What the Turtle Told Her Children by Valerie Van Campen

Author:Valerie Van Campen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Cedar Grove Publishing
Published: 2016-09-10T04:01:45+00:00

Bogeymen

Zoe had an important project for school, so Matthias had to wait several days for his next story. Just when he was beginning to think that she had forgotten him, Zoe called.

“Hi Matthias. Today I'm going to tell about the creatures that have frightened me ever since I was a little girl. You know, the things that make you afraid to go out alone after dark.”

“Ah, I can't wait. I love such stories!”

********

Tiffany and Caleb each received five tickets for their high school graduations, meaning that only ten family members could come. Their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents got the tickets while the rest of us stayed home and set up the picnic. Aunt Fawn and I decorated the cake and made the baked beans.

Other relatives came with more food. The graduates finally arrived, changed out of their good clothes, and the festivities began. We played baseball, soccer, and kickball. To help the littlest ones settle down for naps, Granna put on her apron and told the story of the widow and the helpful beavers who brought her firewood. We sang songs and ate again. Actually, I'm not sure we ever stopped eating.

At dusk, most of the guests went home. Caleb, who would be leaving for Navy Boot Camp the following week, decided that he wanted to spend one last night in the “club house” with his cousins and uncles.

Our “club house” was an enclosed tree house, supported by four strong oak trees. It had metal ladders leading up to it. Pops and my Grandpa Rob built it over forty years ago. At some point, an uncle or cousin had made a sign for it: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Club House. The name stuck, but got shortened to the club house. When any of us spent the night up there, we always toasted marshmallows and told spooky stories after dark. Caleb requested that Aunt Fawn tell his favorite.

“I want to hear about the Oniate, the Dry Hand!”

Aunt Fawn drew her chair a little a little closer to the fire.

“Long ago, there was a mighty warrior named Strong Arms who always won his battles. For years he kept his family and clan safe. His enemies feared him greatly and learned to stay away. The clan grew and prospered. As time went on, the warrior was rarely called upon to fight. Even so, Strong Arms kept his bow arm ready and his spear

and knife sharp.”

“His enemies did not forget him nor about the wealth of his clan. They continually sought a way to destroy Strong Arms. Finally they learned that one of his friends, a man called Never Enough, was very jealous of the mighty warrior. The enemies approached him in secret and promised to reward Never Enough with food and goods if he would betray his friend. Never Enough readily agreed to this and the next morning, Never Enough lured Strong Arms into the woods.

“Come and help me, my friend. I have killed a deer, but it is much to heavy for me to carry alone.

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