And It Rattles, Too

The house rumbled as the air cut on, a deep growl. “I think the thermostat is broken,” said Wendy. “It’s always either too hot or too cold.”

“I’ll have someone out to look at it.” Reginald muttered, buttering his toast.

Neither of them paid attention as Jimmy slipped away from the table and into the basement. Down where the furnace normally pumped hot air into the vents, an enormous, hairy beast crouched. It had its mouth to the pipes and it was breathing furiously, cheeks puffed out comically.

“You might as well stop,” said Jimmy. “They’re calling a repairman anyway.”