Monster Blood IV

18

Evan could see Aunt Dee in the kitchen, moving to the back door. “Quick — don’t let her see! Hide the trash bags!” he cried.

“But where?” Kermit demanded.

“Just hide them!” Evan ordered.

Kermit and Andy grabbed up their bulging trash bags. Kermit led the way around the side of the house. “We’ll drag them to the basement,” he said. “I’ll lock them in a storage closet or something. We can figure out what to do with them in the morning.”

The back door swung open, and Aunt Dee stepped out onto the back stoop. She tightened her bathrobe belt and squinted around the yard.

“My garden!” she shrieked in horror, raising her hands to her face.

And then her eyes stopped on Evan.

“Huh?” she gasped. “Evan — what on earth are you doing out at this time of night?”

“Well…”

Evan’s mind raced. He knew there was no way he could come up with a good explanation.

“My flowers—!” Aunt Dee cried.

“I… uh… I heard someone out here,” Evan started. “But…”

I’m a terrible liar, he told himself. I’d better not even try to make up a story.

“Get in the house — this instant!” his aunt growled. “I’m going to have a long talk with your parents when they get back. I’m very disappointed in you, Evan. Very disappointed.”

“Sorry,” Evan gulped. He obediently slunk into the house.

Aunt Dee was talking angrily, scolding him, asking him what he was doing outside.

But he didn’t hear her. He was thinking about the two bulging, throbbing bags of blue Monster Blood creatures in the basement.

We’ll get rid of them in the morning, he told himself. Then everything will be okay. Right?

Right?

Right. He answered his own question.

Aunt Dee scolded Evan for a few minutes more. Kermit was already tucked into bed when Evan finally entered the darkened bedroom.

Evan stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. “Did you lock up the bags somewhere?” he whispered.

“No problem,” Kermit replied sleepily. He yawned. “All safe and sound.”

Evan got undressed quickly, letting his clothes fall to the floor. He began to feel sleepy too. The battle against the blue blobs had worn him out.

He sighed.

Tomorrow will be better, he thought. I’ll be able to think more clearly in the morning. I’ll figure out a way to get rid of all the Monster Blood creatures.

He pulled the covers down a few inches and slid into the foldout bed. He settled in. Rested his head on the pillow.

Then he felt the cold, wet creature on his back.

And he started to scream.