”This movie is pretty scary,” I told Freddie as i clicked to start a movie. “But ‘tis the season.”
“I don’t understand making yourself scared on purpose,” Freddie said, snuggling into my side. “Aren’t there enough scary things in the world without seeking them out?”
”Some people like scary movies and books. It gives you a chance to face your fears but in a way that’s safe,” I explained. “And sometimes it’s just fun to be scared.”
He yawned. “Human nonsense,” he said, closing his eyes.
On the screen, the movie started.
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”This is called a ‘found footage’ film,” I explained to my dozing cat. “It’s also a mockumentary.”
”Mm-Kay,” he murmured sleepily.
”There are mockumentaries in lots of different genres, but found footage tends to be horror.”
”Sounds good,” he said.
”That just means that the film is structured like a documentary but is fiction. And because it’s found footage, the camera work is shakier because it’s meant to be footage filmed by the characters themselves,” I continued.
”Interesting,” he said, not opening his eyes.
”It’s hard to do found footage well, but a few films have managed it. This is one of them.”
”Mmmmmm,” he responded. It ended on a snore.
”Boy, those clown mannequins sure are scary,” I said.
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I shifted in my seat. “It’s just a movie,” I reassured my sleeping cat. He was curled up against my hip and my arm was wrapped around him. He seemed totally unbothered by what was on the television but I knew he was just pretending. “You don’t have to worry. Those clowns can’t get us.”
Freddie woke up all at once and twisted around to lick his tail. “Don’t be scared,” I told him.
“Huh?” He asked, pausing his grooming to look up at me.
”You don’t have to be scared,” I repeated. “It’s not real.”
”The scary movie you’re watching?”
”Yeah. The people in the movie are scared, but we aren’t in any danger.”
He thought about this. “Okay,” he said, and went back to his grooming.
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“Human,” Freddie said, “You’re holding me too tight.”
I loosened my grip. “I’m sorry,” I said. “I, uh, thought you might be scared.”
He looked at the screen then back at me. “There aren’t even any ducks,” he said.
”No, but they’re building a haunted house attraction in that abandoned hotel that might actually be haunted.”
He stared at me, saying nothing.
”Those clown mannequins have been moving on their own,” I pointed out.
”Let me know if you see any ducks,” he said, closing his eyes again.
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The movie ended and I turned the television off. “Huh,” I said. I looked down at Freddie. He was licking one paw, unbothered. “That was quite an ending,” I told him.
“Okay,” he said, not looking up from his paw. As I watched, he switched to the other.
“I think there’s like, four sequels,” I said, thoughtfully. “Should we watch them this weekend?”
“You should watch whatever you want to watch,” he said.
I looked at my watch. “I wish I had time to put on something else – something funny instead of scary. For you!” I added, quickly. “I’m not scared.”
He finally looked up at me. “You seem kind of scared,” he said.
“Nah,” I said. “In fact, I could go straight to bed.” I nodded. “Yep, right to bed to lie alone in the dark.”
“You should do that,” he said.
”I will,” I agreed. I didn’t move.
”Goodnight,” he said.
”Yep. It’s going to be a good night.”
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That was how I found myself, alone in my bedroom, lying in the dark. I had asked Freddie to come to bed with me, but he had replied that he was “already in bed.”
He was not very emotionally supportive.
”He’ll be here soon,” I told the darkness. “I know he’s scared after that movie and will want to cuddle.”
I listened carefully, making sure the darkness was not going to answer me back.
I let out a breath. “Just go to sleep,” I muttered, rolling over and punching my pillow.
Closing my eyes, I tried to take my own advice. It wasn’t working and now I had the feeling that something was creeping up behind me. Clowns?
I opened my eyes and looked over my shoulder.
Nothing.
Freddie popped up on the mattress next to me and I screamed.
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Freddie jumped back from me and I instantly felt guilty. Even though he had scared me first.
”I’m sorry!” I said, reaching for him. He let himself be caught and pulled into my body for a hug. “You scared me.”
”You scared me!” He refuted.
I gave a shaky little laugh. “It’s been a scary night,” I said.
”This is why you shouldn’t watch scary movies,” he lectured.
“Not right before bed anyway,” I agreed.
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”Did you hear something?” I whispered.
”No,” he responded.
I stroked his fur. “You’d tell me if you hear something,” I said.
”Maybe,” he said.
I sat up. “Maybe?”
”I hear a lot of things. You don’t need to be told about all of it.”
”That’s true,” I said, lying back down. “But if you heard something scary you’d tell me.”
”Yes,” he said. “If there are ducks I’ll tell you.”
”I’m not worried about ducks,” I explained. “I’m more worried about clown mannequins who’ve been stored in a closed hotel with a gateway to hell in the basement.”
He was quiet for a moment. “I’ll tell you if there are ducks,” he said.
Happy Caturday, Peeps! I do love a scary movie, but maybe not right before bed.