on in five minutes, and it’s really creepy. Perfect for
Halloween.”
Judith vacillated. “I’ll watch the first part while I
finish my dinner. But then I have some work to do.”
Joe volunteered to turn on the set. Ellie assumed her
usual perch on the window seat, even though it meant
she had to lean a little to see the screen. Chips
sprawled on the sofa across from Judith, and Ben settled into one of the big armchairs.
With the screen coming to life, Joe had just put
down the remote when there was a knock at the back
door. He went out through the French doors and appeared a few seconds later with Renie.
“I’m bored,” Renie announced as the movie’s opening credits appeared on the screen. “Bill’s exhausted
from meeting the future in-laws, so he’s going to bed
even earlier than usual. I don’t feel like reading, and
there’s nothing on TV,” she continued, stopping in the
middle of the room and blocking the screen. “Once the
baseball season is over, there’s not much I want to see
on television.”
“Keep it down,” Ben called out.
“Did you pay for your seat?” Renie sneered.
“Get out of the way,” Ellie demanded. “You’re
blocking the screen.”
“Read a book,” Renie shot back as she refused to
budge. “Improve your mind.”
“Coz?” Judith forced a tense smile. “Our guests are
actually watching a movie. Or trying to. Would you
mind sitting down?” She patted the empty sofa cushion
next to her.
“They are?” Renie shrugged. “What movie? There
are some of them that I actually like.”
“It’s really, really scary. We should turn out all the
lights.”
“Atmosphere!” Chips exclaimed, jumping up and
hurrying around the room to turn off the four lamps
that were burning. “How’s that? Fog outside, witches
flying on broomsticks, the whole Halloween scene.
Could it be more frightening?”
“I hate frightening movies,” Renie declared. “They
scare me.”
“They’re supposed to,” Chips replied, resuming his
place on the sofa. “It’s more thrill than scare when the
picture’s directed properly.”
Judith nudged Renie. “Chips directed this one,” she
whispered to her cousin.
“Jeez,” Renie sighed. “I guess I’ll shut up now.”
Joe edged past Renie to collect Judith’s tray.
