A Small Scare On A Night In

It was a normal one of my Friday nights at home babysitting my little brother instead of going to a friend's house. Yeah it sucks being 13 years old and having to stay home to babysit my brother but it means I can go to the school dance in 2 weeks so it's kind of worth it. Plus they are usually back around midnight and we have our dog, Buddy, here with us. He wouldn't let anything happen to us.

Luckily Mom and Dad wait until it's almost his bedtime to leave. Which means I only have to put him to bed instead of arguing with him about what he can have for a snack or to take a bath.

He actually likes when I babysit, as it means he gets to stay up almost an hour later than normal from when Mom and Dad are home. So I guess that means it's a bit of a win win situation as he doesn't fight about going to bed and I can start reading my new book!

It's a ghost story. I was surprised Mom even let me get it from the book fair. So when she said yes I wasn't going to argue or ask if she was sure. I think she knows that Grandma has been letting me start to read some of her books, which means she is hoping this keeps me away from Grandma's books for a little while. Grandma has a bigger variety of books that Mom says I am too young to read, although I'm not sure why. All Grandma has let me read so far was is a few mystery novels.

Either way I'm excited for this ghost story. The book summary on the back "Wait Till Helen Comes" by Mary Downing Hahn sounded so cool when I read it yesterday at the book fair trying to decide on which book to ask Mom to let me get today.

Now that my brother is in bed, and actually asleep, I just have to make sure all the lights are off and the front door is locked. Mom usually locks it after taking Buddy outside before leaving but I always like to double check. Buddy always walks through our apartment with me as I check everything. I even check to make sure the windows are locked after our cousin fell out the window from the apartment upstairs almost a year ago. I don't want that to happen to my brother.

Finally everything is checked! Normally Buddy isn't aloud on the furniture or our beds but when Mom and Dad are not home I let him up on my bed. Mom knows about it and doesn't mind so long as it is not all the time. However Dad would be really mad. Tonight he laid across the bottom of my bed while I started reading.

About 45 minutes or so later my book was getting really good. I had actually forgotten Buddy was even on my bed until he decided to get down to lay on the floor. He made me remember how dark the rest of the house was as I couldn't see much past what my bedroom light lit up past my door.

Another hour and a half went by while I was reading. I was getting to a spooky part where the kids were coming home in just after dark when they heard someone inside but thought that it was burglars when it was really the ghost in the story destroying stuff in the house. Then Buddy randomly let out a growl before he jumped up and ran out of my room. All of a sudden having all the lights off except in my bedroom became real creepy.

It was one of those moments when having an all black dog run out into the dark house made you real nervous. I hadn't heard my Dad's truck pull back in the driveway or heard any vehicle doors shut. Normally I do. So either I was more into my book than I thought or there was someone trying to get into the house that shouldn't be.

I grabbed my phone before I snuck into the kitchen to turn the light on. I crouched behind the dining table and had my phone out to dial 911 if some stranger came in. Although I wasn't sure if it was a stranger trying to get in because Buddy wasn't growling or barking at the door. He was just sitting there. About a minute later the door opens for me to see my Mom and Dad walk through.

Mom was a little startled to see me when I stood up. She thought I would've been sleeping already or watching a movie in my room. I explained to her that I as reading my book when Buddy jumped up and ran out scaring me. She just started laughing thinking that it was funny how Buddy got me so worried.

Needless to say I learned my lesson about reading ghost stories before bed!