Harold was so glad to be home. He was off until after New Years and thought he'd need every day of it. This was surely the busy time of year with stringing the lights, the traffic, and the lines at the malls. Doris met him at the door with his evening treat of brandy and a kiss, just as she had the last ten years. Young Billy and Marcy waved from in front of the TV as they were known to do. "Dinner will be ready in a bit so rest for a moment." Doris said as she hurried off to the kitchen. He nearly fell into the chair he was so tired. The kids were watching Christmas specials so there would be no news for Harold on TV this night, but he smiled and breathed a prayer of thanks. This had not been a normal year for the Reynolds family.
It all started during a thunderstorm the past March in the old house. The old house needed work but it had a charm than seem to hold the entire family in it's grasp. All was well as they went to sleep to the sound of distant thunder. In the middle of the night Harold and Doris had been awaken by Marcy screaming. They got to the room she shared with Billy at the same time and struggled to be the first through the door. The poor child just sat there in bed, pointing at the foot of the bed and continued to scream. Harold embraced his daughter and began to rock her back and forth while assuring her all was well. "Billy has slept through this!" Doris said as she walked over to check for breathing. Billy was fine and moved a little under the cover.
"Daddy, there was a monster standing there pulling my foot!" Honey, it was just a dream." He said as he pulled her closer and Doris rubbed her head. " It was gray and had big eyes and a big head." Marcy said as she trembled. Both Doris and Harold both check the room and the closet to ensure there was no monster present. It calmed her down but tears still stained her tiny cheek. It was now 4:30 in the morning and Harold knew he would have to be up soon. " I know what you need sweetie." Doris said as she took Marcy By the hand. "When I was little if a monster showed up I got to sleep with mommy and daddy that night so the monster would go away" She told her as they walked down the hall. All was well and Marcy went back to her own bed and slept quietly for over a week.
"Daddy, it's got me me!" The scream filled the house. Once again both dashed into the room to find the same scene played over again. Once again Billy slept through the chaos and proclaimed he heard and saw nothing until they woke him for school the next day. Once again it was 4:30 in the morning. This same play was enacted at least once a week and it got to the point that Marcy feared to come home. It was in October they started the search for a new house.
Many a night Harold had stayed up all night try to catch whatever it was that was tormenting his young daughter. Nothing would be seen, or heard before the screaming would start. He knew that Bighead, (as they named him), was back. How do you protect your family from something you can't catch? He ask himself over and over again. Stress and lack of sleep had taken it's toll to say the least.
Harold jumped as something touched his face. " Honey, dinner is ready!" Doris smiled and leaned in for a kiss. He'd not even been aware of falling asleep. It was meatloaf night and was the favorite of Harold. Doris was a grand cook but her meatloaf was untouchable. When Dinner was over. He helped Doris tidy up and they joined the children in the living room. Marcy had been nightmare free since the move and the family was just starting to remember how to relax once more.
They shared popcorn and watched A Christmas Story laughing and the antics displayed on the screen. When the movie was over, the helped the kids with their prayers and to bed. Harold closed their bedroom door behind and waited for Doris to finish in the bathroom for his turn. After sharing a kiss he turned out the light and quickly feel asleep.
"Harold, wake up." Doris said as she gently shook his shoulder. " Wha.....what is it?" He ask rubbing his eyes. "listen.....just listen." She said while raising up in bed. At first he heard nothing. Then he heard what sounded like claws near the attic. Harold grabbed a 9 iron from the closet and told Doris to go to the Kid's bedroom and lock the door. "Open it for no one but me, you understand?" He told her as he shut them in and stood outside the door until he heard the click of the lock.
The clawing sound was filling the house by this time and he thought he heard something in the wall. Harold as uneasy as any man would be. He was sure that a stint in the Army had him more than ready for one, but the sound said there was many. Harold lost his breath as he noticed the clock in the hall said 4:30. His knuckles turned white around the golf club as he promised himself that the only way "Bighead" was leaving this time was in a body bag.
As he got to the bottom of the stairs , he heard something fall in the kitchen. Using all the stealth he had, he walked through the room checking doors and windows to make sure they were locked, and the were. Just then the lights on the Christmas tree came on in the living room. Harold remembered unplugging them before retiring for the evening. He peeked around the corner and saw noting but the flash of the tree lights. The noise was still coming from everywhere as he slid into the room towards the tree. He had remembered to keep one eye closed so as not to loose all his nigh vision.
He made it to the tree and when he bent over to remove the cord from the outlet, he noticed it wasn't even plugged into the outlet! They're blinking all by themselves! I've got to get upstairs and get them to safety! Harold thought just as he heard something large behind him. "So the stand is made here." He thought as he tried to raise the club over his head. He was standing too close the tree so the upward movement got caught in the branches sending the tree on it's side. Just then he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Now be a good boy, and go back to bed so I can do my job." A voice and a giggle said behind him. Harold turned to look see the jolly fat man standing there grinning with a cookie in the other hand. Harold stood there speechless for what seemed like forever just looking at the rose colored cheeks. " A bit sorry for the noise of the landing but the roof is slick at the moment." He said with a chuckle. "Now off you go! I've a busy night in from of me." He said pushing Harold toward the stairs. "By the way, you've no worries of Bighead anymore since he made the bad list." The man said as he took a drink of milk. Harold felt a tear run down his face and noticed he was starting to chuckle himself.
Harold got to the kids room and found the door open and the room empty. Just for a moment panic struck him as he hurried to the master suite. There he found Doris, Billy and Marcy all asleep and holding a candy cane. He eased in beside them to awake the next day holding a candy cane and the sound of laughter and paper tearing downstairs. Not only was he thankful but he found he had a renewed hope that goodness was still alive and well.
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