Dawdling Ducks

The Hook

Reaching the crest of a small rolling hill Alban could see that a half a mile up on the right was the creepy old sanitarium. The old sanitarium was out in the middle of nowhere. Making the place even scarier was that obvious fact that there wasn't a single streetlight for miles around. The old dark sanitarium was frightening in the day light. In the dark it was really beyond frightening it was intimidating. Kids at school had always talked about going and spending the night in that old fallen down building. Alban knew for a fact that nobody ever had the nerve to spend the night there or even were brave enough to walk through the sanitarium at night because it was just a very scary place. The overgrown cemetery next to the sanitarium was even more menacing than the sanitarium. Alban liked to drive by the place late at night because it really did scare him just to look at the place. He even had driven by a broad daylight and even then, it was a still a scary looking place.

Slowing down, Alban pointed toward the darkened dilapidated building and in a low put on creepy voice said, "There it is. Try to look inside the windows. Some people have said, "That sometimes they have looked in the windows to see spirits of the mental patients wandering around in their white gowns." All six members of the car look intently at the windows. Dee laughed and said, "Alban I can't believe it I actually looked inside."

Past the sanitarium the group could see the dark overgrown, vine infested cemetery. Staring intently, they could see several white tombstones haphazardly sticking out on the undergrowth. Sharon said, "Let's get out of here. This place is spooky. It creeps me out. Jodi chimed in, "Me too. We could go now." Knowing that he hade set the mood Alban gradually brought the 69 up to speed.

Dee from the backseat said, "Alban, why don't you tell everybody what happened that night when Vinnie brought that girl Diane up there to make out that time."

Alban replied, "Oh yeah, I remember that, but I don't think anyone wants to hear that." Sharon said, "Come on Alban, tell us. We want to hear what happened." Everybody else in the car chanted, "Tell us, tell us, tell us."

Alban started, "I don't know, I guess they went there, what was it Dee, about a year ago?" Dee replied, "Yeah, it was something like that." “Anyway,” Alban continued, " My friend Vinnie had a few dates with a girl that want to Dunlap high named Diane. After he took her to eat at the Lariat and saw movie at the Palace Theatre, they started getting chummy. Vinnie decided to find a nice quiet place, you know, to sit, and talk.” Dee said, “I bet that’s all he wanted to do.” Alban continued, “Vinnie got the wild idea to drive out to the old sanitarium. He knew no one would bother them there. Well, after they talked a little bit one thing led to another and they started making out. Dee said, “That Vinnie’s a dog.” “Vinnie turn on the radio to WIRL for a little mood music. The mood music did the trick. Vinnie and Diane started going at it, all hot and heavy like. Just about when Vinnie was about to get to second base, the music suddenly stopped. An announcer's voice came over the radio.”

Alban scanned the car to see if he had everyone’s attention. To his pleasure, everyone’s eyes were glue on him. Alban continued, “The announcer's voice issued a bulletin that said that a convicted crazed murderer had just escaped from the Joliet State Penitentiary. The announcer went on to say that, the murderer was from the Peoria area and that he may be on his way back there. Everyone in the Peoria area should be on the lookout for this man but not try to apprehend him themselves since he was very violent and maybe carrying a weapon. The radio announcement ended with saying; anyone who noticed a strange man that lurk about with a hook in the place of his right hand should immediately report his whereabouts to the police.

Well of course, this totally freaked Diane out. She started too pleaded with Vinnie to take her home. Now, Vinnie's a hard case. He wasn’t going to let an escaped crazed murderer get his way of having a good time. So, he made sure all the doors were locked and told Diane and everything will be all right. He whispered in her ear that they were perfectly safe. Vinnie then started to put on his best move. He leaned in and tried to give Diane another kiss.

Instead of returning the kiss, Diane turned away and looked out the window. Diane then whipped around towards Vinnie. She almost jumped into his lap. She just started screaming and yelling take me home, take me home, take me home! Vinnie said, “What the hell?” Fed up Vinnie started the car up. He tore out of the place slinging dirt, dust, and gravel everywhere.

Vinnie drove about a hundred miles an hour all the way home. The whole way he kept looking at Diane but she said nothing. She just stared at the front window the whole way.

Finally, they arrived at Diane’s house. Vinnie still about half mad didn't even get out of the car to walk around to open the door for her. Without saying goodbye, Diane opened the car door, stepped out of the car and while she reach to close the door, she began to scream uncontrollably and pointing. Vinnie was like, what now! Her nonstop screaming started to scare him. To see what Diane was pointing at Vinnie jumped out of the car run around to the other side to see what was wrong. Do you know what was there?” “No” Jodi said. Alban paused a moment before he said, "Dangling for the car door, was a bloody hook.”

Knowing that everyone was thoroughly frightened, Alban slammed on the brakes and screamed, "What's that?” Pandemonium strikes the occupants of the car. Jodi, Sharon and Julie let out piercing screams.

Alban, Von and Dee leaned back and let out giant belly laughs. After gaining their composure Jodi, Sharon and Julie started punching on Alban’s arm. Alban yelled, "Quit it, stop that, you’ll make me have an accident."

Jodi said, "Alban, why did you do that? You scared me half to death. You could've made me pee my pants.

Julie said, "You better take us back to Pizza Hut. I'm going to have to go home. My parents want me to be home early tonight because we're driving to Galesburg tomorrow morning to visit my grandparents." Dee piped in, "Yes, home James."