SCARECROW STORY COMES TO LIFE

Who Put the Scare in Scarecrow?

tanner, josh, mrs. g.

under the direction of ms. orme

with aid of talented illustrators

(most unknown google images)

On a crisp Halloween Night in the small town of Hopperville, the wind began to howl an eerily song by 

The briskness of the Autumn air put a chill into the bones of the living as well as the dead. Clearly October had arrived in all it’s glory. There in the darkness of a of a barren field was the shadow of a Strange Scarecrow. 

david, zephyra

This shadow took to life. It gave a wave here, a scratch there and a s-t--r-e---tch way up high and then...it thumped to the ground. The Strange Scarecrow brushed off it’s worn and dusty clothes and made way for the country roads of this charming town. “Scaring Birds is for the Birds...my journey is more than eating CROW...it is ahhhaaa Trick or Treaters with treats. I could enjoy the company of children and the pillowcase of a Trick or Treat bag for the treats they hold ????”

The Scarecrow slithered on over to meet up with the gang...an Ugly Old Witch, a Glow in the Dark Skeleton, a Stiff and Shiny Tin Man, a Pale and Limp Zombie and a poor excuse for a Scarecrow. All were friendly to the Strange Scarecrow, but the person in the Scarecrow costume who seemed to be somewhat annoyed and threatened by the reality of the Strange Scarecrow. The person in the Scarecrow costume went by the name of Bud, which seemed to be full of irony. Bud was anything but a bud or buddy. He was just plain mean...a big bully by day and a terrible tormenter by night...especially when his face was hidden from view and yet, he was the ring leader of many...probably out of fear and manipulation.

As Bud’s friends gathered to welcome the Strange Scarecrow, Bud grew more insecure. As the Old Ugly Witch commented on the magnificence of how each straw of hay was placed in such a way, that not a speck of human flesh was visible to the eye.

Bud burned with jealousy. Bud stepped forward to approach the stranger, “Who are you and what is your name?” The Strange Scarecrow was perplexed by such a question. Could he not see that he was a Scarecrow? “I am a Scarecrow and my name is unknown.” That only added fuel to an already angered Scarecrow in costume. “Remove your mask and show your face.”

The other Trick or Treaters began to sense the intensity of the situation. They began to feel frightened. When Bud was mad...no one was to be jovial, celebratory, festive, happy or... anything but mad with him. In fact, it would be in the best interest of the Trick or Treaters if they chose to side with Bud and so they did. “Remove your mask...let us see your face...what are you so afraid of...” they chanted.

“Well, this certainly is not fun,” thought the Scarecrow. “I just don’t understand this riddle.” The Scarecrow began to wonder if Crows were so bad after all. The Scarecrow very calmly replied, “I am not wearing a mask. You are looking at my face and I am not afraid, I Scare Crows.” 

The Trick or Treaters were not happy with an answer that appeared to be mockery. In a loud and angry voice, all of them said, “Take off your mask!” This was not sufficient for Bud, though he quite liked the fact that he had their support. Bud got right in the Strange Scarecrow’s face. Bud ripped off his own Scarecrow mask made of an old burlap sack and roared, “let’s settle this face to face...man to man !” Bud has always been one to have the last word and to be the last man standing.

The Trick or Treaters circled the two Scarecrows knowing that a fight was soon to break out. The black crows began to loom overhead as if a carcass would soon be available for the taking. The wind began to howl even louder than ever as if the scene need additional sound effects to enhance an already frightening Halloween and an even more frightening situation. The Strange Scarecrow felt trapped and helpless. Bud could wait no longer. He grabbed hold of the Strange Scarecrows hat and threw it to the ground with a vengeance. Then he stomped on the hat...smashed it thin as a pancake...twisted and turned on the hat until a small hole in the ground formed. Immovable and paralyzed by utter rudeness and the bizarre movements of the boy dressed in his image, the Strange Scarecrow demanded that Bud pick up his hat immediately. Bud retorted, “Not on your life!” and then did the unthinkable... he reached for the Strange Scarecrow’s pillowcase of a head to reveal.....NOTHING...a nothing of a head...no shape, no form...complete invisibility! The pillowcase of a head in Bud’s hand spoke in a vulnerable tone, “Well, now look what you have done... I hope you are happy.” In absolute terror, Bud dropped the pillowcase of a head and started crying like a baby. 

The Trick or Treaters were so disappointed in what they thought was their fearless leader...then quickly assessed the situation...Unmasked Bud terrified and running down the country road in shrieks and shrills... followed suit...or should one say...followed costume??? They too dropped their sacks of candy and darted down the dirt path hollering and bawling like neglected infants.

kawaiicovers

The Strange Scarecrow bent over to pick up his pillowcase of a head and fastened it neatly atop his broad shoulders. Then he reached down to pick up his hat...dusted it off, popped it back into tip top hat form and placed it plumb upon his pillowcase of a head.  There before him was a pathway of Treats in pillowcases of Trick or Treat bags. “MMMmmm,” he thought, “delicious treats is what I ventured out for...spare pillowcases for a bad straw hair day or a new look...” The Strange Scarecrow gathered all the pillowcases of Trick or Treat bags of treats and headed back to the empty fields. He climbed upon the wooden post and decided...”Trick or Treating is for the Birds.” With the tasty treats in the Strange Scarecrow’s hands...the Crows came and were more than friendly. The Strange Scarecrow upon his perch enjoyed the company of Crows. As he pondered the events of the evening, he realized that he did not have to travel far to find friends and a better way of life. His true friends were right in the palm of his hand. With a tweak in his way of thinking...from scare to sweet, the quality of his life improved immeasurably. 

When company comes through town...they see happy, singing crows and a smile upon the pillowcase of a head of the Scarecrow and think “SWEET...I know what  I want to be for Halloween...”

how this story came to be:

ms. orme,the language arts teacher,has been teaching literary elements to her students.on this particular day, students were placed in pairs and assigned either writer 1 or writer 2.  ms. orme would then instruct each writer as to what literary element would be written about in the allotted time. example: "writer 1, for the next minute or two...you are to write only about the time and the place of the setting...GO!"(students would put their pencils to paper and scribble away until the heard) "stop and pass your paper to writer 2. your job is to now describe the season and weather..." and so forth until the story elements had been completed and conquered.the time constraint and limits of what was to be written made for an exciting challenge.

my job (mrs. g.) was to be the scribe for the team and also to clarify questions if necessary. as i listened to writer 1 and writer 2 banter back and forth, i had to bite my tongue. these two young men had the idea of a perfect halloween tale. with permission from the writers, time after school, my personal experience, and knowledge of the 6 traits of writing...the above story unfolded...Who Put the Scare in Scarecrow?

as i typed the story (adding only details, word choice, and possibly a mix of three voices that came about in each writer's contribution),i could hear the voice in my head emphasizing words in the story. those words and phrases were enlarged and bolded for the reader's sake...if you just read it monotone...then it is just words on paper. if the reader reads the words with emphasis, it takes on a life of it's own. i had the opportunity to test this out in another language arts class. oh my heavens, this is what happens to me a seed is planted (ms. orme's assignment to the students) and i can't leave it just as a seed, i have an innate desire to see it grow because as i am reading the story aloud, images pop into my head. the thought: pictures and illustrations will have to be added next. i didn't have time to create what i saw in my head, hence, i did a google search and tried to match what was playing out in my head. and so another projected added to my list...i guess this is just a lengthy way of giving credit, where credit is due and to let all teachers out there know...YES YOU DO MAKE AN INCREDIBLE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF OTHERS ! you are still influencing my life for good

-LITTLE

 YELLOW

 TYPEWRITER