Ball
The madness seeps from his mind and oozes upon the brain of the unsuspecting reader. What is that now, that I hear, creeping near? It?s nothing for me to fear. Is it?

After playing in the park, till they lost their ball in the growing dark. The three children started home, they thought it was a lark. They knew better than to be heading home so late. It was way past eight. They had not gone far, when they heard the noise. The sound they heard was behind them, the girl and the two boys. They picked up their steps and hurried on. The footfalls behind, also hurried along. Getting closer they heard, so began to trot. The hearts in their chests began to knot. They looked at each other, as they could now hear the footsteps run, getting near. The terror in their eyes, showed the mounting fear. They began a frightened run, with the shadows closing in, the lark, was no longer fun. Faster and faster they ran, but with the sound gaining, they knew it must be a man. Why is he chasing us they wailed? Their faces greatly paled. Two blocks they ran, their breathing rasping, just as fast as they can. He?s still gaining on us they screeched, as they dashed across another street. It?s not much farther to my door, the girl said, as on they tore. We?ll be safe here she gasped, as the doorknob she grasped. Then from just behind them they heard, a stuttering word.
Bbballl! A kindly old man had found their ball. That?s all.

The Bad Things

How long can a man live with agonizing despair?
Pacing around pulling his hair,
it won?t be long, till there is no more there.
Do the bad things, the demons said. He fought the demons of his mind hard. He didn?t like they way they talked. The things they wanted him to do. The bad things. Always the bad things. No, I?ll not do them he screamed at them, I?ll not. Day in and day out, he fought them. It?s getting so hard he cried in the night. They?ll win at last, he sobbed. But no, I?ll fight them harder, and the demons screamed louder, do the bad things. How long can this go on, he cried? Stop, stop please stop. But the demons no longer listened; they grew ever more loud, do the bad things. He was afraid that others would soon hear them. So loud, he had a hard time, what with always shaking his head no. No, I?ll not. He laughed then, a strange laugh. His co-workers were beginning to wonder about him he knew. He could tell by the glances, they gave him as he passed. Some would speak, and say things like, keep up the good work, or your really doing well. But he knew what they really meant. He knew they were waiting to see what strange thing he would do next. And the demons kept at him, do the bad things, do the bad things. You?ll learn to enjoy it, they would say. Just once, and you will see they said. Go ahead, do the bad things. No, no I?ll not do the bad things, you can?t make me, I won?t, I won?t. But that night, they worked on his mind, did something to it. He knew he was lost at last. Yes, he finally said to the demons, I?ll do the bad things, but where do I go, it?s so late? The demons spoke softly now; they knew where to go. They led him away in the dark, and finally to the place where he would do the bad things. He was scared, but the demons where ever there to help him along. He moved to the side of the building, and looked through the window. See, the demons said. She?s all alone, no one will know, go in now, and do the bad things. He goes inside, oh how scared I am, he thought. The demons nudged him. He stepped up to the young girl at last. The demons saying now, now do the bad things. I want a triple banana split a dozen glazed donuts and a giant soda. The young man who had so far lost eighty-five pounds, took the bad things to a table and sat down. Do the bad things the demons said.