Scary Stories (To Tell in the Dark)

Rachel combed back her auburn hair. Mom had told her to look nice for Grampa's arrival.

Then she sat in a recliner in the front room, thinking. Grampa had been living in Tampa Bay, Florida, until recently. Gramma had lived with him in a rest home until a year ago when she died of a stroke. Rachel remember flying down for the funeral. Grampa had seemed OK.

But recently, the rest home had called, saying that Grampa had been acting strangely. They said he should live with his family for a while.

Rachel couldn't help feeling strange. She walked to the family room and picked up her bunny, Bud. She walked around, holding him. Just as she was about to get him a carrot, the doorbell rand five times. Rachel hurriedly put down Bud and ran to the door.

She wished she hadn't hurried. When she opened the door, a little man stood there. He was leaning on a big cane and his dark, beady eyes seemed to penetrate her body. Then she recognized him.

"G-Grampa?" She said quietly. "I-It's me, Rachel."

He reached out for Rachel's hand. Rachel bit her lip and reached for a handshake. She let go a tiny squeal when she felt how strong the little man was.

Rachel couldn't eat her dinner. She kept noticing how Grampa was looking at Bud in his cage, watching his every move. Rachel was startled when he Spoke, looking directly at her.

"During the depression," he said quietly, "my wife and I used to raise bunnies. Big fat ones like that." He pointed a finger at Bud. "Killed them all with our knife! Used 'em to make good bunny stew." Rachel shuddered and left the room.

"Why does Grampa act so weird?" Rachel asked. It was 8 at night and Rachel was in her mom's room. "Well," her mom said, "he loved Framma very much. When she died, I guess he missed her. Well, it affected his mind."

"Oh," was all Rachel could say about that. "Well, tomorrow at school, it's going to be so much fun. My teacher, Mrs. Chrony, is bringing my costume tomorrow for the Easter play. I'm going to be the Easter bunny!"

The next morning, Rachel was making herself a sandwich for lunch when Grampa walked into the kitchen. She was using the big meat cleaver, the only clean knife left, to cut her sandwich. Grampa looked at the cleaver.

"That's the kind of knife we used on the bunnies," he said. "Sharp knives like that one!" Rachel quickly shoved the knife back into the drawer and left for school.

Rachel was very happy walking home from school that day. Mrs. Chrony had let her wear her Easter bunny costume home so she could show her mom. When Rachel opened the door to the house, a strange smell filled the air. She put down her book bag.

"Er, Grampa, are you cooking?" She called. "Yes," came the reply, "good stew for us."

Rachel walked slowly to the kitchen. Grampa's back was turned to her. She saw a pot bubbling on the stove. She walked over to see what kind of stew it was. Staring up at her was Bud, his lifeless eyes still in his little head. Rachel gave a terrified scream.

Grampa turned and looked at her. In his hand he held a bloody meat cleaver. Rachel screamed again. Grampa's eye's widened.

"It's a bigger bunny!" he said, pointing at Rachel. "It's a bigger bunny for the stew!"

Rachel started backing away from the approaching man.

"No Grampa!" she cried, "I'm not a bunny! It's me, Rachel"

The old man just kept muttering happily, "A bigger bunny for the stew! Oh!"

Rachel could see she was getting closer to the wall.

"Please, Grampa," she kept saying, "It's me! It's Rachel!"

Rachel felt her back hit the wall. Grampa blocked all her escape routes. She gave one final cry as he raised the cleaver.

"Please, Grampa! No!"

About 15 minutes later, Rachel's mom got home. As she opened the front door, a strange smell filled the air.

"Woah, Dad, are you cooking?" she called.

"Yes," came the reply, "good stew for us."

The End