Viscera and Other Tales

A Man in the Distance

When I was thirteen years old I spent a summer at my grandparent's ranch due to...let's just say behavioral issues. My grandmother was as sweet as can be but my grandfather was a strict no nonsense disciplinarian. He was mostly tolerable but was known to sometimes have a bit of a cruel streak.

I spent my days out in the hot Texas weather helping him tend to various ranch chores, getting yelled at for doing something wrong, and often making a fool of myself. The nights were heaven, however, as I'd get back indoors to enjoy some of grandma's delicious cooking.

So overall a pretty mixed bag, but for a troubled kid like me I guess it could've been worse. Before ending up at the ranch, there'd been talk of a military school and yeah I'd take the ranch any day.

Well that is except for The Bad Night.

It had started out a day like any other. Ranch work in the day, good eating in the evening. After dinner there had been a knock at the door. I opened it to find Amos, a boy who lived nearby. He was the only friend I had here at the ranch.

"Thank god you came I've been so bored!" I said, ushering him into the house. "You gonna spend the night again?"

"Hope so." He said, looking around, before whispering "Think the old man will let me?"

I chuckled. "He won't care as long as I get the work done tomorrow."

I went to the kitchen and asked my grandparents if Amos could stay and they reluctantly agreed. After that he and I headed upstairs to my room, but not before grabbing some snacks from the pantry.

There were no TVs at the ranch so we mostly stayed up playing board games or ranting about ranch work. Tonight took a turn however when Amos looked out the window.

"Who's that?"

I looked up from the National Geographic I had been thumbing through to see what he was pointing at. Across the street, at the edge of the cornfield, there stood a figure.

"What the? That's creepy."

The tall shadowy figure stood motionless. I couldn't make out any facial features but I felt eyes on me. A chill made its way down my spine.

"Should we tell your grandpa?" Amos asked, a slight quiver to his voice.

"I, uh, I don't really know. He doesn't like to be disturbed at this hour."

"Yeah well neither do I."

I continued to stare at the figure, trying to make out any kind of distinguishing details. He seemed to be wearing a hat and maybe a long trench coat? Other than that nothing caught my eye.

"Could it be a scarecrow?" Amos asked.

I shook my head. " I don't think so. There definitely wasn't one there earlier."

"Then what the hell is it?"

Suddenly the figures head moved upwards. Directly towards us.

Amos and I ducked down from out of view of the window.

"It moved. It moved." Amos said, trembling.

I couldn't speak. I felt pangs of fear in my chest.

"We have to get your grandpa."

We got up and sprinted towards the door of my grandparents bedroom.

"What is it?!" My grandma said, startled.

"Outside! There's a man near the cornfield!"

"A man?" My grandfather asked. "I don't like jokes boys."