Gerald, the caretaker, had the lid of the window box propped open. He had tossed Barbie bits and other odds and ends from inside. A huge pile had already formed on the floor.

He stopped as he pulled out a dismembered Ken doll. He gave the girls a questioning look. They, of course, all turned and glared at Carol. He tossed the Ken aside and continued on his quest.

Gerald was an attractive, elderly man, quite capable. He was not an employee of the Parish, but rather one of the church members who liked to help out in his spare time. He could do and fix just about anything, and he enjoyed everything he did.

Gerald's hobby was genealogy, (tracing family histories back as far as he could). He told the girls that he was a the great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great, great grandson of a great Viking King, and that's why nobody ever messed with him.

The girls tried to envision him in furry shoes and a horned helmet, but it just didn't seem to fit Gerald.

"A monster you say?" Gerald asked.

"Uhn, huh," the girls replied meekly.

The girls stood ready, with their packs perched on their backs. Kay had the sheet rope across her shoulder. Each had a makeshift helmet that resembled small wicker trash baskets, and in each small hand was a headless, armless Barbie doll with the taped legs pointed outward. The pointed end of Barbie feet can be quite lethal.

Gerald worked hard as he tossed the last bits of junk from the window box.

"Doesn't look like there's much by way of a monster in here. Must have moved on," he stated.

There was a mixed sigh of relief and disappointment from the girls, when:

"Wait, there is something..."

The girls tensed up.

"I think I see somethi..."

Gerald screamed a bloodcurdling scream and fell head first into the window box, his feet flailed the air, a horrible gurgling noise followed.

The girls in typical fashion, screamed and ran out of the room.

The sound of the bedroom door down the hall slammed shut.

All was silent.

Gerald pulled himself up from the window box, laughing. He lived for these moments.

"I love this job."