By Joseph Crisalli

The flames danced in the fireplace, making funny shadows on the blue walls in Iggy’s living room. It was very cold outside, but Iggy was very warm. His father had gotten Iggy all settled into his wheelchair with a cushy pillow behind his head and a blanket over his legs. Iggy felt toasty and warm. It was going to be a very fun evening.

Iggy hadn’t seen his friends much over the holidays since everyone was busy visiting their families. But, one that one particular night a few days after the New Year, Iggy and his friends would spend the whole evening together, drinking cocoa and eating the few remaining Christmas cookies. Iggy was so excited, he could hardly stand it.

When the doorbell finally rang, Iggy reached for the remote control on his chair, to wheel himself over to answer the door. Iggy’s father laughed. “No, Iggy, you stay by the fire. I’ll get the door.”

“Okay, dad,” Iggy sighed. He wondered which one of his friends had been the first to arrive. It was Tamara Johnson.

Tamara smiled widely as she walked in the door, “Happy New Year, Mr. Lambini!”

“Happy New Year to you!” Iggy’s dad answered.

Tamara hurried off into the living room to chat with Iggy. Soon after, Andrea Wyatt and Mario Cervantes arrived followed by Nesta Chen and Sean Alexander. All of Iggy’s best friends were finally there!

Iggy’s dad brought in a tray of cookies and cocoa and settled in next to the fire. “So, how did everyone spend their Christmas?”

“We had a good time,” Tamara began. “I got to sing with the choir this year at church for midnight mass.”

“I know. We saw you,” Mr. Lambini smiled.

“I had never stayed up that late in my life,” Tamara grinned. “I guess. But, none of us have been sleeping too well lately.”

“Oh? Why not?” Iggy’s dad asked.

“Well,” Tamara began. “My sister has been having a lot of nightmares lately.”

“Kathy? Is something the matter with Kathy?” Andrea asked. She liked Tamara’s older sister, Kathy, a lot. Kathy was very cool. Andrea couldn’t imagine Kathy having nightmares.

“She’s okay,” Tamara answered. “It’s just that she gets a little scared at night and it worries her. I guess when she finally does fall asleep, she’s so worried that she has nightmares.”

“What’s worrying her?” Iggy’s dad asked.

“You know…that darkness, I guess.” Tamara answered.

Sean giggled, “Your sister is afraid of the dark? But, she’s 11. She’s too old for that.”

“Now, now, Sean,” Iggy’s father said softly, but sternly.

“Why is she afraid?” Iggy asked.

“She says that she just doesn’t know what’s out there when it’s dark. She says she doesn’t like not being able to see what’s around her.” Tamara answered.

“Oh,” Iggy said.

“She’s seen some pretty weird things lately. She’s been helping Mrs. Conn with another mystery. I guess she just gets herself upset.” Tamara continued.

“Yeah,” Iggy sighed as he looked at the flickering shadows on the wall from the fireplace. He pulled his blanket further up over his lap and sank a little lower in his wheelchair.

Iggy didn’t say much for a while. He just listened to his other friends tell about their Christmases. Finally, after another cup of cocoa and a few more cookies, Iggy forgot all about being worried about the unknown things out there in the dark.

The evening was very fun, and as fun evenings often do, passed by very quickly. Before anyone knew it, it was time for everyone to go home. Iggy and his dad said their good-byes to their guests. Iggy watched his father clean up the tray of cookies and empty mugs. He yawned. He was very sleepy. Iggy laughed.

“What’s so funny, Ig?” Iggy’s dad asked.

“I was just thinking that I didn’t do anything at all tonight, and I’m still really tired.” Iggy answered.

Iggy’s father chuckled, “You know what? I don’t think you’re tired, I think you’re relaxed. You had a fun evening and you didn’t have any worries at all. Sometimes that’s the best kind of sleepiness there is…the sleepiness after a fun evening.”

“I guess you’re right.” Iggy smiled.

“And now, young man, it’s time for you to go to bed.” Iggy’s father said, going behind Iggy’s chair and pushing it through the hallway.

Iggy’s dad helped his son put on his pajamas and lifted him out of his chair into bed. Iggy yawned again as his father tousled Iggy’s blond hair with his big hand.

“Good night, Ig. I’ll see you in the morning.” Iggy’s father said.

“Good night, dad.” Iggy answered as his father shut off the light.

Alone in the dark of his room, Iggy didn’t feel so sleepy any more. His heart started to pound and he felt nervous. He wasn’t relaxed anymore.

Iggy thought about what Tamara said. He remembered that Tamara’s sister was scared of the dark because she wasn’t sure what was out there.

Iggy strained to look around the room. Everything looked different in the dark. It was hard to make things out. That’s just what Tamara had said about her sister, “She doesn’t like not being able to see what’s around her.”

That’s the way Iggy was beginning to feel. What was out there in that dark room? Iggy didn’t like not knowing.

Suddenly there was a creaking noise. It was loud and scary and made Iggy twitch for a second.

“What was that?” Iggy thought, pulling the covers up to his chin.

“Creeeeak.” There was the noise again.

“What’s out there,” Iggy said to himself.

The room seemed darker than ever before. Iggy was frightened. He didn’t know what to do.

Sean had laughed when Tamara said her sister was afraid of the dark. Maybe it was a silly thing. Iggy wanted nothing more than to call for his dad to turn the light on. But, would his dad laugh at Iggy the same was Sean had laughed.

And, there was that creaking noise again, followed by a loud thump!

Iggy wanted to cry he was so scared.

“What should I do?” Iggy thought.

What would you do if you were Iggy? Have you ever been afraid of something? What does that feel like? Find out what Iggy does in Part II of “Iggy and the Dark, Dark Room.”