The Thabberwucky

by Manny Xavier

light theory is going to work?” asked Max. “ I mean, you did use some kind of fancy research to test that out, didn’t you?”

  “An educated guess, Maxwell” stated Dr. Porter. “But a good one. As you and Billy see it the creature can not survive in light. As that is what you both believe, the light should be able to destroy it.”

  “BELIEVE? BELIEVE?” Billy shouted, tears begin to stream from his eyes. “I told you that the Thabberwucky is real. And you can’t change that. Maybe it can’t be captured or killed at all. I can’t believe I trusted you.”

  Suddenly Billy went to rush out of the room. As he did so, his eyes filling with tears, he got caught in the wires. His momentum pulled out the plugs for lights 3 and 4. Half the room went into darkness. As he fought to free his feet, several of the cameras hit the floor. As they did, sparks flew off of them forcing Max to cover his eyes.

  “Max! Look out!” yelled Billy.

  Max opened his eyes and could see why Billy had yelled. The Thabberwucky was right in front of him. His yellow eyes were glowing and Max could see his dark furry arms. At the end of the arms his large clawed hands were almost upon Max.

  “Help, Dr. Porter. Help-get the lights on!” Billy yelled while trying to find where to plug in the lights he had ripped free in his attempt to exit the room. “Dr. Porter! Help me please!”

  Dr. Porter was speechless. He could see the Thabberwucky. The creature was massive, covered in dark fur and equipped with claws and immense fangs. It was just like Billy had described to him so many times. Its eyes were glowing yellow beams and the very presence of the creature chilled him to the bone. Dr. Porter covered his mouth and nose as a pungent odor now filled his lungs. It made his eyes water and his throat burn. He found himself mumbling in uncontrollable fear “this can’t be real, it can’t be real.”

  All of the cameras were inoperable. The lights that were supposed to contain the creature were now out. As much as Dr. Porter wanted to, he found he could not move. He was frozen in the last lit corner staring at a creature that simply could not exist. It was all too much for him to process.

  Max was terrified. The Thabberwucky was closer than it had ever been before. Max could smell it, feel its breath and saw the saliva dripping from its immense jaws. He knew that Dr. Porter could not help him.

  One look in the poor Doctor’s direction told Max that Dr. Porter was losing his mind. Billy was trying to plug in the lights but was having trouble seeing where they went. Then it occurred to Max, the Thabberwucky was not advancing. It was just sitting there. Waiting, but waiting for what?

  Max looked down to see that Dr. Porter’s watch was reflecting a mere inch-wide beam of light from its resting place on the monitor where Dr. Porter had placed it over an hour ago. This tiny separation was enough to keep the beast at bay. And maybe time enough for Billy to get the lights back on. But Max had to get Billy’s attention and he had to do so before he knocked over more equipment.

  “Billy!” Max said sternly. “Billy, listen to me, please.”

  Billy stopped floundering in the wires long enough to make eye contact with Max. Max could see that he was scared but not for himself. Billy just wanted to save Max. Max could use this to his advantage.

  “Billy, the Thabberwucky can’t reach me” Max said, nodding toward the sliver of light separating him from the creature. “You just need to calm down and get those lights plugged back in, OK?”

  Billy tried to remain calm and take in what Max was saying. The creature was so close. But he could see the light that Max was talking about. Max was right. The creature could not reach him.

  Billy had to find the right plugs. He would too. He had to save Max.

  Billy found the plugs and got them into the sockets. The lights still did not work. He felt like panicking, but Max kept telling him to remain calm.

  Slowly but surely, Billy found the last of the plugs. Then he found where the power strip had come out of the wall. He plugged it in and was about to turn the power strip on when Max called out to him.

  “Wait! Billy wait!” Max said in a hushed tone. “Not yet! We have to lead him into the center of the room first.”

  “But how?” Billy whispered back. “I don’t understand!”

  “The watch, Billy” Max said. “ You have to move the watch first-then hit the lights.”

  “But how do I do that from over there!” pleaded Billy. “I can’t be here and there at the same time.”

  Max thought for a moment. Billy was right. He could not move the watch and turn on the power strip at the same time. And the Thabberwucky would have Max in an instant once the watch was moved. He sat for what seemed the longest time-and then said suddenly, “Dr. Porter! You’ve forgotten your watch!”

  Dr. Porter was still locked in a frightful stare with the Thabberwucky. His face was ghostly white and he was still mumbling to himself. Max shouted to him again.

  “Dr. Porter! Your watch sir! You’ve forgotten your watch. They’re on the monitor, Dr. Porter. Do you see it, Dr. Porter?” Max pleaded.

  Dr. Porter came out of his catatonic state only briefly. He looked at his wrist and then to the monitor. His gaze and focus taken off the creature he focused on the watch.

  The graduation gift he had received from his mother. Dr. Porter loved that watch. Max remembered what the doctor had said. That it meant so much to him.

  “Get your watch Dr. Porter” Max ordered. “Get it before it falls to the floor!”

  Dr. Porter reached up and grabbed for the watch. As he did Max looked at Billy and yelled “NOW!”

  As Dr. Porter grabbed the watch the sliver of light faded. The Thabberwucky lunged and grabbed Max with great force. The claws tore at his clothes. Max used all the strength he had to jump out into the light on the far side of the room. Billy hit the switch and the room lit up like the sun. All except for the shadow under the box.

  As Max stood up next to Billy they could not believe their eyes. The Thabberwucky was caught. His massive size squashed into a two and half by two and a half foot square box. Any part of him that struck the light sizzled like an egg in a frying pan. Each time this occurred the Thabberwucky would wince in pain. Its eyes were no longer yellow but pale and seemed to grow lifeless with each passing moment.

  “We did it” Billy said in disbelief. “We really did it.”

  “Not yet” said Max solemnly. “We haven’t killed it yet.”

  As Max and Billy stood near the creature it seemed more pitiful than frightening. After all, the Thabberwucky had never really harmed them. And now that they thought about it, the Thabberwucky had only ever appeared when they were afraid. This got Max to thinking. Billy began to think too.

  “Billy, you thinking what I’m thinking?” Max asked with a smile.

  “Maybe this thing can’t bother us if we are not afraid of it, you mean?” Billy asked with an even bigger smile.

  “Yeah, something like that” Max replied.

  Both Max and Billy leaned down close to the Thabberwucky. They looked into the box and realized it was getting weaker by the minute. It was the size of a small dog now. Its’ fur was gray and it looked like it was getting old and wrinkly as well. Both of the boys looked at each other as a light bulb seem to come on in both their heads. As soon as it did they said stated in unison, “We are not afraid of you anymore Mr. Thabberwucky!”

  “So don’t bother coming back-or next time we will open this box-and destroy you forever,” Max added, Billy nodding his approval.

  The Thabberwucky gave a whimper from inside the box. Max and Billy stood up and moved to the switch Billy had turned on only moments before. Billy put his hand on the switch and as he did the Thabberwucky’s eyes seemed to glow yellow again. It almost seemed to smile.

  “We are letting you go-understand?” Max said decidedly. “But on one condition. You can’t bother us anymore. Got it?”

  The creature seemed to f
lare a moment, and then gave a final whimper as it drew a clawed hand out of the burning light. It was clear that it understood. It would not be back again. The cure for defeating the Thabberwucky was not light, it was courage. And Max and Billy had found that courage together. With a little help from Dr. Porter of course.

  “Dr. Porter!” Billy suddenly shouted. “Max, we forgot about Dr. Porter.”

  “Oh, yeah!” Max added. “Thabberwucky, Dr. Porter is off limits too, you understand. You can’t bother him ever again either. Got it?”

  The Thabberwucky turned its eyes toward Dr. Porter who was now looking at his watch, but still mumbling incoherently. The creature seemed to grow in strength from Dr. Porter’s fear. Max made sure that he was understood. He leaned a light onto the box causing the creature to draw even further under the box for protection. It whimpered once again as Max got really close, almost nose-to-nose.

  “Dr. Porter is off limits. Are we clear?” Max demanded.

  The Thabberwucky whimpered in apparent agreement. With that Billy hit the switch. The Thabberwucky retreated into the shadows of the corner of the room. He stood at full height and became as big as ever. Max and Billy stood their ground.

  “Ten feet or two-hundred, we are no longer afraid of you” Max said defiantly. “Now beat it and don’t come back.”

  “Yeah, same goes for me,” declared Billy in agreement.

  With a fierce snarl the Thabberwucky vanished. He did