Short Story Sunday Peril No. 1: "Sredni Vashtar", from the book, "More Tales to Tremble By"

Who or what is Sredni Vashtar, you might ask? Well...I'll tell you a bit about him.

He belonged to a boy named Conradin. Conradin was 10 years old and not long for this world. Because of this, Conradin had quite the imagination...or WAS it imagination? Sredni, who looked like a ferret, lived in a disused tool shed, in a forgotten corner of dull, cheerless garden of a once stately home.

Mrs. De Ropp, Conradin's cousin and guardian, took only the most basic care of Conradin. SHE had no imagination whatsoever. Conradin would pray to the great god Sredni Vashtar, "Do one thing for me, Sredni Vashtar." over and over. One day, as Conradin prayed to Sredni Vashtar, long minutes passed by. Starlings ran and flew in little parties across the lawn; finally, Sredni Vashtar granted Conradin's wish.

Later that day, the maid said: "Tea is ready; where is Mistress De Ropp? Conradin replied: "She went down to the shed some time ago."

And while the maid went to summon her mistress to tea, Conradin fished a toasting fork our of the sideboard drawer and proceeded to toast himself a piece of bread. The loud, foolish screaming of the maid made him smile; then he heard someone say "Whoever will break this news to the poor child"? Conradin smiled...and made himself another piece of toast.

You wouldn't want to run afoul of Conradin and Sredni Vashtar!

Evil children - shudder.

Yikes! Glad it didn't involve a clown with balloons and paper boats...
EEEEK! IT is scaring the HELL out of me!

Ohhh.. and what would Snape have done to him?! lol..

I love the cover - very old school but fun to see!

Sounds creepy, and I love the retro-eerie cover art on that book.