There is an old scarecrow in Ana’s garden. Every morning, it seems to face a different direction. Ana is starting to think the scarecrow is watching her.
Ana’s family had an old scarecrow standing in the back garden, tall and straw-filled, wearing a faded blue jacket and a wide straw hat.
On Monday morning, Ana noticed the scarecrow was facing the house.
“That’s strange,” Ana said to herself. “I thought it faced the fence yesterday.”
On Tuesday morning, it was facing the garden gate.
By Wednesday, facing her own bedroom window, Ana felt a small shiver run down her back.
“Something is wrong with the scarecrow,” Ana told her older brother, Sam, that evening. “It keeps moving. I think it’s watching me.”
Sam laughed. “Scarecrows don’t move, Ana. It’s probably just the wind.”
“Then why does it always end up facing something different?” Ana asked. “Come look with me tomorrow morning. Early, before anyone else is awake.”
The next morning, Ana and Sam crept outside together, just as the sun was rising. The scarecrow stood exactly where it always did, facing directly toward Ana’s bedroom window.
Ana grabbed Sam’s arm. “See? It’s watching my window again!”
Sam walked closer, studying the scarecrow carefully. Then he laughed, pointing at the ground beneath it.
“Look,” he said. “The wooden pole isn’t stuck in very well. Every time the wind blows hard at night, it slowly turns a little bit.”
Ana looked closely. Sam was right. The pole wobbled slightly when she touched it.
“So it really was just the wind,” Ana said, feeling both relieved and a little silly.
“Just the wind,” Sam confirmed, smiling. “Want to help me fix it properly? Then it won’t turn at all anymore.”
Together, they pushed the pole deeper into the soil until it stood firm and steady.
The next morning, the scarecrow faced exactly the same direction it had the night before. Ana smiled, glad the little mystery finally had a simple, friendly answer.
The End
Key Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Scarecrow | a figure made to look like a person, used in gardens to scare away birds. | “The farmer put a scarecrow in the field.” |
| Shiver | a small shaking feeling, often from cold or fear. | “A shiver ran down her spine.” |
| Crept | moved slowly and quietly. | “The cat crept toward the mouse.” |
| Wobbled | moved unsteadily from side to side. | “The old table wobbled when he leaned on it.” |
| Firm | solid and steady, not moving easily. | “He made sure the ladder was firm before climbing.” |
Quick Check
- What does Ana notice about the scarecrow every morning?
- What does Sam think is causing the scarecrow to move?
- What do Ana and Sam do early one morning to find out?
- What is the real reason the scarecrow keeps turning?
- Have you ever been scared of something that turned out to have a simple explanation? What happened?
Enjoyed this gentle mystery? Continue with another story at your level.
