儿童英语读物 The Pumpkin Head Mystery CHAPTER 7 Benny Disappears

“What’s going on here?” one man yelled. “Why aren’t we moving?”



Henry climbed up on the tractor. The key was missing. “I’m sorry, everyone,” he said. “Perhaps the tractor is out of gas. I’m sure the driver will be right back.”



“I thought it was part of the joke to scare the riders,” Jessie whispered.



“I thought so, too,” Henry replied. “I don’t know how the tractor could have run out of gas. The hayride has only just begun.”



“Maybe the engine is not working again,” Violet said.



The tractor sat just at the edge of the cornfields. The large pumpkin 1 patch stretched out in front of it. The sky was cloudy and the pumpkin patch was dark. Suddenly, a screeching 2 noise came from the darkness. It was very loud and creepy.



“What was that?!” Violet grabbed Jessie’s arm.



“Look!” Henry cried.



In the back of the pumpkin patch, a glowing pumpkin head floated through the field. It had a very scary face.



“Is this part of the show?” asked Violet. Her hands were shaking.



“I don’t think so,” said Henry.



The pumpkin head floated closer. An eerie 3 voice drifted over the field. “Beware! Leave this farm in peace!” the voice screamed.



The pumpkin head got very close. It seemed to float in the air with no body beneath it.



“How is that possible?” asked Jessie. “It is really floating!”



Benny tugged 4 on Henry’s shirt. “It’s Sam!” he cried. “It’s my scarecrow! Sam!” Before Henry could answer, Benny took off. He ran after the pumpkin head into the dark fields.



“Benny! Come back!” Henry yelled. But it was too late. Benny had disappeared.



Henry and Violet turned on their flashlights and hurried to find Benny. “Benny! Benny!” they called. The glowing pumpkin head had vanished into thin air and Benny with it!



Jessie shivered. She stayed with the customers on the hayride. She assured them that everything would be okay. But some were grumbling 5.



“Was that pumpkin head part of the ride?” a man called. “How did it float in the air like that?”



“I didn’t like it,” a young girl said. “It had a mean voice.”



Before Jessie could answer, she saw a bright light coming toward them on the path.



Sally walked up to the hay wagon 6 with a big flashlight. “I’m sorry, folks,” she called. “It seems that the tractor is not working tonight. I hope you don’t mind walking back with me. It is not too far. There will be free apple cider and fresh baked cookies. We have a nice bonfire burning as well. You are welcome to toast marshmallows and warm yourselves.”



Sally and Jessie helped the customers down from the wagon. Sally shone her big flashlight along the path and everyone followed.



“Where are your brothers and sister?” asked Sally.



Jessie explained about the screaming pumpkin head. “Benny ran after it,” she said. “Henry and Violet went to find him. I hope they are okay.”



“Oh my!” said Sally. “I did see the pumpkin head. It was here last night as well. It seems to float over the ground. I can’t figure it out.” She turned to look at Jessie. “But why would Benny run after it?”



Jessie stared nervously 7 into the dark fields. “He thinks it might be his missing scarecrow.”



Sally put her arm around Jessie’s shoulder. ”I’m sure your brother will be all right,” she said. “When we get everyone back safely, I will help you to look for him.”



“Thank you,” Jessie said. “I am worried about him and Henry and Violet, too.”



Back at the barn, the customers quickly lined up for the cider and cookies. Many sat on benches around the crackling bonfire. Bessie was busy selling pumpkins 8 and corn. Mrs. Beckett poured the cider and refilled the cookie trays. She waved to Sally and Jessie.



“What happened out there?” Mrs. Beckett asked.



“I don’t know,” Jessie said. “Jason told everyone that the tractor was broken. We thought it was part of the show, but the tractor didn’t move. When we looked for Jason, he was gone.”



“Poor Jason,” Sally said. “He must feel so bad.”



Mr. Beckett limped over on his crutches 9. “I don’t understand what is wrong with that tractor,” he said. “First the wires on the motor came loose. Now something else seems to be wrong. I’m sure I checked it just this morning.”



“Excuse me,” Jessie said. “I need to go look for my brothers and sister.”



“I’ll be right behind you,” Sally said. “Why don’t you run into the barn and grab another big flashlight. There is one on the shelf in the back.”



Jessie ran into the barn. She quickly found the flashlight. She was standing 10 in the dark corner taking off her bride costume when she heard a noise. Someone else was in the barn! It was Jason. He pulled off a black cape 11 and threw it behind a bale of hay. Then he grabbed a gas can and ran from the barn.



Jessie did not have time to think about what she had seen. Sally was calling her name. She dashed outside. They had to find her sister and brothers first!



“Ready?” Sally asked. “I think I see some flashlights shining in the cornfields. Let’s head that way.”



Jessie and Sally walked through the fields. The dirt was soft beneath their feet. They did not see Benny or Henry or Violet.



“Maybe we should stand still for a minute,” Jessie suggested. “Perhaps if we are quiet, we will hear them.”



“That’s a good idea,” Sally said.



They stood quietly, but the dried cornstalks rustled 12 loudly in the wind. They were about to move on when Sally held up her hand. Something was moving. It was coming toward them.



Sally gripped Jessie’s hand. “I do not believe in ghosts,” she said. “But I am afraid of mice. If it is a mouse, I might scream.” She shone her flashlight on her feet.



“It sounds too big to be a mouse,” Jessie answered.



Suddenly, someone burst through the stalks.



“Bessie!” Sally cried. “What are you doing here? You nearly scared us to death.”



Bessie was so frightened she dropped her flashlight. She put her hand over her heart. “Oh my!” she cried. “I’m sorry. I…I…was just trying to see what was going on out here. I thought maybe I could help.”



“But who is taking care of the farm stand?” Sally asked.



“You’re right,” Bessie replied. “I should get back to the booth.”



“Have you seen Benny?” Jessie asked.



“No,” Bessie answered. “But I think I heard your sister and brothers on the path a few minutes ago.” She pointed 13 to her right. “If you run that way, you should be able to catch them.”



“Thank you!” Jessie ran through the stalks. She was not afraid of mice, but she did not like being in these dark fields all alone. She remembered the warning of the shrieking 14 pumpkin head. Finally, she came to the path. She shone her flashlight up ahead. She could just make out three figures walking close together.



“Benny!” she called. “Is that you?”



“Jessie! We’re over here!” Benny called.



Henry, Violet, and Benny ran toward Jessie. “What happened?” she asked them. “Is everyone okay?”



“We’re fine,” Henry said. “We’ll explain later. Let’s all go back and get warm first.”



The Aldens were glad to sit around the big bonfire. The customers had finally all gone home. Mrs. Beckett brought out blankets for everyone. Bessie carried a steaming pitcher 15 of hot chocolate and a plate of marshmallows. Jason sat with his head in his hands.



“Don’t worry, Jason,” Sally said. “There wasn’t anything you could do about it.”



Jason shook his head. “Were the people on the hayride very frightened? Do you think they will stay away from the farm?”



“Some were frightened,” Jessie said. “But I think that most had a very nice time.”



“Yes,” Violet added. “I heard one couple say that they would come back next week. They said that they would love to live in such a beautiful place.”



“What?” Jason jumped up. “What a thing to say! They cannot live here. This is a farm. This will always be a farm!” He turned to Mr. Beckett. “We do not even need to have these hayrides.”



“But the hayrides bring in customers and money,” Mr. Beckett said.



Jason stood near the fire. Bright orange light lit up his face. “There are better ways to make money. This is a farm, not an amusement park!”



Suddenly, Benny fell off the bench onto the ground. He had fallen asleep next to Jessie.



“Oh, my!” Mrs. Beckett said. “Are you all right, Benny?”



Benny rubbed his eyes. “I guess so. What happened?”



“It is late,” Mrs. Beckett said. “We can talk tomorrow. These children need to go home to bed.”



“They cannot ride their bikes in the dark,” Sally said. “It is too dangerous on these roads. Jason, will you give them a ride home in the truck?”



Jason stopped his pacing. “Of course,” he said. He went to load the bikes into the back of the pickup 16 truck. Henry carried the sleepy Benny. Jessie folded the blankets for Mrs. Beckett.



“I left my water bottle in the booth,” Violet said. “I will meet you in a minute.”



Violet ran to the booth. She could hear Bessie talking inside. “Yes, some people were frightened,” she said, “but not everyone. Something much worse will have to happen to scare everyone away.”



Violet did not want to interrupt. But she felt uncomfortable listening to Bessie’s private conversation. She knocked on the door of the booth.



The door flung open. “Violet!” Bessie quickly dropped her phone into her pocket. “Don’t you know that it is not nice to snoop on people?”



“I’m sorry,” Violet said. “But I am not snooping. I just stopped by to pick up my water bottle.” Violet pointed to the bottle sitting on the counter. “I am going home now.”



“Oh.” Bessie handed the bottle to Violet.



“Me, too. I was just calling my husband to tell him that I am on my way.”



Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny were very tired. It was hard to stay awake on the way home. Henry sat up front. He gave directions to Jason.



“Here?” Jason asked. “This is your driveway?”



“Yes,” Henry said. “Make a left. This is where we live.”



Jason seemed surprised. He parked the truck in front of the house. He helped Henry to take the bikes out of the back. When Jessie opened the front door of the house for Benny, Watch dashed outside. He began to growl 17 and bark at Jason.



“Watch!” Jessie called. “Stop that! Come back!”



But Watch did not stop. He barked angrily at Jason.



“You have a mean dog,” Jason said. “You should keep it on a leash 18.”



“Watch is not mean!” Jessie knelt down beside her dog. “I am sorry that he is barking at you this way. I don’t know what has gotten into him.”



Jessie took Watch by the collar. She led him into the house. But Watch continued to growl until Jason had driven away.



Jessie held her dog in her arms. Watch was trembling. “What is it, boy?” she asked. “What has gotten you so upset?”