#7 The Demon Babysitter (5 page)

At first all the kids on the road were delighted.

They chanted, “The wicked witch is dead,” and they threw a doll that looked like Dervla in the river.

But when Dervla didn't turn up, everyone started to feel sorry for her.

They started to look for her.

They stuck up posters.

People complained that I had been too mean to her.

Everyone forgot how nasty she had always been to us.

They said she was just trying to look out for us.

I got sick and tired of everyone feeling sorry for her, so I told the other kids what really happened.

Now I'm more popular than ever.

Some kids even call me the demon hunter.

The little kids follow me everywhere, begging me to tell them about the demon babysitter.

So I do.

(I mean, who doesn't enjoy a little attention?)

I explain the best way to spot a demon and what to feed them. (Charred spiders, in case you're wondering.)

They think I'm an expert on the subject.

To be fair, I
am
a bit of an expert on the subject.

Who else do
you
know who's faced a demon and lived to tell the story?

That's what I thought.

And it's not just devils that I know about.

I could tell you about witches and ogres and goblins and gremlins.

If you keep your eyes and ears open, it's amazing what you can spot.

Or maybe I just have the knack for it.

For instance, I'm pretty certain that my new babysitter's a vampire.

All the kids on the road like her.

They say she's much nicer than Dervla because she lets them stay up late and watch cartoons, but I saw through that straight away.

I KNOW the signs.

Doesn't eat garlic.

Pale skin.

Pointy teeth.

Sure, she goes out during the day, but everyone knows real vampires can go out any time they like. That's what makes them so dangerous.

So I guess Dervla will be getting some company soon.

I mean,
someone
has to do
something.

And I'm more than happy to help.

Now,
that
is my kind of story ...

You know that thing they say about pins dropping? How you can hear them? It was a bit like that when Becky stopped speaking.

We all stared at her. She stared back, and then she said,
“What?”
and we all just went on listening for that pin.

Oh, my!