I live on a small farm, far out
in the country
Every year, my dad puts out scarecrows in our fields because he
thinks they're effective in not only keeping the crows out, but
evil spirits as well. I guess he's a little superstitious. The scarecrows
he sets out are the same ones, year after year. After so much wear
and tear, they were showing their age.
This October started out just like any other October. The weather
was turning cool and the leaves were beginning to change into brilliant
orange and yellow colors. One Saturday, us kids got together and
decided to make a new scarecrow. Being creative, we gathered our
supplies and got to work. This scarecrow was to be different. This
was my special design. I wanted a creepy scarecrow, much scarier
than the others. Hours later, we finished up. Indeed, he was the
ugliest, most frightening scarecrow I've ever seen. I was so proud.
Mom called us for supper so we planted the scarecrow out in the
cornfield, where I could see it from my bedroom window. Not giving
it any more thought, we went in and ate. Soon, the wind picked up
and it began lightening. No storm was forecasted but it looked like
we were in for a rough night.
Light rain began falling as I went up to bed. I was worried about
my new scarecrow so I peeked out my window. What I saw shocked me.
He was there alright, but not where we had placed him. It appeared
to me that he was several feet to the right. Puzzled, I stood at
the window and watched intently. The lightening was bright and every
time it flashed, I could see my scarecrow. The problem was, it looked
as if he was moving when the sky was dark, only to turn up in another
spot when the sky lit up.
Thinking that I must be imagining things, I put my pajamas on and
went to bed. Later on, a loud CRACK of thunder woke me up. By now,
the rain was pounding down, making it difficult to see out my window.
I slipped on my shoes and snuck outside to check on my scarecrow.
Not sure where he was, I walked around in the thunderstorm, half
blinded by the cold, stinging rain. Clumsily, I stumbled over a
fallen branch and fell face down in a patch of mud. When I looked
up, there was my scarecrow glaring down at me. His eyes were huge
and glowing red. I couldn't pick myself up fast enough. I ran screaming
to the house and never looked back.
After tossing and turning the rest of the night, I woke up to bright
sunshine and the smell of bacon. Not wanting to tell my parents
what had happened, I sat quietly and ate breakfast. Anxious and
apprehensive, I then went outside to look around. My dad was already
looking for damage to the buildings but I was looking for my scarecrow.
I could see the other scarecrows, all in their usual places but
my scarecrow was nowhere to be found.
Full of confusion, I began crying. Not because of losing the scarecrow,
but because of pure, unadulterated fear. My father told me that
he probably blew away and would be discovered in a field during
harvest. I knew better. Some how, some way, that scarecrow came
alive. How, I don't know.
Ten years later:
Years have passed and to this day, I have never seen my scarecrow
again. What happened that stormy night? Do scarecrows really keep
out evil spirits or can they be possessed by one? I don't live on
that farm anymore, but I've never ventured outside during a thunderstorm
again.
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