Rowley summons a demon

121.Rowley Jefferson, an 11-year-old boy with an uncanny knack for getting into trouble, woke up in the middle of the night due to a mishap that was all too common for his age. As was custom, he shuffled out of his room to get a change of nappies from his mother, but as he tiptoed down the stairs, he noticed the flickering blue light of the television reflected on the living room walls. His father sat, engrossed in a late-night horror movie, a mountain of nachos creating a cheesy barrier between him and reality.

Out of curiosity, Rowley quietly snuck into the room and watched the film from behind his dad. The scene playing out on the screen involved a team of occult researchers summoning a businesslike demon with a complex incantation. Not really understanding what he was watching but drawn to the arcane spectacle, Rowley tried to remember the words of the spell, even mimicking the strange hand gestures made by the actors.

After the movie ended and his dad had gone off to bed, Rowley decided to reenact the ceremony. He clumsily drew a circle on the floor, not with the traditional pentagram, but with a cutting-edge poo shape in the center, courtesy of his inherent puerile instincts. With what he thought was close enough to the chant from the movie, he read out loud, stumbling over the difficult words.

To his surprise, the lights flickered ominously, and a red glow began to fill the room. With a mixture of terror and excitement, Rowley squealed and dove for cover under the cushion of the sofa, shutting his eyes tight as he awaited the arrival of the beast. The room filled with an ethereal humming, and then, as it reached its pinnacle, a voice rang out, "Hee-hee!"

Recognizing the trademark cheers and exclamations, Rowley uncovered his eyes and gasped. There, in all his glory, the King of Pop himself, Michael Jackson, stood resplendent in a glowing circle. The sight of Michael Jackson had Rowley gobsmacked, and it wasn't just the shock aspect; he ruefully admitted to himself that he never liked the King of Pop's songs.

Before Rowley could communicate his disapproval to the newly summoned specter, Jackson vanished in a cool moonwalk. As quickly as he had arrived, he exited stage leaving an unconscious Rowley's dad and a house clouded with ethereal mist.

The next day, news spread quickly about the revenant of Michael Jackson sighted in town, causing mayhem. In an unforeseen turn of events, coinciding with a tribute band gig in honour of the Beatles, Jackson, possessed by a demonic streak, stormed the stage, consuming two band members. Jackson left Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr untouched, deeming them unpalatable.

The clock chimed the 1 a.m. bell, the cursed hour, and Jackson, having wreaked his share of havoc, disappeared just as mysteriously as he had arrived. As the ominous red glow receded and the normalcy returned, Rowley realized the gravity of his misadventures. He found himself apologizing for the unforeseen casualties to the local Beatles fandom.

The authorities, though perplexed by the strange happenings, decided to penalize Rowley's dad, nonsensically banning him from television and water. While Rowley was left with an enduring fear of Michael Jackson and an inability to be alone at night, he felt a certain satisfaction. Despite the confusing outcomes and bizarre consequences, he had accomplished something few others could claim: he had summoned, danced, and dealt with a demon.