The Haunted Toyshop

Rebecca, 11 Thurston Middle School Laguna Beach

Lightning flashed in Lulu’s heart as she sat alone in the middle of the old haunted toyshop, wishing she had not accepted Catalina’s dare. It was 11:45 p.m. There was no clock except the one in the shop, but she didn’t like looking at it. It was a clown’s head, one of those that grinned at you until you wanted to scream.

Lulu felt like someone was watching her, waiting for something, but she didn’t know what. Cautiously, she looked around the shop, the taste of fear like burning ginger on her tongue. There were dozens of eyes looking back at her. And then, one pair of doll’s eyes caught her attention. Her eyes. Dong. Dong. Dong…. Twelve times it rang. Panic shook Lulu’s brain. She stood up in the dark; felt around for the door.

Something cool brushed her hand, and she jumped back, shrieking. Lightning cracked the room.

The dolls were sitting in a circle around her, smiling. They hadn’t been smiling before. Lulu leapt up in a rush, groping for the doorknob. She pulled and pulled at it until she collapsed. A cloud of dust arose, and when it settled, the dolls were closer. There was one flash of lightning, and then the room went black.

Lulu awoke with a start, sweating and out of breath. Where was she?

The softness of her old familiar blanket told her that everything was OK. It was just a dream.