The Hungery Child

          "Here we are boys," said John to Kody and Brad as he drove the car up a gravel
driveway. Kody opened his eyes. At the end of the drive stood a two-story building of dark,
rough stone. A sign out front read:

                                     WARY INN,  ESTABLISHED 1837

                "This place is supposed to have lots of atmosphere," said John.
                "That means lumpy old beds and outside bathrooms," grumbled Kody.
                  A bearded man came out to greet them. "Welcome. I'm Peter Wary. My great-great-
great grandfather built this inn."
                "By any chance did he build a Burger World out back?" muttered Kody. "I'm hungery."
                "You'll be staying one night, Mr. Fields?"
                "Right," replied John. "We're just driving through.....say, you do allow rowdy kids,
don't you?"
                "Oh, yes," said Mr. Wary. "I have a grandson of my own with me here. But we do
recommend that you keep your kids in the room at night. Especially on a night like tonight.
There's going to be a full moon. It's really nothing to worry about, it's just that a few previous
kids have met with some rather nasty accidents."
                "Like what?" asked John.
                "Let's just say that your youngest son might make a tempting treat for something out
there."
                "Whoa, that's it, I ain't stayin' here!" Kody gulped.
                 John had to pry him out of the car, but, with the help of Brad, his older son, he finally
got Kody out and into their room. "Stop being such a wuss," said John. "There isn't another motel
for a hundred miles, so we'll just have to stay here tonight. Besides, that was just a campfire tale
he told you, nothing is going to happen."
                 "Okay," replied Kody. "But if I get eaten, I'm going to be very grumpy in the morning."

                  After they had finished dinner, Kody cautiously poked his way around the old inn. In
the parlor he discovered a kid sitting by a window staring out. He wore cool kid cloths, and had a
gold necklece with a medallion that said "Blood Brotha".
                         
                  "If your thinking of going out, I wouldn't," said Kody.
                  "Then you've heard about it," the kid said.
                  "Pretty frightning," said Kody.
                  "When you've lived here as long as I have, you get used to it. Still, I'm never quite myself
when there is a full moon."
                  "You live here?" said Kody. "Then you must know all about this thing. What is it?"
                  "No one knows for sure," replied the kid.
                  "Maybe it's just a figment of the imagination."
                  "Would a figment eat a 13-year old?"
                   Kody gulped. He was only 8. "Nice talking to you.....er---" "Stephen. Stephen King."
"Stephen. Well, I'm going to bed." Stephen gave a half-smile, the turned his head to stare at the
rising moon.
      
                   That night John and Brad slept soundly. But Kody lay on his bed wide awake. The longer
he lay awake, the hungrier he got. "I don't care how hungery you get," Kody said to his stomach. "No
way am I getting out of this bed."
                    But in the end, Kody's appetite was stronger than his fear. I'll just grab some food from the
kitchen and race right back here, he decided. He slipped off the bed and out the door.
                    Carefully checking everything in front of him and behind him, Kody padded quickly down
the hall. The old house, which had been creaking all night, seemed suddenly still.
                    "Almost there," Kody told himself. Crossing the parlor, he saw the empty chair by the window
where Stephen King had been sitting. The memory of their conversation made him shiver.

BONG!!

                    With a shriek, Kody dove behind the sofa. But the noise was only the old grandfather clock
chimming midnight. Kody slowly crawled out, mumbling, "I'll get you for that grandpa." After he checked
his surroundings and let out a sigh of relif, he continued.
                    At last he reached the kitchen and yanked open the refrigerator door. Yellow light spilled across
the floor, throwing huge shadows on the walls.
                    On the top shelf was a big, fresh bannana-cream pie. "This will do,"  said Kody, snatching up
pie.
                    As he turned, Kody saw two burning red eyes, staring at him from the shadows. Above the eyes,
two long, pointed ears twitched excitedly.
                    Kody's hair stood on end.
                    With an evil hiss, the shadowy thing moved toward him. Kody caught a glimpse of glistening
teeth and long, jagged claws. A bit of gold gleamed at it's neck.
                    Kody tried to scream, but it died of fright before it ever left his throat. He could think of only
one thing to do. With all the strength he could summon, he hurled the bannana-cream pie at the thing. The
monster recoiled in suprised, and Kody dashed past it. Running faster than he had ever run, he dashed down
the hall, through the parlor, upstairs and into the room. He slammed the door and dove into John's bed,
knocking him off the other side.

                     The next morning, Mr. Wary asked John, "Have a good sleep."  "My son went nuts, but other
than that, ya." replied John.
                     "Something made a bannana-cream mess in our kitchen," said Mr. Wary. "Maybe the monster
stopped for dessert." A twinkle was in his eye.
                      Kody just shivered and said nothing.
                      He couldn't wait for John to pack the car. He honked the horn impaitently. Finally John
climbed behind the wheel and started the engine. The car moved down the driveway. The last thing Kody
saw was Stephen King staring at him from the parlor window, the sunlight twinkling on the little golden
medallion at his neck.

Revised by: Michael Fitzpatrick
Original Story by: Jim Kraft & Jim Davis