Right, let's set the scene. It's nine o clock in the evening. Everyone is sitting on the couch in front of the TV. There are Richard, Brian and Jenny. Oh yeah, plus their babysitter too. Which is to say none other than yourself.

The phone rings.

"Scuse me for a moment, you guys. I'd better answer that." you say, leaning over. "Don't worry, I'll try to make it quick."

You pick up the phone but before so much as a syllable can pass your teeth, a man laughs hysterically and then hangs up on you.

"Huh. That was pretty weird." you say aloud.

"Who was it?" asks Richard who happens to overhear your remark.

"Ahhh, some nut. Nobody you need to worry about. So what did I miss?" you say as you face forward again.

At nine-thirty, the phone disturbs you for a second time.

You pick it up. "Uh-huh?"

"I'll be there soon." declares the same fellow who rang before, "Nnnnnhahahahahahaaaaaa!" He laughs and slams the phone down at his own end.

"Who was it?" ask the kids, looking away from the rather cliched horror movie playing out on the screen.

"Some guy who clearly leads a rich and fulfilling life." you reply.

About ten o clock, the phone rings again. You regard it with the same wariness one might look at a hissing rattlesnake for a moment before reaching to answer. Sure enough...

"One more hour!" says mystery man, "Mmmmwahahahaha!" Click.

"He said one more hour." stammers Jenny. "What...what did he mean?"

"It's okay. Just someone fooling around." you say.

"I'm scared." she whimpers, wrapping her arms around her knees and hugging them tightly.

At ten-thirty...

"Pretty soon now! Hahahahahaha!"

"Okay. This is getting real old, real fast. I'm not sure what kind of game you're playing but...you know what? I don't care either. There are kids here. So...KNOCK. IT. OFF." you growl before hanging up.

"Way to go! That's telling him!" cheer the kids who aren't really paying any attention to the movie by this point.

"Thank you, thank you. Always nice to be appreciated. Look, I'm going to call the operator and report this guy's ass. Better safe than sorry." You carry out this plan.

"Call me back if it happens again. I'll see if I can trace the call." the woman instructs.

It's eleven when the phone rings again and you pick it up.

"Very soon now! Nnnnnmwahahahahaaaaa!" the man guffaws.

"Laugh now loser." you drawl as you key the operator's number. "Don't you just love it when a plan comes together?"

She launches into action...

...and then calls back almost immediately with disturbing news to give you. "Oh my God! Listen to me, that person is calling from a phone upstairs in that house! Get the kids and go! I'll call the police! Go!"

You're still fumbling for your jaw when an unmistakable sound drifts into the room. The creak made by a door as it is opened stealthily. Abandoning the receiver, you rush out into the hall and look up just in time to see a man loom from out of the darkness at the top of the stairs. There's a moment in which the unknown intruder locks eyes with the person he's been talking to back and forth over the phone all night.

And breaks into a strange smile. "Heh heh heh...heh..." he cackles as he starts down the stairs toward you.

How do you respond, babysitter?