Once upon a midnight dreary, on a Halloween night, there was a doughty scarecrow named Ned, who stood guard on Mr. Smith’s farm. As time went by, Ned’s once flamboyant straw hair turned grey, and his blue button eyes faded to a dull skyish color. Everyday he’d wonder what it felt like to be alive – to wander, to laugh, and to learn.
On one Halloween night, he got his wish. Just as the midnight toll tolled, Ned found himself shrunk to the size of a mouse. He was struck dumb, but then, with great enthusiasm he ventured into Mr. Smith’s humble bone-rattling farmhouse. He saw the candy-filled Jack-o’-lanterns and the macabre decorations that hummed ominously in every corner. The thrill of experience sent a shiver down his stuffing!
He was so mesmerized that he didn’t notice the large orange cat ninja-stalking him. Just as the cat pounced, he screeched a frightful “Boo!” Shrinking abruptly, the cat darted off in terror, leaving Ned with a triumphant gleam in his button eyes.
As dawn approached, Ned found himself back on his stake, the adventure seemingly over. A wily grin crossed his straw face as dawn broke and Mr. Smith came out to find an orange cat, petrified of the “haunted” scarecrow at the edge of his porch!