Demon in High Socks
Part 2
photo attribution
Revelling in her victory Mrs. Sullivan wasn’t done. Not only must an apology be offered but penance performed. “You’ll show Thad you can play like a civilized child, not just a demon in high socks. You’ll let him ride your new bike?”
from part one of Demon in High Socks
Maggie looked at Thad and then her mother. She opened her mouth to protest but then thought better when she looked at Mrs. Sullivan’s stern-set eyes. Thad didn’t have a bike. He jumped at the chance.
“Oh, yes! Can I mother?”
“That would be nice,” Mrs. Demeere agreed.
Maggie narrowed her eyes. She didn’t want to let anyone ride her bike, never-mind this cry-baby neighbour boy. But she knew her mother wouldn’t accept any further complaints. More to the point, she simply couldn’t bare another public spanking.
“Come along, then,” Maggie said to Thad, mimicking the exasperated tone her mother often took with her.
“I mean it, Maggie,” Mrs. Sullivan warned. “Play nice.”
Maggie led Thad to the backyard.
“Wait here,” she told him.
She disappeared into a shed and moments later emerged with a brand-new, shiny red bike. She saw the joyful anticipation on his face. How pathetic, she thought. Well, I’m going to make the little suck work for it.
“I was thinking. I’m not sure you can handle my bike. It’s pretty big and you’re small, except for your head, which is why I hit you with the apple. It’s wasn’t my fault. I meant to miss. Truth … but after I threw the apple your head seemed to grow even bigger. It was like it wanted to get hit.” Maggie smiled at the effect her words were having. “Your big head might make you fall off my bike.”
Thad winced. His dad was always teasing him about his head. He wanted to defend himself but had no idea how. The only thing he could think was to make up. If he could make Maggie like him maybe she’d stop.
“I’m sorry I told on you. I didn’t know your mother would spank you. My mom never spanks me.”
“What makes you think she spanked me?” Maggie countered.
“We heard.”
Maggie puffed out her chest.
“I don’t know what you heard but my mother wouldn’t spank me. I’d tell my dad. Then she’d be sorry. Yessiree.”
The truth, her dad was rarely home and when he was he had little time for his daughter who he still wished was a boy. Thad opened his mouth to argue but changed his mind. Instead he showed wisdom way beyond his meagre years. If Maggie wanted to pretend she hadn’t been spanked what did he care? He shrugged.
Maggie knew she’d been spanked; she knew Thad knew she’d been spanked; so why was he playing along? He’s afraid. He’s smarter than I thought. Maggie warmed a little. But still she didn’t want him riding her bike and still she wanted revenge. It just wouldn’t do to let him win; it just wouldn’t do.
“If you fall on the sidewalk,” she said. “You could wreck my bike. We should go to Willard’s field so if you fall, my bike will be safe and you won’t crack your big head open.”
For the first time she smiled and agreeably, Thad nodded.
“I’ll ride there and you can run behind.”
Maggie climbed onto the seat and then she was off at break-neck speed. Thad had to work to keep up. Maggie got a kick out of going slower and then faster, letting him catch up and then racing ahead. She took the longest route her evil-maniacal brain could think of but eventually they arrived at Willard’s Field. Racing like a red demon, she biked onto the field of knee-high grass. Thad continued to pursue. They were fast approaching Cooper Creek which ran alongside the field. Maggie couldn’t resist the chance to show off. She placed one foot on the ground and skidded to a stop alongside the creek. If things had gone as planned Thad would have indeed been impressed. All was foiled by one unassuming bush root. Maggie stumbled and plummeted forward. She fell face-forward but her bike slid backward and down the embankment of the creek. A splash sounded as her plump face hit the dirt.
Thad ran to her. Maggie sat up and pushed him aside.
“Where’s my bike?” she hollered, a mouth full of mud.
Thad couldn’t help himself; he laughed.
“What are you laughing at … you big stupid … oh.” She spit out the mud with her words. “It’s not funny! Find my bike.”
With her hair awry and her face filled with rage, Maggie took on the frightening. Thad sobered. He jumped to his feet and looked over the bank. Maggie appeared at his side. There was her brand-new, no-longer-shiny red bike, barely visible, submerged in six feet of muddy creek water.
continued
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Demon in High Socks was originally published in Monsters. Click on the photo below for more information.