“I can assure you madame, children are not allowed in this building.” He was calm as he spoke down to her, in the grating foreign fashion.
“I made reservations.” She glared at him, while grasping her son’s arm in her left hand, she dug around in her purse with her right. He tried to get away from her.
“You are more than welcome to stay, but he,” the front desk man shifted his gaze to her son. “…is not allowed.” His accent was more pronounced, and he looked as if he smelled something awful.
“There are laws about-”
“We are exempt.”
“But-”
“I’m sorry. Truly. You seem a lovely woman and caring mother. Perhaps you can find a babysitter and stay on your own. Get a break.” He was somewhere between sincere and snide.
“I’ll give you a bad yelp review.”
He shook his head. “We delete any entry. Against our principles.”
She huffed, and headed toward the massive entrance doors. It would have been a lovely stay.
They got outside and her son stopped in his tracks, looked up into the sky. He wouldn’t budge. She glanced up. On the corner of the building hung a gargoyle, and in the gargoyles outstretched arm was a boy held upside down by his ankle.
“That looks fun,” the boy exclaimed.
“No, honey. That’s scary, and bad business.” Her stomach dropped, and she knew why kids weren’t allowed in this building. Stupid, she forgot to check. She’d kept him away from these influences for five and a half years.
“But mommy – it looks like me. The thing holding me up is smiling – we are playing. I want to try.” Her son walked toward the building, and she knew he would climb to the top.
She rushed to get between the building and her son.
“No. We need to find a different place to stay.”
“Why? This one was made for me.” He grin transformed his perfect little face into a maniacal nightmare.
“They’ve refused us service, this isn’t your building.” A tiny white lie might work, might give her a few more years before destiny took him.
“Fine. I want ice cream,” he took off toward the waiting taxi, his arms out like an airplane.
She couldn’t help but smile, and follow after him.
Kary's Nightmare Fuel 
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