It was Friday, August 13. I rolled out of my lumpy bed, and walked to the mirror. I clearly wasn’t going to let some superstitious Holiday ruin my day. I smiled at myself. “ Hello, beautiful.” I thought as I combed my ratty hair and struggled into my dress.
As I was going downstairs for breakfast, my mom stopped me. “ Morning Addy! “ I said good morning back. “ What’s up?” I asked. “ You know about Grandma Lois’s sprain, right?” I nodded worriedly. “ Well, turns out your Aunt couldn’t deliver those oatmeal raisin cookies to her, and I certainly can’t go, since I have a meeting at our house with the bookclub. I was hoping you could take them, after all, you are 12.” “ Ok, mom.” I said. “Good.” She handed me a large map titled “East Oklahoma” and rushed off. “ Lois should be somewhere on West Huckleberry Lane, and feel free to ask around for directions!” She called over her shoulder. “ Love you, mom!” I called back as I hurried downstairs to enjoy some delicious pancakes.
Around Five O’clock I pulled on my plaid sweater, said goodbye to mom, and hurried off into the chilly evening. I hopped onto my bike, and put the cookies in the bike basket. I started off confidently, but as the cold evening got even colder, and it got darker, I had second thoughts.
“ Man,” I thought to myself. “ I’m like the present day Little Red Riding Hood.” I looked down at my red sweater. Eventually, I got lost. I got off my bike and studied the map, but in the dark evening, I could barely see a thing. I confused East Herod Way with my grandma’s street, and for the second time this evening, I rode off.
I looked around as I peddled, and things got stranger and stranger. The woods became darker and more ominous, and strange animals rustled around in the forest. I came to an abandoned-looking house. “ Well, I guess this is grandma’s place.” I mumbled to myself. I then, as I squinted my eyes, I thought I could detect a a person moving around inside. “ Uh… this place gives me the creeps,” I thought. “ Well, I guess your house would look like that if you lived all alone in the forest…” I remembered the strange noises, and thought I’d better get inside.
I climbed up the creaky steps and knocked on the scratched wooden door. Nobody answered, so I opened it. The house was dark, and cats gently mewed from all directions. I slowly proceeded. The house seemed empty as I tiptoed down the hall, and it had an eerie red glow to it. Suddenly, from behind, a voice whispered a greeting. “Hello, dear” It said. The hairs on my neck stood straight up. I let out a shrill scream. The lights came on. A woman stood there, horrified. “ Oh, sorry.” The woman murmured. “ I was expecting my daughter, but I guess she didn’t come tonight.” The woman looked sad. “ I’m sorry about that. Why is your house so creepy?” I asked. “ Oh, well, that red light you’re seeing is actually my nightlight. Red’s my favorite color, you know. You probably saw me moving around in here, I was just about to go to bed when you came.” The woman explained. “ Sorry I disrupted you.” I replied. “ Oh, dear, you didn’t bother me one bit. I’m lonely, and that’s why I keep so many cats.”
The nice lady gave me the directions for Grandma Lois’s house over a cup of tea. Turns out, she and grandma were childhood friends. I got on my way and gave grandma the cookies, and now every Friday the 13th we visit her. I’d glad I got lost, because I made a nice new friend!
THE END