Kathryn stepped out into the warm afternoon sun. She looked around at the bustling suburban neighborhood and let out a welcome sigh. All up and down the street were people washing cars, weeding flower beds, painting their houses and mowing lawns. What a perfect place to cause a little mischief.
"Hey, you must be our new neighbor!" said a female voice. Kathryn looked over and saw a middle aged woman, decked out in an old t-shirt, jeans and baseball cap. She walked over to Kathryn. "I'm Marion. Marion Anderson."
"It's a pleasure to meet you Marion. I'm Kathryn."
The two of them were distracted by the sound of someone coming out of Marion's house. It was Marion's sixteen year old son, Nate.
"Mom, I'm off to the store. Anything else we need?"
"Not that I can think of. Did you meet our new neighbor, Kathryn?"
“Not yet, hi." Nate waved to Kathryn and then started walking in the opposite direction down the sidewalk.
“That was my son. It’s just me and him and his brother Alex, but we make it work. He’s a good kid, just kind of…” Marion stopped herself. She didn’t want to burden her new neighbor with such things.
“Just kind of what?” asked Kathryn.
“I just get the feeling like he’s bored and maybe a little lonely. If only I could find away to pick things up for him,” replied Marion. “Maybe that’s why he’s into all those old monster movies?”
“Yeah? Hmmm...maybe,” replied Kathryn, thoughts running in her head. “You know, I need to head to the store too, maybe Nate wouldn’t mind if I tag along?”
“I can’t imagine he would.” Marion turned around to the direction Nate was going, less than a block away. “Hey Nate, wait up, Kathryn is going to come with you!”
Nate stopped and turned back, shouting back, “Okay.”
Kathryn jogged ahead to catch up to Nate, who was calmly waiting, leaning up against one of the trees lining the street.
“Thank you so much for letting me tag along,” said Kathryn.
“It’s fine.” Nate resumed walking with Kathryn, side by side down the road. They looked like quite the pair with Kathryn’s flowing white robes and Nate in his jean shorts and simple t-shirt. They walked in silence for a few moments until Nate finally broke the silence. “So, you just moved here?”
“Yep, just got moved in. You’re the first neighbors I’ve met.” replied Kathryn.
“It’s a nice neighborhood. Really quiet though, not much happens around here.” Nate gestured to Kathryn that they should turn left at the upcoming end of the block. She nodded and they turned left and continued walking down the sidewalk.
“So, are you saying the neighborhood could use a little excitement?” asked Kathryn.
“Yeah, maybe. You have any ideas?” asked Nate. They walked a bit further, arriving at the grocery store. They began to walk across the parking lot.
“Maybe,” replied Kathryn, cryptically. “So, your Mom tells me you’re into like horror movies and monsters and stuff...”
“Aw geez, she has a big mouth.” Nate was blushing a little. “Yeah, I am.”
“If you could be any monster, which one would it be?”
Nate let out a snicker and debated whether or not to say. Kathryn stopped and faced the young man, smiling from ear to ear.
“Come on, you can tell me,” she said.
“Fine, I always had a thing for werewolves,” replied Nate. “Like as in I always wanted to be one, to transform into one.”
“Just werewolves?” asked Kathryn.
“Vampires are pretty cool too. Real vampires,” clarified Nate. “Not the sparkly in the sun kind. I prefer the turns into a bat or wolf, Bram Stoker kind.”
“Now then, was that so hard?”
“I suppose not. And what difference would it make because it’s not real anyway,” replied Nate, walking ahead towards the store.
“I wouldn’t be so sure,” whispered Kathryn to herself. She then walked after Nate.
Walking into the grocery store, she wandered about the store as she grabbed whatever looked good. She noticed Nate walking through as well, working from the list his mother gave him. She wondered if she dare do it though. Unleash a monster on an unsuspecting neighborhood. Mortals had long stopped believing in such things. Then a mischievous smile crossed her face.
“I think it’s time they started believing again,” whispered Kathryn, staring at the perfect specimen to become a monster, by his own admission no less. But the question was, which one?