"No, you go first."

The girls were standing in front of Olivia's and Kay's bedroom door trying to get their courage up to find out what had happened to poor Gerald.

Mary grabbed Carol and shoved her through the door.

"She'll go first."

Thrust inside, Carol stood frozen, stunned; the others stayed out of sight.

From outside the door "Well, what do you see?"

Carol replied, "A mess."

"Is it horrible"

"Lots of blood and gore?"

"No," said Carol "I mean the room's a mess. There are toys everywhere. Missy Hyde is gonna be mad."

Missy Hyde ran the Jackson Parish Home for Girls.

She was like a mother to all the girls, as well as teacher, counselor, disciplinarian, human shield, and chief bottle washer. She never stood still long enough for anyone to get a real good look at her.

The others slowly entered the room. Carol was right. It was a mess.

"No blood? No gore? No body bits? I don't get it," said Kay.

"We are obviously dealing with a very meticulous monster," stated Mary.

"Meticu-what?" asked Carol.

"Neat. The monster likes to lick its plate clean."

Carol lifted one foot "Eeeeuuuwww, monster spit!"

"Carol," said Mary "open the lid to the window box."

Without thinking, Carol agreed and tossed the lid back. Nothing happened.

"Well, nothing chewed off her face," said Mary.

Sudden realization hit Carol. "I hate it when you do that."

Mary leaned over and reached for something round and tarnished that lay in the bottom of the box. "There's something here", she said, leaning over to pick it up. "Gerald must have had something in his pocket when the monster ate him."

Instead of the piece of metal coming up in her hand, though, one whole side of the bottom of the box raised up.

"It's a secret compartment", breathed Carol.

They all peered into the window box, to see a long winding stairway down into the gloom.

"Hmmmm."

"Yes, hmmmm."

"What do you think?" asked Kay.

"I think, from the obvious lack of human remains, that Gerald is somewhere down there, being saved as a possible snack for later, and we have to save him."

"We..." replied Kay, "there's that word again... WE. Aren't there policemen who take care of this sort of thing, or army men?"

"Do you remember the last time we called the army?" said Olivia.

"Oh, yeah, nevermind."

"All right... helmets!" cried Mary. They all placed the trash baskets firmly on their heads.

"Lights." They each pulled out a flashlight and switched it on.

"Weapons." Barbie feet were drawn and ready.

"Carol, you go first."

"I was afraid you were gonna say that," squeaked Carol.

With that they each in turn climbed into the window box. The lid slammed shut behind them.