Every week I write a short story. Here's the one from this week. To view the short story, please click on the Read More button

The Scarecrow

Terrance Mielder’s family was poor. His father is an alcoholic, his mother often worked two shifts at the pub just to put food on Terrance’s plate. Often, Terrance would come home to his father passed out on the couch. His mother would be home at eleven. In the meantime, Terrance did his homework and went to his boring job at the post office. It did not pay well and his boss, Mr. Luerdger, was a cruel curmudgeon. Using words like, “Get over here you maggot, now organize those letters or I’ll wallop your lousy behind!”

Terrance hated his job, he hated his school, he hated his useless father. These emotions built up for a long time. The next day after he failed his math test at school, Terrance walked over the post office to work for the evening. As usual he was greeted by Mr. Luerdger’s sweet voice.

“You’re late, idiot!”

“I’m sorry; I had a lot of homework”

“I’m sure you did. Now shut up and get to work!”

With that, Terrance started organizing letters. He did this for a couple of hours until he heard a stuttering noise coming from the back.

“Mr. Luerdger? Is that you?

“B-b-beware o-of th-th-the s-s-scarecrow!” Cried Mr. Luerdger, before he died of a stroke.

Terrance ran out of the port office. He didn't bother calling the police, His boss was dead as a doorknob. But there was no place for him anymore. Not at his school, not at the office. Terrance needed a full time job.

He heard from one of the kids at school that Farmer Werner needed someone to work in the cornfields because all of his workers had suddenly quit, and that the job paid well. Without any hesitation, he sprinted down the road to the house of Farmer Werner to enquire for a position. After upon hearing his request, Farmer Werner’s eyes lit up! Like someone actually wanted to work for him. He happily gave him the job and Terrance began to work right away.

After a couple of weeks, Terrance’s family thrived, his dad stopped drinking, his mother dropped a shift, and Terrance loved his job.

One day in the field, Terrance saw some crows cawing at something in the distance. Terrance went over to see what was going on. When he shooed the rows away, they revealed a scarecrow. Funny, Terrance thought. He had not seen it before. But it was a truly terrifying scarecrow. Mounted on a rotten post, It’s wretched face oozed agony, it’s shriveled hands meant pain.

Terrance turned his back to the hideous thing and began walking away when he heard a bone-chilling cry of desperation.

“Beware of the Scarecrow.” He had heard those words before. The voice came from directly behind him. Quivering of fear, Terrance turned and to his horror, the post was empty. Terrance couldn’t even scream before the scarecrow’s mangled hand jutted through his body, and pierced his racing heart.