مترسک شبگرد فصل 20

The Scarecrow Walks at Midnight - Chapter 20

“I can’t do this!” Mark protested.

“Of course you can,” I assured him. “This is going to be really cool.”

“But my wrist hurts again,” my brother whined. “It just started hurting. I can’t use it.” “No problem,” I told him. “You won’t have to use it.”

He started to protest some more. But then a smile spread across his face, and his eyes lit up gleefully. “It’s kind of a cool idea,” he said, laughing.

“Of course it’s an awesome idea,” I agreed. “I thought of it!”

We were standing in the doorway to the barn. The white light from a full moon shone down on us. Owls hooted somewhere nearby.

It was a cool, clear night. The grass shimmered from a heavy dew. A soft wind made the trees whisper. The moonlight was so bright, I could see every blade of grass.

After Grandpa Kurt and Grandma Miriam had gone to bed, I dragged Mark from the house. I pulled him across the yard to the barn.

“Wait right here,” I said. Then I hurried into the barn to get what we needed.

It was a little creepy in the dark barn at night. I heard a soft fluttering sound high in the rafters.

Probably a bat.

My sneakers were wet from the grass. I slid over the straw on the barn floor.

The bat swooped low over my head. I heard a high-pitched chittering up in the rafters. More bats.

I grabbed one of the big, old coats from the pile. Then I pulled up one of the burlap bag faces and slung it on top of the coat.

Ignoring the fluttering wings swooping back and forth, back and forth, across the barn, I hurried outside to Mark.

And explained my plan, my plan to get our revenge on Sticks.

It was actually a very simple plan. We’d dress Mark up as a scarecrow. He’d stand with the other scarecrows in the cornfield.

I’d go to the guest house and get Sticks. I’d tell Sticks I saw something weird in the field. I’d pull Sticks out to the field. Mark would start to stagger toward him—and Sticks would be so freaked, he’d have a cow!

A simple plan. And a good one.

Sticks deserved it, too.

I pulled the burlap bag over Mark’s head. The black, painted eyes stared back at me. I reached down, picked up a handful of straw, and began stuffing it under the bag.

“Stop squirming!” I told Mark.

“But the straw itches!” he cried.

“You’ll get used to it,” I told him. I grabbed his shoulders. “Stand still. Don’t move.” “Why do I need straw?” he whined.

“Mark, you have to look like all the other scarecrows,” I told him. “Otherwise, Sticks won’t be fooled.” I stuffed the burlap face with straw. Then I held up the old overcoat for Mark to put on.

“I can’t do this!” he wailed. “I’m going to itch to death! I can’t breathe!” “You can breathe perfectly fine,” I told him. I stuffed straw into the sleeves. I was careful to let clumps of straw hang from the cuffs, covering Mark’s hands. Then I stuffed more straw into the jacket.

“Will you stand still?” I whispered angrily. “This is a lot of hard work—you know?” He grumbled in a low voice to himself as I continued to work.

“Just keep thinking how great it’ll be when Sticks sees you and thinks you’re a scarecrow that’s really coming to life,” I said.

I had straw stuck to my hands, straw all down the front of my sweatshirt and jeans. I sneezed. Once. Twice. I’m definitely allergic to the stuff.

But I didn’t care. I was so excited. I couldn’t wait to see Sticks’ terrified face. I couldn’t wait to pay him back for trying to frighten us all week.

“I need a hat,” Mark said. He was standing stiffly, afraid to move under all the straw.

“Hmmmm.” I thought hard. There weren’t any hats in the barn with the other scarecrow supplies. “We’ll just take one off a real scarecrow,” I told Mark.

I stepped back to see my handiwork. Mark looked pretty good. But he still needed more straw. I set to work, stuffing him, making the old coat bulge.

“Now don’t forget to stand straight and stiff, with your arms straight out,” I instructed.

“Do I have a choice?” Mark complained. “I—I can’t move at all!”

“Good,” I said. I arranged the straw that stuck out of his sleeves, then stepped back. “Okay. You’re ready,” I told him.

“How do I look?” he asked.

“Like a short scarecrow,” I told him.

“I’m too short?” he replied.

“Don’t worry, Mark,” I said, grabbing his arm. “I’m going to stick you up on a pole!” “Huh?”

I laughed. “Gotcha,” I muttered. “I’m kidding.” I started to lead him to the cornfields.

“Think this is going to work?” Mark asked, walking stiffly. “Think we’re really going to scare Sticks?” I nodded. An evil grin spread over my face. “I think so,” I told my brother. “I think Sticks is in for a terrifying surprise.” Little did I know that we all were!