In the early -1960’s, I had the opportunity to spend countless
hours at my Aunt Mary and uncle George’s farm estate. It was for me an 8
Year old boy - one of the best fun filled escapes a kid could find. I’d take a short
distance hike down our local street for a hidden property nestled in
acres of woods and fields. I’d sometimes go exploring with my
Cousin a younger boy named -Teddy, The wilderness where we’d find wildlife
Or maybe stay close to the House feeding Gold fish and big Carp in the dark
shadows of a pavilion of sorts with a well built, rod iron seating enclosure.
A spring water line fed through an underground pipe that poured to a big old
Time swimming pool with a nice shallow end that sloped fast for the deep end. I
Still remember the green lighting system for the night users.
Some routine visits, I’d make home out the back which wasn’t far from
Our property but on a different way. It bordered - The king’s
Highway or route #340 another close by intersecting street.
This adventure, I was hoping to beat a incoming squall of
Thunderstorms that were rapidly approaching. I fast tracked the main
lane, Hustling by a cluster of small pine trees that always
Seemed with my vivid imagination to greet incoming quests. I could
Hear frogs in the not to a far off distance jumping for a creek. Today I was
fast tracking to stay dry from a cloud burst not exactly making it in fast enough.
None the less, I ran as fast as I could ducking under the limbs of
tree’s for cover while I kept running.
Looking momentarily at the next bend, I could see the newly built - four lane
super highway - The route # 30 bypass on a elevated tier. A welcoming ease to
Our growing steel town congestion. Sprinting the last long straight way, I
recognized the swimming pool and a three tiered barn which back in those times
hosted wild kittens in loose mounds of hay and a big white
faced barn owl that made creepy noises from the rafters. To me the
coolest place on earth. Especially when I didn‘t know anything about
Something yet the 4th graders referred to as-- homework. This weekend soaking
wet I knocked at the Kitchen screen.
My cousin- Virginia answered,” Danny!- You walked-- all - this
distance?? I nodded smiling,” Yes - Where’s
Teddy?’ A gentle boy, blond hair- blue eyes charged to greet me from the front
room. He looked seeing me all wet then signaled for me to get dry and
watch a sci-fi on the living room television I followed through wiping with a
towel.
My older two cousins, both fairly grown - George and Joey kept a distance
Preoccupied over something. They looked disturbed but weren’t eager
to share with me, what ever it was. After a
Quick meal and the late afternoon sun now returning, Teddy and I charged
out the back kitchen down the brick path for a circle drive with a bunch of
large pine trees now strewn from the storm.. He pulled
my elbow” I’ve been wondering rather I should show you something.”
I followed him first passing his two brothers with their heads under the
hood then making the main driveway. I slowed” What!? He
still wouldn’t say-- anything. To me, I was heading right out the
lane to go home. Once again I followed a distance.
I slowed,” No!--
Ted--come-on! -- I just came - this way!” He turned,” My brother’s found
something --right down over here!” We slid down a muddy
Incline through a patch of picky briars to a fast moving creek.
He pointed at the far side. There in front of me were deep
Wet Unusual impressions. I balanced myself carefully across the
Slippery rocks for a closer examination. I watched for a moment as the swarming
Traffic just overhead on the bypass created enormous noise. It
was so loud I could hardly hear myself think. I just glanced in amazement over
my shoulder to an elevated freeway full of motorists. I yelled as loud as I
could,” What--in the heck are these!?” He shrugged. I lowered closer touching
them with my fingers. They seemed four to five times my hand‘s length. Maybe
-18 inches or so. Big deep foot marks. One big set. Another about a quarter
the size. I rushed jumping in the raging water to my
cousin,” What on earth made these!?” Just then I think I spot a shadow in
the thicket not a hundred yards from our stance.
I began shivering from the cold as it reaching my belly button
Climbing my shirt. I get the sensation, we weren’t alone. I charged
Up the steep hill forcing the briars for the driveway lane. We both rush in
Yelling and screaming.
Teddy ahead of me slows by my cousins. George looks up, “What‘s
wrong?” We stare at him panting. Joey frowns, “ You boys up to
something?. I shrug,” What about those thing’s---back there?” Suddenly
in the distance not far from where we were at , a loud shriek bellows the
property. I make tracks
up the bricks to the kitchen. Ginny opens,” What’s wrong!?’ I stand in front of
her once more all wet,” Do you know about those prints!” Suddenly the squeal of
tires bring about an unusual loud ruckus as Air Brakes from motor
trucks and cars brake forcing to a quick stop. A loud roar
then more shrieking sounds. George and Joey charge the kitchen,” Were
Getting our rifles and going out!.” I shiver now scared out of my wits, They
Both rush upstairs for the gun cabinet. Teddy opens the refrigerator watching my
Teeth chatter standing idle and wet. He lowers a pitcher on the table,” Thirsty?’ I
Notice another cousin rush the kitchen,” What’s
Wrong?”
Laura watches George and Joey rush the kitchen. George with a
410 shot gun. Joey a 30/30 rifle. Her face drops,” What’s-- now!?” Teddy
pours a second glass,” You know!-- We mentioned the prints over dinner last
night- remember?.”
Finally a car door slams as my Aunt Mary and Uncle George return from a
food market.
Uncle George walks in,” Where’s the boy’s headed?” Ginny
looks at Laura then back,” They’re chasing what
ever it is making all that ruckus!” Aunt Mary takes the groceries to the
refrigerator,” We saw the bypass blocked up- There’s people all over
the place on both sides of the bypass.” Uncle George enters the
dining room momentarily then makes back,” Think, - I should go make sure
every thing’s alright?” Aunt Mary holds with a stock of celery in her hand,”
Give them a couple minutes,” No! - The police will be there in a matter of
seconds.” More
People vacate their vehicles standing idle in fear. They spot a large hairy beast
drag
a carcass up a steep wooded incline. Spectators scream as onlookers
Spot a big man looking creature rush out of no-where. Police
and fire trucks slow in an extended chain holding pattern. A rock hurdles the
west bound lanes slamming the side of a dark police vehicle. The patrolmen
Jumps out removing his weapon. A second squad car watches from a separate
position. A women patrolmen activates a microphone,” Vehicle one- under
attack!.” A newly formed group of troopers force around cars and trucks with an
emergency medical unit on the extended shoulder. A large boulder smashes
Still another car this time a windshield where a family waits for traffic to free up.
One infant starts to scream. Then a glimpse of a tree flying causes a
Policemen to radio for a local support helicopter,” Yes- We have an
unidentified creature on some kind of rampage just off the west bound
lane. A green chopper lifts for the scene. Local community fire trucks
assist activated now from all local vicinities. Directed traffic begins west
as some turn off on the # 82 exit. Suddenly a tree- trunk gets
thrown down on the middle of the Highway from an overpass bridge. It
Lands spinning into traffic causing more havoc as people brake slamming into
One another. One older man limps from his truck cab falling in broken
glass just about everywhere. More rocks shower
vehicles damaging rescue units and patrols as the sun starts setting. My
mother rushes the scene after receiving my aunt’s alarm call. She takes the
upper lane to the estate. I charge up the bank jumping in,” It’s Bad!-- mom” She
turns into the
barn on the hillside making a three point turn,” I’d better check on my sister!”
She wipes at my watery eyes,” What’s this it?” I shake my head,”
Everything’s fine!- ok--George and Joey went out after it- with guns.” She
accelerates up the back blowing her horn. Ginny and Laura look from the
porch. Uncle George yells,” Get in here-- girls! What the heck‘s wrong with you!”
He shouts up the hill,” We’re ok- Get-home- Get out of here!”
Mom yells,” What all this about?” Suddenly a large hairy creature passes in
front of the head lights storming up a big bank. She blows rushing out
The lane. I freeze scared out of my whit’s as she speeds the first bend then
blasts rushing to long extended lane to -- the king’s highway. A
Clearance of tree’s half way out shows the traffic blocked for miles up the west
bound lanes on the bypass. We inch carefully to #340. Mom looks,”
How come- your-- so wet?” I shiver as we start down a steep twisting incline to
the intersection,” Mom- You --really don’t want to know.” Within seconds we turn
in on our property. Grand pop rushes to the car,” What ever it is, it’s causing
one big headache at the overpass.” He opens the door as my grand mom
yells from the screen,” Your sister wants to talk to you!” She stands holding the
phone.
I make the back door. Grand pop encourages me to go
Change and clean up. Grand mom stares at us,” What is it?” Mother
shrugs,” Some big thing in a bear suite, I guess.” I rush down the steps with my
clothes,” No! Mom! This thing’s-- for real!” I start in the bathroom door. Grand
pop turns the channel on the black and white television. He looks for a moment
then stares at my mother nervous. She looks handing the phone back,” We saw
it-- It’s- big whatever the dorn thing is!” More rescue teams and fire trucks park
by the perimeter of the wooded acres. Emergency vehicles, Police, swat
teams all rush the local area. A highly trained canine force is left from the back of
a van as a three trained Attendants grab separate leashes. They make off in
In three different directions.
Suddenly a rock hits a patrolmen knocking him to the ground in a swampy
meadow. George and Joey cut across the raging creek to a policemen who
Instantaneously points a weapon. They hold up identifying themselves. Joey
Recognizes the policemen. Both step slowly over the guard rail. One younger
Cop asks,” You guys ever see this
Thing-?” George nods,” No!-
We’ve lived locally all our lives- not a glimpse.” A female rescue
Worker interrupts,” We have one of policemen down- on --82.” The
Women responds rushing from the group. Canine forces cross the property
Forcing slowly along the woods. One older officer knocks,” Everything - ok?”
Aunt Mary opens the door,” Yes- We’re fine- so far, anybody see our boys?” One
Patrolmen checks with his short wave to a State Police unit on the
freeway. A shrieking sound follows ,” That’s an affirmative- They’re safe.” The
officer looks nodding at Aunt Mary and Uncle George,” They’re standing over by
a police car- everything‘s-- ok.” Teddy rushes the kitchen,” What the
heck are these--things” Suddenly dogs begin barking as three separate teams
sniff the outside porch.
One dog team leader answers in the back screen,” We
Haven’t a clue but we’re sure itching to find something!”
All three men with the canine make the brick path out to the
garage. The phone rings. Aunt Mary picks up, “ Hello?” Joey and George
reply,” We’re ok-everything’s alright on our end” She excites handing the black
phone over to Uncle George,” We’re doing ok - See any signs?” Joey
yanks the phone,” No- absolutely no--thing-- just vehicles plastered by rocks and
debris.”
Monday morning. I get off the school bus with my first spelling exam. Teddy
Meets me in the school lobby smiling from ear to ear,” I told you I was reluctant
to show you.” I smiled trying not to yawn,”-- Yea, guess your right.” We walk
Further In off the buses. I turn as other a mass of kids pass in the lobby,” Did you
See anything later?.” All of a sudden school children hone in our
conversation about the unusual fiasco. Teddy smiles watching as I try to
keep from my next yawn,” You tired- cousin?”
Raising his voice over the cluster of students,” I nod, I was up half
The evening with grand mom learning my spelling studies. I had some
Unusual trouble with the stupid word - Paint.” He chuckles spelling it by
memory. A tall male teacher rushes dispersing the students. I
Shout over everyone trying to make sure Teddy hears me,” The word- Paint- P-
A-I-N-T- Paint.” He looks laughing now all but turning the end of the hall. I yell
Out louder hoping he can still hear,” Well, - maybe it’s easy for you!”
The End
