Chapter 2.3
One other incident stands in my mind about our senior year. Matt, though big and brave and strong, is pretty much a big chicken when it comes to anything involving heights or haunted house type events. I got a hair brained idea that we should go to the local Jaycees Haunted House for Halloween one year. Matt did not feel really comfortable with the idea. This is a guy that will not even watch a scary movie because the impact on him lasts forever. He is still afraid to go out swimming even in a pool after watching Jaws almost 30 years ago! But being the supportive friend that he has always been, Matt knew that Halloween was my favorite time of the year. He also knew that I really wanted to go to the haunted house and he was the only one that would really go with me that was worth the while. The only others being my twin sister and her friends, which wouldn’t have been that entertaining for me to begin with. So we jumped into my mother’s Ford Aerostar Van (growing up I made the mistake several times by calling it a Ford Aerosmith before I had discovered that Aerosmith was actually a rock band) and headed for the local haunted house.
During this time period Jaycees was the coolest and scariest place to go during Halloween. It was held in a very cool and very scary ancient two story house out in a patch of woods. Every year I would go to this location and pay to be creeped out. Ironically, my cousin had been born in this house when he was younger and my uncle had sold it, finally it eventually became the house of horror it was at this time.
The haunted houses were usually well crafted. They would devote a room to a scary scene that was popular during the time period. Jason, Freddy, werewolves, and Hellraiser were often popular selections and they never let down. Each year, the house was not complete unless it had a dark, dark maze you had to walk through before you exited. Though annoying, this added to the creepy vibe that was a necessity in order for the house to be a success. Let’s just say that I loved every minute and ate it all up. Matt on the other did not feel so excited about such a thing.
Well, the night we went was dark and cold. The ground was a little warmer than the surrounding air temperature and there was a slight fog coming off of it into the night air. Matt and I pulled up into the parking lot of the haunted house. I was eager to enter the fun filled home. Matt on the other hand seemed to be searching for some excuse in the back of his head to make a run for it and break away.
As we both scanned the filled parking lot, we noticed a few of our other friends. Right at the moment I do not recall specifically who these individuals were. I just know there were other individuals there that we knew and hung out with. I do remember one individual in particular that was there though. His name was Jon Beal.
Jon was a different sort of individual, a true country boy. He lived in the dark regions between Walnut Point and Centralia and his parents owned and operated their own orchard. Jon always attended school in a pair of Wrangler blue jeans, a cowboy hat or green John Deer hat, and a pair of worn out cowboy boots. Overall, Jon was really a nice guy and Matt and I pretty much liked Jon. I even grew pretty close to him our senior year of high school because he seemed REAL as most high school students struggle with just who they are.
Now, I do not remember everything from the haunted house in detail, but what I do remember during my encounters within the building were pretty simple ones. Matt would get scared, cling to me, and I would have to do my best to continue pulling him from room to room. The maze was the most difficult part as it was completely dark within and you could not see anything in front of you, around you, or simply where it was you were going. Add on top of that a man of over 200 pounds leeched onto your back and becoming part of your every move and you pretty much have slug type going. The main thing that I remember was the last room in the haunted house.
It had been a difficult run. Both dealing with Jon Beal’s silly comments and simply doing my best to keep Matt from loosing his sanity and bolting through the haunted house in a frightened frenzy. But after around a half an hour, we reached the end of our journey. Each year Jaycees would use a made up spokesman, someone they created to represent the house of horror they were selling to the public. The individual made for such a case was named Slimin Simon. Slimin Simon usually was found at the beginning of the haunted house and would greet the visitors as they came in. He was basically a skeleton of some sort that had a see through torso. Sometimes he was clothed while other times he was just bare bones. His voice was pretty much a rip off copy of the Crypt Keeper from the television series Tales From the Crypt. His responsibility was mainly to set the tone the visitors would be getting during their visit and he would also go over the rules of the haunted house. He was also noted for spitting or shooting water into the crowd before sending them on their way to continue their voyage in to the unknown reaches of the haunted structure. However, this year there was no Slimin Simon visible at the beginning. Why? He was there to say goodbye at the end.
As we came to the last room of the haunted house, our guide had us all gather around a small opening in the wall covered with chicken wire. The hole was completely dark and no one wanted to stand close to its location. However, the room already being small in size, forced everyone close to it and at least one part of their body was brushing up against the chicken wire. Matt was terrified and I was a tad bit scared to though I didn’t admit it at the time.
A loud hum sounded and a light began to glow from the hole in the wall. Everyone turned their attention to the hole to see Slimin Simon staring right back at them. He began to talk something about enjoying the evening and the haunted house. Everyone was wide eyed, some in laughter, some in curiosity, some in readiness to exit the confinements of the haunted house. It was almost over except for the fact that Simon had one more surprise for his audience.
“I hope you enjoyed your visit this year.” Simon barked out from behind the confinements of the chicken wire. “But a visit would not be complete without one of my good friends saying goodbye in his own special way.”
Just then the sound effects from the movie Friday the 13th filled the air. “Ma…Ma…Ma…Ki…Ki…Kill.” This was enough to send my best friend into a fit of fierce fear rage. It was enough to get me to pull my face closer to the chicken wire, not wanting to miss any special effects or certain great displays of gore.
“Jason!” Simon’s voice rang out just as a man dressed in a hockey mask and carrying a chainsaw came tearing out of the wooded scene behind him.
“Cool.” I said leaning in closer wanted to soak it all up. Matt had other plans.
“Move!” He yelled as he began to shove. I put both arms out to not only stop him, but hold everyone back behind me. Somehow in all of the shuffling around, I was first and now blocking the door. I smiled knowing that I held all the power.
“No. I don’t want to miss this!” I said watching Jason come closer with the chainsaw. Now being a lover of horror films, Jason does not really use a chainsaw, it is not his weapon of choice. A machete yes. A chainsaw, no. That would be Leatherface. But not wanting to ruin the mood, not that anyone would have really wanted to hear about my mindless observation anyway, I kept to myself. That’s when the noise came.
From behind the group, Jason erupted from the Simon room via a secret door and into the hallway. His chainsaw blared as he revved it up continuously. He was coming after the group with great gusto. I stood there with a huge smile upon my face. This was great! Matt continued to shove at my arms, his eyes the size of swollen bellies filled with White Castle goodness as he eyed the door that housed access to his freedom and sanity.
“Move!” He screamed again throwing more of his weight towards me. Again I held my ground. This was too much fun.
“No.” I responded.
“Now!” He screamed. I knew Matt was about to reach his breaking point. Just a few seconds longer and I would have let him and the others out. I never got that choice by personal means. Instead, a painful objection came from my arm. I looked down to my right arm which was now screaming out to my brain in pain. What I saw was something that I did not expect at all.
Matt was biting me!
“What the heck do you think you are doing?” I screamed out as I pulled my arm free of his mouth. Matt needed no other opportunity. He saw both of my arms were free of the wall and shoved me with all of his might. I went flying through the exit door, Matt with me.
We landed in a huge heap onto the muddy ground outside of the house. Those people still outside awaiting to go in jumped back in horror as we rolled around a bit to gain our composure. Matt was still looking back at the exit door making sure that Jason had not pursued him with the chainsaw. Jason did stick his head and blade out of the door for one final threatening gesture, and then returned back to his location to await his next group of victims. I looked over at Matt who then made eye contact with me. People around us began to laugh and make comments about how much of wimps we were for being so scared. I smiled at him and he smiled back.
“Jerk.” He said as he stood up and began to knock the mud from his jeans.
“Jerk?” I screamed half in question and half in exclamation. “You are the one who bit me.” I glanced down at my arm to see teeth indentions upon my skin. Lucky for us both, Matt had not broken the skin. His wire braces were not as powerful as I had given them credit for. Matt walked over and looked at my arm. He seemed genuinely concerned.
“You okay?” He asked. It was at that point that I saw Jon Beal walking over to talk with a couple of girls. I didn’t want to wait around to talk any longer while Mr. Beal still roamed the area. I nodded my head and we headed for the van and left the parking lot.
This was the last time that Matt and I ever went to a “fake” haunted house ever again. It did show the dedication of our friendship that Matt proved time and time again. He was always willing, and still is to this day, to step out of his own comfort zone for his friends. For me. That is true bravery.
Now, notice how I quoted the term “fake”? We would soon experience some REAL paranormal activity and a little BIRD!
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