SUSANNAH STEWART | PUMPKIN JACK, BLOODY BONES, AND THE BAD CHILDREN, PART SIX

Pumpkin Jack Sets a Trap

He entices the children into the attic

Synopsis of Parts One, Two, Three, Four, and Five

Pumpkin Jack has a plan to save himself and a reluctant Bloody Bones from life as Halloween decorations and to become fierce monsters once more. The other Halloween decorations, Agatha and Phineas Greystone, Ambrose and Oscar Swopes, Jacky O, and Dracula lecture, mock, and plead with Pumpkin Jack to accept his fate.

Enraged, he threatens everyone and plans to use the children who visit the cottage in his scheme to get his power back. He knows he can feed on the cruelty in Muffy and Buffy Haynes and Vance Parker and the fear he can create in Melanie and Charlie Harrison. He unwisely ignores the threat posed by Susannah Stewart.

There weren’t always happy endings and children would do well to know that vile things could happen to them, that witches and wolves were desperate to steal them should they be disobedient or foolish or simply unlucky…. Thomm Quackenbush

Muffy had felt an overwhelming urge to go to the attic from the moment that she came through the door. But she still wanted to concoct a cover excuse, so she followed the others into the kitchen. The children were finishing their cookies when Muffy asked Penelope,

“Is it all right if we explore your house a little? I think an old-fashioned cottage is so interesting. Is there an attic? I’ve heard this is one of the oldest homes in Haven, and I’m so interested in history. And I’ve never seen an old attic.”

Penelope hesitated and then said, “Yes, the entrance is on the second floor, the door on the left. Be careful and don’t go too far into the attic. Some Halloween decorations in the back can be spooky.”

“Oh, we won’t. We’ll just peek inside,” Muffy assured her.

The children left the room, and she could hear their footsteps as they made their way up the stairs.

Penelope frowned slightly and said to herself, “She is a honey mouthed manipulator, isn’t she? I’m sure few say no to her.” Looking down at the small dog peering intently up at her, she asked.

“Sherlock, what would Susannah Stewart say about this situation?”

She watched him as he lifted his ears and widened his eyes. Then she laughed and said, “That sounds exactly like what she would say.”

“Muffy, Buffy, and Vance deserve what’s coming. Melanie is silly with a misplaced sense of values. And she, Susannah, will rain down doom and destruction on anyone and anything that harms Charlie.”

“Well, Sherlock, what do you think? Is it up to us to handle this?”

He gave her a concerned look and barked once, sharply.

“Yes, I know. I think so too.”

She sat pondering for a minute and then told the small dog, “All right. Go on. Keep an eye on them and make sure none of them come to any harm. A good scare to tone down the three who richly deserve it, but nothing worse. They are only children, even if they are selfish and unkind.”

To Be Continued Daily Through Halloween

Part one

Part two

Part three

Part four

Part five