Chickensh*t Move of the Week

I got so excited the other day because I finally got to the “1408” story on Stephen King’s Everything’s Eventual book. Got everything ready – locked up the house, tucked in the kiddies, brushed my teeth, got in my freshly-laundered PJ’s then settled in bed for the story I’ve been waiting read (it’s the 12th story in the book out of 14th).

I read the intro to the story – Stephen King wrote comments either before or after the stories to give more context – and then I put the book down, turned the TV on and slept with the lights on.

What?!

Okay – you’re probably thinking, “My gosh! How bad can an intro to a story be to scare someone shitless?” Well – don’t laugh, but it wasn’t even scary at all; a bit creepy, maybe, but not scary. I guess I just wasn’t expecting it and, because I was already excited to read it, I just pushed myself over the edge.

So – what did he say? Stephen King said that he got scared himself writing the story. Then he put this bug in my head about how creepy hotel rooms are – people who’ve slept in that room may have been sick, someone may have killed themselves in that room, etc. I told you not to laugh! This is not funny to me at all.

I hate staying at hotels. I travel a lot for my job and I’ve gotten used (or psyched myself up) that it’s not a big deal. Well, now I can add another deep layer of paranoia to my escalating psychosis. I guess just as long as I don’t get any more ideas about traveling – especially about airports (where I can get arrested or shot if I accidentally trip out) – I should be okay (or appear to be normal anyway).

I finally finished the story. It wasn’t even that bad – I mean the tale is great but it was not even that scary. I had to wait until it was lunchtime to read it but I got it done. The book is fantastic. Stephen King is my favorite author – I guess because he’s able to articulate the weird stuff I got in my head. Now, I just have to wait for the movie to come out and see if I can give myself cardiac arrest or a stroke.