Hello there, Aral Stein Story Club members.

I'm Ivy, your ghostly host and eternal guardian of those strange and spooky tales from

the hidden vault of R.L. Stein.

Today is another chilling tale.

This not-so-funny tale story club members might take the fun out of your day.

It's one I call the fears of a clown. There's nothing scarier than a clown after midnight.

What are you talking about? Tim asked. Something I once heard, said Vincent, Tim's best friend, as they were having lunch at his

house. And in your case, I'd say that's probably true. Tim munched a few more potato chips. He wasn't

even going to dignify what Vincent said with a response. On the tablet lying open on the table,

the one that Tim's dad was reading this morning before he spilled coffee on his best work time,

a big, brassy advertisement with Calliopee music in the background shouted,

Come one, come all, to the show of shows, come see the circus, in town this week only.

Tim turned off the tablet so he wouldn't have to see the smiling wide face of the clown in the video ad anymore.

He didn't really care for clowns all that much.

It's just another dumb circus. Tim said. You've seen one of them, you've seen them all.

Let's go to the theater and see that new superhero movie instead. Maybe I'll take my new wallet that I got for my birthday.

Of course, Tim was really covering up.

He didn't know why clowns scared him so much.

Perhaps it's because a clown was a person who had a painted on smile and happy face.

You didn't know what that person's emotions really were underneath all that white grease paint.

They could be angry and mean, and you didn't know who the person was either.

Vincent shook his head in frustration.

...