The Missing Shoe

Written & Illustrated By: Sharon A. Layton-Pollock

They arrived at the edge of the woods. Sister Gail, was holding onto little sister Sherry's hand, and her other sister, Ellen, was holding onto her other hand. Friends Betty and Alice were standing close by. Worried, they gazed down across the field to the three little sister's home. What was their Mother going to say after they told her about their far too eventful day, a carefree day that had gone awry!

The three little sisters were planning a day of adventure in the woods with their friends Betty and Alice. School had just finished for the summer and the girls wanted to celebrate grading. Gail was going into grade 6, Ellen to grade 4 and Sherry into grade 2. The day was perfect, with skipping ropes in hand off they went as they smiled and waved goodbye to Mother,
"We're going to the stone quarry to play, see you later, bye Mum!"

The wooded area up behind their home had so many great places to explore and play. The particular place they were heading for that day was near the Niagara Escarpment, close to Niagara Falls on the Canadian side. Remains of abandoned old farm houses with cement courtyards made a great place for little girls to skip.

All the little girls, except Gail, tired of skipping and decided to cross over to the other side of the courtyard. Between them and the other side was an old cement house with only it's end walls still standing. An enormous tree had grown up through the middle of it. It's branches reached out through window holes like curtains blowing in the wind.

There was a shortcut. A ledge about twelve inches deep that stretched across the end wall, lots of room for little girls feet to cross. They headed for the ledge. Gail stopped skipping and looked down over the stone courtyard fence into a hole filled with black looking stagnate water. Perhaps it had been a cellar of an adjoining building long ago. This hole was below the ledge that the girls were about to cross. Gail cried out to the others,
"Be careful!"
Away they went, as they had done many times before.

Ellen went first. Her arms were outstretched, palms flat against the wall, sliding her feet slowly sideways, carefully, one after the other. Next Betty, Alice then Sherry. Ellen jumped off the ledge at the other side,
"I made it, come on let's go!"
Betty and Ann were close behind and soon jumped off too. Little Sherry was lagging behind, but nonetheless, steadily making her way across. What happened next was like a bad dream. Sherry heard Gail scream just as she felt a sharp pain in her side. She hit the rocks jutting out from the side of the wall as she was falling into the black hole.

There was a mighty splash, she disappeared into the water. She surfaced, sputtering and choking and gasping for air. She desperately looked for something to get ahold of, for she could not swim. Close by was an old log that had not yet become waterlogged, Sherry grabbed for it wrapping her little arms around it. She looked around, searching for a way to get out of the water, but the sides were straight up, impossible to climb. Just then, out of the corner of her eye she could see something moving in the water. It was a big snake swimming right toward her.

There were screams coming from all of the girls and Sherry kicked and paddled to get away from the snake. Then she heard a voice screaming at her,
"Grab my hand, grab my hand!"
Sherry reached up as far as she could, her fingers touched Betty's and Betty grabbed onto her little hand. Sherry looked up, and as though time had stopped she realized what was going on. Betty was holding onto her with one hand and her other hand was held tight in Alice's hand. Then Alice's other hand was firmly gripped in Ellen's free hand with her other arm wrapped around a fence post. She looked up into Ellen's eyes looking back into hers and then Sherry knew she was going to be O.K. She began scrambling as the girls pulled her to safety.

By now Gail, taking the long way around, had made it to the other side. The girls stood around Sherry as she shivered and shook, and wondered what they were to do. Just then Sherry looked down at her feet and started to cry.
"My shoe, my shoe, I lost my shoe!"
It was gone and there was nothing anyone could do about it.

The girls decided that Sherry's clothes had to be dried before they could take her home. Betty took off her dress and then gave Sherry her slip to wear. She stayed with Sherry while the other girls went to near by houses to ask for matches. They explained to the first few people that they wanted to have a wiener roast and they all refused to give them matches. Finally one man agreed and gave them some.

The girls returned, made a fire and began fanning Sherry's dress over the heat of the fire. All the while they were drying her dress they couldn't help but notice a little black dog with only three legs. The little dog scampered in and around the girls and ran back to a man standing off in the distance watching them. It was the man who had given them the matches. Soon Sherry's dress was dry, they put out the fire, the man left and all the girls headed home.

As they stood at the edge of the woods the three sisters asked their friends to come in with them. Sherry's dress was dirty and she had lost her shoe, what was Mother going to say. Mother was waiting. She had seen them coming and seen Sherry limping and the worried look on the girls faces. She wanted an explanation. Gail started to tell the story, she began to sob and Ellen took over then they all began babbling what had happened. Mother listened very intently, giving each girl a chance to tell their story. When they finally finished, they all got a big hug from Mother, and she never even mentioned the missing shoe.

The Story of Raven

And The Double Rescue

Written by: Sharon A. Layton Pollock
Illustrated by: Gloria F. Roberts

Wade watched as his father and his hired man Jake, ride off in search of Raven.
They were heading in an easterly direction toward the work horse's holding corral. His heart was heavy as he back tracked his steps of the day. He was trying to figure out if he'd left the corral gate unlatched. Was it his fault that Raven, his young colt, had escaped into a terrain she knew nothing about?

Trying to reassure Wade and Annie, mother spoke up, "Come on you two, go do your homework, everything will be O.K.. You're Dad and Jake will find Raven."

Wade sat at his computer, but found it hard to concentrate, instead he gazed out the window towards the foothills of Alberta, thinking about the day Raven was born.

That night at the Miller family's cattle ranch there was great expectations, for a new colt was soon to be born. Father had promised this colt would be Wade's. A fitting gift for his 12th. birthday, for Wade had been such a great help around the ranch. It would take three years to train the colt, and by then, both the colt and Wade would be ready to ride with Father and Jake.

The family had just sat down to the supper table when Jake hurried into the house.

"It's coming, the colt's coming!" Supper was soon forgotten and they all hurried out to the barn. Before long the new colt was born. She was beautiful, black and shiny.

"There she is Wade, she's yours," said Father. Annie squealed in great delight,

"Oh she's so pretty, what will we call her?"

"Why not call her Raven," said Mother?

"Yeah, just like a black raven," said Wade. Annie thought it was a great name too.

"Well, that was easy," said Father, "Raven she'll be."

Wade's little sister Annie knocked on his door breaking his train of thought. She said she wanted help with a math question, but really she just wanted to talk to Raven. Annie loved her too and was worried as much as anyone.

As Wade tried to explain the math problem to her, Annie just kept looking out the window rather than listening. Suddenly Annie sprang to her feet.

"Look, look, I see Raven!" Wade jumped to his feet, almost falling over his chair to get to the window.

"Where, where, I don't see her!"

"Over there, see on the bluff!" Annie shouted excitedly. Sure enough, up on the bluff she stood. They looked at each other, then looked again out the window.

Wade said,

"But Dad and Jake rode off to the east in the opposite direction to where she is, and it'll soon be dark, they'll never find her!" Annie said,

"If we cut across the west field it won't take long to get to the bottom of the hill, and she'll come to us when we call her."

"Yeah, but Dad always told us never to go up in those hills without him." They looked back out the window, Raven was gone.

The children sprang to action. Wade grabbed the halter from the barn as they ran off to rescue Raven. It took them longer than they thought to get across the field to the foothills. They called out to Raven over and over again, but Raven never came. Where could she be, they thought?
They searched farther and farther into the mountains, calling and calling and calling.

Annie was getting tired and tugged on Wade's arm,

"It's getting dark and I'm scared."

"Yeah," he replied, "I guess we'd better head back home." They turned around, and turned around again, which was was home?

Dad and Jake had not found Raven and it was too dark now. They decided to try again in the morning. Mother came running out to meet the men as they rode into the yard. In a frantic voice Mother told the men that the kids were gone. Mother had found that the latch was broken, not left undone at all. She also seen that Raven's halter was taken off it's hook.

An icy chill pierced Father's heart, for he knew what roamed those hills at night.

"Jake, get the lights and the gun, where going back into the hills!" He quickly asked Mother what direction the kids had gone, she wasn't sure. In a moment they were gone.

By now Wade and Annie could go no further. They found a big tree and Annie sat down beside it, shivering from the cold and fear. Wade sat down beside her and put his arm around her, trying to reassure her everything was going to be O.K., he hoped.

They weren't setting very long when suddenly they heard the russelling of leaves close by.

"What was that?" quivered Annie.

"Oh, that's just a little old rabbit," Wade said, hoping he was right.

The children watched as the first stars of the night sky appeared. Wade suggested they make a wish, trying to cheer his little sister up. They both made the same wish, that Father would soon find them.

The stillness was once again broken by an eerie howling off in the distance. "Ooh, I'm scared," sobbed Annie. Wade held his trembling little sister and tried to reassure her that it was an owl and that Father soon would be there. Then a branch snapped behind them, they froze. Another twig snapped, this time it was even closer. They could hear breathing. It was getting closer.

No longer could the children contain themselves, they bolted out from behind the tree to escape. Their sudden movement startled whatever it was. It snorted fiercely, and tore at the ground. In the darkness both children stumbled. Before they could get to their feet, it stood over them. Something wet and cold touched Wades cheek. He lashed out with all his might and struck it.
Again the creature made a loud whinnying noise. That noise, Wade recognized it, it was Raven!

"It's Raven," he cried out. "Annie it's Raven!"

Annie laughed and then she cried. The children jumped to their feet and wrapped their arms around Raven's neck. Oh he felt so warm, and somehow now the children felt safer.

Off in the distance the children could see lights, and they heard voices calling out to them.

"Father, Father, we're over here!" both children cried. Father and Jake quickly ran over to where the children were. Father jumped off his horse and grabbed both children up into his arms.

"Are you kids O.K.!
"Yeah, we're fine," spouted Wade.

"And look, we found Raven!" Annie tugged at Wade's sleeve,

"You mean Raven found us," and laughed.

When they got back home Jake put Raven back in his stall and fixed the broken latch. Mother had made a big pot of hot chocolate fore everyone. She listened intently as the children told their story of the great rescue.

"Oh my, you two must have been so afraid?"

"Nawh, not much," said Wade, "But next time we'll wait for Dad and Jake to go with us, right Annie?"

Annie nodded her head and said yes. Dad and Jake smiled and sipped on their hot chocolate as the kids continued with their story.

The End

The Hallowe'en Bet

It was a beautiful, sunny Friday morning and Miss Tremble was eager to start her grade six class. Her pleasant greeting was met with enthusiasm, and the roll was called.

Every Friday morning Miss Tremble and her students participated in "Show-and-Tell." The local news from their little town was preferred. The first hand up was Andrew's.
"Miss Tremble, I have a picture to show from my Dad's farm magazine. It's a picture of the tractor that my Dad bought last week." Andrew proudly passed it around the class.

"That's very good Andrew, does any one else have something to tell?" Up jumped Nettie.
"I have no picture, but Mom told me we all have a new neighbour. She delivered his first mail yesterday."
"What is his name, Nettie?" Miss Tremble asked.
"Mr. Sam Hain." Then Nettie added that he had moved into the old house way off the road just past Jakes store.
"Mother said she didn't know how anyone could live in that old wreck of a house. Nobody's lived in it for years!"
"Well class, if we should chance to meet Mr. Hain, we must all make him feel welcome. Thank you Andrew and Nettie, now we must get on with our lesson."

Miss Tremble asked the class what event was going to happen very soon? Her class chattered and giggled excitedly and explained...Hallowe'en!
"That's right children, she exclaimed." "Now let me read to you some of the origins of Hallowe'en."

She began. Over 2000 years ago the Celtics occupied what is now known as Great Britain, Ireland and northern France. Their festivals are believed to be the beginning roots of our present day Hallowe'en. November 1 st. was the beginning of their new year, but the festivities began the night before, this marking the season.

The festival of the Celtics was usually celebrated on October 31st. This was their new year and a time when the veil between the physical and spiritual world was very thin. It was a time to commune with the dead. Samhain was the spirit who opened the dark half of the year.

Sparky and Pete looked wide eyed at each other both thinking, Samhain? Sam Hain! Miss Tremble read on: ' The fearful Celtic folk built enormous bonfires on the hillsides to dismay the spirits of evil who revisited their homes at this time. On the night of October 31 ghosts and witches, hobgoblins and black cats, fairies and demons all roamed freely. The Irish Celts formed a parade and begged for food for the evil spirit's god, Musk Olla. The Irish legend tells of a man named Jack who was not permitted to enter Heaven because he was a miser, nor could he go to hell for he had played jokes on the devil. As a result of Jack's ways, he was forced to walk the earth til judgment, swinging his lantern to and fro; thus originated our Jack-O-Lantern. In medieval times, the same festivities were called All Hallow's Eve.

Miss Tremble added that the newest addition to our Hallowe'en was in 1965. At this time the United Nations incorporated into the Hallowe'en observance the collection of money for UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund.

The bell rang and out ran the children for recess, except Sparky and Pete. They lagged behind in serious conversation.
"Sparky, did you catch the name of the old man that has just moved in here and the name of that Celtic god?"
"Yeah!" said Sparky.
"Do you suppose that old man, Sam Hain, has moved into the old house just in time for Hallowe'en?"
Sparky pondered a few minutes, for things like this spooked him badly.
"Nah, it's just a coincidence!"
"I bet it's not. And I bet something terrible is going to happen on Hallowe'en night!" said Pete. Pete was braver than his friend Sparky, and thought this quite an adventure.
"Well, how are we going to know what will happen," said Sparky.
"We'll stake out the old house on Hallowe'en night, that's how," said Pete.

Sparky wasn't sure he wanted any part of this.
"I don't know Pete."
"Come on Sparky, don't be such a scardey cat, I bet you my bag of marbles."
Sparky had always admired Pete's great collection of marbles, he made a great gulp and said,
"O.K."

Later that day Pete asked his Mom if Sparky could come over for the weekend. His mother checked it out with Sparky's Mom and it was fine with her. All that weekend they planned for the great Hallowe'en bet. Sparky suggested they bring some matches to build a fire incase things got dangerous.
"No," said Pete, "I'll get the big flashlight that Dad keeps in the cellar. We have to be careful, for any light will scare away ghosts.
"Well isn't that the plan?" said Sparky.
"No Sparky, we'll just turn on the light if we really have to! We want to see all that is going to happen." Sparky just shook his head and wondered if the marbles were worth it.

Hallowe'en night finally arrived. Pete knocked loudly on Sparky's door. Sparky nearly jumped out of his suit with fright.
"Come on Sparky, let's get going!"
"You got the light Pete?"
"Yeah, but we can't turn it on now, we don't want anybody to know where we're going or coming."

Down the road they started. The night was cool and the clouds were taking over the sky. The boys walked along in silence. Finally they came to the long lane, rounded the bend and there stood the old house, all in darkness except for one room. Just them a big cloud rolled across the moon.
"Maybe we should go home," stammered Sparky. Then he thought about Pete's marble collection and slowly continued on.

The boys crouched as low as they could as they got closer to the window. There was an old wood pile near by and they hid behind it. They strained their ears to hear any sound and stared at the window to see if anything was happening inside the old house.

It seemed like a long time had passed and Pete was thinking he was going to loose his bag of marbles to Sparky. Then, suddenly, there came a great crashing sound from within the old house. A silhouette of a large figure rushed by the window. Loud howls and screaming sounds pierced the boys ears. Another light came on, then another, and another. Something seemed to jump from place to place inside the house, and that same dark figure rushed from window to window.

The boys were shaking uncontrollably.
"Let's get out of here!" they both screamed. They no sooner got the words out of their mouth when the house door flew open. Something was coming straight for the boys making a swooshing sound. It brushed Sparky's arm. Sparky screamed,
"The light, Pete, turn on the light!" Pete couldn't get control of his shaking hands. Sparky grabbed the flashlight. He flicked and flicked the switch, nothing happened. The batteries were dead.

The big figure now loomed in the doorway roaring loudly.
"Come back! Come back! They're coming for you soon!" The figure rushed out of the doorway making it's way to the wood pile. As it came running it kept saying,
"Come here you little devil, come here!"

The boys heard a terrible thud then a moaning sound.
"Come on Pete, now's our chance, let's get out of here!" Sparky grabbed Pete's trembling hand and pulled him down the long lane way toward home.

The boys were still out of breath when they reached Sparky's house. His mother met them at the door thinking they were trick-er-treaters.
"My, you boys look like you've seen a ghost, and where are your treats?" Just then some more kids came to the door and Sparky quickly went to his room and Pete continued on home.

The next morning Sparky had to deliver a letter for his mother to the post office. There he met Pete.
"Are you O.K.? Come on in while I mail this letter for Mom." As the boys approached the counter, someone came in behind them. The postmaster, Mr. Baker, looked up from behind the counter,
"Good morning Mr. Hain." The boys froze in their tracks.
"You have a limp, did you have an accident?" asked Mr. Baker.
"Why yes!" Mr. Hains exclaimed.
"My son and his family are coming to live with me and help me restore the old house. I'm looking after my grandson's little dog until they get here. The dog got to chasing my cat and when I went to let the cat out the little mut got out too. I had a terrible time trying to catch him, ran into the wood pile and hurt my leg."
Mr. Baker asked if he caught the little dog and asked if he was going to be O.K..

"Oh yes, I'll be fine. Oh, and by the way, there has been an error in the spelling of my name. My last name is Kain, not Hain. Would you mind correcting that for me?"
"I'll fix that for you right away." The postmaster then turned his attention to the sheepish duo.
"Yes boys, how can I help you today?" Neither uttered a word, just handed him the letter and turned and left the post office.

They headed down the road toward school. Sparky spoke first.
"I guess you can keep your marble collection, I didn't really want it. I wasn't really afraid either, were you?"
"Nah, but let's not tell anyone about last night okay?"
"That's okay by me," replied Sparky.