Storm of the Century by Stephen King Read Free Book Online Page A

colorful mobiles hang from the ceiling. It’s the classroom of MOLLY’S day-care center.

    HATCH is pushing at the top of his daughter’s head. This isn’t accomplishing anything, and she’s consequently growing panicky again, thinking she’ll be stuck forever. Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

HATCH
    Honey, why did you do this?

PIPPA
    Heidi St. Pierre dared me.

    MIKE puts his hands over HATCH’S and moves HATCH aside. HATCH looks at MIKE hopefully.

    31 INTERIOR: THE CHILDREN AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS.

    HEIDI ST. PIERRE, the five-year-old daughter of LINDA ST. PIERRE, is a carrottop wearing thick glasses.

HEIDI
    Did not.

PIPPA
    Did so!

    HEIDI ST. PIERRE
    Liar, liar, pants on fire!

MOLLY
    Stop it, both of you.

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PIPPA
    (to MIKE)
    It was easy going out, but now I can’t get back in. I think my head must be bigger on this side.

MIKE
    It is ... but I’m going to make it smaller. Do you know how?

PIPPA
    (fascinated)
    No . . . how?

MIKE
    I’m just going to push the smaller button. And when I do, your head will get smaller and you’ll slide right back where you were. Just as easy as you slid in. Do you understand, Pippa?

    He speaks in slow, soothing tones. He’s engaged in something that’s almost hypnosis.

HATCH
    What kind of-

MOLLY
    Shhh!

MIKE
    Are you ready for me to push the button?

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PIPPA
    Yes.

    MIKE reaches up and pushes the end of her nose with the tip of his finger.

MIKE
    Beep! There it goes! Smaller! Quick, Pippa, before it gets big again!

    PIPPA pulls her head out easily from between the posts. The kids clap and cheer. DON BEALS hops around like a monkey. One of the other boys, FRANK BRIGHT, hops around a little, too, then sees RALPHIE giving him a disgusted look and quits it.

    HATCH gathers his daughter in for a hug. PIPPA hugs back, but eats her bread and jam at the same time. She stopped being scared when MIKE started talking to her. MOLLY smiles at MIKE gratefully and puts her hand through the stairwell posts where PIPPA was stuck. MIKE takes it on his side and kisses each finger extravagantly. The KIDS GIGGLE. One of them, BUSTER CARVER (BUSTER, the last of MOLLY’S day-care pupils, is about five), puts his hands over his eyes.

BUSTER
    (moaning)
    Finger-kissin’! Oh, no!

    MOLLY laughs and pulls her hand back.

MOLLY
    Thank you. Really.

HATCH
    Yeah--thanks, boss.
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MIKE
    No problem.

PIPPA
    Dad, is my head still little? I felt it get little when Mr. Anderson said. Is it still little?

HATCH
    No, honey, just the right size.

    MIKE walks to the foot of the stairs. MOLLY meets him. RALPHIE is there, too; MIKE picks him up and kisses the red mark on the bridge of the little boy’s nose. MOLLY kisses MIKE’S cheek.

MOLLY
    I’m sorry if I pulled you away at a bad time. I saw her head that way and when I couldn’t get it to come out on my own, I just. . . freaked.

MIKE
    It’s okay. I needed a break, anyway.

MOLLY
    Is it bad down at the store?

HATCH
    Bad enough. You know how it is when there’s a storm coming . . . and this is no ordinary storm. (to PIPPA) Got to go back, sweet girl. You be good.

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    DON BLOWS ANOTHER RASPBERRY.

MIKE
    (low)
    Gee, I love Robbie’s kid.

    MOLLY says nothing, but rolls her eyes in agreement.

MIKE
    What do you say, Hatch?

HATCH
    Let’s roll while we still can. If they’re right, we’re all apt to be cooped up for the next three days. (pause) Like Pippa, with her head caught in the stairs.

    None of them laugh. There’s too much truth in what he says.

    32 EXTERIOR: THE ANDERSON HOUSE ON LOWER MAIN STREET--DAY.

    The Island Services four-wheel drive is parked at the curb. In the foreground, by