Old Covered Bridge

Ten-year-old Timmy was afraid to take that first step on the old
covered bridge. The black water below twisted and gurgled, creating
spooky sounds like a boy-eating dragon. Then something flapped inside
the dark bridge. A crazy bat? he wondered. A chill crawled up his
spine. The full moon beamed down, and the wind hissed through the trees
that leaned over the river like giant monsters.

The green bridge was a fun spot during the day. Cars seldom used it
because of the new highway, so Timmy and his best friend Ronnie (and
sometimes his dog) played inside the bridge. Sunlight seeped through
the half-inch gaps between the boards on the floor, walls, and roof.
The windows on each side had no glass. Standing on their tiptoes, the
boys could view the muddy river lined with trees. Older boys told
creepy tales about the bridge, saying that bats slept up in the rafters
at night and if they saw your eyes, they'd attack you.

But now it was nighttime. And dark. He'd stayed too long at Ronnie's
house and his mom had telephoned. He was supposed to have been home by
eight o'clock. Now he was going to be grounded. He was really going to
miss playing his friend's awesome computer game. Death Ninja Avengers
was his favorite game in the whole world.

Timmy took a second step quietly onto the bridge. That way, if there
was a monster, or a creature, or anything under or inside the bridge it
wouldn't hear him. His heart pounded. He found it hard to breathe, and
wanted to run the way he did in gym class. But he couldn't. His legs
trembled; the hair on the back of his neck stood up.

Living in the country was cool, except after dark when Timmy had to
hike the quarter mile of dirt road from Ronnie's house. Tonight, Ronnie
and his mother had offered to walk him halfway home, but he had
refused.

"Let's at least walk you across the bridge," she had offered.

"I'm okay, Mrs. Richards," he'd said, hopping down the front
steps.

Mrs. Richards and Ronnie had waved as he'd faded into the night down
the lonely road. Now an owl hooted somewhere; he jumped. He felt alone.
He wanted to rush back and say he had changed his mind, that he did
want them to walk him across the bridge. But it was too late! He was
now on the old bridge!

His eyes darted from the shadows on the bridge to the moonbeams shining
through the wide cracks through the roof of the bridge. Another step.
And then another. Something black whisked across the bridge floor. A
black cat? A small troll? The boy swallowed hard, but didn't look back.
He closed his eyes and took another careful step. He was afraid that
something was going to fly through one of the windows and throw him
into the river with the water creatures.

His eyes snapped open. He took a quick breath. He hoped there was
nothing scary here. Those big boys might have been making stuff up. He
felt his courage returning. He thought about his dad, and knew he'd
have wanted Timmy to be brave. After all, he was the man of the house
now, while his dad was away on a navy ship.

Then all at once feeling less afraid he began to run as fast as his
legs would carry him, down over the small hill, and along the dyke to
his house. His mom had turned on the outside light and was sitting on
the porch step with his dog. Timmy was so happy to see them!

After he ate a peanut butter sandwich with a glass of milk, his mom
told him to go to bed. A few minutes later she switched off his light,
said good night, and closed his door. He pulled the covers up and shut
his eyes. He felt proud that he'd overcome his fear of the bridge. In
no time he was fast asleep.