The Man of Many Hats

Chapter 3

I showed up at the counselor's office.

"Hello Richard, how are you?"

"Good?"

"I'm sorry about our connection yesterday. I was unstable."

"No problem?"

I was feeling awkward. I wanted to leave right at that moment.

"I know the cure to your ideas of that man in the suits!"

I didn't reply to that idiotic remark.

"Okay?"

The feeling was not mutual.

"That man is just a figment of your imagination."

I gave him a bad look.

"Okay."

"He is an obvious figment of your imagination."

I wanted to leave this idiot.

"Can I go now?"

The man looked at me as l if I were crazy. He laughed.

"Sure. Come back tomorrow."

I walked out the door and darted to my car. I didn't want him to change his mind.

I went back home. I was angry with my mom for making me go to that moron. He thinks I'm a psycho. I wish he was in my shoes.

When I entered the house I saw my sister drive up with her boyfriend. That guy is the biggest idiot on the planet. I got myself a glass of sweet tea. They walked in the door.

She was still wearing her cheerleading outfit. Her boyfriend was wearing a varsity jacket.

"Have you been screaming in parks lately?"

He snorted. I looked at him and said while smiling,

"Idiot."

I ran upstairs.

I looked at the hats. They were terrible. Bad thoughts immediately occurred to my mind. That demon put them in my mind.

I went downstairs just in time to see my sister going to her room with her boyfriend.

I went to refill my drink. I went back upstairs to my room watching tv. I turned on the news to see the comic book store. The headline read

Man Found Dead in Comic Book Store. I knew it was coming. I changed the channel and started watching some cartoons. The power went out. A few minutes later it came back on. I heard my sister scream. I ran to her room. I saw pieces of her boyfriend stuffed in her drawers.

Blood pooled the drawers and ran down the creases. I looked at the bottom drawer where the head was and the note said 4 of 15. With a flat billed ball cap next to it. I picked up the cap and threw it in my room and went downstairs to call 9-1-1

I noticed my mom driving up the driveway.

"911 what's your emergency?"

I explained. My mom came inside.

"What's going on, Richie?"

I was sweating. I said panting,

"Go.Up.Stairs."

She ran upstairs. I heard her scream.

"What happened!"

She was screaming at my sister when the emergency vehicles pulled up. Then came the police.

"Do you know who killed him?"

They asked my sister. I walked in to help. I said,

"Some man has been watching our house. When I drove up I saw he had a ladder and an axe."

I was a pretty good liar.

"Do you remember what the man looks like."

I described the man of many hats.