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Cell phones were both a blessing and a curse to many people. It allowed them to stay in contact with their loved ones. It also provided an additional addiction to the world. Like the world needed one more addiction.
Pugsley Addams shook his phone and held it to his ear. “What good is a phone if it can’t call dead people?”
Wednesday Addams, his younger sister, glared up from the book she was studying. “Perhaps they are wise enough to know to not answer.”
“Then they should set up their mailbox. I made sure to toss a phone into Great Uncle Caspar crypt the last time we dug him up. ”
“Perhaps he’s not willing to give up his right to rest in peace.” She sighed as Pugsley phone chirped. “You need to cut back on your phone time. It’s starting to affect your brain.”
“Ha! Fooled you. I don’t have one.”
Wednesday smiled at that, then hopped off the fainting couch. “A point I will concede.”
Pugsley watched her walk from the room and stuck his tongue out. He hated how she thought she was so much better, smarter, and meaner than he was. He was the heir to the Addams Legacy, not her.
His phone chirped and he glanced down at it. A text message popped up on the screen, Meet me outside. Now. At first, Pugsley felt a thrilled of excitement course through his body at the sight of the message from an unknown number, but then he hesitated. This was just the sort of thing Wednesday would pull to trick him.
Not likely, he answered back.
Meet me outside. Now!
Right, like he was going to fall for this. I’m busy!
Meet me outside. Now!
Go away. I’m not falling for this.
Meet me outside. Now!
Drop dead. He turned the phone off and stuffed in into the pocket of his shorts. He’d show her who was boss.
He was still feeling smug a few hours later as he walked into the playroom. Uncle Fester was stretched out on a bed of nails dozing. “Uncle Fester, did you and Father used to fight?” He sat down upon an over-turned crate. He didn’t share his uncle’s love of all things pointy.
“We still fight. It’s the best part about being related. I never have to look far for a victim.” He sat up and stretched. “I always sleep better down here. It’s the aura, I think. Are you and Wednesday having problems?”
“She thinks I’m stupid.”
“Because you are her brother?”
“I guess or because I’m a guy. She doesn’t like boys very much.”
Fester patted Pugsley’s shoulder. “That will change as she gets older. Soon she’ll despise them.”
“She was trying to trick me, but I beat her.”
“You beat her? Is that really sporting?”
“At her trick. She was trying to get me to go outside.”
“In the sun?”
“I know, right?”
Just then Wednesday walked in, still carrying the heavy volume she had been reading.
“Gotcha!”
She regarded him coolly. “I beg your pardon.”
“I got you. You didn’t trick me.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.” She dropped the book onto a small table and collapsed down onto the rack. “I have been with Grandmamma in the kitchen all afternoon.”
“Doing what?”
“I was trying to make Voodoo Delights, but Grandmamma thinks the wolfsbane has gone off. I couldn’t get them to react properly. Grandmamma said the only time she’d seem them do that before was when there were zombies in the house.” She sighed. “I don’t think I like cooking very much.”
Fester came to sit beside her. “You mean, you don’t like baking. It’s a very precise art. You couldn’t have a better teacher, though. She is quite skilled.”
“Apparently not enough when it comes to passing down the mantle.”
Pugsley checked his phone again and held it out to Wednesday. “You didn’t send me these?”
Wednesday scanned the texts and shook her head. “Not likely. I don’t announce my intentions.” She handed back the phone. “Did you check the front porch?”
“No.”
“How do you know there wasn’t someone there waiting for you?”
“I didn’t. I don’t.” Pugsley frowned. “Excuse me.” He hurried away and Wednesday smiled.
“Did you send him that message?” Fester tried sounding firm, but his giggles defeated the purpose.
“Actually, no, I did not.”
Pugsley pulled the front door open cautiously and looked before stepping out. There was nothing but brightly colored leaves practically glowing against a brilliant blue sky. The day was the epitome of the perfect fall day for most people, but Pugsley would be the first to admit his family was not most people.
He felt the sun on his face and hissed, trying to back into the protection of the shadows. Hastily he started to retreat inside and that’s when he saw it.
It was a lump of something barely congealed. It glistened and shimmered… it almost appeared alive. Pugsley let out a little cry and spun. Wednesday was standing there.
“It’s probably all that’s left of the Woolloomooloo*.”
“The… the what?”
“Woolloomooloo. Mother and Father have never told you about him? Pugsley, you have incurred a powerful wrath. You will need absolution.”
“What? What sort of absolution?”
“The worst kind. Take a bath!”
“No!”
“Shampoo your hair!”
“Never!”
“Clean your fingernails!”
Pugsley screamed and ran, nearly knocking over his parents as he passed.
“What on earth has gotten into that little monkey?” Gomez watched his son flee upstairs while Wednesday walked slowly by, carrying a bowl.
“What do you have there, my dear?” Morticia leaned forward. “Ah, Grandmamma has been teaching you how to make Voodoo Delights.”
“Yes, Mother.”
“Make sure you dispose of that batter properly. It’s been known to eat through steel.”
“Yes, Father.” And she smiled, maliciously. Brothers were such fun to kill.
*Woolloomooloo is a harbor side, inner-city eastern suburb of Sydney,