Paul was small body tucked in a sleeping bag

 

whimpering on the floor.

Paul was in the dreams of his victims, a specteral child murderer stalks the children of the members of the lynch mob that killed him.

Paul was no one at the sleepover with courage enough to say they were afraid.

Paul was on the pay movie channel, a scary film young children shouldn’t have been viewing, but egged on by the group, they watch.

Paul was the kind of discipline parents give children when others are around.

Paul was after time enough for redness to drain from face, a change of pajamas  (no longer the identical batman version his other guests were wearing).

Paul was shutoff, whitespace, time out.

Paul was a psychotic murderer institutionalized since childhood escapes on a mindless rampage while his doctor chases him through the streets.

Paul was water splashing on the homevideo lens, then

Paul was corner of the frame. Guy was in the center, slightly shrugging his shoulders at Paul’s father’s question.  From this angle you couldn’t really see the water on the foyer floor, but the thin layer certainly was there. Not enough for the over exaggerated fall Paul took, kicking his feet out & sinking his body into the apple tank.

Paul was at Camp Crystal Lake.

Paul was “That is the fastest time tonight Guy, 12 seconds. How do you feel about being the apple bobbing Halloween sleepover champion?”

Paul was the soul of the lake shore strangler, transferred into a doll’s body.

Paul was “alright Paul, hold on a second. I am recording Guy

Great job at getting that apple.”

 

water dripped down Guy’s face. His gappy smile had flecks of apple between the few teeth that hadn’t fallen out yet. or been replaced. 

Paul was “watch me watch me watch me daddy look here!”

Paul was replayed in real time, a video shot composed in five year-old mind.

Paul was in the video a screaming young boy seeking the camera’s eye. To make certain the importance of actions were recorded.