Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, there was a scarecrow. This is how it came to be.
Now there is a place called The Creek. Have you heard of it? It is where Human Grammy lives, by The Creek and with a very, big garden. Human Grammy’s house is very tiny and so she plays in her garden lots.
It is in Human Grammy’s garden that I live. I am Spider.
That is correct. I am a spider and my name is Spider. I have eight legs on which I crawl. I have two, bulging eyes by which I can see the smallest of specks. And, I have a very hairy body which tingles and shakes letting me know just where I am in the garden (or anywhere for that matter).
Human Grammy prefers that my family lives in her garden rather than in her house. So, we do.
My Mommy and Daddy made me my very first spider home, a web, way up on the beautifullest of flowers, Sunflower.
My bestest of friends also live in Human Grammy’s garden. I have lots of friends even though sometimes I feel all alone. My Human Grammy tells me that it is when I feel all alone that I learn best how to be a friend to myself. That sounds kind of weird to me, but Human Grammy would not say something like that if it was not true. Human Grammy is kind of smart that way. Even I know that.
One of my friends is, Crow. Crow’s name is Crow because he is a crow. My Mommy is not too fond of Crow. She seems to think that he might eat me one day.
I told her, “Mommy, Crow whispered to me that he would Never, Ever Eat me because I am his friend. He also told me that Friends help each other; not eat each other. That is just the way it is Mommy, among us bestest friends.”
Well one night there was very bright moon high up in the sky. It was the biggest, brightest, orangest moon that I ever saw in my whole life. Someone told me later on that it was called a Harvest Moon but at the time, I did not know for certain what it was. I wanted to get the best view possible.
You see, I am a very Brave spider and I want to learn all there is to learn.
And so, it was that by the light of the Harvest Moon, I crawled out from my web and down the stalk of Sunflower. When I got to the bottom of Sunflower’s stalk, I could not believe my eyes.
The moon was Bright and Orange like a Pumpkin in the Sky. It was amazing.
I gazed and gazed and gazed so much that I did not notice the clouds moving in. Soon, moon’s light was gone and the sky was dark, dark. It was the darkest sky that I ever did see, ever. Even the stars were dark. The sky was black. The air was chilly. Silence was all around. Silence prevailed.
Well, even though I am the bravest spider that ever was, it was so dark everywhere that I became scared. I no longer knew which way was up and which way was down. I did not know where Sunflower had gone. I could not find my web.
My web is the special house that my very own mommy and daddy made for me. And, on this darkest of nights, I could not find it.
I did not know what to do. I did not know where to go.
So, I hided under a Rhubarb leaf and I cried.
I cried and I cried and I cried. I cried so hard that I even made Spider Tears. I have never made spider tears before. So, that scared me even more because I thought that my wee spider body was melting. Do you know how scared that made me feel?
I thought I was going to melt into oblivion. I am not sure where oblivion is but I have heard Crow say – “Yep, he’s gone. Probably into oblivion.” Crow would say such a thing after he had cawed at other creatures scaring them away from Human Grammy’s garden. In this way, Crow protected us.
I trusted Crow.
But then, a miracle happened. A Real-Life Miracle.
Just when I was thinking about Crow and what he had said about oblivion, I heard crow caw, “what’s wrong wee spider? Where are you? Your Mommy and Daddy are looking for you. Your sister and brother are looking for you. Your friends Tomato vine, Cucumber, Fern and Beet leaf are looking for you. Keep making noise. We will find you. We will show you the way home.”
Spider sobbed and sobbed. He was crying so hard. Between sobs he said, “I…feel…. soooooo …. alone. I can’t see in the dark….and…. I am scared…And this wet stuff keeps dripping from my eyes. I think I am melting, Crow… Help me. Please help me. Come quickly.”
Crow cawed back to spider and this is what he said:
“Wee spider, I will help you. I am your friend and we share Human Grammy’s garden. We are a team. Follow my instructions. Count one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10. While you are counting, I will call Fern. She will know what to do.”
Fern is an asparagus fern. Human Grammy loves to eat vegetables, especially asparagus. I think that is why she is so healthy. So, Fern has lots of asparagus buddies.
Crow cawed to Fern and told Fern all about wee spider not able to find his way home. Crow was right. Fern knew just what to do.
Fern said, “I know what to do. Call Tomato Vine.” And so, they called Tomato Vine. And Tomato Vine, upon hearing Spider’s story said, “I know just what to do. Call Cucumber.” And so, they called Cucumber. And when they told Cucumber spider’s story, Cucumber and her fellow cucumbers shouted, “Count us in. We will help Spider find his web but we will need Beet Leaf and Sunflower. Beet Leaf will cushion us all and Sun Flower knows best. Sunflower points the way for all of us here in Human Grammy’s garden.”
And so, it was that Fern, Tomato Vine, Cucumber, Beet Leaf and Sunflower huddled together and decided how best to help Spider.
Sunflower knew that the Moon was a Harvest Moon and that each vegetable would be strong and hardy enough to help Spider. They wasted no time. They knew that Wee Spider could count very fast. This is what they did.
Sunflower stood tall. Cucumber came and draped around her stalk. Fern patterned herself at Sunflower’s back making it look, almost, like Sunflower was wearing a skirt. Tomato Vine wrapped around and hung like a necklace of rubies from Sunflower’s neck. Beet leaf gathered around the base to make it soft like a cushion just in case wee spider had trouble climbing.
You see. Spider’s mommy and daddy had built spider’s web on Sunflower knowing Sunflower was the strongest and brightest flower that ever was in Human Grammy’s Garden. They knew that Spider always could find his way home once he could see Sunflower. Sunflower points the way home.
Now, just as spider’s friends finished their task, Spider shouted out, “Ten”.
Crow cawed:
“Dear Spider, Our dear, dear little friend. Open your eyes. We are here for you. We are your friends. We see you. We hear you. We love you. And we are here always even though sometimes the sky is dark and you can’t find your web. You did the right thing. You stayed still and you called out for help. Now come along dear friend. You will find your Web along the way as you climb Sunflower’s stalk. She is waiting for you. We know you know how to climb. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.…Keep putting one foot in front of the other and you will find your home.
We love you. We are happy we could help you. Your mommy, daddy, sister and brother are waiting in their webs which you will find along the way.
Cloud played its trick on the Night Before Halloween. Now it is Halloween Morn. Cloud has moved on. Harvest Moon is setting in the West and Sparkling Sun is Rising in the East. All is well. You can see your way.
It is Halloween Day…. One of the Funnest Days of the Year.
Remember your family, friends are there to hear you even when you cannot see them. Just call.”
Remember whenever the sky is dark, the moon is still shining even though a cloud may be in the way.
Happy Halloween
