My Friend Oscar

I wonder if Mom will notice that I’m outside, thought Ellen. On clear nights like tonight she loved to lay in the grass behind the house and gaze up at the stars. I think I should become an astronomer when I grow up, she thought to herself. Maybe I’ll discover a brand new star? Or a whole star system? That would be so cool, she thought. The night wore on and she was desperately trying to keep her eyes open for just a little while longer. I probably shouldn’t sleep out here. There are all kinds of night animals that scare me. Just a few more minutes...

All at once she heard a strange sound. It sounded almost like a very deep man’s voice, but it wasn’t talking in words. At least it didn’t sound like words in a language she understood. It was coming from the direction of the barn. She got up from her grassy spot, having already decided she should probably head inside now anyway. I’ll just check this out and then go in, she thought. So she walked over to the barn and peered inside the dark building. “Is anyone there?” she asked. Nobody answered. “Are you sure there’s nobody there?” she asked again, now with a bit of hesitation in her voice. Nothing. Hmm, well, I guess I misheard it. She turned to walk back to the house when suddenly the voice was there again, this time talking clearly. “Who dares to come into my house?” said the voice. Now she was nervous. It sounded so ominous. She went back to the barn door and said “This is my grandpa’s barn, not yours. So maybe you should just leave.” She flicked on the light switch to see who was there. Nobody. Then who was talking to me, she thought.

Just as she was about to turn off the lights and leave, the voice said “Why do you lay in the grass by the house all alone?” Now she knew the voice was inside the barn, but she still didn’t see anyone. She answered it anyway. “I like to look at the night sky and dream of the stars and what they do all night long. Why do you want to know?”

The voice replied “Because I too sit here alone most nights and thought maybe we could sit together. You know, keep each other company.”

“But I don’t see you. Where are you hiding?” she said.

Directly overhead, sitting on a crossbeam was a big ole barn owl who flapped its wings wide, stretching. It was a scary sight for sure.

She was about to run out of the barn when the owl said “I am the voice that you hear. I would like some company and thought maybe you might want some too. There are not many animals out at night that stick around when I am out. I tend to want to eat a lot of them so they are all frightened of me. But I’ve seen you outside at night many times and thought that you are not frightened. Are you?”

“No I’m not frightened. I could sit out all night as much as I want to”, she told him. “Sometimes when my Mom doesn’t realize that I’m even out, I sleep out here too.”

“Oh, well then, maybe we could keep each other company. I am awake most of the night so I could keep watch if you need to sleep. How would that be?”

Ellen nodded. And in that very instant, the owl swooped down from the beam and landed on the barn floor right next to her.

“Would you do me a favor please? I really could use a back scratch. Would you do that for me?”

“Sure. Like this?” she asked, as she started to scratch at his back. “Your feathers are very soft.”

“Thank you. Ahhh, yes that is perfect. It is such a hard spot to reach with my little legs. Thank you for helping me. What is your name? I think I should know it if we’re going to be friends.”

“My name is Ellen. What’s yours?”

“I call myself Oscar. Well Ellen, will you stay out with me this night?”

“Sure. I’ll sleep up in the loft. It’ll be like having a sleepover.”

So, up she went and she curled up against a bale of hay. After some conversation she said, ”I’m sorry Oscar, but I think I am getting sleepy. Do you mind if I close my eyes for a bit?”

“No, not at all Ellen.”

Slowly she allowed her heavy lids to fall shut. Just before she was out she mumbled to the owl “It’s nice to meet you Oscar.” Then she promptly fell asleep.