Stranger-Danger

The ice cream truck was a fixture of the neighborhood, its cheerful jingle echoing through the streets every afternoon. Children would come running, clutching coins and laughter, drawn by the promise of sweet treats. But it wasn’t just the ice cream that made the truck unforgettable—it was the clown. Big Top Benny, as he called himself, was a towering figure with a painted smile that stretched too wide, his eyes glinting behind the greasepaint. He handed out free cones to the kids, his voice a lilting sing-song that sent shivers down the spines of the adults who watched from their porches. Still, the children adored him, and the mothers, though uneasy, tolerated his presence. After all, it was just ice cream.

Martha had always been one of those mothers. Every day, she would take her son, Tommy, by the hand and walk him to the truck, standing close as Benny leaned out the window, his grin never wavering. But today was different. Tommy, now seven, had begged to go alone. “I’m a big kid now, Mom,” he’d said, puffing out his chest. Reluctantly, Martha agreed, watching from the doorway as he skipped down the sidewalk, his small frame disappearing around the corner.She lingered in the hallway, her eyes flicking to the TV where the news played softly. The anchor’s voice was calm, but the words were anything but. “Police are urging residents to be on the lookout for a suspect known as ‘Big Top Benny,’ a clown associated with an ice cream truck linked to several disappearances in neighboring towns. He is considered armed and dangerous…”

Martha’s blood ran cold. The screen flashed a grainy photo of the clown, his painted smile unmistakable. Her heart pounded as she bolted for the door, her feet slapping against the pavement as she ran toward the truck’s usual spot. The jingle was still playing, a haunting melody that now felt like a warning. When she reached the corner, the truck was gone. The street was empty, save for a single melting ice cream cone lying on the ground, its pink swirl pooling into a sticky puddle. And Tommy was nowhere to be seen.

“Tommy?”

She cried out