Grandma’s Secret

Grandma and grandpa have always lived in northern Michigan. They lived on the outskirts of a tiny town. Their home was nestled next to many acres of a deep forest and walking distance to a small lake. Grandpa passed away two years ago and grandma continues living there by herself.

I’m Ally, her granddaughter and only living relative. I’ve come to check on her and see if she’s interested in moving to a smaller home in town.

Grandma was expecting Ally at any minute now. She just finished making lemonade.

“Hey grandma, I’m here!” Ally yelled.

Come in, come in. So, what brings you up here? Grandma asked.

We need to talk, let’s go outside on the deck. Sounds good, I’ll meet you out there, I’ll get us a couple glasses of lemonade I just made.

Grandma are you happy living here by yourself? Ally asked. “Sure I am, I’ve lived here almost fifty years. Grandma answered. “ Yes, but I worry about you out here in these woods.” Ally said. “Honey, I can take care of my self, I have no intentions of moving, I love it here.”

“Grandma if you love it here why do you sit out here with that rifle next to you?” Ally asked with a concerned look.

Grandma let out a long sigh and replied, “Honey, that’s a long story, are you sure you want to hear it?” “ Of course I do.” Ally answered.

“The first ten years living here was perfect. In winter grandpa and I sat in front of the fireplace in the living room and watch the snow blanket the yard and forest. Oh, it was so beautiful. We'd have several feet of snow and during the day the sun just sparkled on it. In the summer Grandpa would put in a garden. We grew many veggies and fruits. I'd make jams and breads and desserts. Then we’d sit out here on the deck and listen to the crickets, and frogs. We even had a great horned owl that built his nest in the tree up there. Every night we'd hear him hooting. Grandma pointed to which tree. The fire flies danced through the forest and their little butts lighting up the night. It was so magical. Grandpa and I called it our little piece of heaven. Even when he got sick he loved sitting out here. In the morning, sometimes, we’d see deer in the yard, one time a moose was here!”

“The summer of our eleventh year here changed. That's when “it” came. “Wait, what do you mean”it” Ally asked. Well, call it what you want, I'm still not sure. That's when it started. Grandpa and I were sitting here and we heard heavy footsteps and limbs breaking in the forest. We looked but couldn’t see anything. We knew it wasn’t a deer or any other animal that frequented the area. This went on for about a week. Then one morning the sheriff stopped by wanting to know if there was any problems or if we seen anything unusual. He said there’s been reports of strange sounds in the forest and the Steven’s, a neighbor, about a mile away had ten of their chickens killed. Just ripped apart he said. We told him what we heard but didn’t see anything. The sheriff just said to be careful and let him know if we need anything. Grandma took a break from her story and sipped her ice cold lemonade.

“ One day after lunch grandpa and I walked to the lake. It was a hot day and we walked in the water just up to our knees, it was so refreshing. Next, we heard a splash. We looked to the area where the sound came from. That area had lots of trees and we couldn’t see anything in the water but we left anyways. It could have been a deer or something else but we were not sticking around to find out.”

“About a week later we were sitting out here as we did every night. It wasn’t quite dark yet. But something was different, everything was quiet. There was no breeze, the air was still. No frogs or insects, no owl hooting. It was eerily silent. Again, we heard the heavy footsteps and sticks breaking . Grandpa got up and walked to the end of the deck yelling at this thing. Then he went into the house and got his rifle. Standing at the end of the deck he was peering in the woods and yelled for me to come and see. He pointed to what he was looking at. I seen it. It was about seven feet tall. It was standing on two legs like a human, long arms to its knees, at least 400 pounds and it was covered in black hair. I stared at it and it stared back at me with huge yellow eyes and its mouth was open, I could make out pointed teeth and spit dripping from its mouth. Grandpa yelled get out here, now! Then started shooting the rifle. That “thing” let out a howl like I never heard before, and ran away.”

“It came back many times but grandpa would yell and fire that rifle and it would leave. It never bothered us. Grandpa taught me how to use the rifle, just in case. We never told anyone. Nobody would believe us. So, I always have the rifle next to me. I have used it, maybe five or six times,

“Grandma, I would have believed you, anything could be in that forest I’ve heard the legends.” Ally said. Grandpa and I just lived with it. Not sure why it took eleven years to show up. Maybe it was here all along.

“You see, Ally, I'm quite happy here. I wouldn't like living in the city. I need to be here next to the forest with the wild animals and yes, sometimes a strange creature.”

“Thats the end of my story and the end of my reminiscing now let’s finish our lemonade.”