Breaker Boy

by Joan Hiatt Harlow

  “I hate it when people talk about you, because they don’t know you at all. I think if people knew you, they’d love you like we all do.”

  “You all love me?” Mrs. Chudzik’s eyes widened in amazement.

  “Yes, my whole family. I think—I know—that others would love you too, if you’d let them in.”

  “Let them into my house? Never.”

  “I mean . . . into your . . . your life.” Corey found it hard to explain what he meant. Then he suddenly wondered, Could Mrs. Chudzik have a phobia? Is she afraid too?

  Mrs. Chudzik started the car up again. “Let’s take you home now.”

  29

  Too Many Questions

  That evening, before Corey went to bed, he told his parents about his visit to the mine entrance and how he heard the same knocking that Abby heard when she was in the pipe on the top of the cliff. “What could it have been?”

  “The knockers, of course,” Mom said with a laugh. “What else?” Then she got serious. “You know the knockers warn of cave-ins—so you’d better stay away from that old mine.”

  Dad gave Mom a warning look. “That’s a tale from the old countries, Annie. You know how hard Corey is trying to get over his phobia—or whatever it’s called. For Pete’s sake, don’t scare him with the stories of the knockers.”

  “My father told me stories about the knockers in Wales,” Mom said, ignoring him. “Like the time—”

  Dad interrupted. “Stop it, Annie!”

  Corey could tell there might be an argument starting. He might need to walk away, like Mrs. Chudzik said. He cleared his throat. “I only wanted to tell you how I am trying to get well, and it’s working.” He went on to describe how he went a little way into the mine and had no fear because he was only doing a little at a time, and telling himself he could leave whenever he wanted. “I didn’t go far, Mom,” he said. “Just ten steps, and that’s all. Next time I’ll go fifteen steps. Lots of fears can be stopped this way. Mrs. Chudzik told me so, and she knows a lot.”

  “Well, that’s a good thing,” Mom said. “Mrs. Chudzik is very kind to you, Corey. She’s saved your life, and she continues to help you and care about you.” Mom’s mouth quivered like it often did when she was sad. “I wish I could help you like she does.”

  “You do, Mom, when you’re not too busy,” Corey said quickly. “Mrs. Chudzik asked about you. She wondered when the baby was due.”

  Mom looked away. “I think you’re over at Mrs. Chudzik’s too often. You shouldn’t pester her like you do.”

  “I don’t pester her. She likes me to visit. I don’t think anyone ever visits her.” Corey was sure an argument was brewing in Mom’s mind, so he said, “I’m so tired. I think I’ll go to bed now.” He yawned a fake yawn.

  “Wait one minute,” Mom said. “You haven’t told us where you got the bruises.”

  “We’ve been waiting for you to tell us,” Dad said, “and we’re still waiting to hear where you got the money for the gifts.”

  “You promised you wouldn’t ask about that. Remember? A deal’s a deal,” Corey said firmly. “But I will tell you about my black eye. Charlie gave it to me. He’s always lookin’ for trouble. There was a brawl in the breaker today. It’s over now, and I’m fine.” He kissed his mother good night and headed for the stairs. “Don’t worry.” He ran up the steps, two at a time. He needed to get away from the explosion that he believed was about to happen.

  His brothers were in bed and already asleep. They lay on the bed sideways, and after he got into his pajamas, he climbed in between them. Sammy rolled over and smacked Corey in the face with his arm. Corey winced as his eye smarted again. He wished he had a bed to himself. Now that there was another baby coming, would they have to sleep four to a bed?

  He could hear his mother and father arguing downstairs and wondered why Mrs. Chudzik’s name was mentioned over and over. Then he heard Dad say, “I think you’re jealous of Mrs. Chudzik’s attention to Corey.”

  “Maybe I am!” Mom wailed. “She’s a better mother to him than I am.” She burst into tears and sobbed for several minutes.

  “Annie, you’re worn-out and upset. Nobody is a better mom than you.”

  His dad’s voice was comforting now, and as their voices became quiet, Corey slowly fell asleep.

  30

  Sans Souci Park

  On Friday night, Corey thought he heard women’s voices downstairs, but he was just too tired to care. At least it wasn’t one of his scary dreams. He adjusted his pillow and went back to sleep.

  But when Saturday morning came, as soon as Corey opened his eyes, he wondered, Did Mom have the baby? Is that why I heard voices most of the night? He needed to know, but the house was quiet now.

  Corey slipped downstairs in his pajamas. Dad was drinking coffee at the kitchen table.

  “What’s going on? I heard voices during the night. Did Mom have the baby yet?”

  “You slept through all the excitement,” Dad said. “Mom thought the baby was coming. I asked Mrs. Balaski to come over, and she brought two neighbor ladies. They got the fire going and sterilized everything in boiling water. But the baby didn’t come, so they made breakfast for all of us before they went home. It’s in the oven.” Dad went to the kitchen door and opened it wide.

  “That’s why it’s so hot in here.” Corey sat at the table. “Where’s Mom now?”

  “She’s sleeping. It was a false alarm, but the women feel sure the baby will come any day now.” Dad poured more coffee from the pot on the coal stove.

  “So what can I do today to help?” Corey knew that the boys might be in the way while the baby was coming. He recalled that when they were born, he was moved from one neighborhood house to another.

  Dad thought for a moment. “It would be better if the boys weren’t around today. Things could get busy and they might be underfoot.”

  “Everything is half price at Sans Souci today. Could I take the boys?” Corey suggested. “We’d be gone all day.”

  “That sounds like a good idea,” Dad said.

  “Okay,” Corey agreed. “I’ll take them.”

  Dad took a coffee can from the shelf behind the stove and opened it. “Here’s money for all of you. You can buy hot dogs for lunch. Come home before dark. That means you leave the carnival at least an hour before dark. It’s a good hour’s walk each way.” He pulled out two bills and handed them to Corey.

  Corey and his father ate the egg, potato, and cheese casserole Mrs. Balaski had made, saving some for the rest of the family. “I don’t know if Mom will want to eat,” Dad said, “but she needs her strength.”

  Corey took the money and went upstairs to wake Jack and Sammy. They’ll be crazy with excitement, he thought as he nudged his brothers. “Time to get up.”

  “No, I don’t want to go to school,” Jack muttered, pulling the pillow over his head.

  “You don’t have to go to school. It’s Saturday,” Corey reminded them. “Come on. Get up and have breakfast.”

  “Why?” Sammy whined. “If it’s Saturday, why are you waking us up? Has Mom had the baby yet?”

  Jack popped up from under the covers. “Yeah, do we have a new brother?”

  “Not yet.”

  “Then I’m not getting up,” Jack said.

  “If you don’t get up and get dressed, I guess you don’t want to come with me.” Corey stood by the door.

  “Corey, stop teasing us,” Jack said, flopping down on the pillow again.

  “Okay, then,” Corey said, pretending to leave the room. “I won’t take you to Sans Souci Park with me.”

  “Sans Souci?” Sammy sat up and rubbed his eyes. “Are you teasin’ us, Corey?”

  “No, I’m not. See this money?” Corey held up the two bills in his hand. “That’s for us to spend at the carnival!”

  The boys were instantly awake and already pulling their clothes out of the dresser drawers.

  “Don’t make noise. Mom is sleeping,” Corey ordered. “Be sure to pu
t on your boots. I heard it will rain today and the roads will get muddy. After you’re dressed, come down for breakfast, and then we’ll be off. If we get there early, we won’t have to wait in lines.”

  Dad waved good-bye at the door as Corey’s younger brothers sprinted up the road ahead of him. Corey wanted to see Mom, but Dad said, “Let her sleep.”

  They walked along the paved road into the town that nestled in the river valley. Jack and Sammy kept running along the railroad tracks by the river. As they got closer to the park, the river lapped over the shore and crossed the main street. Jack and Sammy sloshed around in the water, splashing each other.

  “Stop it! Come over here,” Corey yelled. “You’ll be soaked before we even get to Sans Souci!”

  They could hear the music of the calliope become louder as they approached.

  A long line of kids and parents wove into the park, slowly, trying to avoid puddles, and not knowing where to go first. Most everyone was dressed up—women in big hats and wearing long skirts that dipped into the puddles and mud. Men and children were in their Sunday-go-to-meeting suits. This was an occasion, and the families loved festivities—even when the weather was threatening.

  “There’s the carousel!” Sammy yelled, pointing. “I want to ride.”

  Jack pulled Corey’s arm in another direction. “No, let’s go over there. If you throw a ring onto those sticks, you win a toy.”

  Sammy took off for the merry-go-round and Corey had to catch him. When he looked back, Jack was standing by the game booth, watching as a young man tried his luck with the rings.

  Soon Corey realized that keeping his brothers together would not be easy. He pulled them aside and laid down the law. “You have to stay with me. If you go off by yourself, we’ll turn around and go home,” he threatened. “That’s the rule. We stick together.”

  When the boys had settled down, Corey suggested, “Let’s walk around and see what’s here before we decide on anything.”

  They sauntered along, stopping occasionally to listen to a barker promote his show or his wares. Corey felt Jack tug at his sleeve. “Look over there.” He pointed to a small stage, where the tiniest woman he had ever seen stood. She was as beautiful as a little fairy in her jeweled gown. A golden crown sparkled on her head.

  “Step right up, ladies and gentlemen!” shouted another barker. “Come in and see the lovely little princess, who is only twenty-two inches tall but is as perfect a lady as you will ever see!”

  “Is she real?” Sammy asked.

  “No, she’s a doll,” Jack whispered.

  “She’s real. She’s just like us—except she’s little.” Corey pointed to the next booth, where a tall, huge young man strode around on the stage. “Look, there’s a giant.”

  “Holy cow!” Jack whispered.

  Sammy stood silently, his mouth open.

  The man seemed as tall as a tree, with legs as large as tree trunks. Corey pretended to be unimpressed.

  “Will I grow that tall?” Jack asked.

  “No, of course not. You would be taller than most kids by now. You’re average,” Corey told him.

  “How big is his house?” Sammy whispered.

  “How should I know?” Corey replied. “I have no idea where he lives.”

  “Maybe that little lady lives in a dollhouse,” Sammy suggested.

  “There are lots of things to see,” Corey said. “Let’s move on.”

  When they approached the carousel, Sammy insisted, “I want to ride!” Corey finally relented and decided he should ride too, to keep a close watch on his brothers. He hated to spend the extra money for himself, since it wouldn’t take long to use up the money early in the day. Besides, he saw a ride he wanted to take on the other side of the carnival—the House of Horrors. That sounded exciting and fun, but it might be too scary for the boys. So he bought three tickets to the merry-go-round.

  The loud, wheezy music of the calliope drowned out the noise of the crowds as they climbed on the carousel. Jack chose a white charger that was so big that Corey had to have help from a man who was riding with his young son. Together they boosted Jack high onto the saddle atop the white stallion.

  Sammy found a fierce-looking tiger and climbed on its back. Corey stood between both of them and held on to a brass pole. Gradually the carousel started turning, and the calliope sang its loud, windy song, “Hello, my baby, hello, my honey, hello, my ragtime gal.”

  Corey hoped no one from the breaker would see him riding on the merry-go-round. As the carousel whirled faster, Corey became dizzy from watching the world flying by. He was relieved when the ride slowed to a stop and he pulled his brothers off.

  Now it was his turn. As he dragged the kids to the House of Horrors, Corey wondered again if the boys might be scared on the spooky ride. Yet if he had to keep paying for three of them, counting himself, they’d run out of money before long.

  Then he spotted his neighbors, the Sullivan family, meandering through the carnival. “Mrs. Sullivan!” he called, running up to them.

  “Well, hello there, Corey,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “How nice that you took your brothers to the park today. It gives your mother a break. Has she had the baby yet?”

  “No, but any time now. That’s why I brought the boys. I wondered if you would watch them just for a few minutes while I go into the House of Horrors. They might be scared if I take them with me. I really wanted to try it myself.”

  “Yes, I’ll watch them,” Mrs. Sullivan said. “We’ll stay here until your ride is over.”

  “Thanks!” He turned to the boys and said, “Mrs. Sullivan will watch you while I take a ride. So be good.”

  “I want to go too,” Jack said.

  “No, this is my turn,” Corey whispered, hoping the boys wouldn’t make a scene. “Just wait for a few minutes.” He ran to the ticket booth, bought a ticket, and climbed into the car waiting nearby.

  Before Corey could settle himself into the seat, the car began rolling along its tracks and pushed through the double doors.

  Corey started his dark journey through the House of Horrors.

  31

  House of Horrors

  At first, everything was black—not a spot of light or color. Corey could feel wind blowing all around, but where did it come from? There were no windows or doors that he could see.

  Ahead, glowing in the darkness, a glass coffin appeared with a glaring, white skeleton lying inside. It looked straight at Corey with empty eyes, then sat up abruptly. Corey held his breath as the car headed straight for the coffin. The hair stood up on his arms, as there seemed no way out. Then, suddenly, the car swerved, just missing the coffin by a hairbreadth. The car turned sharply and everything was black again as he rode into another chamber.

  This room was filled with flying things that reached down with clammy hands and wings and touched his hair and arms. Whatever they were, they were everywhere. Moans and screams added to the terror.

  Then it happened—the very thing for which Corey should have been prepared—he began to sweat and feel sick. It was the same panic he had in the mine and in his dreams—of being powerless, of sinking under a solid roof, from which he could never escape.

  He suddenly forgot where he was or what was happening. Where was he? Was he back in the mine? He couldn’t tell if he was up or down or in what direction the car was taking him. His throat tightened, and he struggled to breathe.

  Corey forced himself to think apart from the overpowering fear. He should have known the ride would send him into a dark, closed-in, cavelike place, like the mines.

  Could he get control of the panic that was already making his arms and legs tremble? Or was it too late? He hadn’t been prepared for this reaction. Taking a ride in here was a stupid thing to do!

  “This is only make-believe,” he said out loud. “There is not one whit of horror in here at all. It’s just a silly ride. Everything is fake. Mrs. Chudzik’s house is spookier than this dumb thing.”

  He had a strong urge
to jump out of the car and to run to safety. A pounding headache overpowered the clacking of the wheels as it rattled along the track. Was he back in the coal car racing through the mine with the stone roof tight overhead? Where was he?

  Take a breath. Think. He was in the House of Horrors. He was safe, and there was no danger. “I’m fine. Nothing bad will happen,” Corey assured himself over and over as the car flew through the maze of shoddy hallways. “This is a stupid kids’ ride. In a minute, I’ll be out in the sunshine again.”

  Corey’s words became stronger, and gradually, in the midst of the House of Horrors, with goblins howling and grabbing at him, with flashing lights blinding him, Corey felt the panic slipping away. His breathing became easier, the sweating stopped, and he no longer felt dizzy and sick. And just as the car shot through the last set of double doors into the bright sunlight, the terror was gone.

  His brothers were waiting at the barrier gate to the ride, their eyes wide and curious as Corey emerged smiling triumphantly.

  32

  The Genie’s Castle

  Corey jumped out of the car and leaped over the guardrail to where his brothers stood nearby with Mrs. Sullivan.

  “Are you all right?” Mrs. Sullivan asked. “You seem wound up. Was the ride exciting?”

  “Yep, it sure was. Best ride I’ve ever had,” Corey said, grinning. “Thanks for watching the boys. They would have been scared with all the skeletons and goblins.”

  “Were you scared, Corey?” Jack asked.

  “Oh, I was scared, all right,” Corey said.

  “Aw, I want to go on that ride,” Jack begged.

  “Me too,” Sammy agreed.

  “We’ll find something else.” Corey turned to Mrs. Sullivan. “Thanks again. I needed that ride.”

  Mrs. Sullivan looked sideways at Corey and raised her eyebrows. “You needed that ride, did you?”

  “It’s a long story, but yes, I did.”

  “Give your mother a hug for me,” she said, walking away. “I’ll be in touch with her soon—after the baby is born.”