The Scarecrow Counts to Twelve
horrorEveryoneWren climbs the fence and walks straight up the hill toward the scarecrow. Up close it is taller than it looked. Burlap face, stitched smile, button eyes that seem to follow. Wren stops one step away and says out loud, "Why us? Why our house?" The straw arm twitches, then slowly bends, like it is about to point somewhere new.
Wren panics and shoves the scarecrow hard. It tips off its pole and crumples in the dirt, just straw and old cloth. For a second Wren feels brave. Then every crow in the county lifts off the trees at once and turns to face the hill, hundreds of black eyes locking onto Wren.
What happens next?
2 ways forwardWren grabs the crumpled scarecrow and hugs it tight, the way you'd hold a scared kid. "It's okay," Wren says. "You don't have to point anymore." The straw goes soft in their arms. The crows settle back into the trees and start singing. By the time Wren walks home, smoke is rising from all eleven empty houses. Everyone is back.