much of his mom’s blueberry cobbler, and us not get in the sleep on time. I’m sure he will be right as rain by lunchtime, you don’t worry yourself none.”

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Now, granted, Archer had done some quick thinking, and speaking, but it was obvious Ms. Steward remained unimpressed. She scoffed under her breath, shook her head, then closed the door of the school bus behind them. Archer looks back, in the bus, and finds a seat near the rear. The bus lurched forward like a great sleeping giant not wanting to make its morning treck on the snow-covered roads. The lurch threw Timmy and Archer forward down the aisle towards the end of the bus. Archer nearly lost his grip on Timmy’s left arm, and narrowly navigated him to a sitting posture in the last seat on the bus.

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Archer threw the backpacks on the floor, at their feet, then collapsed into the bus seat beside Timmy with a huff. He reached over and propped up Timmy against the back walls of the bus and the seat. Once he was sure that Timmy wouldn’t go flying around the bus, the next time Ms. Steward made a hard turn, he settled in to relax a little for the rest of the ride into school. When Timmy and Archer missed a bus, either getting to school or coming home, they regretted living so far out of town. Right now, Archer was mighty glad they did live ‘out in the sticks’ because it gave him time to rest… and think.

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Archer closed his eyes, for just a moment, and thought about just how he was going to get through a whole day at school with Timmy in his current condition. Even now, sitting there with only a foot between them, Archer could feel the heat radiating off of Timmy. Trying to rest his eyes wasn’t helping… and the heat coming off of Timmy was driving Archer nuts. He pulled back the hood on Timmy’s jacket and nearly jumped out of his skin! Timmy was as pale as a ghost.

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He reached up and felt Timmy’s forehead, first looking around to make sure nobody was watching. That was all he needed, today, was catching flack for showing some concern about his best friend. Archer looked around, everybody was busy talking and rough housing. Some were trading candies they got from the Church ‘Halloween-IN!’ services. It was the Baptist church’s way of providing a ‘safe and family oriented’ version of Trick-or-Treat. Rarely attended by any kids past the third grade, it was not something that Archer or Timmy would been seen dead… at.

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Nobody looking at the back of the bus, so Archer pulled back the hood on Timmy’s coat and gasped! Timmy looked like death warmed over. His lips were bluish; his skin was as pale as summer whitewash. Archer reached over and put the back of his hand against Timmy’s forehead. Archer immediately pulled his hand back in horror. Timmy’s temp was well north of one hundred degrees, and it was sure to be climbing. Jeepers! The day had hardly got started and things were already turning south! Archer pulled Timmy’s jacket hood back over his head, adjusted his jacket so Timmy wouldn’t get chilled. Just as Archer was slipping into panic mode one of the third graders came down the isle towards him. He was holding something in his hand, Archer couldn’t quite make it out until he was right beside him.

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“Your friend looks like he could use something to help him wake-up! Here, this candy was made my Mrs. Bright and it is really hot stuff... like ‘Red Devils’ only hotter.”

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The boy handed several small red candies to Archer and headed beck to the front of the bus. Archer remembered Mrs. Bright’s homemade candies. He remembered that one year she ended up making two whole grades sick, with her Red Devils. They contained way too much cinnamon and would burn the inside of your mouth. Then she would put way too much sugar to try to cover how hot they came out. What you ended up with was a candy that could burn holes in your stomach, while (at the same time) gave you a sugar rush that would last hours.

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Seems fate had a plan for Archer, a plan that might just give some life to Timmy. This candy would give him at least enough life to get him off the bus and into homeroom, if not longer. Archer shook Timmy’s shoulder and tried to wake him.

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“Timmy… TIMMY! Wake up, Timmy! Here… eat these, they are going to help you to feel better. Come on Timmy… Open your mouth… That’s it! Now chew!”

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Timmy starting to sluggishly chew the homemade Red Devils, eyes shut and his head in his chest. One bite, two bites…three bites Timmy’s eyes open for the first time since they got on the bus. Four bites! Timmy’s eyes bolted open and he sat up straight in the bus seat. Now Timmy was chewing the candy much faster, in between bites he would open up his mouth wide. Timmy’s right hand came up and he started waving his open mouth, as if to call something extremely hot he was eating. Bite… Fan! Bite… FAN!

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“What the heck did you put in my mouth, Archer, gasoline?”

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Timmy frantically chewed alternating chewing with fanning his mouth to cool down his tongue. As Timmy begins to regain consciousness, Archer explains.

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“You remember old Mrs. Bright? Do you remember the homemade ‘Red Devils’ she used to bring to the Church Halloween Trick or Treats? Well, seems Mrs. Bright is at it, again. Timmy, my good friend, what you have in your mouth are three of this year’s batch of Mrs. Bright’s homemade ‘Red Devils’. I will get you some water, for the burning mouth and teeth, but in the next couple of minuets… well, they sugar should kick in!”

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Timmy turns to face Archer, there is a shocked look on his face. A shocked look, and there is color back in Timmy’s face. Now, Archer knows full well, that, in time, Timmy will find a way to get back at him… for putting three toxic candies in his mouth… without warning. But, that will happen sometime later in the day, or tomorrow. All Archer cares about now? He has his best friend back, in the world of the living, for as long as the sugar rush lasts. Timmy was finishing up chewing the last of the toxic treats, when he speaks;

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“Archer… I know that you had to do… something, like, to get me back awake and all. Yet, sitting here I can think of at least five other ways you could have done that without feeding me Mrs. Bright’s homemade ‘Red Devil’s.’. You know I hated those things when we were in the third grade… Now? I need water, bad!”

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Luck must have been on the side of our youthful adventures, because just as Timmy was in need of water to drink, the school bus pulled up to the school. With Timmy back in the pink, as it were, he was able to walk all by himself off of the bus and into the school. No sooner than Timmy had entered the school, he found a water faucet and began to drink. Archer stood there, for what seemed like ten minuets, watching Timmy drink the faucet dry. He gave up and went to go and put his backpack into his locker. That done, he opened Timmy’s locker, always the locker right next to his, and waited for his thirsty friend to appear.

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Archer leaned back against the lockers and took a deep breath. The day had not even started, for him and Timmy, and already they had; encountered talking rats that ride ferrets, fought zombie Wolves, and outsmarted a ferocious murdering giant… and it wasn’t even Halloween yet! Timmy was the best friend he had ever had, honestly the very best friend anyone could ever ask. Yet, from the day that he first laid eyes on Timmy. Life had always been an adventure.

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He and Timmy had spent half of elementary school in detention or the principal’s office. Never for anything illegal or for harming another person. Neither of them were that radical. Once was even for doing something nice for the poorer students. Yes, they had stolen the milk, but they immediately gave it to the handful of grade school kids that couldn’t afford milk with their lunches. Archer and Timmy both had decided that any law that prevented any children from enjoying milk with lunch? Was a bad law!

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The thought of that day, put a smile on Archer’s face. Just as he was breaking a smile, Timmy came around the corner, still trying to wipe the taste out of his mouth.

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“So, why do you have a smile on your face like a Cheshire cat, Archer? Feed toxic treats to any other children?”

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Archer reached up and patted Timmy on the back, still smiling he looked Timmy right in the eyes and said;

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“Nope, I was thinking about ‘The Great Milk Theft’ of the third grade. You remember that day?”

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Timmy stopped… thought about what Archer had said, slowly a smile formed on his face, too. No matter what the next twenty-four hours threw at him, Timmy imagined that the thought of that day… the good they did, would get him through. He looked over at Archer and said;

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“That was a great day, Archer… now, take a look at the balloon I found over by the water fountain!”

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Timmy held up his left hand, and put it up close to Archer’s face. Yeap, it was all blown up and kind of bluish purple… yeap that looked like a balloon, all right! As Archer was evaluating the blood engorged hand attached to Timmy’s arm the first bell rang for homeroom. Archer grabbed Timmy’s left-hand and shoved it in his coat pocket saying:

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“Let’s just keep this hidden until we can figure out what to do with it. We don’t want the nurse, or any of the teachers, to see your hand or we will spend the rest of today explaining things in the principal’s office. Again!”

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With that Timmy and Archer, side-by-side, friends to the end, headed off to their homeroom class to start what was certain to be a day full of adventures.

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End Part Nine

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Thanks for dropping by My Dear Readers. I do apologize for the brevity of this episode. I am really going to work on hardening for my writing. However, episode Eight… may have been a false reading. It was over fourteen pages in Word… and I am not so sure if or when I will be up to that, again. I plan on writing every day. If I can accomplish that, soon I will be back up to producing episodes of that length, again.

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I will, however, publish (later this week or earlier next week) all new editions of; ‘The Mars Report’, ‘Lost in Space’, and all of your regular favorites! My Dear Readers, I am working hard to bring the talents of another author here to The Other Shoe. His name is James Coate, and he hails from my same small town, Pearland. If you look under Authors on the blog, you will see his name is already featured. He has not, yet, shared any of this works with us… but I am hoping that soon Mr. Coate will join me in bringing quality content right here to The Other Shoe.

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For now, I will take my leave. Thank you for your support, your comments, and your readership!

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!

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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]

REVIEW - 'The Horror in Smithville' First Seven Parts!

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[caption id="attachment_2489" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Horror in Smithville[/caption]

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 Welcome back My Dear Readers to The Other Shoe. I am sitting here, in an apartment way too hot to work… or even live, trying to get cool enough to start writing Part Eight of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ when I had a great idea. Prior to returning to writing the next chapter… maybe I should present a review of the first Seven parts! This will give me a chance for the room to cool…. Hopefully… and a chance to review everything that has happened to Timmy and Archer in the first sixty-five pages.

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Yes, what I had started as a short story has already reached sixty-five pages and I am not even half done! See, I was thinking that new readers are, likely, coming to The Other Shoe all the time. If someone were to start reading this wonderful young adult horror story, at Part Seven, they might be very confused and (maybe) even put off by some of the violence in the most recent chapter.

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So, My Dear Readers, this evening I am going to write and publish a review of the first sixty-five pages (and seven chapters) for everyone to read and enjoy. Reading it all over again, will give me a chance to make notes on just how to improve the story when it comes time for the Halloween rewrite. Yes, come Halloween of this year I plan on presenting this story as ‘Holiday Fare’! I will start late in August and run it, in weekly installments, till it is complete the week of Halloween!

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Now, I have already planned to rewrite the story in time for the Halloween re-release. Remember, I am writing this each week and publishing it just as soon as I am finished writing. No; outlines, plot planning, character development charts, NOTHING I would usually use when I write a fictional story. This review will give me a chance to pinpoint the places where I want to re-work the story. Then, come August, I can rewrite the whole story as I go along this summer.

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Now, with all of that out of the way, I would like to bring you, My Dear Readers, a complete review of ‘The Horror in Smithville’ in its original form, without any changes, updates, rewrites or anything. My Dear Readers, this is how the story came out of my head, each and every week, for the past two months.

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ENJOY!

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• The Horror in Smithville : “Timmy Marref lived on a farm outside Smithville. Smithville was a little town smack dab in the middle of America. Timmy’s father, Kenneth Marref, worked the family farm. As his father did before him, and his grandfather did before that, and his great-grandfather did before him. From what Timmy could gather the Marref’s had worked this land for more than 100 years. Timmy didn’t mind living on a farm. As a matter of fact, more times than not Timmy just downright loved living on the farm.” THIS is how the whole story started. It was March 6^th, 2014 and I was thinking on “what NEW can I bring to The Other Shoe’?” I am always thinking of how to improve the blog, what more series or articles can I bring to you, My Dear Readers, that will bring smiles to your faces and joy to you souls. I, at this point, had written articles about world news, Mars, the Hubble Space telescope, financial inequality, and even some politics here and there. What, pray tell, could I cook up in my little head that might tickle your collective fancy? Then, it hit me, like a ton of bricks coming at my head. The idea of a lifetime landed in my lap. ‘A Horror story meant for young adults! The great thing was, if I wrote it well then adults as well as young people, will enjoy reading the story. That was how it all began, back in March. :0


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Two : “Now Timmy’s Mom weren’t no fool, nor was she born yesterday. Margaret knew Timmy had just been on the phone, for the past half hour, with his best Archer. Margie also knew, and she loved her son Timmy for this, that he was mighty accustom to hug her at any given time. However, Timmy creeping up on her to put his arm around her waist and hug her while she’s frying chicken? That was a sure fire sign that Timmy wanted something, and he wanted it something mighty strong. This made Margie smile ear to ear. She could hardly wait to hear the yarn her son was about to spin. Just in the nick of time though Margie bit her upper lip to make herself stop smiling, right as Timmy looked up into her face with those doleful hazel eyes.” Well, I have said it before, and I will (likely) say it again and again. At this point, the story was nearly writing itself! The characters had come to life, and each and every time I closed my eyes and thought about; Timmy and Archer they began to perform and act right before my eyes. I had the easiest job in the world, all I had to do was watch and write down what they did each day. Even this early in the story the characters of Timmy and Archer had started to leap off the pages of the story. ‘Character Development’ was as easy as letting the boys speak! The plot was a simple one… two young men out for an adventure at Halloween. BAM! It wasn’t until two or three weeks later that ‘The Tall Man’ came to life and the story started developing a ‘Darker’ side.


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Three : “Just as Archer had anticipated, when dinner was served there was; deep fried chicken (at least one chicken if not two), mashed potatoes with a pad of butter still melting on the top of the potato mountain, what looked to be buttermilk biscuits, a gravy bowl filled to the brim with hot and fresh (made from scratch) chicken gravy, and both green peas and corn on the cob. Archer was drooling with anticipation, but before lifting a single eating utensil he gave Timmy’s Mom her much deserved praise.“Everything looks just great, Mrs. Marref! I don’t know which is better, how good it all smells or how great it looks on the table!” This was about the time that the ‘sleep-over’ idea was flowering in my head. The idea of having ‘his’ first appearance not happen during the fateful ride on the Haunted House. How to build the suspense for the ride, how to incorporate character development with a three day long sleep-over. It was in parts two and three that I truly developed the ‘Home Spun’ feel of the story. How I was to take two rual young men, and throw them out of their world of feeding chickens and milking cows and hurl them head long into a world with ‘zombie-wolves’ and the undead. It was, also, about this time that I feel in LOVE with this story and its potential. What was meant to be a really short story, lasting no more than a month, now had the potential to run for several months. Timmy and Archer had found a way into my heart.


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Four : “Lightening filled the room with brilliance that shown like daytime. The room was plunged into darkness, followed by the low rumblings of thunder. The time between the two events, the lightening and the thunder was decreasing. Timmy knew that meant the heart of the storm was yet to arrive. Another flash of lightening, it filled the room. Geeze, it was so bright you could read your math homework with it. It was followed by deepening darkness, then the low rumble of thunder. All the time the sound of the rain, pounding on the back porch and the barn, grew louder and louder. This was going to be a heck of a storm!” To this day I am still unsure just where the lightening storm came from in this story. No where, in the first month’s notes, did I even mention a lightening storm. However, once I wrote it down… once I worked it into the story… and once ‘The Tall Man’ appeared with the storm… well there was no turning back and it felt as natural as a spring rain. You see, My Dear Readers, it was as if; the Carnival, the Haunter House Ride and ‘The Tall Man’ ALL ‘blew into town together’! See how it all just fits? Honest to goodness I am not fibbing when I tell you that it was not originally thought up tied together, it must have just happened one night when the pain robbed me of sleep. Now, looking back? Well, I just cannot see it working any other way. THAT is what makes my job…. A JOY!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Five : “Standing there, Timmy felt a cool breeze passing under the door. Now, he knew that he and Archer had kept the window in his bedroom closed. As hard as it was raining, outside, an open window would have drenched the bed and sleeping bag. He leaned over to the right, slightly, looking at the space between the bottom of the door and the sill below. Sure enough, there was a light on in the room. It was lighter that what his ‘Adventures of Princess Nadia’ nightlight created, too. Timmy screwed up his courage, wrapped his hand around the doorknob, and turned the knob.” ANOTHER great ‘Behind the Scenes’ story relates to the creation of this, Part Five. You see, Part Five NEVER EXISTED! When I wrote part four, then looked back over it getting ready to write (what is now Part Six)… well, I just did not like how it ended, Part Four. Something was missing. I gave it a great deal of thought… then it hit me! In ending Part Four, the way I did, I have deprived myself of a Grand Entrance for ‘The Tall Man’! Once I experienced that inspiration, well there was no ‘going back’. I simply had to re-write Part Four, and have it segway right into THIS Part Five. Part Five exists solely for the purpose of the introduction of ‘The Tall Man’ to his Protagonist = Timmy. It was all falling into place, just like a prefect shuffle in cards, each person (card) was stacking right on top of the other person (card) to form a ‘dove-tail’ of characters. My Dear Readers, this was not ‘planned’… this just happened to me, and I can never express just how happy I am that it… did!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part SIX : “And we are not talking about a really nice graveyard, eight. This graveyard looked to be from long long ago. The headstones were mostly broken, the names of the dearly beloved long ago forgotten to time. Gnarled trees, leaning half out of the ground, were the only remaining landscaping. Above, the moon hung full in the sky while a deep rolling fog moved over the ground.. It just then that Timmy felt the first deep chill, it was very cold and damp outside.” This, My Dear Readers, THIS is when it all started coming together. In THIS chapter… the MAGIC started happening. Let me explain a little. First, in part six I started interweaving the boy’s reality with their dream world! Things, and people, from one part of their lives began showing up in the other part of their lives! This gave me all sorts of creative opportunities. NEXT? Next the boys were taken to a different dream world! More than one ‘dream world’ freed me up, as a writer, and gave me the opportunity to begin interweaving their “Dream Worlds’! This was a huge gift to me, as a writer… but the best I saved for LAST. In Part Six… I did something that reached off the page! Now, My Dear Readers, if you are a frequent readers then you have (no doubt) hear about my most favorite… my PRIZED novel; ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’ book ONE to be ‘The Healing Light’. I have written about this upcoming work for the better part of the past FOUR years. In Part Six, I managed to create a ‘Trademark’ writing dynamic exclusive to Daniel Hanning. IN part Six… I brought Princess Nadia and Alexander into the ‘dream world’ of Timmy and Archer! That’s RIGHT My Dear Readers, it will be a trademark of my writing style that MY characters Cross Over into other literary works of mine! Never before have I read of this being done by another writer. Not only that, but it is not just a chance encounter! That’s RIGHT Princess Nadia and Alexander will have full roles in ‘The Horror in Smithville’ and Timmy and Archer WILL APPEAR in ‘The Adventures of Princess Nadia’! My Dear Readers, when I made this happen on the page… and it WORKED! I was just THRILLED at the possibilities! I am not going to give any spoilers… but this is going to happen… and BIG!


• The Horror in Smithville – Part Seven : “Timmy had directed Archer to climb to the highest branch of the old gnarled tree he could manage. There he would do his best to; bleed, slow down and/or maim as many of these zombie-wolves as possible. You see, that is a common misnomer about archers, and archery, among the larger populous. Archers rarely ‘kill’ someone with an arrow to the heart. Archers are best to bleed your opponents, causing them to slow and reducing strength. Timmy had explained all this, to Archer, as they climbed the gnarled tree.” My Dear Readers, at FOURTEEN PAGES in Word, this Part, Part Seven, is the single LARGEST of all the parts so far. In it I tie together all the new tools, tricks, characters, and ‘trademarks’. I interweave just about every aspect of this story, and this story begins getting dark. By becoming dark the story firmly plants itself into the Horror genre and leaves no doubt to the readers. This is a horror story, and one of a different and terribly original style and feel. This final part, for the first ¼ of the book, sums up Timmy and Archer’s experience in their ‘Dream World’, so far. Now, not only are characters from different IPs showing up in other intellectual properties? Events, and people, from reality are showing up in Dream World (OTHER THAN Timmy and Archer), events are carrying over from one reality to another. Now, I really do not want to tip my hand… I REALLY want you to READ THIS STORY… if you haven’t already… and (here is the REAL problem with reviews) I want to do this without giving away any of the surprises and without diminishing the suspense. However, weighing in at 14 pages THIS part of the story… is monumental! That is why I am taking my time working on, out, Part EIGHT! I do plan on its release TOMORROW… May 8^th, 2014. Barring any totally unforeseen circumstances… like the A/C going out completely… I WILL PUBLISH ‘part Eight’ Thursday may 8^th, 2014.

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Well, My Dear Readers, that completes the review of the first seven parts (chapters) of my wonderful horror story ‘The Horror in Smithville’. I hope that everyone has enjoyed this trip down memory lane, for everyone that has already read the story. For those of you that have not started your journey into the world(s) of Timmy and Archer? I encourage you to read ‘The Horror in Smithville’.

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My Dear Readers, I can guarantee that this ‘horror story’ is unlike anything you have ever read. It will have you on the edge of your seats, it will cause you to jump out of your seats, it will make you laugh, it will make you smile. By the time I am done, My Dear Readers, you will have experienced an all new genre of horror and I will leave you wanting for more.

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This story is the ‘Love of My Life’, right now. It is the center of my world, the focus of my creative efforts, and what I think about every moment, waking or not. Tomorrow… I hope and pray that my A/C will work! If I can get it cool enough in here… cool enough that I am not gripped in waves of nausea… I will get to writing Part Eight.

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The great thing is I have all of Part Eight already planned out in my head. All there is to it is; writing what I have in store, checking the spelling and grammar, publishing and promoting! BAM! That’s IT!

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HONEST My Dear Readers… IF I wasn’t already in debt to my bank (with Pay Day Advances to make up for Allen’s lack of income for months)? I would myself just go out and BUY an A/C and have Allen put it in the wall. BAM! DONE! No more begging the landlord to do his job! No more begging the maintanece person to put a WORKING A/C in my room… the last one? (The one currently in my room?) He brought it in and it was FILTHY! The screen filter was CACKED with CRUD! It took me half a can of Comet and TWO HOURS to get it clean… Now you know if the screen is filthy that the A/C is filthy. So, this A/C keeps freezing up… BECAUSE it is CLOGGED with FILTH and it CANNOT BREATH! Anywho… I am so sorry… to bring my delimas… here… so sorry. You see, people on lots of pain medications are really vulnerable to heat.

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I cannot sleep… and the heat causes me to wake up and puke several times a night! I have lost over ten pounds and haven’t had a whole night’s sleep in more than a WEEK! Sorry… I will work hard to get Part Eight written and published for you, My Dear Readers. Until tomorrow…

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Adieu!

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Thank YOU!
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[caption id="attachment_2866" align="aligncenter" width="630"] Danny Hanning of The Other Shoe - May 6th, 2014[/caption]