Midnight Invader

By Uncle Richard

The sound woke Bear. Immediately, he recognizes the raspy sound and is filled Bear with fear.
Bear runs through the dark house, desperately looking for his best friend, now missing at midnight. Bear finally finds Jim who is backed hard against a door and is petrified by the “big, so very big” thing lurking in the shadows--watching him.
Jim, Bear, and Peanut must confront the huge, repulsive thing that has invaded their home and endangered the family’s safety.
Jim must face his own fears and revulsion to focus his mind on resolving their conflicts. He must also convince his friends to put aside their prejudices and petty differences, to stop fighting, and to work together to save a life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: RLSpencer Communications
• Release date: Feb 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370021734

Uncle Richard

“Uncle” is an honorary title bestowed on a close, male friend embraced by a good Southern family. When my friends Ed and Janice so embraced me, I was lucky enough and honored to become “Uncle Richard” to their two children. When their daughter (now my niece Jenny) married, I became Uncle Richard to her husband and, eventually, to their two children. “Uncle Richard” became the perfect persona to write stories for all nephews and nieces everywhere.

Book preview

Midnight Invader

by

Uncle Richard

Edited by Pepe el Gato

Copyright 2017 by RLSpencer Communications

Smashwords Edition.

Cover by BEAR

Smashwords Editions, License Notes

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This e-book may not be copied, transferred, re-sold, or given away to other people. See additional License Notes after this story.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Sound

Prologue

Chapter 2: A Dark and Stormy Night

Chapter 3: Two's Company; Four's a Standstill

Chapter 4: Things Go Bump in the Night

Chapter 5: The Second Deadly Sin

Chapter 6: Choices

Chapter 7: A Flash in the Dark

Chapter 8: Choices–Bad and None

Chapter 9: The Great Compromise

Chapter 10: Treacherous Attack

Chapter 11: Forever Blowing Bubbles

Epilogue

About the Author

Thanks and Reviews

Other Jim & Bear Adventures

License Notes

Chapter 1: The Sound

In an instant, Bear was wide awake . . . and afraid.

In the dark bedroom, not moving, not opening his eyes, not even twitching an ear, Bear had recognized the raspy sound. Now he listened with dread.

The sound, thought Bear after a few long seconds, is not in the bedroom. It must be coming from beyond the bedroom.

Bear slowly, nerve-rackingly slowly, turned his head toward the door. The bed-stand clock flickered just after midnight. A pale glow from the kids’ bathroom night-light turned the long hall into a tunnel of eerie green. In that oppressive gloom with its frightful stillness, his ears twitched at each barely audible noise–a draft faintly whistling under Catherine’s door, the hum of the living-room clock, a leaf striking a window, and still . . . the sound.

It’s some place beyond the hall, he realized.

Then he realized another sound–actually, a lack of sound. He could not hear Jim’s breathing. Bear jumped up. He looked around the top of the bed.

He’s not here. Could he be in the–?

Bear ran as fast as he could down the hall. He skidded around the corner and made a muffled thump against the wall. He stared through the open doorway.

He’s not in the bathroom. Then where?

Bear’s tummy tightened. He tippy pawed passed the bathroom to where the hall opens into the living room.

Standing behind the small couch, Bear see the front of the living room. As usual, Jim's parents' bedroom door was closed, but there was no Jim. Bear stood on tip paw and peeked over the arm of the small couch in hopes of seeing Jim possibly sleeping in his Dad's chair, or on the couch, or on the floor in front of the television. Still no Jim. Bear slumped down. Where is he?

Bear glared at the parents' closed door. Under his fur, a hot wave of anger surged from the pads of his paws to the rears of his ears. He remembered vividly the bullying and humiliation just a few nights before.

Prologue (usually a short story before this main story begins): Football Hero

A few nights before

Bear was desperately holding onto Jim's hand as the boy was running into the living room and yelling in his out-door voice, Daddy! Daddy! Daaadddyyy!

Jim’s Dad was