Eric clicked through the channels on the TV set. There wasn't a good picture on any of them. Eric's house was far from the nearest town, and cable hadn't arrived yet. His parents had laughed when he had asked if they could buy a satellite dish.
Now, with a storm coming, the picture was even worse than usual. Eric could hear the low moan of the wind as it shook the bare branches of the trees along the road leading to town.
He was baby-sitting his five-year-old brother, Billy, while his parents went to a movie. He didn't mind looking after Billy. But he did mind living so far from town.
He often asked himself, "What if something happens and I need help in a hurry?"
Then he shrugged. Everything was fine, and nothing was going to happen. Billy had gone to bed an hour ago. Eric had just finished putting on his own pajamas and making some popcorn. And now all he needed was a good movie on TV.
But the old set was showing only fuzzy stripes. Eric was about to give up when suddenly a channel came in bright and clear. He looked to see which channel it was. The dial was stuck between two channels.
Well, it's a clear picture, Eric thought. I might as well leave it on.
)
