Even though it would have only taken us maybe ten minutes to walk to the diner, Mom drove us. She had always insisted that you never knew when something would come up and you'd need you car. She said if you were out later than expected and was either too tired to walk or felt unsafe, then you'd wish you'd had brought your vehicle. Also there was a chance of emergency or a change in plans that made you want to go to other places while you were out. My feeling was that ten minutes was ten minutes. Nothing really unsafe about such a short distance. It would be simply just to walk it even in the event one of those things came up. Even so, I had learned not to argue with her and just go along with whatever. If I didn't, it was usually considered 'back-talk' and deserving of a verbal or physical lashing...or both.

We took our usual spot in the cafe. My mom had a penchant for going out or taking small weekend vacations to get her mind off things. She'd always take me with her. Thinking about it, I realized she didn't really have any friends either. I don't think these little escapes ever worked though and often she'd only end up complaining about finances. It was something I pointed out to her once is that if she was so concerned with money, that not running out all the time and spending money like that would help. And yes, I was yelled out, shoved against a wall, and grounded for weeks.

I looked around the restuarant and saw several other students there. Nobody I knew too well, but I recognized their faces. I guess Phil and I weren't the only ones playing hookey. In light of circumstances, most of the parents in Springwood had become clingy. Even some of the teachers had become lax and gave us more leeway. Of course, a few kids took advantage and there was that one bitter professor who constantly complained that there was shit happening in the world all the time and it wasn't helping anyone to baby children when something did go wrong. I had actually kind of agreed with him. Wouldn't say it though. Everyone at school fucking hated the guy. I put my attention back on the menu in front of me and scanned it with my eyes, even though I already knew what I was going to order.

"I think I might actually get a burger today," Mom stated absentmindedly not removing her gaze from the plastic covered paper in her hands.

"Sounds good," I said, then prompted, "And a milkshake?"

She looked up at me then, lips pursing in thought before shaking her head, "No... No, that would be too much."

I stared at her as she put the menu down in front of her and reached for her glass of water. She had grown quite thin over the last several months. I hardly saw her eat anymore even when we were out like this, she often just picked at her food. She'd told me in the past that when she was upset, her appetite would disappear. I, on the other hand, was constantly hungry. Mom had even put me on diets to make sure I didn't gain weight or so that I lost weight after gaining a few pounds. For the longest, I believed that I was fat. Fortunately however, I started studying myself and others. Percentages and polls of people and their weight and even BMI. It all taught me that I had never peaked higher than six or seven pounds overweight. It still didn't satisfy Mom...

"Aw come on. You're so small, you can afford the extra calories," I told her in a thick voice.

What I said was true, but I hated complimenting her on something she put me down for. I was thin too. I had always been yet I'd never heard her tell me I was as she berated me endlessly about my size. Her reaction told me that my forced kindness had served its purpose. She grinned, reaching her hand up to her cheek and mumbling aw. As fake as I was being, the response was satisfactory. Staving off the beast... In the past, I had always thought my mom and I were close. It wasn't until I started getting older and really understanding the things I liked and the things I was, that I realized that the only reason our relationship had been so good was due to the fact that I was young...incapable of very much independent thought. As a child, you tend to take to heart whatever your guardians say. If they said something was true, it was and if they said something was dangerous, you stayed away. Generally speaking, of course.

It isn't until a person begins adolescence that they really start to bloom into an individual. At that point, we start seeing our parent's flaws...the flaws in other adults and realizing that the world is scare because people judge you, not because they have guns and grimaces. I felt that everyone deserved to be accepted and appreciated as an individual. As unique from others in their own ways. However...it seemed that everyone agreed with my mother to a point that who I was on the inside was not who I should be. That I wasn't worthy of appreciation. So I had started to believe that I was truly despicable. There was some sort of fatal fault in my code that made my very existence undeserving.

But Freddy didn't feel that way...

"What can I get ya?" the waitress had appeared while I was lost in thought.

"I'd like a cheeseburger and fries," Mom said.

"I'll take a chicken strip dinner," I stated softly.

"Coming right up," the woman grinned, jotting the note and taking our menus back before scurrying away.

"Did I miss anything on the news this morning?" I asked my mom.

She paused a moment, then answered, "Nothing important, dear."

I couldn't tell if that was true. If she was shielding me, herself, or simply our views on what was important were different. In any case, I just accepted the answer. I wasn't going to prod and risk more anger and aggravation on both our parts.

"What about Phil? How is he holding up?" she inquired, resting eyes on my that didn't really seem too interested.

"Um..." my thoughts instantly flashed back to the kiss with Amy's grieving boyfriend that morning...the awkward moment afterwards... "About as good as can be expected, I guess."

"Poor thing," Mom said softly, her eyes glancing downward at the hands she was rubbing together.

Our conversation hit a lull. It was obvious neither one of us had anything to say to the other or else, nothing not antagonistic... And it seemed to take longer than normal for the food to be ready. Amy had actually worked at the diner for awhile. She said that everything came frozen so all that was necessary was to throw the stuff on the grill or in the microwave and heat it up, then toss it on a plate. Even the milkshakes were pre-made. A package of powder that you added milk too and blended. Not much preparation for anything on the menu. No doubt it was just the tension between my mom and I as well as that of those around us. Everyone stayed preoccupied these days...

Once again I was thinking about Freddy. This time I decided to talk about him...see if Mom knew anything about my new boyfriend so I could learn without having to converse with him directly. Of course, I would have much preferred to just talk with him, but it wasn't feasible at that moment. Besides, I wanted to know if anyone who was a hundred percent, concretely not in my mind had any inkling of such a creature. "Mom...do you remember if there was a murderer here in Springwood some years back?"

"Uh," she set her water back on the table and then gave a vague reply, "I would imagine that there would have been at least a handful of murders in any town over the years."

That wasn't satisfying at all. "Oh... I was thinking about something...more recent? Maybe someone named Freddy?"

Her body stilled...her eyes displayed shock as they stared back at me, "That's oddly specific...why do you ask?"

"It's just..." I squirmed in my seat, "Phil said when he saw Amy...he said that someone had carved the name 'Freddy' into her back."

The woman sighed, "That's awful, but I don't...your friend is under a lot of stress, hun."

She knew something. She was shying away from the topic. My survival instincts told me to leave it be yet my burning desire to know what she didn't want to tell me and prove my sanity or insanity overrode them. "It's just oddly specific..." I casually threw her own words back at her.

Mom took in a breath, closing her eyes briefly before settling them upon me again, "There was a man named Fred Krueger who lived in Springwood several decades ago..." she paused, "But he's been dead for a really long time. IF Phil did see that, I quite doubt there is any correlation."

I scowled at the insinuation that Phil was crazy or a liar, but kept on without acknowledging it, "Who did he kill?"

Another pause followed by another sigh. "They called him the Springwood Slasher and...he kidnapped numerous children and murdered them... Some say he molested them as well."

A child molester? Freddy? I should probably feel disgusted by that...or at the very least creeped out, but... "What happened to him?"

Mom sat up, clearing her throat and keeping a hushed tone, "He was burned to death by several of the parents after he wasn't able to be charged on a technicality... Your grandmother was friends of some of those people... That all happened during her time."

"Gramma lived here in Springwood?" I was enthralled with the story.

"Yes, she moved away just before I was born," she replied. "Your father and I grew up hearing ghost stories about Freddy returning from the dead... Crazy stuff," she laughed then. "He's been a sort of ghost story over the years, the legends coming and going. I suppose it's possible whoever it is that is causing all this trouble knows the old stories and are playing some sort of sick game, but otherwise... If you hear anything, Freddy is just that- a story. He's dead and gone so don't get your head filled with a silly fantasy," she pointed a warning finger at me then, "I know you like to let your imagination get the best of you."

AUTHOR'S NOTE:: Chapter originally written 10/21/2015
Chapter rewritten 10/29/2017