Clark’s hand trembled as he lifted the envelopes from the refrigerator. “It’s two letters addressed to us. From Grandma and Grandpa.”
I stared at the envelopes in Clark’s hand. They were addressed to us, just as he said. And they were numbered, one and two.
“They left us letters?” I couldn’t believe it.
Clark ripped open the first envelope. The paper shook in his hands as he began to read it to himself.
His eyes scanned the paper. He mumbled as he read. I couldn’t understand what he was saying.
“Let me have that!” I reached out for the letter, but Clark jerked back. He held the paper tightly and continued to read.
“Clark, what does it say?” I demanded.
He ignored me. He pushed his glasses up on his nose and kept on reading. Mumbling.
I watched Clark as he read.
I watched his eyes move down the page.
I watched his eyes grow wide with horror.
“Clark!” I shouted impatiently. “What does it say?”
Clark began to read the letter out loud. “ ‘Dear Gretchen and Clark,’ ” he started. The paper fluttered between his trembling fingers.
“ ‘We’re sorry to do this to you, but we had to leave. A few weeks ago, a swamp monster invaded our house. We captured it in the room upstairs. Then we didn’t know what to do with it. We didn’t have a car, so we couldn’t get to a phone to call for help.
“ ‘We’ve lived in terror for the past few weeks. We were afraid to let the monster out. It’s so loud and angry all the time. We know it would have killed us.’ ”
My knees started to wobble as Clark continued.
“ ‘We didn’t want to tell your parents about the creature. If we did, they wouldn’t have let you come. We don’t get many visitors here. We wanted so much to see you. But I guess we were wrong. You should have gone to Atlanta with your mother and father. I guess we were wrong to let you stay.’ ”
“They guess they were wrong! They guess!” I shrieked. “Can you believe them?”
Clark peered up from the letter. His face was white. Even his freckles seemed to disappear. He shook his head, stunned.
Then he continued to read our grandparents’ letter. “ ‘We’ve been feeding the creature, slipping food through an opening Grandpa sawed in the bottom of the door. The monster eats a lot. But we had to feed him. We were afraid not to.
“ ‘We know it’s unfair to run off now. But we’re just going for help. We’ll be back—as soon as we can find someone. Someone who knows what to do with this horrible beast.
“ ‘Sorry, kids. We really are—but we had to bolt you inside the house. To make sure you didn’t wander into the swamp by yourselves. It’s not safe out there.’ ”
Were they for real?
“Not safe out there!” I cried. “They left us in this house with a killer monster—and they say it’s not safe out there!”
Clark nodded and continued reading. “ ‘Sorry, kids. We really, really are sorry. But just remember one thing: You are perfectly safe as long as …’ ”
The monster upstairs let out a loud bellow. And Clark dropped the letter.
I watched in horror as it sailed through the air.
Floated down to the floor.
And slid under the refrigerator.
“Get it, Clark!” I yelled. “Quick!”
Clark stretched out on the floor and shoved his fingers under the refrigerator. But his fingers only managed to brush the tip of the paper, shoving it back.
“Stop!” I yelled. “You’re pushing it away!”
But Clark didn’t listen.
He shoved his hand in deeper. Groping for the paper.
Pushing it back. Farther and farther.
Until we couldn’t see it anymore.
“What did it say?” I hollered. “You read the letter! We’re perfectly safe as long as … what?”
“I—I didn’t get to that part,” Clark stammered.
I wanted to strangle him.
