FICTION: A SCARY RIDE

"Did you hear about the haunted hay rides they have at Rocky Holler there just North of Cape?" Cassie asked Jennifer. "Why don't we get some of the other kids at school and go out there Friday night."

"Sounds like fun, I wonder what all they have out there?"

"I've never been, but I was talking to April the other day and she said she went last year. She said that tractors pull wagons with hay bales on them and there is around 20 people on each wagon. They pull you through a field and you go into the woods.

There are spooks of all kinds all through the woods. You never know what there will be or where they are.

She said what really scared her was when the spook with the chain saw came running at them on the wagon."

"Wow, it must really be scary," Jennifer said. "When do you want to go?"

"Well they open this Friday at 7 O'clock so we can go then if you want to."

"Okay, lets ask Marsha and some of the other ones if they can go then. If they can we will just all meet over at your house about 6:30 and leave from there."

"Hey Abe, you want to go get scared this week end?"

"What do you mean Dave?"

"Some of the guys at work was talking about a place that has haunted hay rides and I thought it would be fun if we took the wives out there. Joanne likes that kind of stuff."

"I'll talk to Sue this evening and she what she thinks. If we can get a baby sitter for Lisa we will probably go with you all."

Meanwhile at Rocky Holler they were all working hard to get everything ready for the hay rides so many people were talking about.

They were ahead of everyone else.

"All aboard," Molly said.

Everyone that has anything to do with the hay rides piles onto the wagon. There are tractor drivers; spooks, ticket takers, wagon loaders and concession stand workers. We get the first ride through the haunted woods.

Of course it looks a lot different when we go through than it will when we open for business.

When everyone is safely seated on the wagon, Molly and Ted go over all of the rules about safety, the 'do's and don't's' and everything they have learned over the years of putting on the haunted hay rides to make this a success for everyone.

The wagon stops at different places along the route.

Molly calls out; "all right Don, you and your group will be along here. You've done this before so you know what your job will be

Phyllis, Kat and Gus, you will be in your usual places.

Nick since this is your first year you will be working with Lucian."

James and Angie get off of the wagon next.

"Okay you both have worked here for the last couple of years. You know what to do.

Amy Jo, you and your friend will be working here," Molly tells them at the next stop.

"I know this is your first year with us, but I know you will get the hang of it really quick.

Carolyn since Jim couldn't be here today tell him where he is suppose to be."

Each one of the "spooks" think up their own costumes and sit up their own props if they want something different than what is already there.

They all go to work on their own ideas.

Lucian and Molly started to work a few weeks before everyone else painting, moving things into place and getting everything ready for Rocky Holler's 1999 Haunted Hay Rides.

Carolyn had been working in the gift shop calling last years spooks to let them know about the upcoming meetings and taking applications from the new spooks.

We will have several new spooks this year, so along with the older more seasoned spooks, we are looking forward to a hay ride that we hope will scare even the bravest riders.

On the evening we open we will get the tractors lined up, get the bonfire started, get the wieners and marshmallows on the sticks ready to be roasted, get all the spooks in place and invite all of you to come out and ride through the haunted woods.

Judie will be in the ticket booth so she will be the first one you will see.

Molly will be loading everyone on the trailers, so she will be the next one you will meet.

Milford and Denzil are just two of our tractor drivers so you may even see one or both of them. After that, who knows who or what you will see or hear. One thing is guaranteed. You will hear plenty of screams coming from the other wagons ahead of you.

When you get through with your ride you can come into the concession stand where Marylene and Carolyn will sell you hot dogs and/or marshmallows you can take down to the bonfire where you can roast your own. We also have hot chocolate, coffee, soda, chips and candy.

Come out and spend the evening with us and when you leave be sure and tell all of your friends to come out and be scared by all of our spooks at Rocky Holler.

Carolyn Boston is from Coldwater, Mo.