What Happened to Lydia Deetz?

The Summer of 1989

*Author's Note - This story does not spoil anything from the new Beetlejuice movie; with the only exception being the references characters make to what happened during the 36 year gap between the two movies. So if you've already seen the new movie, enjoy this fun prequel tale. For those that haven't seen the new movie... enjoy this fun sequel to the classic movie that will prepare you for the status quo of the new film.

Winter River, Connecticut - June 1989

The bell sounded loudly at Miss Shannon's School for Girls. School was out for the summer and no was more excited than Lydia Deetz to get out of the school building. Without wasting any time, Lydia unchained her bike from where she had it locked, and then instantly began to ride it home. As Lydia rode her bike home, she softly sung to herself: "Day-o. Me say day, me say day-o. Daylight come and me want go home." Lydia rode her bike through the covered bridge in town, and then began to pedal harder as she rode her bike on the uphill road towards her home. However as she was riding her bike, she suddenly saw a truck turn a corner and quickly come her way. A wide eyed and frightened Lydia swerved off the road, and suddenly found her bike heading down into the yard of a local farm. Lydia screamed as she and her bike crashed through an old fence, and Lydia instantly found herself falling to the ground, with her head hitting the grass.

From the nearby house, a Latino teenage boy rushed over to Lydia as he said, "Are you okay!? That looked like a nasty tumble." As Lydia slowly got up, she said, "Oh, that was nothing. I've dealt with worse. It's not like that truck was scarier than Beetleju.. errh... a swarm of beetles." The teenage boy looked slightly relieved as he said, "Well, I learned from lifeguard training to never treat a fall to the head lightly. You could have a concussion. Come on. My grandparents have plenty of ice in their home. You can sit outside on the porch as I get it." As Lydia stood up, and slowly followed the teenage boy to the nearby house, she curiously said, "So... what's a young lifeguard like you doing so far away from any decent beach?" The teenage boy smirked as he said, "Everyone had to know basic life guard training during my missions trip to this summer camp I was working at in Guatemala last summer. This summer though I'm helping my grandparents on their farm here as they're preparing to sell it. I'm Richard by the way." Lydia smirked as she held out her hand and said, "Lydia." Lydia and Richard briefly shook hands.

Richard and Lydia soon reached the porch of the nearby house. However Lydia suddenly began to feel a little dizzy as she said, "Whoa..." A concerned Richard then held Lydia's hand to keep her from falling as he said, "Okay. I know we just met, but I think you should come in where it's a bit cooler." Lydia then followed Richard into the house, where an elderly man and woman were cooking. Richard waved his hand as he said, "Grandpa, grandma. This is Lydia. She fell down on her bike outside, so I'm just gonna let her get some ice and sit down for a bit for while she catches her breath." Richard's grandmother smiled as she said, "Ah, yes. I recognize you. You're the Deetz girl. Oh, so many people in town say you're a very creepy girl." Lydia looked surprised as she said, "They do?" Richard's grandmother smiled as she said, "Oh, yes. But now that I'm up close to you for the first time... I can definitely say you indeed quite the creepy girl." Richard looked a bit angry and embarrassed as he said, "Okay. That's enough grandma."

As Richard let Lydia into another room, he said, "Sorry. My grandmother has no filter on her brain." Lydia however looked pleased as she said, "I actually appreciate the brutal honesty. Most people waste their whole lives building a facade behind pleasantries. However the only hope humanity has in improving is if we all show our true selves and true feelings upon the world in which we see. For hiding the truth behind the lies of pleasantries, only means we are building up a world built on facades." As Lydia sat down, Richard prepared a bag of ice as he said, "Hmm. You know, I've never met a girl who talks like you Lydia... but I like it."