Have you heard about the old house on Milton’s Hill? It is old and creepy, with cobwebs everywhere, and has chipped paint. Legend has it that a ghost’s wail can be heard there, and if you listen carefully, you can hear wind that sounds like witches’ cackling.
Now our story takes place in a little town below Milton’s Hill. This town’s name is Worad Town. In the town, there was an 11-year-old named Milton Barako. He was very inquisitive and got into all sorts of mischief. One day while digging in the dirt, he found an ancient tablet. The tablet said:
Now be ye strange
Or be ye great
Find my treasure on
Milton’s Hill.
Milton was interested, so in the dead of the night he sneaked out of the house. He carried his pocketknife with him, so he could etch his initials into one of the walls. When he got there, he walked towards the gate, but it swung open by itself! Milton’s eyes were as big as saucers. Walking up to the front door, he glanced at the doormat. It said: LEAVE WHILE YOU ARE SAFE.
Milton paid no attention, but instead stepped into the house. An evil-sounding laugh echoed across the house, followed by a mournful wail. Milton was terrified. One small part of his mind said, “Leave! Leave! Leave!” A bigger part said, “Go on! Go on! Go on!” So he went further into the shadows of the house. He walked across the floor, hearing it creak beneath him. Then he heard, “Hoo! Hoo!” He jumped, then realized it was only an owl.
Then something swooped down on him. He felt so cold that he didn’t notice the thing fishing his knife out of his pocket. Then he felt an agonizing pain in his chest, and it was all over.
The next morning, Milton’s parents searched everywhere for him. They searched all over town. Then they gathered the people of Worad, and they marched up to the old house on Milton’s Hill. They searched everywhere, but they could not find Milton’s body or any of his possessions except one. The only thing left of Milton Barako was his pocketknife. What do you think became of poor Milton? Your guess is as good as mine!
Age 9, Grade 4
Covington Elementary School
Los Altos
