The Babysitter

The day before yesterday, with only a few days of freedom left before school begins, I thought to catch up with my leisurely reading.
I wanted to read a short book taht would take only a few hours' time. Upon browsing the shelf, "The Babysitter" by R.L. Stine seemed a good choice. It's a very short story, packed into the paperback pocketbook, and it only costs P50. My sister bought it in Booksale.

So yeah, R.L. Stine, known writer for horror and suspense stories. The Babysitter is no different. The picture of a girl's eye showing fear and with her hand covering her face (or maybe muffling her scream), plus the tagline "Every step she takes, he'll be watching" is sure to give you the shivers.

The first chapter already sets the mood, bring babysitter Jenny to a creepy old Victorian mansion where she has to take care of cute blonde kid Donny.
Donny's parents, the Hagens, are described by Jenny when she meets them in Chapter 2. Mr. Hagen is seen as a nervous type who talks a lot, but who is a worrier. I can already sense that there is a back story to his attitude. Mrs. Hagen seems normmal enough. Not once throughout the story did I susper her to be anything other than a carin mother and wife.

Jenny's first night with Donny is already giving her the creeps. After Donny is put to bed there is the usual overactive imagination, sounds outside, creaky floors, ominous ticking of the clock, and animal (a cat that the Hagens didn't mention), that lend to the spooky aura of the house. What else can one expect from an old mansion? According to Mr. Hagen, the house was built before the Civil War, and the Hagens only moved in recently, so there is a lot of refurbishing to do.

R.L. Stine also likes to keep the suspense level high. He'll cut his chapters in scary scenes and leave you clamoring to read the next one to find out what happened.

Oh, and did I mention that the news headlines feature the existence of a babysitter killer? Jenny really needs the money, though. Still, I think this story can give readers the shivers because it is believable. Sure, some elements seem cliche and overused, but it's the possibility of the circumstanes that gets the attention and 'disturbs' readers. Especially babysitters.

Jenny also meets briefly a "short but powerfully built" man who wears a read plaid lumberjack shirt who introduces himself as the next door neighbor. He's a suspicious dude who seems too nosy for his own good, but could be someone to turn to for help since he offered it. Or--he could be the killer.

Stine also introduces Chuck, a goofy class-clown who is new to the school but already popular .He's actually shy when it comes to liking Jenny. But he's a trickster, and Jenny sees that he has the potential to be dangerous. He could be the killer, right?

Every Thursday and Saturday nights, Jenny commutes to the Hagen house which is quite far from her home, and is located farther from where she usually babysits. She takes care of Donny so Mr. and Mrs. Hagen can enjoy themselves. She learns later that these special evenings are promoted by Mrs. Hagen because they're opportunities to get nervous Mr. Hagen to relax. When the Hagens return, Mr. Hagen drives Jenny home.

But is the job worth it when you start getting creepy phone calls at night. The stranger says nothing but "Hi Babes! Are you all alone in that big house? Don't worry--company's coming." What's with the term of endearment "babes" anyway? Having finished the book, there seems to be a lack of explanation for the greeting. Is this a way to make babysitters suspect it to be some possessive guy who is their age?

Now that is seriously fucked up shit. No way am I staying at the job after one phone call like that. I'd tell the Hagens at once, nervousness or not. I'd be too shaken to stay in a creepy house in a sttrange neighborhood with onlly a helpless little boy for company. I'm like Jenny when it comes to having an active imagiination. And I'd be especially careful (and suspicious) if headlines read something about babysitters being killed.

Verdict: Stine knows how to keep readers guessing, but the cliches and over-used elements can also alert readers to possible endings. Creepy, sure, but not that scary. A forgettable read for those with hours to spare.