6

Mom is like me, calm in any emergency.

We followed Dad as he went running up to the ticket booth at the entrance. A green monster stood in the booth. He had bulging yellow eyes, and dark horns curled over his head. It was a really great costume.

"Welcome to HorrorLand," he said in a gruff, low voice. A loud stab of organ music rose up from inside the ticket booth. "I am a HorrorLand Horror. All of the Horrors and I hope you have a scary day."

"My car!" Dad cried frantically. "There was an explosion. I need a phone!"

"I'm sorry, sir. No phones," the guy in the monster costume replied.

"Huh?" Dad's face was bright red again. His forehead was drenched with sweat. "But I need a phone! Right away!" Dad insisted, glaring angrily at the green monster. "My car exploded! We're stuck here!"

"We'll take care of you," the Horror replied, lowering his gruff voice nearly to a whisper.

"You'll what?" Dad cried. "We need a car. I need to get to a phone! Don't you understand?"

"No phones," the monster repeated. "But, please, sir. Allow us to take care of you. I promise we will take care of everything. Don't let this spoil your visit to HorrorLand."

"Spoil my visit?!" Dad shrieked, his face growing even redder. "But my car — !"

Another loud stab of organ music made me jump. The creepy music made me feel as if I were actually in a horror movie!

"We will take care of you. I promise," the Horror said. A strange smile crossed his face. His yellow eyes lit up. "Please enjoy your stay, and do not worry about transportation. The other Horrors and I will see that you are properly taken care of."

"But — but — " Dad sputtered.

The Horror gestured toward the park. "Please enter as our guests. Free admission. I apologize for your car. But, please, do not worry. I promise you will have no need to worry about your car."

Dad turned back to us, sweat dripping down his forehead. I could see that he was really upset. "I — I can't enjoy an amusement park now," he said. "I can't believe this happened. I really can't. We've got to get a car somehow, and — "

"Oh, please, Dad!" Luke cried. "Please! Can't we go inside? He said he'll take care of it for us."

"Just for a little while?" I joined my brother in pleading.

"We've had such a long drive," Mom told Dad. "Let's go in for a short while. Let them blow off some steam."

Dad thought about it, frowning hard. "Okay. Just for a little while," he agreed finally.

The organ music grew louder as we stepped through the gate. "Wow! Look at this place!" I cried. "It really is like being in a horror movie."

We were standing on a brown, cobbled street. Strange, dark cottages tilted up on both sides of the street. Tall trees along the street nearly blocked out all the sunlight. The air carried a chill.

Low howls, like wolf howls, floated out from the cottages.

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