THE STORY OF THE CORNFIELD

CHAPTER 1

Every year around the middle of July my father would pack us up and we would travel to Dublin, Ohio where he would work at “Stocks Farm”. He has been working on this farm since he was 15. Year after year he would tell us the stories he was told, and he made sure we all knew the tricks the cornfield would play. All of us was a little afraid to go to deep into the cornfield but I would recite my father’ words every time I would go into it, “ If you ever feel like you lost your way go to the ground and look for your tracks they will lead you out every time.” It was about a week after having arrive to the Stocks Farm, my cousins and I would horseplay on the outskirt of the field. Well for some reason tonight my primo Junior. (He was the youngest out of us 3) took off running into the field So Pelon and I went running after him yelling for him to come back. I notice we was going deeper into the cornfield; you could barely see the houses anymore. “Pelon!” I yelled at him. “Gilberto, we going to far STOP!” Junior stop and turn to see how far we was and realize we could not see the houses anymore. I pleaded with him, “Let us go back and get Pa! He will help us find him.” Junior shook his head no. “I can’t Lo my Mom will blame me if something happens to this fool.” I didn’t even try to convince him to come back anymore because he had his mind made up. So, I nodded at him and said, “Hey don’t forget...” “I know I hear Tio’s voice too.” He said smiling. He was about to take off when he turned back and yelled to me “I’ll be back soon but just in case I didn’t catch this pendejo meet me back here after supper. Ok?” I nodded, to give him the answer he wanted. I watch him as he took off until he was out of site then I headed back as fast as I could. As we were eating dinner there was a knock on the door it was my Tia. She didn’t say hi she just looks right at me and ask, “Angelo where is Gilberto and Juanito? Before I could reply my mom said “They are not here Angelo been here all night. Why?” “Well them three was horse playing earlier this evening and my boys never came home”, My Tia reply. As my mom and her talk, I felt my dad’s eyes on me the whole time. “You know where they are Mijo?” my dad asks, “I don’t know?” My father mumble something then told my Tia he will gather a search party and look in the cornfield, he will be by her house later. My father and the men have been searching for about an hour when I remember I got to meet Pelon. So, I told my mom I will be back but before I got out the door, I heard her say, “Your father will find them. But you should have told the truth tonight it would have made the search easier for him.” I just look down at the ground, I hate that woman knows me so well. I could never hide anything from her. After a long pause I left out the door running to meet Pelon. When arrive I whistle to let him know I was here but no respond. I waited for a while hoping he would show up. After a while I started heading back to the house walking slowly hoping he would show up, but he never did. When I got home, I went straight to my room so I could see when my father came back wondering if he found those fools. Finally, I heard his truck pull in the driveway. He told the group we will search again tomorrow, Tia met Pa in the driveway, “Sorry Cat no luck.” My aunt hugs my father and went home. When he came into the house my mom ran up asking,

“Any luck?”

“No, we will hopefully have better luck in the light.”

“Fabian you don’t think.”

He cut her question short “No! Don’t even mention that Maria!” he yelled at her.

“Where is Angelo?”

“In his room.”

I heard his footstep come down the hall to my door my heart started pounding when I heard my door open, I was for sure I was about to be in trouble for lying to him earlier. But then I heard him say in a whisper

“Angelo you up? Angelo.”

“Yes, sir I’m awake.”

“Tell me!” He started getting louder I look at him confuse.

“Don’t look at me like that pendejo tell if you want me to find them tell me the truth!”

I told him what happen and promise I will show him where I lost sight of Pelon. He nodded and left out the room. I thought the night was never going to end, finally my father opens my door, but I was already dress waiting on him to say let us go. I took him straight to the spot and showed him the direction he went. I explain how Wedo just took off in the field and we were trying to get him to come back but he would not. After I told him everything, we barely spoke to each other the rest of the search. He calls the search around dinner time. When we walk in the door Tia was already sitting at the dinner table when we walk in. “Go eat Mijo.” He told me as him, mom, and my Tia went to their room to talk. I was trying to listen to see if I could hear what they were saying. All I heard is my Tia crying and I heard her ask my dad a strange question “No fue la Bruja?” What is she talking about a witch for? I was replaying all the stories I been told sense I was little, but I cannot remember anything about a witch. I went to my room after I was done eating. All I remember laying on my bed thinking about what my Tia said Then suddenly being woken up to a slap on my back and Pelon’s voice saying, “Wake up fool!” I jump right up hitting my elbow on the dresser and stubbing my toe on the bed. Am I dreaming I ask myself but knew instantly I was when the pain hit me? Pelon fell over laughing at me.

“When did you get back fool? You had me worry they was never going to find you two.”

“About an hour ago” he said.

“So why did that dumbass take off?”

then I realize Junior was not there. I look at Pelon, he was not laughing he had a more serious look now. “What happen? “I asked.