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5
Monsters and Ghosts
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“I’m
so scared,”
cried Elly.
“I don’t remember what happened. How long have I been in this
hollow tree? Oh, my head hurts... I can’t think… it’s so cold… Please, tell me how
I ended up here? I need to see my husband. I have to get ready for the
Christmas Waltz. Speak to me! Why won’t you help me?”
Elly began weeping loudly
and painfully. The mysterious cat seated across from Elly spoke in a soft and calming tone: “Because Elly, you’re no
longer living.”
Wind chills howled in
between the crooked branches thrashing dead leaves about. Two young tabbies
stumbling along the snowy
outskirts of the Grove
had
lost track of time.
They were
trying to
get home before worrying their parents,
but, too late.
“No
not that way,”
said Kair, the bigger
tabby,
stopping still.
“It’s the
fastest way,” said Heldo, pointing to the dimly lit path of the woods.
Lowering his voice, Kair said: “My
sister told me that ghosts and monsters live in the Grove woods...”
“Your
sister is a liar!”
Heldo hissed,
obviously frightened as Kair continued: “And
she told me they love to eat kittens
who are lost.”
Then
all of a sudden, Kair’s face
went completely pale and he shrieked:
“RUN!! IT’S
A MONSTER!!! RUN!!!”
Heldo
turned around, and laughed
hysterically.
“It’s only our shadows
you
scaredy cat!”
Teased Heldo.
“Scaredy
cat, scaredy cat,
scaredy cat.”
The tabbies
eventually took the detour through the Grove woods
sparing their faces from the
zigzagging frost.
Basked in darkness were large hollow
trees that creaked and whistled like ghouls that
made the hairs on their backs,
stand on end.
Then
suddenly,
a deep
stuttering moan echoed through the woods.
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