Popsy is a short story by Stephen King published in the collection titled Nightmares & Dreamscapes.
While it certainly isn’t my favourite from the book (a review of my actual favourite coming up shortly) I did love it compared to most of the similarly themed stuff out there.
Sheridan is a pitifully disgusting man – a gambler, who is paying off his debts by abducting children and “delivering” them to a certain Mr. Wizard. Even as he does it, Sheridan tries to convince himself he isn’t doing a bad thing. (You begin to loathe this guy right from the first line of the story.) This story starts when Sheridan sees a pale white, green eyed kid crying in front of a mall. The kid is looking for his “Popsy”, who has apparently went off to get the kid something to drink. Under the pretext of helping the kid, Sheridan puts him in the car and sets off. Though the boy seems a bit odd to him, he has no idea what he is in for.
“You’ll be sorry.” The kid elaborated, “When my Popsy finds you, you’ll be sorry.”
This is the sort of story that you enjoy more for the scenery than the plot – because the plot is pretty obvious. The way Stephen King writes, it is almost as if you are there in that car too, along with Sheridan and the child; only unlike the poor man you know something is coming your way. And you are terrified. I love Stephen King for the way he manages to make me pity even the worst of the characters – if you are a Stephen King fan, you’ll love this story!
Like I said before, the story is awfully predictable, though. Too bad they didn’t have the Twilight mania back then; if they had, I’m sure poor Sheridan would have guessed in less than a second what he was getting himself into.
Short Stories on Wednesday is a meme hosted at Risa’s Bread Crumb Reads.
Tabula Rasa 
The only novel of King that I read was one called Insomnia. It was long and boring. And then never picked up anything from him. Though I loved the movies Shawshank redemption and green mile.
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I am a HUGE fan of Stephen King. I haven't read Insomnia though, so I can't comment on that – but whatever I have read, I loved every bit of it 🙂
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I'd never been a Horror fan and I hadn't read any King until I picked up On Writing. I think I would now like to explore more of his works. A short story collection is probably the easiest way to start. In small doses 🙂
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CHE – I used to like Stephen King till I read On Writing; since then, I just love him 🙂 Reading short stories is a great way to try a new writer!!
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