Hi BNewman - Welcome! (Hope you found your thread after it got moved)
Just some quick extra advice for the creepy arachnids-
It matters which bucket you use on which scorpion, and it matters which way you turn.
Accuracy is more critical than speed. Choose your movements correctly and deliberately, without really trying to hurry and you will have no problem. Here's a quote from another walkthrough that gives additional details:
This scenario is not hard to do, providing you know what to do and what not to do.
Don't do any extra exploring.
Turn toward the buckets. Pick up the Large Bucket. (It's the one on the left.)
Look down at your feet. Use the bucket on the Scorpion to trap it. The timer momentarily stops.
Before you do anything else pick up the other bucket.
Turn right and go once toward the door.
Look down and take Parkey's Bag.
Before you move, get the small bucket out of inventory.
Step behind the right side of the checkerboard
Use the bucket to trap the other scorpion.
Before you move, look down and pick up the wooden board.
Turn toward the door and exit the room.
You are probably well past this point by now, I only put this here in case someone else has a similar hangup with the dreaded scorpions in the near future.