Derry was a pleasant town although, it had a history of terrible events happening every 27-30 years. A horrible event followed by the murder of several children followed by another horrible event and then the town lived happily for another 26-30 years. In fact the day I arrived was 30 years to the day of the last horrible event. People seems friendly enough but the children eyed me suspiciously.

"Why can't I just go back to Springwood?"

"You know why." My caseworker replied as we walked up to a small white house with a purple door and purple shutters. "Now smile and be on your best behavior." My caseworker replied as she rang the doorbell.

"Yes ma'am." I replied lowering my eyes to the ground and shuffling my feet nervously.

A young woman opened the door slightly and looked out at us. "Can I help you?"

"Yes I'm looking for the local children's home or the town orphanage. Could you point me in the right direction?"

"I'm sorry, we don't have a children's home or orphanage are you sure your in the right town?." The woman replied.

"What do you mean there isn't one?" My caseworker asked with a frown. "I just spoke to a Mr. Pennywise last week. He told me that he'd love to have Catherine come stay at the children's home until I could find her a suitable foster home or adopted parents."

Upon hearing the name of the man my caseworker had said she had spoken too the woman's face turned pale. "I'm sorry who did you say you spoke too?"

"A Mr. Pennywise. He assured me that there was plenty room for Catherine at the home."

I looked up at Mrs P in confusion. Why was she calling me Catherine when my name is Tina?

"Our children's home burnt down several years ago and the town hasn't rebuilt it yet. I'm not sure who you spoke too but they were mistaken."

"Oh. I see. Thank you were very helpful. I'm sorry to have bothered you. It looks likes we will have to make other arrangements for you." My caseworker replied looking down at me and sighing.

"Why don't the two of you come inside out of the rain as we can talk some more." The woman replied.

"I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Nonsense. I'm sure you could use a nice hot cup of coffee."

"I suppose one cup wouldn't hurt. That is, if your sure we aren't intruding." My caseworker replied.

"Not at all. I'd be delighted to have you visit my name is Beverly but everyone calls me Bev." The woman replied and my caseworker tugged me inside. "Who might this beautiful young lady be?" The woman asked smiling at me.

"This is Catherine." I pulled on Mrs P's pant leg looking up at her in confusion. "What is it Catherine?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?" I replied in confusion.

Mrs P sighed in frustration. "We've already had this conversation Catherine."

"Can you tell me more about Catherine? She seems like such a sweet girl."

Mrs P nodded. "Considering what she's been through it is amazing that she's not mentally unstable. Her parents died when she was very young and her only living family is her older brother who unfortunately is mentally ill. She had been placed in a home by a wonderful couple who had planned on adopting her. However, quite unexpectedly they contacted me out of the blue insisted that I come remove her from their home immediately." My caseworker replied.

"Oh how awful."

"I had hoped to have her stay at the orphanage here while I looked for foster parents or potential adopted parents for her. I'm not sure what I'm going to do now." My caseworker said with a sigh.

"Oh the poor dear. She could stay here with my husband and I. I'm sure he won't mind. Bill Honey, could you come here?"

"What is it Dear?"

"Honey, this is Mrs. Oh dear I'm so embarrassed I never caught your name."

"Mrs. Pennies-worth.

"Excuse me? What was that?"

"Mrs. Pennies-worth ."

"Mrs P, can I go explore?" I asked tugging at her sleeve.

"Sure just don't go wandering off too far." Mrs. P replied turning her attention back to the woman.

I quickly rushed outside but found there wasn't much to do and then I started to hear carnival music coming from seemingly no where. I followed the sounds until I came to a beautiful lake. Then all of a sudden across the lake appeared a clown. I stumbled back away from the lake.

"Hi yah Catherine. Aren't you going to say hello?" The clown asked. I shook my head no. "Awe come on cutie don't you want a balloon?"

"No. I just want to go home." I replied backing away from the lake.

"Awe your not afraid of little old me are yah?" The clown asked his eyes twinkling in delight.

"Well, you are a stranger." I replied quietly.

"My name is Pennywise the dancing clown. You are Catherine Tina Marie Myers Kruger Thomson. So now we know each other correct?" Pennywise asked.

"I guess." I replied timidly.

"I hear that they want to stick you in some orphanage. Why don't you come with me and you can join my circus instead? We have lots of animals, tons of rides to go on. There's all kinds of yummy food to eat including Cotten candy and we have balloons of all colors. Your friend Mr. Kruger is down here visiting the circus. Perhaps you could meet up with him. Would you like that?" Pennywise asked with a big smile. .

"Yes. Me do miss me daddy." I replied started to walk closer but then I saw a vision of a small boy asking Pennywise "do they float?" Flashed across my mind along with Pennywise replying "oh yes Georgie they float, they float and when your down here with me you'll float too!" Then I watched as his mouth opened wide to reveal tons of yellow teeth. He ripped Georgie's arm off and dragged him into the sewer drain.

"What's the matter Catherine?"

"What are you?" I asked backing slowly away.

"Don't you want to be my friend?" Pennywise asked.

I didn't reply I just turned and ran down the street. As I did I heard Pennywise laughter behind me. "This is my town kid you won't get away from me. When you least expect it I'm going to get you!" Pennywise growled when I looked back I saw him chasing me. I closed my eyes and the image of the clown 🤡 holding the bloody knife flashed through my head again and I screamed.

"Catherine are you alright? Where were you? I told you not to wander off. Catherine what's the matter? Why are you crying?" Beverly asked me.

"The evil clown is after me. Please don't let him get me. He said that he is going to get me when I least expected it." I replied rocking back and forth wrapping my arms across my chest. "I want to go home. I want my big brother. I want Mikey. He'll protect me from the evil clown I know he will. He always protects me."

"Michael is very sick Catherine . He is in a hospital where they can help him get better. You can't go see him he's not allowed visitors." Mrs. P replied.

"Please don't let the bad clown hurt me. Make him go away. Please make him go away."  I whimpered.

"Why does she keep talking about an Evil clown?" The woman looked at me puzzled.

"I am so sorry ma'am. Catherine had a traumatic experience when she was younger. She watched her older brother Michael murder her step father and older sister on Halloween. He was wearing a clown costume. He almost killed her that night. So when she sees something that scares her she thinks it's some evil clown out to get her." Mrs. P replied.

"But there really is an evil clown." I said quietly.

"Catherine! That's enough!" Mrs. P said angrily and I shrunk back and whimpered.

"I'm sorry." I replied tearfully. "I want my daddy." I replied with a quiet whimper.

"Daddy? I thought you said she doesn't have any living relatives?." Beverly asked puzzled.

"She doesn't. She's talking about a man she met in Springwood. He kidnapped her and made her believe that he was her father. He was a very evil man." Mrs. P replied shaking her head and sighing.

"No he wasn't!" I replied tearfully. "He lobes me. I wanna go home. I want my daddy!."

"I am not going to argue with you. You are not going back to Springwood and I'm certainly not going to bring you back to that monster. Now I don't want to hear anymore about Mr. Kruger or going back to Springwood this is your home now."

"But what about the evil clown?"

"There is no evil clown. It's just your imagination now drop it." Mrs P said sternly.

"Yes Ma'am." I replied looking down at the floor.

Several hours later I was being tucked into bed by my new foster mom. "Have pleasant dreams Catherine. I'll be just down the hall if you need me." She said kissing me on my forehead.

"Can you take me to see my big brother?"

"I would love to but unfortunately your caseworker made it very clear that visiting your brother would be a very bad thing. Not just for you but for him as well."

"She's wrong. Mikey lobes me. He wouldn't huwt me." I replied.

"I'm sure he does but your caseworker said that he's not mentally stable. That seeing you could cause a breakdown. If you love your big brother you will stay as far away from him as you can. Now get some sleep. You start school first thing tomorrow morning." My new foster mom replied.

Sleep didn't come easily that night. I dreamt about Michael and IT and that they were fighting but then joined together in an effort to kill me. Just as Pennywise rushed towards me with a knife I awoke in a cold sweat. I swore I could almost hear Pennywise's laughter off in the distance.