Book 1 Page 155

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10/27/06

"The Wailing Cows"

It was a cold autumn night the crimson harvest moon showed through his window. He had been in a deep sleep that was rudely awakened by the sound moaning cows. Sitting up he looked about his room. He was staying at a friend’s home. The room had white cottage curtains and blue toile wall paper. He looked up at the canopy of his bed. The room was not his style. Though many people said he looked like a girl. This room made him unconformable.

The sound of the moaning cows seemed to be getting louder. Jamie moved hurriedly to the window. He looked past the cotton curtains out to a large field in front of his friend's home. The shadows across the field would not allow him to see much past the house.

“I don’t remember seeing cows in the field across the street when I got her this evening. They would have to be in that field across the street there are houses all round this home save there.” He thought to him self.

Leaving the room Jamie had decided to investigate. He walked up the spiral stair case of the old brick home to the widows walk. The widows walk sat high on top of an old federal style brick home. The sound of the cow’s moans and groans had gotten louder with every stair. He looked out of the widows walks windows and still could see no cows. Puzzled Jamie went down to the front door and just opened it a crack. A cool breeze touched his face and the smell of burning leaves touched his senses.

He opened the door a bit more and walked out into the cold breeze. He still could see no cows. They sounded like they were right next to him. Walking down the stairs of the porch his feet felt the cold damp stone that made him shiver.

Looking across at the field he thought he could see some thing. The street that was normally busy was quit. Jamie fingered that must have been about 2am. The strong smell of burning leaves and their smoke made him stumble to the street.   

Slowly he crossed the street looking closely at the field. The sound of the cows was so load he did not notice a large truck come upon him. When he noted the truck he quickly moved into the field. “That was close” Jamie thought to him self. Looking out at the field Jamie could see what looked like some cows.

 “Some cows must have gotten away from their farmer. I don’t see that many cows in the city.  I have never been close to a cow before. I might as well go and take a look.  “

He started walking closer to the dark shadows of the cows. A strong breeze made multi colored leaves dance about him before they softly hit the ground. The closer he got the farther they seemed. Before Jamie had realized it he was on the other side of the field.

As he looked back across the field back to his friend’s home, he saw a large barn that looked to be on fire ware he had just been standing just moments before. Amazed Jamie ran toward the burning barn. But closer he got it began to vanish leaving behind nothing but a strong smell of smoke.

Standing at the street again he looked up at his friend’s home. It seemed all most amines from where he stood. The sound of the cows was gone. There was no sign that they had ever been there.

The next morning Jamie woke to smell of eggs. He began to move his body as he did he felt that the night before was nothing more then a dream. But when he opened his eyes he realized he was in the widows walk. His bare feet were packed with mud.

“What are you doing up here” His friend asked as he was coming up the stairs.

Jamie looked about confused.

“I am not sure. I heard cows last night and went to investigate.”

His Friend laughed, Cows? There are no cows around here. Just corn fields and a few pumpkin patches like the one across the street. Seeing Jamie who was visibly shaken he added. Though this home is was built in 1856 by Putman. Before this home was built this was one of the first sites settled in this area. They say Putman had left from MA with several cows and for his first winter here he had built a barn for the cows to stay out of the cold. But before the winter came the Indians who lived here first burned the barn with the cows to ground because the barn was built on the Indian burial ground. They had done it on a harvest moon night and sadly not a single cow survived.  Locals have always said this place was haunted. There have been many reports of cars hitting cows that simply vanish. I my self have never seen any such thing since I bought the home a year ago. I was not sure it was true after all I don’t believe in ghosts do you? “

Jamie stood up and looked out at the field of pumpkins and turned to look at his friend and smiled,

“If we don’t hurry breakfast will get cold.”

FIN  

Story by Jennifer Gallagher-Barlow