Marshall eyed the twisted, blackened tree with ill-concealed dislike.
“In any other town,” he said, “When somebody says, ‘let’s have a picnic by the lightning tree’, they’d just mean eating sandwiches under a tree that had been struck by lightning.”
Simon looked confused.
“It was,” he said. “About a hundred years ago. That’s how you get lightning trees.”
A bolt of electricity sizzled across the air between them, and he moved back a little, conscious of his eyebrows.
Marshall scowled.
“Yeah, but normally the lightning doesn’t stay inside the tree,” he objected. “You don’t get hollow tree stumps roiling with white-hot energy sitting around in the middle of a field, resurrecting any random bit of roadkill tossed in by a bunch of elementary school kids on a class trip.”
The tangled mass of dead rats thrown to the tree by the aforementioned pre-teens twitched and writhed.
“It’s not the safest thing I’ve ever signed Harley’s permission slip for,” Simon allowed.
A chittering rose from the glowing trunk.
“Dang it,” said Marshall. “I think he’s made a Rat King.”
Simon sighed.
“The ladies from Eerie’s Pest Extermination Services and Small Animal Pet Store are going to be mad when this gets out,” he said.
Ongoing Verse: Trusted Associates Inc Licensing, in which the Mayor hands out some bureaucracy
Light Pollution, in which there is a newcomer in town
Pressure Tactics, in which there are ravens
Food Hygiene, in which Simon stays after school and Melanie and Janet do the same
Maybe, Even, in which Tod has a dream
Belt Match, in which Algernon the Invincible saves the world
Exterior, Garden, Night, in which there is a camp out
Administrative, in which there is a new Things Incorporated product being tested
Inevitable, in which there are moles
Brand Loyalty, in which there are Sky Monsters
Stonewall, Mud Walls, in which Harley is a brutal negotiator
Persuasion Tactics, in which Marshall has an itinerary, and Simon is tired
Unsuitable Substitute, in which there are changelings
Greenery, in which there are hanging baskets
Growth Spurt, in which there are crysanthemums
Temper, Temper, in which Marshall has strong opinions about the World o' Stuff's stock of reading material
Well, in which there is fishing
Swimming Pool, in which there is marine life
Follow Through, in which there is a rag doll
Public Interest, in which Marshall is a concerned citizen
A Credible Threat, in which there is an embarrasment happening at the Eerie Mall
Timeloop, in which Circular Road lives up to it's name
Misdirection, in which Syndi is a tiny bit evil
Downturn, in which there is a Farmer's Market
Concessions, in which there is theatre
Capability, in which Marshall is determined
Euclid by
froodle, in which we meet Mr. Daganfort
Construction, in which there are strange goings-on at the Eerie Cemetary
Tagged, in which there is graffiti
Uprising, in which there are zombies and the Bob brothers and one is worse than the other
Water Burial, in which Mr. Daganfort does some landscaping
A Greeting, in which something has a message for Eerie's groundskeeper
The Paper Witch, in which something would like a word with Sara Sue
Finish, in which there is wood stain
Corrective Lenses, in which Marshall takes eyecare into his own hands
Distractions, in which Marshall and Simon walk home after school
Class of '89, in which we visit Eerie Elementary
Infestation, in which there are pixies
BBQ, in which the Tellers build a bonfire
Dark Messiah, in which there are witches
Refurbish, in which there is dumpster diving
Guardian Spirit, in which Marshall and Simon visit the town dump
Staged, in which Harley is uncooperative
Festoon, in which it is October, and Marshall gets a fright
Trick or Treat?, in which there are teacakes
Display, in which Radford enters the spirit of the season
Haul, in which there are cupcakes
Halloween by
froodle, in which Mars and Simon celebrate a Von Orloff-free All Hallows Eve
Fine Print, in which Simon and Marshall walk the shores of Lake Eerie
Corn Critters 7: Rise of the Super Crop, in which Marshall makes a grave miscalculation
Signals and Signifiers, in which the Eerie PD is baffling
Safety Checks, in which there are reindeers
Decorative, in which there is wildlife
Surveillance, in which the boys must pick their moment carefully
Robin, in which Simon is startled by the local birdlife
Animatronics, in which the boys go to the Eerie Mall
Concert, in which Eerie's canine population temporarily set aside their struggle in favour of a singalong
Visiting Santa, in which Simon and Marshall take Harley on a trip
Weaponised, in which Christmas is a-coming
Pantomime, in which the Tellers take in some traditional Christmas entertainment
Frost Spiders, in which Eerie's winter decorations are possibly a little too beautiful
Surprise by
froodle, in which Mars tries to make sure Simon's birthday goes a little better this year
Informed Shopper, in which Simon contemplates a purchase
The Glade by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars visit a place that only exists on February 29th
Mostly Void, Partially Stars, in which we see the Space Thing prior to it's arrival in Eerie
Parking, in which Marshall does not want to help with the yardwork
Road Trip, in which there are aliens
If You See Something, Say Something, in which Marshall is questioned by Sergeant Knight
Postal, in which there is gunfire, and letters
Drive, in which Edgar has a convertible, and is filled with fear
National Garlic Day, in which there are vampires
Stormfront, in which Simon and Marshall eat takeout
Confectionary, in which there is baking
Blue Apron, in which the Mayor contemplates expanding a town by-law
Egg Hunt by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars partake of some traditional Easter activities
Truth in Advertising, in which Marshall has buyers remorse
Lost Sock Memorial Day, in which there is solemnity
Cooking Class, in which there is baking
Rubber Duck, in which there is a race
Blood Rain, in which it is Beltane
The Flower Beds, in which there is gardening
High Speed Sanitation, in which there is glitter, and garbage
Litterbug, in which Marshall gets even
For Charity, in which there's a bubble run
Rules of War, in which there is a water fight
Targeted Marketing, in which Syndi works a summer job
Spoiled for Choice, in which there is ice-cream
Ecosystem, in which there are mudsnakes
Municipal Maintenance, in which there is a fresh coat of paint
Lady in Red by
froodle, in which Simon experiments on the old-fashioned radio in the Secret Spot, and horror ensues
Boardwalk by
froodle, in which Simon and Mars are swayed by radio advertising
Fowl Deeds, in which there are ducks
Ducks on a Lake, in which there is Nick and Eddie
Grocery List, in which Marshall is a bad son
To Serve Birds (Right), in which Marshall and Harley have a bonding moment
Charitable, in which there is a pop-up shop and Marshall is suspicious
Dish of the Day, in which there is an old playground
Summer Vacation, in which fun in the sun requires some preparation
Foghorn, in which there is limited visability
Tour Group, in which costumes are worn and menus are hand-lettered
Upgrade, in which change is afoot at the Eerie Library
Hungry, in which the Mayor is unimpressed
Cheese, in which there is a continental market
Research, in which science requires sacrifice
Waiting In by
froodle, in which there is an ice-storm and a handyman does not arrive
Seafoam by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the seaside
A Night at the Circus by
froodle, in which a carnivale comes to town, and Marshall and Simon do not enjoy themselves
Taking a Break by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall enjoy some much-needed R&R
Vacant, in which there is a store front
Model Railway by
froodle, in which a new business prepares to open in Eerie
Shoreline by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall investigate strange happenings on the shores of Lake Eerie
At the Seaside, in which there is a storm
In the Bleak Midwinter, in which there are goings-on at the lake
The Lake at Night, in which it is midnight
Precipice, in which there are seals
Parade by
froodle, in which Mars takes issue with the Eerie Beekeepers Association's choice of mascot
Marketing, in which Eerie's honeybee population grow their brand
And Introducing... in which Dash X makes a powerful ally
Untouchable, in which much dismay is caused by Eerie's fauna
Drive In, in which there is a movie screening
Nature Study, in which there are dusk sprites
Homestead by
froodle, in which Marshall finally gets something useful out of shop class
Hound by
froodle, in which Simon makes a friend
Slyboots by
froodle, in which a certain corporal of the infernal regions comes to Eerie. Crossover with Johannes Cabal the Necromancer.
Sugar Rush, in which there are baked goods
Usual Suspects, in which there are things in the duck pond, and nobody is surprised
Festival by
froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer
Strawberry by
froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie
Not Welcome, in which there are gremlins
Sundae, in which the World o' Stuff has a new menu item
Read the Sign, in which the City Council means it when it says no swimming
Shrubbery, in which there is greenery
Prohibited, in which there is dairy
World Chocolate Day, in which there is a heatwave
Wildlife by
froodle, in which Simon and Marshall go to the beach
Cookout, in which Marshall and Simon go camping
Facilities by
froodle, in which the Eerie Bus Station and Supper Club has a problem with the men's toilet
Phonebooths, in which a call must get through
Anticipation by
froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox
Castle by
froodle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie
Budget Restraints, in which Simon and Marshall's disguises are somewhat lacklustre.
Concealment, in which there is a costume party
Party Guests, in which the costume party is attended
Dressed for the Occasion, in which Syndi needs help
Disaster Recovery, in which Marshall is a late bloomer
Art Lovers, in which Marshall has questions
Bag for Death, in which Radford is a born salesman
Observations, in which there is activity on Wolf Mountain
Prognostication Engine, in which horoscopes are frustratingly vague
Visitor in which Marshall's grandma comes to stay
Reading Room, in which Marshall infiltrates the Loyal Order of Corn
Crafting, in which Syndi graduates from college
The Hut by
froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo
They, in which Marshall leaves for college, and Simon is left behind
Milestone, in which Tod McNulty turns 21
Mail Theft, in which the Eerie Postal Service ups it's security
Neighbourly, in which Marshall does a good deed, possibly
Errands by
froodle, in which Simon has a to-do list
Long Awaited, in which the Sorcerer's Bible finally makes an appearance
Rain Day, in which there is weather
Waterlogged by
froodle, in which Eerie experiences heavy rainfall
Riverbank, in which there are kelpies
Househunting, in which there are realtors
Housekeeping, in which there is a cult, and things get awkward
Hostage, in which Syndi is the sister, not the sidekick
Realtors, in which there is househunting
Mixed Media Messages, in which there is mail
Replacement Service, in which Marshall visits the Eerie Bus Terminal and Supper Club
Presentation, in which Chisel has an edict, and Simon has a plan
The M-Word, in which the cone of shame must be used
Ongoing Verse: Holmes Brothers Castle, in which there is unexpected architecture in Eerie
The End by
froodle, in which Simon reads Harley a bedtime story
Drains by
froodle, in which clowns are evil, murderous sacks of shit, and Simon is having none of it
Bathtub, in which the Holmes' have further problems with their plumbing
Communication Difficulties, in which there are barriers to understanding
Playground, in which Simon and Harley should maybe come back another day
Dish of the Day, in which Simon and Marshall return to the playground
Stonewall, Mud Walls, in which Harley is an implacable foe
Biters, in which there is screaming
Riverbank, in which Simon encounters a kelpie
Kaleidoscope by
froodle, in which Simon has cause to regret buying cheap toys at the World o' Stuff
Festival by
froodle, in which Eerie's local businesses celebrate the summer
Strawberry by
froodle, in which there is unauthorised hubbub in Eerie
Drive In, in which there is a movie screening
Staged, in which Harley visits a building site
Distractions, in which Simon and Marshall walk home from school
Class of '89, in which they collect Harley
Unsuitable Substitute, in which there is a changeling
Anticipation by
froodle, in which Simon and Harley look forward to the Equinox
Informed Shopper, in which Simon contemplates a purchase
Infestation, in which there are pixies
BBQ, in which the Tellers hold a BBQ
Door-to-Door, in which it is Halloween and there are trick-or-treaters
Sentinel, in which it is Halloween and there is hot chocolate
The Stand, in which it is Halloween and there is a war
Dark Messiah, in which there are witches
Ruminant, in which a rescue is mounted
Good to Eat, in which Dash and Simon fill Marshall in
Gridlock, in which Harley encounters one of Eerie's many cults
Common Ground, in which one of Eerie's local youth organisations would like Harley to join them
Persuasion Tactics, in which the recruitment drive becomes aggressive
A Kings' Ransom, in which Harley goes to the beach
Competing Traditions, in which Dash and Marshall wait out the Easter weekend
Advent Calendar, in which Marilyn is making Christmas treats for all her children
Window Paint, in which Harley helps decorate his elementary school for Christmas
Pantomime, in which the Tellers enjoy some traditional Christmas entertainment
Visiting Santa, in which Marshall and Simon take Harley on a trip
The Tree, in which Harley helps Simon decorate for Christmas
KrampusNacht, in which the Holmes household has a visitor
Cygnet, in which Harley and Lillian go to the park
Tagged, in which the Bob brothers go to the park
Defacement, in which the Eerie PD investigates a terrible crime
Read the Sign, in which the city council was serious about that fountain
Salvage Rights, in which Harley and Lillian return to the lake
To Serve Birds (Right), in which Marshall and Harley bond
Sneakers by
froodle, in which the latest Sky Monsters are released
Hangover, in which Marshall has a little too much to drink, and an innocent sandcastle pays the price
Brand Loyalty, in which MArshall's new shoes are a disappointment
The Hut by
froodle, in which Simon takes on the forces of Eerie solo
Shattered Dreams, in which there is a space whale
They, in which Marshall leaves for college and Simon is left behind
Good Secrets Are Hard To Keep, in which Marshall submits a story to his college newspaper
Reception by
froodle, in which Simon has problems with his mobile phone
Bulk Buy, in which Simon's desk tidy isn't suited for the job, but he's still better off than his office mates
Incendiary, in which Marshall reads a situation and reaches completely the wrong conclusion
Divergent, in which Dash and Harley talk
Workaday, in which Simon encounters one of Harley's old enemies
Presentation, in which Simon has a plan
Children Are Strange, in which Eerie's local Black Eyed Kids take an interest in Simon's dog