Using words creatively 4

The Catawampus Monster

1. “Catawampus monster! Where did you see it? What did it look like?” Gwen grilled her grandfather.
2. “Hold your horses," her grandfather shouted from the barn loft. “Give me a second.”
3. Gwen waited for her grandfather to descend the stairs, and then she studied him carefully as he strolled over to the wooden bench and plopped down next to her.

4. “Back in the day, everyone around here knew about the catawampus monster. It resided in the potato fields. Rumor has it the catawampus monster would catch little children who ventured out into the field and take them back to its nest. There, its babies would hungrily devour the prisoners—er, I mean children.”
5. Gwen’s eyes grew as big as saucers.
6. “The catawampus was as sneaky as a fox," her grandfather continued. “It hid among the tall grasses, its greenish-yellow scales camouflaged in its surroundings—it would wait like that for hours. And its teeth! Its teeth were knives. They could chomp on anything. See that tractor over there, the combine that plows the field? Some would say the catawampus monster was just like that tractor.”
7. You’re pulling my leg, Grandpa!” Gwen stammered, the words caught in her throat. She tried to stay as cool as a cucumber, but it was hard for her to disguise her uneasiness.
8. Her grandfather chuckled and winked. “Just some old folklore. I hope I didn’t scare you too much. Hey! You have school tomorrow. It’s time to brush your teeth and hit the sack.”