Myles and the Monster Outside by Philippa Dowding Page B

mother just didn’t have the heart to make the old car go too fast. The blackness outside the window was endless.
    The country music radio station faded in and out. Myles could hear the funny hiss of static as the signal was lost.
    Norman and Bea snored softly in the back seat.
    The hiss of the radio and the gentle snoring calmed Myles. He looked over the field. His family was going to be okay. They were on the right road. Soon they’d be in Nobleville, which would be a nice alternative to living in a car for the rest of their lives. He was actually starting to WANT to get to his new home, his new town, his new school. Anything would be better than this.
    Whatever is out there can’t get me now, Myles thought. All I have to do is let Mom drive a little longer, and soon this night will be behind us forever.
    He almost felt himself chuckle. Maybe it was kind of cool … even if Bea didn’t believe it, Myles knew they saw ghosts . Real ones. The trip had been quite an adventure, a story to tell one day. And the monster? Well, whatever it was, it was outside and Myles was inside the car.
    He let his eyes glaze over and stared out into the dark …
    â€¦ TWO HUGE RED EYES glared back at him.
    The monster was running along the road beside the car!
    Two huge misty legs strode, wispy arms reached out, a monstrous grey head waved among the trees. Dark red eyes looked right at him.
    Myles stared, too scared to scream.
    The monster’s eyes were red as fire, its body a dancing grey mist. Myles could faintly see the dark field behind it. A black place opened where a mouth should be.…
    â€¦ I see you, Myles .…
    Then the monster leapt over the car!
    â€œMom! Look out!” Myles shouted.
    His mother took her eyes off the road for a second and looked at Myles. She frowned again.
    â€œMyles, are you okay? You’re white as a … sheet.” Myles was very glad his mother hadn’t said “ghost.”
    Myles felt sick.
    What if he never got rid of IT? WHAT IF THE MONSTER FOLLOWED HIM FOREVER?
    His heart hammered in his chest. It was now or never. Time to tell his mother the truth. His voice was shaky and wobbly.
    â€œMom, there’s something following me! But you can’t see it! I saw a weird man, a monster, on an island from the ferry … and I didn’t tell you. But it’s out there. It’s following me. It’s here now!” Myles’s voice shivered with fear. His mother put a hand on Myles’s shoulder and tried to calm him, but it wasn’t all that easy since she was driving.
    â€œLook, I understand that you’re scared about something, Myles. I’m sorry. That old man and his dog … well, it’s late. We shouldn’t have driven all night, it’s not fair to you and to Norman and Bea, I realize that now. I hoped you guys would just sleep, but it’s been a terrible night, what with the … story at the diner. And the truck wreck and the detour, then the deer. And the storm. It’s all weird. Plus you’re moving to a new house for the first time in your life. I’m not surprised you’re upset, when you’re so tired and everything is so strange. You’re a sensitive boy, Myles, plus you’ve got a great, some might even say overactive, imagination.”
    Myles could feel his mother’s voice soothing him. He tried to take a few deep breaths.
    â€œIt’s okay to be scared of new things sometimes. But you can’t let fear decide your journey, or your future. Soon we’ll all be together again and this night will just be a distant memory. Hey, look!” She pointed at a green sign beside the highway as they drove past.
    â€œDid you see that sign? It said NOBLEVILLE 65 . We’re almost there! We’ll see Dad soon!” She sounded happy. Myles was a tiny bit relieved to see the word “Nobleville,” so solidly real, on the sign. His dad and his new home weren’t far. Up