A Strange Rumor

Grandfather Alden pulled his rental car onto the interstate. He looked over his left shoulder, waiting for traffic to pass. Then he sped up. "Couple more hours until we get to Mrs. Riley's house," he told his four grandchildren.

Ten-year-old Violet was in the backseat. Her pigtails bounced as she turned to see the road signs. "'Welcome to Idaho,'" she read aloud. Another sign whizzed by. "Famous Potatoes.'"

"'Where are all the potatoes, Grandfather?" she asked.

He nodded toward the windows. "See all those bare fields out there? Desert, really. Miles and miles of crops have already been harvested. It's October, so potatoes are being sent to all parts of the country by train and truck."

"For French fries and hash browns, right, Grandfather?" six-year-old Benny, who was sitting next to Violet, said.

Grandfather smiled at Benny in his rearview mirror. "That's right," he said. "When we get to Townsend, you'll see that sugar beets are another important crop in Idaho. They're part of a fun event this weekend."

"That's exciting," said Benny. "When will we get there?"

"Soon," said Grandfather for the fifth time that hour. "Try to enjoy the view, Benny. Do you know those mountains in the distance?"

"Uh, no, not really," Benny said. He looked to his brother in the front seat for an answer.

"Those are the Rockies," said fourteen-year-old Henry. "They go all the way from Canada down to New Mexico. They'll be covered with snow all winter."

After a while, they passed some hills with steep sides and flat tops.

"They look like tables," said Jessie.

"Those are called buttes," Grandfather explained. "They are actually volcanic cones. See their black sides?"

"Lava!" said Henry. "We studied buttes in science class. Volcanoes used to bubble up here. And when the lava dried, it made the buttes. But I think these volcanoes have sleeping for a long time."

"That's right, Henry," said Grandfather.

"What if they wake up while we're here?" asked Violet.

"The last eruption was about two thousand years ago," Grandfather said. "No need to worry. And here we are." He slowed the car, clicked on his turn signal, and took the exit.

"Look, Benny, we're almost there," said Henry. He pointed to a sign out the window.

"'Welcome to Townsend. Home of the Sage Hen,'" Benny read slowly. "What's that mean, Grandfather?"

"It looks like a chicken," said Violet, who was looking at the bird shown on the sign.

"It does, I suppose," Grandfather said with a chuckle. "Sage hens are also called sage grouse. Strange creatures. The males do this funny dance to attract the females. It's quite the sight. That's one reason a lot of tourists come to up to places like Townsend."

"I hope we can get a close look," said Jessie. "And I want to see some lava." She was twelve, and she loved animals. She rolled down the window for her dog, Watch, so he could sniff the cool autumn air.

"I hope we see them too," said Henry. As the oldest, he liked to take charge. "Maybe I can lead us all on a hike. And hopefully we'll come across an old volcano."

"You'll have plenty of time to explore in the next few days," said Grandfather. "When I was a boy, I went to summer camp here. The area is rich in geology and Native American history."

As Grandfather drove down Main Street, he said, "I'm excited for you to meet my friend Mrs. Riley. She has a big project I think will interest you all."

"I can't wait to meet her," said Jessie.

Violet looked over at her grandfather. "We love projects!" "Yes, I know, dear." Grandfather gave her a friendly wink.

The Alden children were orphans. After their parents died, they had learned they must go live with a grandfather they had never met. They heard he was mean, so they ran away to the woods, where they found shelter in an old boxcar. That's where they found their wire fox terrier, Watch. Soon their grandfather found them. He wasn't mean at all! He brought them to his home in Greenfield, Connecticut, to live as a family. He even had the boxcar brought to his backyard. Now the Aldens used it as their clubhouse.

Grandfather traveled often. When possible, he brought his grandchildren with him so they would have new experiences. This trip had brought him to Boise, Idaho. And now he and the children were on their way across the state to visit his friend Mrs. Riley.

* * *

Trees along Townsend's Main Street were gold and crimson with fall leaves. Grandfather turned up a gravel driveway just outside of town. A single-story ranch house sat in a field of sagebrush. Wide windows faced the foothills of the mountains.

A woman in jeans and a plaid shirt came from the front porch to greet the Aldens. Her long dark hair hung in a braid over her shoulder. She wore turquoise earrings and a turquoise bracelet. She shook hands with Grandfather and smiled at the children. "I'm Susan Riley," she told them. "I'm very happy to meet you. And James, it's wonderful to see you again."

"Thank you for inviting us, Susan," said Grandfather.

She turned to the children. "This is a good weekend to be here, because it's our very first Harvest Festival. I'm on the City Council and am one of the festival organizers."

"That sounds like fun," said Jessie. "Do you need any help?"

"Actually, yes," the woman said. "There is much to do, and it would be nice to have some help. Would that interest you?"

"Yes!" Violet replied quickly.

"I love to help," Benny said.

"We all do," Jessie said. "The middle school Henry and I go to will give us extra credit for community service. But even if they didn't, we would still want to help you."

"That's right," Henry agreed.

"Well come on in," Mrs. Riley said. "I've set out some snacks in case anyone's hungry."

Benny's face lit up. His family laughed. "Benny's always hungry," Jessie explained.

"Then you're in the right place," their hostess said. She waved them inside, and they went to the kitchen. A table in the center of the room had plates of sliced apples, cheese, and crackers. "Sit, please," she said, pouring each child a glass of milk. She brought Grandfather a steaming mug of tea. Watch curled up under the table, waiting for any dropped food.

"What is the Harvest Festival?" Benny asked. "Is it for the potatoes your town planted?"

"Good question, Benny," the woman replied. "Idaho certainly is famous for potatoes, but the big crop around Townsend is sugar beets."

"Sugar beets?" Jessie said. "Do people make a pie or cake with those?"

"In a way, yes," Mrs. Riley said. "But first the beets are sent to factories. They're processed into the type of sugar used for baking. Soda companies also use it to sweeten soft drinks."

"But can you eat a sugar beet like one of these apples?" Benny asked.

Mrs. Riley laughed. "I'll let you find out tomorrow, Benny. Meanwhile, I'll show you all to where you are staying so you can settle in."

When the children were done eating, they took their plates to the sink. Then they went and got their bags from the car. After picking where they would sleep, they joined Grandfather and Mrs. Riley on the back deck. She was looking at the foothills, now golden in the afternoon sun.

"Are there any sage grouse out there?" Henry asked.

"Probably," she replied. "Not only are they becoming rare, but they're hard to spot. Their feathers are camouflaged in the brush."

Jessie opened her notebook and clicked her pen. "Mrs. Riley, what do you need help with to get ready for the Harvest Festival? Just tell us, and we'll get started."

"That's very kind, Jessie. Thank you." Mrs. Riley continued to stare at the hills. "Something's been troubling me though."

"What is it, Susan?" Grandfather asked.

She sighed. "I'm worried no one will show up on Sunday. Especially for the evening parade."

"Why is that?" asked Henry.

"For the past few months, a rumor has been going around town," Mrs. Riley said. "A strange and upsetting rumor."

The Alden children exchanged glances. They looked at their host with concern.

"What rumor?" Violet asked. She suddenly felt cold and rubbed her arms to warm up.

Mrs. Riley motioned toward the foothills. "Someone posted on our website that a werewolf lives up there," she said.

Benny gulped. He said, "A werewolf?"

Mrs. Riley nodded. "Yes," she said. "And when the harvest moon gets full, as it will this weekend, the creature supposedly sneaks into town. Some people are afraid of going outside."

The children were quiet for a moment. Then Henry said, "But there's no such thing as a werewolf. Isn't that right, Grandfather?"

"I'm certain they don't exist," said Grandfather.

Violet looked up at Grandfather. In a quiet voice she said, "But what if they do exist?"

Sounds in the Night

As the sun set, Mrs. Riley led the Aldens back into the house. She invited them to hang their sweatshirts on the rack by her back door. The kitchen was cozy from the warm stove.

"I'll show you what has caused such alarm," she said. She brought her laptop to the kitchen table and sat on one of the bench seats. After a few clicks, a cheerful photo of jack-o'-lanterns appeared on the screen. She scrolled down and paused at a video of dancing sage grouse.

"These are the birds that made our town famous," she explained. "I'm from the Shoshone-Bannock tribe. Our elders tell stories about long ago. There were thousands of these birds. They darkened the sky when they took flight. The sound of their wings was like wind. Can you imagine?"

"It must have been quite a sight," Grandfather said.

"Oh, yes, I wish we could have witnessed it," Mrs. Riley said. "Anyway, this is the website I created with Mayor Chang. You'll meet her this weekend, children. Here we are. But look at this upsetting rumor." She scrolled down to the comments.

Benny leaned close. "I think I can read this," he said.

"Go for it," Mrs. Riley said. She scooted along the bench so Benny could sit beside her. The others stood close enough to see for themselves.

"'Beware ... Danger,'" Benny began, sounding out the words. His eyes grew wide. "Are we in danger?"

"I sure hope not," Henry said. He peered at the screen and continued reading. "'A mysterious event has occurred over the past months during each full moon. In the middle of the night, a person has been seen dashing along the ridge that overlooks town. Then, at the break in the trees, the moonlight is bright.'"

Henry exchanged a worried look with Jessie. "This is spooky," she said. She stood behind her brother and looked over his shoulder. "'In the moonlight,'" Jessie read, "'the figure bends down. And after a moment, it lets out a whimper, like a groan. When the figure stands back up, it has the head of a wolf, and it staggers until it is out of sight.'"

Benny went to the kitchen window and looked out into the night. Turning back to his family he said, "A real werewolf? I hope we see it!"

"Let's check the other comments," said Henry. He scrolled down and kept reading. "'Whoever the werewolf is, he or she hikes into the foothills before the moon rises, to transform in secret. Then during daylight, the shape-shifter comes back to town like a normal person who lives here. As if nothing happened.'"

"But werewolves are just a myth," said Jessie.

"That's right," said Grandfather. "Legends of werewolves have been around for a very long time. People use them to try to explain things they don't understand. But there has never been anything to suggest that werewolves actually exist."

A ding came from the computer. There was a new comment on the website. "Uh-oh," Violet said. "Mrs. Riley, this person says the festival must be canceled immediately. 'The threat of the werewolf is even greater during a harvest moon.'"

"This is what worries me," Mrs. Riley said. "People checking the website are going to see this. It would be terrible if it kept families from enjoying a fun weekend. Mayor Chang and I were hoping the festival would bring more tourists to our community."

Henry noticed the motel and restaurant ads on the website. "I get it now," he said. "Visitors will spend money while they're here. It will help Townsend."

"You're exactly right, Henry," Mrs. Riley said.

"If tourists are afraid to come," Henry added, "it will hurt the town."

"Right again," Mrs. Riley said. She went to the pantry and pulled out things for dinner. She handed Grandfather six salad bowls for the table. "I don't know about you folks, but all this worrying makes me hungry," she said.

"Me too!" shouted Benny.

While their host prepared dinner, the children set the table. They poured glasses of water. As Jessie folded a paper napkin by each plate, she paused to look up. "Mrs. Riley," she said, "I'm curious. What is a harvest moon?"

"Is it different than a regular moon?" Benny asked.

"And what does it have to do with werewolves?" Violet asked.

Henry said, "It sounds like someone is trying to sabotage the festival, Mrs. Riley. I wonder why."

Mrs. Riley gave the children a caring look. Then she turned to Grandfather and said, "I really like how your grandchildren think about things and ask questions. You must be very proud of them, James."

He smiled. "I certainly am."

"All right then," said Mrs. Riley. "A harvest moon happens in the fall, during something called the autumnal equinox. For several nights in a row, the moon rises near sunset. Those nights are extra bright, because it seems like there are full moons multiple nights in a row."

The Alden children listened with interest.

Mrs. Riley explained further. "Here in Idaho an abundance of moonlight right after sunset helps farmers harvest the summer crops. It's a nice boost before winter snows arrive."

The good aromas of dinner filled the warm kitchen. "Almost ready," Mrs. Riley said. She gave Henry a big bowl of salad and a bottle of dressing to put on the table. "Any more questions before we dig in?"

Benny raised his hand like he was in school. "Are there wolves around here?" he asked. "I mean real ones."

"They are in more mountainous country," she said. "We have coyotes, but they tend to stay away from town. They sound different too. Coyotes yip in high voices. Wolves howl."

"Do they scare you?" Jessie asked.

"Sometimes, yes," she answered. "Their cries sound haunting. But wolves and other scavengers are our friends. They clean up the desert. They keep the deer population from getting too big. That means there are more flowers and brush for smaller animals to eat. Are you kids worried?"

The children shook their heads.

"That's good," Mrs. Riley said. She pulled a casserole from the oven. She set it on the table with a large serving spoon. "Here you go, everyone. I'm glad you're here."

* * *

That night the children woke to a noise outside their window. Something was rustling and snapping twigs.

"Shhh," Henry whispered. He shined his flashlight around the den where they had unrolled their sleeping bags.

"Maybe it's the werewolf," Benny whispered. "Let's go look. Watch will protect us."

"Benny, there's no such thing," said Jessie.

Quietly the children slipped on their shoes and socks. They tiptoed down the hallway and paused at the great room, where Grandfather slept on a foldout couch. He was snoring loudly.

Jessie put her finger to her lips. They passed Mrs. Riley's room. Even Watch was quiet, though he wagged his tail, excited for an adventure. His ears were alert.

In the kitchen, the children zipped on their sweatshirts over their pajamas. The door creaked as they let themselves outside. Their breaths made frost in the cold night air. Moonlight spread over the mountains.

"It's so bright out," Henry said. He barely needed his flashlight to see. But he kept it on just in case.

The children crept along a path that led to a field. At the edge of the yard, they looked back at the house. The windows were dark except for a tiny glow from the kitchen clock. "Everyone's still asleep," said Jessie. "Let's be careful. Benny, stay close to me, please. I don't want you to stumble."

Benny grabbed Jessie's free hand. She held Watch's leash with the other. The terrier wiggled and lunged forward. He seemed to smell something up ahead. Henry led the way with Violet hiding behind him. The children stepped cautiously up the hill.

Suddenly Watch began a low growl. He cocked his head, listening, then pulled at his leash again. Sounds of scurrying and scratching came from within clumps of sagebrush.

Just as Henry bent down to look, a thunder of beating wings came from the bushes. The children jumped back, and a bird with a puffy white chest fluttered up and away. Then two more followed it into the moonlit sky.

Watch barked and started to run after the birds. Jessie held tight to his collar. "No, boy," she said. "We don't want you to hurt them."

The children were quiet for a moment as the birds flew away.

Then Violet said, "Those birds looked like the ones we saw on the sign coming into town. With the same pointed tail feathers."

"I guess we just saw our first sage grouse," Henry said. "Up close and personal."

Jessie looked toward the dark house. "We better get back," she said, "before Grandfather wakes up and worries about us. Plus, I feel weird that we're walking around in our pj's."

Benny sighed. In the moonlight the others could see his frown. "You look disappointed," Henry said.

"I was hoping we'd see the werewolf," Benny said.

"Maybe we'll find more clues tomorrow," Henry said. "And maybe we'll see a sleeping volcano. Would you like that?"