| Next she could see through the rain-dripping windshield and the occasional wiper reaching across the glass to clear away the raindrops that the school bus was approaching. She saw the headlights warp due to the water and then the red overhead stop lights come on. There were no other cars in sight either direction but the bus went through the process anyway. First the overhead red lights started flashing and then you could hear the sound of breaks squealing to a stop when at the exact same time a stop sign comes flipping out from the side of the bus. Dolly said goodbye to her father and climbed on the bus. She found a seat and looked out into the forest beyond the gravel road. That was the first time she became aware the creature existed. That it was not far from her home. Many times after being dropped off by the bus after school she felt there was something or someone watching her as she walked from the low-water bridge to her house. next page |  |