WEBVTT 1 00:00:02.120 --> 00:00:08.000 My name's Matt In my childhood wasn't normal, not by 2 00:00:08.039 --> 00:00:11.359 any stretch of the word. Something happened to my family 3 00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:15.080 that's almost impossible to understand, But I'm going to try 4 00:00:15.119 --> 00:00:18.719 my best to explain those five years. Five years of 5 00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:22.280 my life I spent in terror. Five years we all 6 00:00:22.359 --> 00:00:30.320 lived in fear. Five years we'll never get back. My father, Spence, 7 00:00:30.879 --> 00:00:34.479 wasn't a very strong man, both physically and mentally. He 8 00:00:34.560 --> 00:00:36.320 was the type of dad who often let our mothers 9 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:38.439 speak for the both of them. Now. He wasn't a 10 00:00:38.439 --> 00:00:41.359 complete pushover, but he often was content to just go 11 00:00:41.399 --> 00:00:45.159 with the flow rather than to alter it. He worked 12 00:00:45.200 --> 00:00:48.320 hard and dedicated his free time to us his family. 13 00:00:48.880 --> 00:00:51.479 He made sure our needs were taken care of, his 14 00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:57.679 soft assurances the unseen foundation of our family. My mother, Megan, 15 00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:01.920 was the head of our house. She was outspoken, independent, 16 00:01:01.960 --> 00:01:04.640 and extremely loyal to all of us. She loved my 17 00:01:04.680 --> 00:01:07.359 father's quiet ways, and even from a young age, I 18 00:01:07.400 --> 00:01:11.319 could see the chemistry flowing strong between them. My little sister, 19 00:01:11.400 --> 00:01:14.359 Stephanie was a year younger than I. She looked up 20 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:16.560 to me, and my father always told me it was 21 00:01:16.599 --> 00:01:19.879 my responsibility to look after her. We got along as 22 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:22.400 best we could, and even though I gave her all 23 00:01:22.519 --> 00:01:29.519 kinds of brotherly hardship, I did love her. We lived 24 00:01:29.519 --> 00:01:33.719 in a suburban, middle class community. Complete stock photo of 25 00:01:33.760 --> 00:01:37.400 the American Dream. My father worked a respectable nine to 26 00:01:37.400 --> 00:01:39.840 five job when my mother taught yoga classes out of 27 00:01:39.879 --> 00:01:43.879 the house. It was a neat life, organized and structured. 28 00:01:44.319 --> 00:01:47.560 Everything was discussed, considered, and acted upon. As a family. 29 00:01:48.359 --> 00:01:52.120 There was a good home to grow up in. But 30 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:58.200 that was before he showed up. That was before the 31 00:01:58.280 --> 00:02:05.560 third parent. July nineteen eighty nine, I was sitting at 32 00:02:05.560 --> 00:02:07.719 the dinner table waiting for my father to finish cooking. 33 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:10.560 It was his turn tonight, and my stomach roared for 34 00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:14.080 his rosemary chicken. My sister, Stephanie, lay on her stomach 35 00:02:14.120 --> 00:02:16.919 in the living room coloring. Her golden blonde hair fell 36 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:20.280 across her shoulders and waves, and she looked up at me, smiling. 37 00:02:21.439 --> 00:02:23.879 She extended what she had been working on, and I nodded, 38 00:02:24.199 --> 00:02:27.919 completely unimpressed. She sniffed at me and continued her sketch. 39 00:02:28.719 --> 00:02:31.639 My mother walked into the kitchen, pulling her hair back 40 00:02:31.680 --> 00:02:36.599 from her freshly showered face. Everyone gone, my father asked 41 00:02:36.599 --> 00:02:39.520 from the stove, My mother nodded, Yes, Spence, the house 42 00:02:39.599 --> 00:02:42.319 is ours again. Has so much better teaching yoga in 43 00:02:42.360 --> 00:02:45.439 the basement, so much cooler. I'm glad we finished the 44 00:02:45.439 --> 00:02:47.960 basement over the winter. My clients are relieved as well. 45 00:02:48.439 --> 00:02:52.840 It's a scorcher out there today. Mom, can you sit 46 00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:55.000 down so we can eat? I begged from my spot 47 00:02:55.000 --> 00:02:58.280 at the table. My mother turned to me and laughed, Matt, 48 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:01.400 the hungry six year old this side the Mississippi. Why 49 00:03:01.439 --> 00:03:03.360 don't you ask your dad to hurry up? He's the 50 00:03:03.360 --> 00:03:07.960 one cooking. I placed my forehead on the table. Dud, 51 00:03:08.360 --> 00:03:12.800 I'm gonna die. Stephanie looked up from her coloring book. Matt, 52 00:03:12.919 --> 00:03:16.680 don't be crazy, You're crazy, I muttered, not looking up. 53 00:03:17.280 --> 00:03:19.599 Nah Ah, she said, sticking her tongue out at me. 54 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:23.360 All right, all right, my father said, turning from the stove. 55 00:03:23.759 --> 00:03:26.039 In his hands, he held a steaming platter of chicken. 56 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.960 Come sit down, staff, the food's ready, I ordered. My 57 00:03:30.039 --> 00:03:32.919 sister the side of the seasoned meat, causing me to 58 00:03:32.960 --> 00:03:35.719 salivate as she pulled herself up from the floor. My 59 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:38.919 mother taking a place beside me, we all froze. As 60 00:03:38.960 --> 00:03:42.520 someone knocked on the front door. My mother and father 61 00:03:42.599 --> 00:03:46.080 exchanged puzzled looks. My dad placed the food down on 62 00:03:46.080 --> 00:03:49.360 the table and told us all to hold on a minute, groaning, 63 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:52.520 and watched him walk to the front door. He peeked 64 00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:56.080 through the keyhole, and I saw him visibly tense, his 65 00:03:56.159 --> 00:04:01.560 whole body cementing like a statue. Spence, who is it? 66 00:04:02.199 --> 00:04:06.439 My mother asked. My father slowly turned back round to us, 67 00:04:07.840 --> 00:04:11.719 all blood draining from his face. His eyes were wide, 68 00:04:11.759 --> 00:04:15.960 and I saw fear dilate his pupils. He licked his 69 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:21.000 lips and shot Stephanie and me a look. Spence. My 70 00:04:21.079 --> 00:04:31.040 mom pressed, her face contorted with concern. No, this can't happen, 71 00:04:31.279 --> 00:04:34.800 not again. I heard my father whisper, staring off into 72 00:04:34.839 --> 00:04:38.879 the distance. The door shook as another series of knocks 73 00:04:38.879 --> 00:04:43.759 echoed through the house. My mom stood, her voice cracking 74 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:48.759 with contagious fear. Spence, who is it? What's going on? 75 00:04:50.639 --> 00:04:54.360 I'm so sorry, my father mumbled, catching his stomach, his 76 00:04:54.439 --> 00:04:58.839 face a pale sheet. I I I have to let 77 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:02.240 him in. Before any of us could say anything else, 78 00:05:02.279 --> 00:05:05.800 my dad turned and opened the door. Dying sunlight blinded me, 79 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:11.480 and I squinted to see who our unnounced visitor was Hi, 80 00:05:12.120 --> 00:05:15.199 I'm Tommy Taffy. It's good to see you again, Spence. 81 00:05:16.959 --> 00:05:19.040 I watched as my father slowly backed away from the 82 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:22.120 open door. A man entered our house and shut the 83 00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:25.079 door behind him. My young mind tried to make sense 84 00:05:25.120 --> 00:05:27.680 of what I was seeing, but even at that young age, 85 00:05:27.720 --> 00:05:32.120 I knew something wasn't right with this unexpected guest. He 86 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:35.160 was about six foot and had a shock of golden 87 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:39.600 hair cut tight along his scalp. He wore khaki shorts 88 00:05:39.639 --> 00:05:42.920 and a white T shirt that said HI and red 89 00:05:42.959 --> 00:05:49.120 cartoon font. But that wasn't what caught my eye. It 90 00:05:49.279 --> 00:05:53.920 was his skin. It was completely devoid of pores, a 91 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:59.040 perfectly smooth, creamy texture that looked almost like soft plastic. 92 00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:03.240 His face was a pool of gentle pink, his mouth 93 00:06:03.800 --> 00:06:07.240 a cheerful cut along his cheeks, revealing a white strip 94 00:06:07.279 --> 00:06:11.279 of teeth, But they weren't teeth, it was just a 95 00:06:11.360 --> 00:06:16.959 smooth edgeless row, like he had a mouth guard on. 96 00:06:17.079 --> 00:06:19.920 His nose was just a slight rise out of his face, 97 00:06:20.000 --> 00:06:25.680 like a doll void of nostrils. And his eyes, his 98 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:29.959 eyes were twin puddles of sparkling blue shining out at 99 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:33.720 us from his flawless, eerie face. They were wide, like 100 00:06:33.800 --> 00:06:36.480 he was in a constant state of surprise, and they 101 00:06:36.519 --> 00:06:38.959 shifted around the room to look at us in quick 102 00:06:39.079 --> 00:06:45.160 jarring motion. His smile widened and he raised a flawless 103 00:06:45.199 --> 00:06:48.920 hand to us at the table. Hi, I'm Tommy Taffy. 104 00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:52.560 It's good to meet you. I noticed he didn't have 105 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:56.639 any finger, nails or skin defects, no wrinkles or bruises, nothing. 106 00:06:56.680 --> 00:07:01.279 It was like he was a living, talking, human sized 107 00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:07.480 doll spent. My mother croaked, recognition blooming in her eyes. 108 00:07:09.240 --> 00:07:12.800 It's gonna be okay, Megan, my father said, voice shaking, 109 00:07:13.519 --> 00:07:17.360 Just be polite to our new guest. Okay. The man 110 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:22.759 Tommy cocked his head towards my father. Ha ha. My 111 00:07:22.879 --> 00:07:25.639 dad took a step back, raising his hands. I mean 112 00:07:25.720 --> 00:07:31.240 our new friend. The frozen smile never left Tommy's molded face. 113 00:07:35.240 --> 00:07:38.240 There was no humor in his strange laugh. It sounded 114 00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:40.959 like he was clearing his throat or imitating a really 115 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:45.600 bad chuckle. It was too pronounced, each syllable sounding too deliberate. 116 00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:49.680 My father forced a smile onto his face. I meant 117 00:07:50.680 --> 00:07:53.160 he looked desperately at my mother, who offered him no help. 118 00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:57.279 Her body froze in an absolute fear. I meant meet 119 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:03.560 meet your new parent kits. Stephanie, who was standing by 120 00:08:03.600 --> 00:08:07.519 our mother, frowned. He is not our dad, you are. 121 00:08:08.160 --> 00:08:11.480 Why does he look so funny, Stephanie? My mother hissed, 122 00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:15.879 gripping my sister's shoulder. Tommy laughed and walked forward to 123 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:18.839 crouch in front of Stephanie. It's not nice to make 124 00:08:18.839 --> 00:08:23.399 fun of people who look different, is it. My sister 125 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:27.560 looked at her feet, blushing. Tommy tasseled her hair. It's okay, 126 00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:30.800 buck up, kiddo, We're going to get along, just fine. 127 00:08:31.160 --> 00:08:33.399 I'm going to help your parents raise you. It's a 128 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:36.960 big job being a mommy and a daddy. Sometimes mommy 129 00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:41.320 and daddy's need help. Tommy turned to my parents that 130 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:45.279 ever present plastic smile stretching his face. I help their 131 00:08:45.360 --> 00:08:49.360 mommy and daddies raise them. Isn't that right? Spence? Meghan? 132 00:08:51.799 --> 00:08:56.720 Meghan pulled Stephanie away, as my father nodded nervously that 133 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:00.720 that's right, kids, he did. Tommy smiled and turned to me. 134 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.279 I was still sitting at the table, taking the odd 135 00:09:04.279 --> 00:09:07.960 scene in. I didn't understand what was happening. Didn't know 136 00:09:07.960 --> 00:09:10.440 who this weird looking man was or what he wanted. 137 00:09:11.519 --> 00:09:13.879 What he was saying didn't make sense, but my parents 138 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:17.600 seemed to know him, so I kept my speculations to myself. 139 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:23.399 And you must be Matt, Tommy said, walking over to me. 140 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:26.879 I didn't look at him, and fanning my eyes to 141 00:09:26.919 --> 00:09:30.879 stare at my empty plate. I suddenly wasn't hungry anymore. 142 00:09:31.080 --> 00:09:33.879 I could feel the strange man beside me, his presence 143 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:36.679 filling my head. I licked my lips and filled my 144 00:09:36.759 --> 00:09:39.480 heart begin to race. I didn't like this intruder, or 145 00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:44.080 something about him felt dangerous. Tommy walked behind me, chuckling, 146 00:09:44.120 --> 00:09:48.240 his hands sliding over my slender shoulders. Oh, it looks 147 00:09:48.279 --> 00:09:51.200 like we have a shy one. That's okay, I'll help 148 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:54.440 him with that, he said to my parents. His fingers 149 00:09:54.480 --> 00:09:57.279 dug into my skin and I winced, but kept my 150 00:09:57.320 --> 00:10:03.120 mouth shut. Don't touch him. My mother hissed, eyes going wide. 151 00:10:03.159 --> 00:10:08.519 Tommy looked up at her mouth stretched, ha ha. My 152 00:10:08.639 --> 00:10:12.480 dad outstretched his hand alarmed. Eh, don't be so rude, megan. 153 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:16.240 Tommy continued to stare at my mother, who nervously lowered 154 00:10:16.279 --> 00:10:21.120 her eyes. Are you staying for dinner, Stephanie suddenly asked, 155 00:10:21.159 --> 00:10:25.000 breaking the tense silence, the eerie doll man let go 156 00:10:25.080 --> 00:10:27.639 of my shoulders, one of his hands sliding across my 157 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.759 cheek and into my hair. Oh yes, I'll be here 158 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:35.240 for quite a while. And that was how Tommy Taffy 159 00:10:35.919 --> 00:10:41.360 entered our lives. At six years old, I didn't know 160 00:10:41.399 --> 00:10:44.080 any better than to seriously question what was happening. Even 161 00:10:44.120 --> 00:10:47.840 though my parents acted unsettled at his arrival, their constant 162 00:10:47.879 --> 00:10:51.480 assurances that he was a friend pushed away any lingering 163 00:10:51.519 --> 00:10:54.440 doubt that I had. As the days turned into weeks, 164 00:10:54.879 --> 00:10:57.519 I began to grow accustomed to Tommy's presence in our house. 165 00:10:58.159 --> 00:11:03.559 My initial fear slowly receded to wary caution. I soon 166 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.720 learned that Tommy didn't like company. Whenever my mom had 167 00:11:06.759 --> 00:11:09.279 her yoga classes, Tommy would pull her off into a 168 00:11:09.320 --> 00:11:12.000 corner and whisper something to her. I would watch all 169 00:11:12.039 --> 00:11:14.559 this with silent eyes. I would see my mother's face 170 00:11:14.600 --> 00:11:18.879 grow pale, and she would nod, whispering back unknown assurances. 171 00:11:19.639 --> 00:11:23.120 Then Tommy would turn that ever present smile plastered on 172 00:11:23.159 --> 00:11:26.480 his face and walk upstairs until the class was over. 173 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:30.559 My parents told Stephanie and I that we weren't to 174 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:33.480 talk about Tommy to our friends outside of the house. 175 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:36.720 Tommy wasn't a part of our lives. I don't know why, 176 00:11:36.759 --> 00:11:41.120 but both my sister and I obeyed. Another thing I 177 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:44.279 noticed was that Tommy never ate. He would sit at 178 00:11:44.279 --> 00:11:46.960 the table with us, but never partook in the meal. 179 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:50.440 Stephanie asked him once if he was ever hungry, and 180 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:55.000 Tommy just smiled at her silently and stroked her head. 181 00:11:55.440 --> 00:11:58.240 During the evenings, he would gather our family into the 182 00:11:58.279 --> 00:12:00.600 living room and give us a short lets on how 183 00:12:00.639 --> 00:12:03.600 to be a good person. My parents never spoke during 184 00:12:03.639 --> 00:12:07.440 these talks, just sat next to us nodding. Tommy told 185 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:09.879 us not to make fun of others, to love our 186 00:12:09.919 --> 00:12:13.720 friends and enemies, and always help those in need. He 187 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:16.720 told us that's why he was here with us to 188 00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:19.519 help my parents raise us. That we could come to 189 00:12:19.559 --> 00:12:21.200 talk to him if we ever had a problem at 190 00:12:21.200 --> 00:12:25.720 school or didn't know how to handle certain situations. It 191 00:12:25.799 --> 00:12:28.840 went on like this for a month, and that's when 192 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:39.840 my mother lost it. August nineteen eighty nine, my father 193 00:12:39.879 --> 00:12:41.639 had just arrived home from work and I was sitting 194 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.200 at the kitchen table during my homework. My mother was 195 00:12:44.200 --> 00:12:46.720 cooking dinner, and Stephanie was practicing her dance for an 196 00:12:46.759 --> 00:12:49.919 upcoming school play. She was going to be a ballerina 197 00:12:49.960 --> 00:12:52.360 and had three weeks to learn a few simple spins 198 00:12:52.399 --> 00:12:55.519 and twirls. She had been diligently practicing over the past 199 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:59.039 few days, but just couldn't get it right. She was young, 200 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:03.600 and her temper was getting the better of her. That's 201 00:13:03.639 --> 00:13:07.080 when Tommy decided to help her. He had been sitting 202 00:13:07.080 --> 00:13:09.360 on the couch watching her, when suddenly he rose and 203 00:13:09.399 --> 00:13:13.240 stood behind my sister, placing his hands gently on her shoulders. 204 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:17.279 Let me help, sweebee, he cooled, his voice, carrying a 205 00:13:17.360 --> 00:13:20.399 cheerful note. My mother spun around from the stove, and 206 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:24.360 I saw her visibly tense. She didn't like Tommy touching us. 207 00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:26.679 She gripped the wooden spoon in her hand until her 208 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:30.759 knuckles went white, watching as Tommy crouched and cupped Stephanie's 209 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:33.720 body with his He took her hands in his from 210 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:37.799 behind and guided her arms and waist. His cheek pressed 211 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:41.759 gently against my sisters. Tommy let her learn on her own. 212 00:13:42.159 --> 00:13:45.759 My mother said, her voice shaking. Tommy didn't even look 213 00:13:45.759 --> 00:13:49.639 at her. Just kept guiding my sister. I could hear 214 00:13:49.639 --> 00:13:52.200 my father coming down the stairs, freshly changed from a 215 00:13:52.279 --> 00:13:54.679 day of the office. Tommy spun my sister, and for 216 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:57.960 the first time, she nailed the twirl, her little feet 217 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:01.320 twisting her body in a complete circle. Tommy clapped his 218 00:14:01.360 --> 00:14:05.080 hands once and then leaned down and kissed Stephanie on 219 00:14:05.159 --> 00:14:09.799 the cheek. Good girl, don't do that, my mother shrieked, 220 00:14:10.000 --> 00:14:12.879 dropping the spoon, her face drained of blood. I jumped 221 00:14:12.879 --> 00:14:16.399 in my seat at the table and swallowed hard. I 222 00:14:16.440 --> 00:14:19.080 didn't know why my mom was getting so upset. He 223 00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:24.279 was just helping her. I also knew deep down that 224 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:26.159 it was a bad idea to yell at the new 225 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:28.799 member of our family. He was the gut instinct of 226 00:14:28.840 --> 00:14:31.960 a child, a gentle warning that rumbled in my head. 227 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:37.960 Tommy stood. My father was standing at the foot of 228 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:43.159 the stairs, now frozen, unsure what to make of the confrontation. Megan, 229 00:14:43.200 --> 00:14:49.600 what's wrong, he asked. My mother's eyes never left Tommy Spence. 230 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:52.519 I can't do this anymore. I can't keep pretending everything 231 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.159 is all right. We know what this monster is, we 232 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:57.720 know what he did to our town all those years ago. 233 00:14:58.159 --> 00:15:03.960 I want him out of our house. My father's eyes 234 00:15:04.000 --> 00:15:09.480 went wide. Panic bloomed in his face. Meghan, he licked 235 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:12.279 his lips, eyes darting back and forth at all of us. 236 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:19.279 Don't be rude. Tommy has been a big help. My 237 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:24.080 mom gritted her teeth. Stop that, stop pretending we want 238 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:29.759 him here. I can't watch this. I want him out. 239 00:15:30.399 --> 00:15:33.879 Very slowly, Tommy walked into the kitchen and stood in 240 00:15:33.960 --> 00:15:37.840 front of my mother. He looked down at her, his 241 00:15:37.960 --> 00:15:43.000 perfect blue eyes shining like crystal moons. His voice was 242 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:47.399 like frozen silk. Megan, would you come down to the 243 00:15:47.399 --> 00:15:50.519 basement with me. I need to have a few words 244 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:55.159 with you. My mother took a step back. Get away 245 00:15:55.200 --> 00:15:59.399 from me, get away from my family. You're not welcome 246 00:15:59.440 --> 00:16:02.799 here anymore. She turned desperate eyes to my father. Spence, 247 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:07.600 do something. My dad raised his hands in a gesture 248 00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:12.600 of helplessness. I could see he was terrified. Stephanie was 249 00:16:12.639 --> 00:16:15.919 watching from the living room, her lip quivering, eyes watering. 250 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.639 I suddenly wanted to go comfort, but I felt glued 251 00:16:19.679 --> 00:16:24.799 to my chair. Come on now, Megan, just a quick word, 252 00:16:25.559 --> 00:16:29.480 fuck you? My mother spat. I gasped, heart dropping into 253 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:32.720 my stomach. I never heard my mother swear before at it. 254 00:16:32.720 --> 00:16:36.679 It scared me stiff. Suddenly, Tommy grabbed my mother by 255 00:16:36.720 --> 00:16:39.600 the back of the neck, the smile never leaving his face, 256 00:16:39.639 --> 00:16:42.720 and yanked her to the basement door. Spence, stop him, 257 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:46.759 help me, my mother screamed, helplessly, trying to remove Tommy's 258 00:16:46.759 --> 00:16:49.240 iron grip from her. Tommy shot my dad a look 259 00:16:49.240 --> 00:16:54.879 that froze him where he stood. I'm sorry, Megan, we 260 00:16:54.960 --> 00:16:58.240 need to do what he says, he cried. Stephanie was 261 00:16:58.240 --> 00:17:01.519 now openly crying, hands at her sighs, tears running down 262 00:17:01.559 --> 00:17:04.319 her face. I felt sick as I watched Tommy open 263 00:17:04.359 --> 00:17:08.119 the basement door and drag my mother down into the darkness. 264 00:17:09.400 --> 00:17:15.160 The door slammed close behind them. He was silent for 265 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:23.720 a few minutes, and then then the screams began. I 266 00:17:23.799 --> 00:17:28.160 never heard my mother scream before, and the sound of 267 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:31.960 it shattered me. My father ran into the kitchen and 268 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:34.599 scooped me up into his arms, then snatched up Stephanie 269 00:17:34.599 --> 00:17:37.200 into his other one. He marked us upstairs to his 270 00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:40.200 bedroom and dumped us on the bed. We sat huddled 271 00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:44.319 like that for hours, none of us speaking a word. 272 00:17:46.680 --> 00:17:55.480 My mother continued to scream. Finally, long after the sun set, 273 00:17:57.079 --> 00:18:02.240 we heard the basement door open. Mom's sleeping in the 274 00:18:02.319 --> 00:18:17.640 basement tonight, Tommy called out. March nineteen ninety one. Two 275 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:21.119 years passed after that night. My mother never resisted or 276 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:23.519 talked back to Tommy again. When she came out of 277 00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.759 the basement the following morning, I expected to see her 278 00:18:25.759 --> 00:18:29.839 covered in bruises and blood, but I could see no 279 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:35.759 visible signs of violence. I was too young to understand 280 00:18:35.759 --> 00:18:39.119 what had happened, why my mother now walked with a 281 00:18:39.160 --> 00:18:41.480 limp and would for the rest of her life. She 282 00:18:41.519 --> 00:18:43.720 didn't speak to my father for a month. Even then, 283 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:46.599 it was just enough to get by, I'd asked my father. 284 00:18:46.680 --> 00:18:50.240 Crying a lot during those two years, I didn't know 285 00:18:50.279 --> 00:18:52.039 what happened to my family, but I kept my mouth 286 00:18:52.039 --> 00:18:57.200 shut and obey the rules. Listen to Tommy, don't talk 287 00:18:57.200 --> 00:19:02.480 about Tommy to others. Things went calm during those two years. 288 00:19:02.839 --> 00:19:05.359 Tommy continued to give us life lessons and be part 289 00:19:05.400 --> 00:19:08.480 of our home. No one but my family knew he 290 00:19:08.519 --> 00:19:12.039 was living with us. He was our secret, the dark 291 00:19:12.160 --> 00:19:15.839 star that hung above our heads. I learned to smile 292 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:19.079 around Tommy, as did my sister. If he thought we 293 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:24.599 were happy. He seemed more relaxed that night, my mother 294 00:19:24.720 --> 00:19:30.359 challenged him. That changed everything. Every couple of months, Tommy 295 00:19:30.359 --> 00:19:33.400 would assert his authority over my parents. He would test them, 296 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:36.599 stretch the limits of their patience and nerves. Most of 297 00:19:36.599 --> 00:19:38.839 the time, my father and mother would humbly submit to 298 00:19:38.880 --> 00:19:41.559 whatever mine games he played with them. Most of the time, 299 00:19:41.599 --> 00:19:44.200 he would do or say something to Stephanie or myself 300 00:19:45.039 --> 00:19:49.799 always made me uncomfortable. Sometimes he would have us sit 301 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:53.160 in his lap while he stroked our hair. Sometimes he'd 302 00:19:53.160 --> 00:19:57.160 sing strange songs to my sister about love. Sometimes he 303 00:19:57.160 --> 00:19:59.720 would make us take a bath together while he watched. 304 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:04.880 I always put on a brave face during these times. Stephanie 305 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:09.079 was young still, so she wasn't as bothered as I was. 306 00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:13.400 It was uncomfortable. I would look at my parents for 307 00:20:13.480 --> 00:20:17.000 guidance with pale faces. They would nod silently, and I 308 00:20:17.079 --> 00:20:21.680 continued in whatever activity were forced into doing. It was 309 00:20:21.720 --> 00:20:24.119 in the early part of nineteen ninety one when the 310 00:20:24.160 --> 00:20:28.559 next awful thing happened to my family. Tommy pushed the 311 00:20:28.599 --> 00:20:32.400 limits once again. I rubbed sleep from my eyes and 312 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:35.359 looked at my racecar clock on the wall. The glow 313 00:20:35.440 --> 00:20:38.920 in the dark hands read two am. I could hear 314 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:41.160 something in the hallway outside of my room. It sounded 315 00:20:41.200 --> 00:20:50.880 like someone crying. It was Tommy. I checked the dark 316 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:52.720 corners of my room to make sure he wasn't there 317 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:55.920 watching me sleep. When I was assured he wasn't, I 318 00:20:55.960 --> 00:20:58.480 pulled the covers away and slipped to the floor. I 319 00:20:58.519 --> 00:21:00.519 crept to my door and looked out into the darkness. 320 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:03.839 I could see a figure standing on the floor by 321 00:21:03.839 --> 00:21:07.480 my sister's closed door, a person. I squinted in the 322 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:09.680 black and realized it was my father, with his hands 323 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:15.839 over his face. He was sobbing his back against the wall. Dad, 324 00:21:16.039 --> 00:21:19.359 I whispered. My father looked up and immediately showed me 325 00:21:19.400 --> 00:21:22.839 back into my room. I just stood there as my 326 00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:26.079 eyes adjusted to the night. My father's face was a 327 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:30.640 mess of blood and bruises. Go back to bed, Matt, please, 328 00:21:31.200 --> 00:21:34.880 he cried. I took a hesitant step out into the hallway. 329 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:38.720 What happened to your face? What's going on? Did Tommy 330 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:43.200 do that? My father's eyes went wide and he shushed me. No, no, 331 00:21:43.359 --> 00:21:46.599 of course not. Don't say such things. Tommy is a 332 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:51.200 He's here to help us be a better family. I 333 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:53.200 walked closer to my dad and froze. As I passed 334 00:21:53.240 --> 00:21:57.640 my sister's door, I could hear muffled cries from inside. 335 00:21:57.680 --> 00:22:03.240 I could I could hear fear, Dad, I whispered, pointing 336 00:22:03.240 --> 00:22:09.079 to the door, what's wrong with Stephanie. My father wiped 337 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:12.480 a trail of blood from his lips, eyes watering, anguish, 338 00:22:12.519 --> 00:22:16.559 stretching his features, Come here, man, I crawled on to 339 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:19.799 his outstretched arms. As something loud banged against the wall 340 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:23.000 from my sister's room. I jumped and my father curled 341 00:22:23.039 --> 00:22:25.960 me up into his chest. I could feel tears dripping 342 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:33.039 onto my head as he fought back misery. Tommy's in there, 343 00:22:33.119 --> 00:22:38.279 isn't he? He said quietly. My dad stiffled, yes, sir. 344 00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:46.319 I looked up into his bloody face. What did you do? Dad? 345 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:50.240 My dad tried to smile, but his face wouldn't cooperate. 346 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:55.319 He he wanted to do something with your sister. I 347 00:22:55.359 --> 00:23:02.160 didn't like. I told him no. As he spoke, I 348 00:23:02.200 --> 00:23:04.519 realized I could hear my mother crying from the bedroom. 349 00:23:05.799 --> 00:23:09.400 My dad cupped his hand unt of my chin. We 350 00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:15.240 can't say no to Tommy, okay, remember that? My sister 351 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:18.559 screamed from her bedroom. A shrill piercing cry that shook 352 00:23:18.599 --> 00:23:23.079 me to my soul. I gripped my father's arm. Why 353 00:23:23.160 --> 00:23:32.799 is he here, I whispered, Why can he just go away? 354 00:23:33.000 --> 00:23:35.759 My father was silent a moment, and then he lowered 355 00:23:35.759 --> 00:23:39.279 his mouth to my ear. Listen to me, Matt, this 356 00:23:39.440 --> 00:23:44.279 is very important when you grow up, do not have children. 357 00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:51.319 He follows those with children. I shifted in my father's 358 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:54.279 arms as something was dragged across the hard wooden floor 359 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:56.880 from the other side of the wall. My father gritted 360 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:59.960 his teeth, more tears spilling. We don't know who he 361 00:24:00.160 --> 00:24:02.440 is or what he is. He came to our town 362 00:24:02.480 --> 00:24:04.480 when we were little boys and little girls, just like 363 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:07.440 you and Stephanie. Your mother and I lived two houses 364 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:14.599 down from one another. Tommy infested our street. I don't 365 00:24:14.640 --> 00:24:19.880 know how he was everywhere. Always he'd be at my house, 366 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:22.279 but also across the street and also at your mother's, 367 00:24:22.519 --> 00:24:24.880 all at the same time. I don't know what he wants, 368 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:26.880 what his purpose is. He just showed up one day. 369 00:24:28.480 --> 00:24:33.240 He just showed up. He couldn't go away. God knows. 370 00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:40.279 My father tried. Is that how Grandpa died? I asked, 371 00:24:41.240 --> 00:24:43.680 I never met my grandpa. I just knew he had 372 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:51.240 died years before I was born. My father nodded, yes, man, Tommy. 373 00:24:51.720 --> 00:24:54.400 Tommy had to teach him a lesson. He had to 374 00:24:54.440 --> 00:25:00.799 teach the entire street a lesson after that, after that, 375 00:25:02.960 --> 00:25:06.920 why can't you just just kill him? I whispered, ever 376 00:25:07.000 --> 00:25:11.720 so softly. My father brought his mouth closer to my ear, 377 00:25:11.759 --> 00:25:17.440 his voice barely audible. We tried, We tried everything. We 378 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:19.720 burned him, we shot him, we caught him into pieces, 379 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:23.200 but it never worked. He always came back knocking on 380 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:26.480 our door, and someone, someone had to pay. Someone always 381 00:25:26.559 --> 00:25:29.920 had to pay. If we didn't follow his rules, someone 382 00:25:32.119 --> 00:25:36.279 had to pay. Tommy was our secret. He was our 383 00:25:36.319 --> 00:25:41.160 invisible monster, hidden from the outside world. Deaths were covered up, 384 00:25:41.240 --> 00:25:44.240 abuse was buried under the rug because we knew. We 385 00:25:44.359 --> 00:25:50.039 knew if anyone said a word, Tommy would make it 386 00:25:50.240 --> 00:25:57.279 bad for whoever had to face his punishment. I digested 387 00:25:57.279 --> 00:25:59.279 all this with the understanding of an eight year old. 388 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:05.000 The only thing I could think of was when is 389 00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:12.039 he going away? My father kissed the top of my hand. 390 00:26:12.880 --> 00:26:16.839 Three more years, the bedroom door suddenly opened and my 391 00:26:16.839 --> 00:26:20.720 father jumped, tumbling me out of his arms. Tommy stood 392 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:24.839 in the darkness, his face perfectly composed, except he was 393 00:26:24.880 --> 00:26:29.119 breathing hard. His plastic looking face scared me. His two 394 00:26:29.119 --> 00:26:34.920 blue eyes glowing out of the black Tommy jabbed a 395 00:26:34.920 --> 00:26:38.680 thumb over his shoulder at the now silent bedroom. She's 396 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:49.960 going to sleep like a log tonight, September nineteen ninety three. 397 00:26:50.119 --> 00:26:55.880 We had one year left, one more year. I could 398 00:26:55.880 --> 00:26:59.079 almost see the desperation in my parents' eyes grow every day, 399 00:26:59.119 --> 00:27:02.960 begging the cawnd to advance. We were almost through the nightmare. 400 00:27:03.799 --> 00:27:05.680 I thought a lot about what my father had told 401 00:27:05.720 --> 00:27:09.680