Skeleton Man

Molly states that although the house is dark and isolated, it is not that spooky. However, she has the feeling that someone is always watching her. She also thinks that her great-uncle is odd; he is rarely at home when she gets back from school, and he leaves food in the refrigerator for her that she always dumps into the garbage disposal.

Instead of watching television or videos, Molly chooses to do her homework or read a book. Now, after getting ready for bed, she finishes her homework easily and turns to a book that Ms. Shabbas has recommended. When she gets tired, she goes to sleep with the light on. Immediately, she returns to her dream from the night before. In this dream, she brings her great-uncle a partridge to eat and lies, telling him that she did not find a rabbit. Her great-uncle grabs her arm, squeezes it, and announces that she is too thin. He says, “You must eat more, my niece. Eat and grow fat for me” (43). She awakens suddenly and realizes that her room is very similar to the cave of her dream; she also realizes that the sounds she hears her great-uncle making resemble the sounds that the Skeleton Man makes when he walks.