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Pierre Letrau and the Haunted House

Pierre Letrau was working for Mr. Breneaux one day out in his south field. It was hot; and the hoe handle was hurting his hands. All at once, he heard the sound of laughter. He looked across the creek to see a small house among some trees.

"Now that's odd," he said. "I never did notice that house before now."

Pierre asked Mr. Breneaux about the house at the end of the work day.

"There is no house down there in the south field," Breneaux said. "Many years ago there was, before I was born; but it burnt down long ago."

Pierre was puzzled; for he knew that he had the sight. He could often see and hear things that no one else could.

The next afternoon, Pierre worked again in the same field. He looked across the creek; but could see nothing. Later that day, he walked to the spot where he could see some old stones from the foundation. But there was no house.":

Again, he asked his boss about the house. "So you seen it twice eh Pierre," Breneaux said. "Well, that's dead house. Folks can see it from time to time. It's a dangerous place and you'd do best to keep clear."

Several days later, Pierre was working in another field, when again, he heard laughter. He walked toward the creek, and again, he saw the house.

While he watched, the front door opened; and out stepped a man onto the porch. Pierre lost a breath. It was Pierre Mevo - a man who had died eight years ago.

"Pierre Letrau," he called. 'You look so tired and thirsty. Come in for food and a drink with us."

Pierre knew that he shouldn't have accepted. But he did need a drink; and he was curious to find out what was happening. So he walked across the creek stones, and approached the front porch.

Mevo smiled and motioned for him to come in. "All of your friends are here," he said while he opened the front door.

Pierre stepped slowly inside. Although the house was small, the inside room was very large. It was full of people, who seemed to be having a very enjoyable time.

"It's awful small a house to have so large a room," Pierre remarked.

"It has to be a big room," said Mevo. "There's a lot more of us coming in every day - always more and more; and we got to put em some- wheres."

There was Mr. and Mrs. Lebot who had died together in a house fire. Their daughter Yvette was over at the fire place playing with some boys. They were taking hot coals out of the fire and placing them in tin cans.

He saw his old friend Jean Vierne sleeping in the corner, on a bed that could not be seen. Several people where turning their heads completely around and laughing as if amused.

All at once, the room began to grow hotter. A young boy began to hand hot coals from his tin box to everyone in the room. Pierre became terribly afraid. All at once he saw a boy with coals coming closer to him. The boy reached out to offer them to Pierre. He could feel the heat from them. He turned his head away; but then he felt the sharpness of pain as his shoulder burned.

He found himself later, laying in the morning grass. He had spent the night in the weeds; and the panting of a dog had awakened him. He sat up to see farmer Naveau approach him.

"What in the world are you doin' out here ?' Naveau asked him.

But Pierre would answer very little. He wasn't sure himself what had happened. There was a burn on his left shoulder. He treated it as best as he could and went back to work - this time on another farm.

Weeks later, he returned to the spot where the house had stood. He found a few stones from the base and chimney. But never again did he see 'dead house'. And it was years before he told anyone that "I was the only one I know to visit the dead house and live to tell about it."

Don't Look Back

A young girl named Susan was at her friend's house. "Oh no," she said when she looked up. 'It's already eight o'clock; and I'm going to be in big trouble.

Amanda told her "You'd better go now. It's already dark." "Don't tell me that," Susan almost cried. "I'm scared enough as it is."

So Susan left for home trying to be as brave as she could. Her house was only a few blocks away; but it seemed like a lot longer. She had left her friend's yard and made it to the first street sign. It was odd that no one else was out. It wasn't that late.

All at once, she heard a voice almost right in her ear. She heard the words "don't look back" and she jumped. Naturally, she looked back to see who had said that to her. But no one was around. But back in the light of a streetlamp down the road, she saw a figure coming her way.

"What is that thing ?" she said.

It was moving almost like someone who was tied up in a sack. Susan was horrified and turned to walk faster to her home.

She had only reached the next street crossing when she heard the words again in her ear - "Don't look back". This time she darted behind a tree and peeked out. She could see the figure was moving very slowly; but it was much closer to her now. She moaned and once again started for home; but this time almost running.

Finally she saw her house. She started to cry while she ran to the front door. Again she heard the horrible words, this time an angry voice 'Don't look back !'.

She tried the door; but it was locked. She hit it twice as hard as she could with her fist. Then she heard something behind and spun around. It was a figure all bundled up; and it was right behind her. And there two large arms opened as if to grab her. Susan screamed and fainted.

She came to, seeing her mother with her on the porch. She sat up; but it was hard, for she was wrapped in an old burlap cloth. But there was no sign of anyone else around. She still has the cloth.

The Hairy Toe

Once there was an old man and an old woman out in their garden picking peas. The old man reached into the vines and caught a hairy toe. He pulled it out and showed it to the old woman. (Of course, a hairy toe is a rabbit.)

"Take this home and cook it for supper," he said. So she took it home and cooked it for supper. But the old man was late; and the old woman was hungry. So she took a little bite to see just how it tasted.

It was so delicious. She took another bite, and another, and another. When she went back for another sample, it was all gone.

The old man came home late and sat down at the table.

"Where's the hairy toe ?" he asked.

"Old man, I ate it all up," the old woman admitted.

"Old woman" he said in an angry voice. "Somethin's gonna git you for that."

That night, something broke into the house. It came in breaking through the window shattering glass on the floor. It woke up the old man and woman.

"Old woman," he said. "You get up and see what's come into this house."

She got out of the warm bed and made her way slowly into the living room. It was dark; and she couldn't find the pull string to turn on the light. As she groped her way around the wall, she came to the little closet. The cloth which served as the door was torn away. She reached into the opening - and felt some oily fur.

She let out a whimper and jumped back. Something tall in the closet made a snort, and opened two big yellow eyes.

"What in the world are you ?" she asked.

To her surprise, the thing spoke. "A big hairy thing."

And where do you come from ?" she asked taking a step backward.

"From the mountains," replied the monster.

"Where is Jed with that gun ?" she thought to herself. "Look at those big feet with six toes."

"I can run faster than the wind," the smelly thing replied wiggling its six big toes.

"And look at those big yellow eyes."

"I can see in the dark," it said; and it stuck out its head.

She took one step back again toward the bedroom door. She tried to think of a question to stall the monster. "If you live away in the mountains, why did you come to our house so far away ?"

"Because," it said. "I'm hungry, and I'm looking for - - SOMETHING TO EAT !!! "

At this, the monster jumped causing the old woman to jump back and scream. All at once, Jed hollered for her to open the door. He jumped into the dark room with his loaded gun. But the big hairy thing was gone. And it was a long time before Lucy would cook a hairy toe for supper.

THE GOAT CART

It was a cool night when Jeremy awoke from his sleep. He was very thirsty, so he got out of bed to go to the kitchen. The old house had a pump at the sink for a water faucet, so the water had to be pumped by hand into the glass.

While he drank, something caught his eye out of the kitchen window. His curiosity was aroused, for it looked to be a small wagon coming up the road. Jeremy stepped out onto the back porch of the house.

Down below the hill, he could see a small wagon with two goats harnessed in the front. Why would a goat cart be out at this time of night ? Furthermore, there was something very odd about this cart. There was no one driving it.

To his surprise and fear, the cart turned in his own driveway and began to drive toward the house. Jeremy backed up toward the kitchen door; for he now felt that there was something terribly wrong. It was very silent for one thing. The goats made no bleating; and the turning wheels made no sound on the gravel.

There was something else terribly wrong. Jeremy could tell as the cart came closer, right to his porch. He was so frightened now, that he could only stand and stare. He wished it could have been a dream.

The goats were pulling the cart in the air, about a foot off the ground. They were seemingly floating in the air.