"That ol' Foster house is haunted," I hear ten year old Ben say. "And Ol' Jake is crazy. He's got eyes that glow in the dark!" Comin' around the corner of the church I see Ben's little brother, all wide eyed, and my nine year ol' friend Elsie noddin' her head like she knows all about Ol' Jake. "An that ain't all," says Ben. "He don't ever take his clothes off." "Why not?" asks George. "Cause he's a spook, tha's why!" says Ben. "What'r ya gonna do?" I ask. "Well it's Hallowe'en ain't it? We're gonna play a trick on Ol' Jake. So come on," says Ben.
Down the road toward the highway we go, and stop in front of a big mud-brown house that has a heavy wire fence with a broken gate. We scrunch down behind some bushes. I peek around and see a broken sidedwalk, lotsa weeds and an ol' wagon-bed layin', kinda helpless lookin', on its side. A beat up tin tub, a rusted wood stove, a churn, and junk are all over the porch, 'cept in front of the door. "Ya gotta go up to the door, knock hard, then run and hide 'fore he opens it," says Ben, "I did it at the last house."
"Not me, I ain't gonna do it," says Elsie. George jus' stands there shakin' his head, then they all look at me. "Aw, she's jus' a little kid, she's too scared," says Ben. "I'm seven years old, and I ain't either scared," I say. "Oh yeah, prove it!" hollers George. "Shh," whispers Ben, "Ol' Jake'll hear ya. So, go on, show us you ain't scared." I stick my chin up, march up to the porch and put my foot on the first step. It groans...I stop... then the second step...it groans even louder. I look back, there's a shadow creepin' out from the corner of the yard. I want to run, but Ben scowls and waves me on. I step onto the porch and there's a deep growl. It nails my feet to the floor. I can't move! The door opens and all I see is dark.
A low rough voice says, "Whadda ya want?... Well, speak up or I'll turn the dog on ya." "It's...it's a trick," I squeak. "A trick, huh," the voice is even lower, "come closer!...Stick out your hand!" I barely move and slowly strech out my arm. A big hairy fist shoots out and grabs my wrist. I squeal as he puts something in my hand and slams the door. Runnin' down the steps I race past Ben, George and Elsie and I don't stop 'till I'm in front of the General Store, two blocks away. Catchin' up with me the kids are all talkin' at once. "What happened? What'd he do?" I'm breathin' hard and can't say anythin', but I open my hand. "Golly," says Ben. In my hand lay TWO bright, shiny pennies.
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d, she's too scared,"
says Ben.
