The Herd

By Marisol Aguilar

“Child, don't stay out too late, for the farmer who has cattle will take you.” 

“Whatever, Grandma.” 

The little boy ran out of the house all the way to a hill. He reached the top and saw the view of the town. He sat down and pulled out a book. It contained everything he's interested in. In the distance, he noticed some sheep. He squinted to get a closer look. There was a man near the cattle pen. 

The farmer seemed to notice the boy, for a giant smile appeared on his face. The days turned into weeks, then into months. The child had gone missing, and the poor old lady was heartbroken.  

 The haunting voices of children, crying out for their mothers and fathers, filled her nights. 

It was 5:00 am, and tiny footsteps could be heard outside. A swing of the fluffy robe travels to the emptiness of the starry sky. 

Just like every night, nothing was there. 

An image of her grandson running in her arms was all she wanted, but she was met only with the crickets of the night.  

Overcome by sadness, she turns to return to a slumber that won't be. Before a foot could even step through the door, a flash came from the hill, the very hill her grandson adored. 

The old woman took a while to get to the top, out of breath, and she leaned against the tree. She held her chest and with the other hand she held the ground. With desperation, she saw her grandson, but he did not speak or look in her direction. He gently put something on the floor. 

  She crawled to the notebook with tears in her eyes. After a deep breath, she opens it slowly, before reading, her eyes met the spot where her grandson once was.  

A trick of the eye, it must have been, this very notebook a gift of the past. 

Lowering her eyes, she skimmed through his wonderful words. Until she reached the final pages. 

“I've been watching the farmer from afar, and it has become more obvious that he's odd. Each time I try to get close, he drives me away, so I hide in the trees.” 

“Silly boy, why would he want to investigate the farmer?” 

“When the farmer was distracted, I managed to sneak it. It was normal until I got to the herd. As I got closer, I noticed they weren't sheep at all, they were children draped in sheep's skin.” 

“Is that why children have been going missing?” 

“As the days went by, I analyzed this monster of a farmer and planned for an escape.” 

‘The day of their escape was finally here, I made a disguise similar to the other children's and snuck inside. So far, it has been successful.” 

“I finally got a hold of my book, it feels as if it's been a while. Anyway, I finally found the missing children. From what I can tell, the farmer has been using them for profit. Some of the children were missing limbs, and others were dead. I don't understand how these kids could stand such cruelty.” 

“Today we are going to be free. We were heading towards the door, but he showed up. I told them to stay quiet, but of course, they won't, so I tackle the farmer so they can escape.”  

By Marisol Aguilar