Historical December 1993 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
(Continued from the November issue.) Jason Allen, Nintendo player, has been receiving mysterious messages on his TV while playing the electronic game. lie has gone for help to Forest James, computer wizard at Blockbuster and to Alexandra Dayland , owner of the Dayland Coffee/Computer Repair.) Forest stopped daydreaming and said, “I think that what would help a lot more would be for you or us to look at the Nintendo instead of just talking about it.” “How far away is your house, Jason?
My next appointment isn’t until about sixthirty, so if I wanted to look at the system, we could go back and check it out.” “I think that would work.
I live about five blocks away.” “Then let’s go!” said Alex as she shrugged her shoulders. Forest let out a long sigh and then lifted himself to his feet. Jason held his ears as they left the building. “Wait! How are we going to get into your house and stay there without your parents seeing us?
I mean, since you were only pretending to take your dog for a walk, I would guess that you didn’t want your parents to know.” An exclamation point almost appeared over Jason’s head. “Uh…I guess if we go through the back, they might not see us.” “Getz,” Forest had his eyes fixed on the back of Alex’s hair for the rest of the way, trying to get an idea.
When they reached Jason’s house, they came around the back and through the gate to arrive at the deck. Jason popped his head into the back door to check for parents. Agatha wasn’t around. Bruce wasn’t either, but Jason remembered that last night Bruce told him he would be developing pictures. Jason twirled around and said, “I don’t see my mom, and my dad is in the darkroom making pictures.
I think that should take a while, because he doesn’t develop pictures a lot.” “Maybe we should hurry up the stairs and close the door to the room that your Nintendo is in,” said Forest as he pointed to the top floor. “Okay,” Jason opened the door. Alex examined the deck a little, as her eyes swayed right to left, and then followed Jason and Forest.
They all tiptoed as fast as they could up the carpeted stairway. Alex and Forest swished past Jason into the room, and he closed the door just slowly enough not toslam it. Jason walked over to the other two, who were kneeling in front of the Nintendo, and said, “Are you going to disassemble the Nintendo?” “I want to be able to see it first,” said Alex as she pushed the power button. Jason turned on the T.V. and said, “The game is already in there.” “You want to try it?” Alex handed the controller to Jason. “I’ll play until I get the messages.” “You know, Jason, I don’t think you need a surveillance camera up there.
This isn’t a very dangerous neighborhood,” said Forest. “Well, you never know.” Jason never looked away from the screen.
When Jason reached Toad’s House, he said, “Here I am.
When I go in here, it’ll say something weird.” Alex was grasping her chin, staring at Toad’s House, waiting.
The message said: “OH, GREAT! YOU’VE GOT SOME FRIENDS ALONG. I’M NOT GIVING UP IN WHAT I’M GOING TO DO. YOU JUST WAIT! REMEMBER, PATIENCE IS EVERYTHING.” “Gosh! Are you going to take it apart now?” asked Forest. “I guess. I’ll turn off the Nintendo.” Alex reached over to the system and turned it off as she talked. Jason and Forest watched Alex remove the top of the Nintendo and then look at things. “It doesn’t look like anything is wrong with the Nintendo at all,” said Alex as she looked up. – “There are lots of other possibilities of where the messages are coming from,” said Jason. “But I don’t really want to take apart anything else right now,” said Alex. Soon she let (without being seen), and so did Forest. 0 Another week passed as Jason waited for something to happen. Nothing did. Friday after school Jason played some Nintendo.
He put in Wizards and Warriors and just as the introduction to the game began, a message box appeared for no reason.
It read: “HA, HA. NO MATTER WHAT YOU PLAY, I’M GOING TO GET TO YOU. ANYWAY, I’VE DECIDED TO GET YOU TONIGHT.” “While I’m sleeping?” Jason thought.
He turned off the Nintendo with his toe. Later, he cautiously brushed his teeth and put on his pajamas.
Then he crawled into bed. Jason’s hazel eyes glared at nothing for a while, and then he fell off the bed He lifted off the covers and there was a slippery, rubber snake. Jason picked it up, and when the mouth opened, there was a mechanical voice that said, “Ha, ha.” The next morning when his parents left, Jason called Forest. “Hi, this is Jason.
It happened.” “What?” “I found a rubber snake in my bed that said, `Ha, ha.”‘ “Is that what the message sender did?” “Yeah.
I know that nothing can be wrong with the game, because I played my other game and another message came up.” “Then it would have to be coming through the T.V.” “But who would be able to reach my T.V.?” “Anybody.” “Why don’t weget together with Alex and tell her?” “Okay.” “Bye.” I’ll call back when I have an appointment.” “Bye.” They both hung up. Jason dialed the number for Dayland Coffee/Computer Repair and got it right the first time. “Woohoo!” shouted Jason. “What’s so great?” someone asked on the other end. Jason put his hand over his mouth and then said, “This is Jason Allen.
I want to make an appointment for today.” “Okay. You can come right over.” “Okay,” said Jason and then hung up. Jason dialed for Forest and missed the seven.
He dialed again and said, “Forest, we should come right over.” “I’ll meet you there. Bye.” When Jason came into the building, he saw Forest sitting in a chair. “Hi. Why do you always hold your ears when you come in?” “It’s an old Allen ritual.” “Right,” said Forest and then looked at the lady behind the counter. Jason asked her, “Should we go up there’?” “She’s not busy. Forest, you owe me for the coffee last week.” Forest paid her and they went upstairs. Jason knocked on the door. Alex appeared in the doorway and seemed to tower over Jason.
He walked in and said, “I know that nothing could be wrong with the actual Super Mario game, because I played a different game and I saw another message.” “Did they get you yet?” “Yeah.
The person put a rubber snake in my bed that talked through some machine in its mouth.
It said, ‘Ha, ha.— Forest said, “We were discussing that the only way the message could come through is by someone transmitting through the T.V.” The phone rang. Alex picked it up and said, “Hello…You do?…I love that placc!…0kay. You know, there’s this boy here and there’s messages coming through his Nintendo and…So soon? Why would you even call me if that was going to happen in two minutes?…Okay. Bye.” Alex slowly hung up.
Then she said, “That was weird.
My friend from Union Electric called right when she was about to have a meeting.” “I’m noticing something strange,” said Forest. “Just when you mentioned Jason and the messages, she has to go.” Jason jumped up and said, “Someone from Union Electric could’ve sent messages anywhere!” “I have an idea. Jason, how did you get out of the house today?” said Alex. “Every Saturday my parents go on their weekend shopping, and I’m alone for a while.” “Next week we could take a short trip over to my friend’s workplace and maybe ask a few questions.” “Perfect,” said Jason and grinned as he looked at the ceiling.
He looked like a mad scientist. 0 The next week, after they had agreed to meet back at Dayland Coffee/Computer, they all drove to Union Electric.
They went into the building, and Alex said, “I think she works over here,” and she led them through a door.
They arrived at the desk of a young looking lady with a pointy nose and chin. Alex introduced them. . “Hi, Jackie.
This is Jason and this is Forest.” “Oh, could you wait a second?
I have to go to the bathroom. You know, patience is—well, just a minute,” she said. Alex said, “You know what?
I really have to go, too.” They both walked off, and then Jackie ran ahead. “It’s her!” Forest screamed M a whisper. “Remember in the message it said, Patience is everything!” When Alex and Jackie returned. Jason said, “We know who you are!” He felt like doing a back flip. “What? What am IT’ “You’re an evil message sender to poor, defenseless kids, that’s what you arc!” Jason put on his mad scientist face again. “So what if I am?” asked Jackie. “So, you’re really good at it!” Jackie hardly expected a compliment at this time. “How did you get in my house that time? And put a snake in my bed?
I mean, I have a surveillance camera at home in my room.” Jackie answered, “I was controlling the camera at the time. That’s howl knew you had Forest and Alex over.” “1 had better go home soon,” said Jason. “Hope to see you soon.” “Are we friends all of a sudden?” asked Jackie. “Why not?” Jason shrugged his shoulders. “Bye,” said Jackie. Jason decided he had enough adult secret friends for now.
He arrived home and came through the back door to pretend he was on a walk. Jason went in and up the stairs.
He saw Agatha go into the bathroom. Later Jason was playing Nintendo when Agatha came in. “Jason, why are there still all these chip crumbs stuck in the bathroom rug?” • (The Times will consider publishing fiction and non-fiction writing from its readers, young people and adults. Mail ordrop offmanuscriptsat the Skinker-DeBaliviere office.
The Times would prefer receiving stories on 3.5″ computer disks as well as paper print-outs, if possible.)
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, December 1993.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1993_12.pdf, printed page(s) 7; PDF page(s) 7.
