The Clown (NETFLIX SHORT STORY CONTEST)

1)Stranger Danger

"The Bird and the Worm? by The Used
***

1975

Alan O'Hare was no more than twelve. But still the boy knew it was not safe to walk the streets alone in the small town of Gearing, Indiana. Unfortunately for Alan and his ten-year-old sister Kimmy, they didn't have a choice in walking home alone. Their elder brother had not picked them up from school as he was supposed to that afternoon. In the event that this were to happen, Alan was instructed to walk home with Kimmy the seven-block distance to their family's house on their small cul-de-sac. Young Alan was timid to do so. His fear was not only from his parents warning that unscrupulous homeless individuals prowled the streets of the historic downtown. In the last six months, three children had mysteriously vanished in the state while waiting for their after-school bus. Two girls and a boy from neighboring cities. All three children didn't know each other and ranged in different ages. Milk cartons with the children's faces merely revealed their individual faces along with a large caption of HAVE YOU SEEN ME? There was a rumor swirling around the school grounds that one of the missing children had attended Harvey Elementary. No one knew anything for certain because the disappearance of the girl had been considered as a possible runaway. Small town rumor had a way of spreading similar to wildfire. The gossip was that the girl's foster parents were abusing her. Alan didn't know if this was true information given the missing girl would have been three grades below him. Still, not knowing if a rumor was true provided no comfort to the daunting thought of walking home alone.

"John's a jerk," said Alan as he motioned for his younger sister to follow him. It was cold outside, the wind was howling and whipping their faces with each step they took. At least a foot of not-yet-shoveled snow was in the way as the O'Hare siblings walked. Given Kimmy had an art project due at the end of class, this made it so the siblings left school a half hour later than they were supposed to. It was dark at four thirty, the sun barely visible as twilight exited the horizon. Their walk home would be dark as well as cold.

"Maybe John had stuff to do," said Kimmy, attempting to skip through the enormous piles of snow in front of her. She giggled as she went.

"Probably not," replied Alan as he wrapped his scarf around his mouth. Their brother John was selfish on a good day. Ever since he hit his teenage years and got himself a girlfriend, John didn't care for much unless it revolved around him or the girlfriend. He probably intentionally forgot to pick up his siblings simply because he didn't want to have to be out in this cold weather. Alan ignored Kimmy as they continued to walk. He slapped her hand away as she attempted to grasp his. Her singing was getting on his nerves and was bound to grasp the attention of any kids they possibly passed on their way home. It wasn't cool to be seen holding hands with your little sister this day in age. Seven-year-old Kimmy didn't seem to understand this concept. Alan felt she was too immature for her age. Kimmy always wanted to hold his hand as she walked or even hold on to their mother's shopping cart at the market. She sang annoying songs or skipped as she walked, naively believing herself not being embarrassing. Kimmy had no concept of understanding Alan would be bullied if anyone caught a twelve-year-old guy holding hands like a baby. It wasn't until Alan had rounded the last block to his house that he paused his steps.

He no longer heard his sister singing.

Looking around in bewilderment, Alan found Kimberly was nowhere to be seen. His heart raced as he realized his younger sister must have stopped following him down the last block they walked. Realizing the girl was probably admiring the large snowman they had seen a block earlier, Alan hurried around the corner to retrace his steps.

He found Kimmy as soon as he rounded the corner. He breathed a sigh of relief. She, however, was not alone at the far end of the block. As Alan slowly approached he saw a tall, bulky man standing in front of Kimmy. Thinking it was merely a teacher stopping her to talk and nothing more, Alan turned around and was about to head on home. They were close enough to their house that Kimmy could catch up. She was immature but she wasn't an idiot.

Alan stopped walking. A protective instinct took root in him. He couldn't allow Kimmy to be by herself. That was something John would allow, but not him. Alan turned around to return towards the direction of his sister. What propelled him to instead turn back around and head towards Kimmy and her teacher was the memory of the missing girls as of late.

It was the memory of building a paper airplane and listening to the radio his mother turned on the week before. Shirley O'Hare had shook her head sadly and commented how sad it was that anyone allowed their little girls to walk home alone. What kind of person would Alan be if he allowed his little sister to walk home alone after hearing that...? That thought alone caused Alan to groan before heading quicker towards his sister.

When Alan was only ten feet away from the man and Kimmy, he frowned. The man with her was in a costume. He was wearing pearly white makeup on his face. A colorful rainbow wig was stop of his head, the majority of it was stuffed snug under a winter beanie. A small tuft of colored hair stuck out the back, indicting his hair was a wig. No one had hair that bright and colorful. The man's face was painted like a clown. A cheerful false smile was painted across his lips. His eyes were enhanced with heavy colors. The man was talking to Kimmy and did not see Alan as his attention was solely on her alone.
"Big girls have to start going to doctors for big girls," said the clown thoughtfully. His voice was deep; masculine, and full of authority that teachers and principals held. Only, Alan no longer felt this was a teacher.

"What kind of doctor?" asked Kimmy as she shuffled forward to walk away. The clown stepped in front of her once more, blocking her path.
"You know, doctors that take care of your private parts," said the clown with an eerie smile.

Kimmy did not move as the clown gently rubbed her shoulder, but that was enough for Alan. The boy came forward and grabbed a hold of his sister's hand. He dragged Kimmy with him and did not look back at the clown. "We were only talking!" the clown said with a laugh. "But it's all right. I'll see you soon, Kimberly."
"Didn't mom tell you not to talk to strangers??" hissed Alan as he dragged Kimmy around the block.
"I didn't go up to him. He came across the street and stopped me walking," mumbled Kimmy.
"Still! Did you not listen to what mom said? Only an idiot would talk to a clown!" scolded Alan as he and Kimmy made their way up the front of their house. Once the two were inside, Kimmy started removing her snow boots and parka while Alan locked the door.

"I forgot that you're afraid of clowns."

"I'm not," lied Alan, trying not to blush at the memory from a few years back. He had started screaming at the circus when a clown tried hugging him. It was traumatizing enough that he still held the fear of them to this day."That's not the point. You shouldn't talk to strangers and you definitely shouldn't tell them your name."

Kimberly looked at Alan worriedly as she shook her head adamantly. "I never told him my name, Al, honest."

That was puzzling. If she hadn't told him her name, how on earth did the man know it?