There’s an Ogre-Beast in the Playground

Chapter 6: The Ogre-Beast in the Window

Henry nervously helps to reassure a frightened boy in the boy’s washroom. As he watches the Ogre-Beast through his classroom window, Henry decides to look for Chloe Swan to apologize. The Ogre-Beast had really big eyes. His one eyeball was the size of one of the windows. I could hear a loud sucking sound coming from his nose. “Call the police!” shouted Mr. Furry, pushing his way to the back of the classroom.

I knew I wasn’t supposed to be in his room, but the Principal told us to stay put. I hoped he wasn’t going to get mad. His floor looked really clean though so I was pretty sure I wouldn’t have to mop it.

“It’s going to eat us for lunch!” cried a girl beside me. I think her name was Ra..me..ah but not spelled like it sounds. “We’ll be safe in here,” I said to her with a smile.

I looked out the window to see what the Ogre-Beast was doing. He stood up and stepped away from the school. He had an enormous tail that flopped about so freely. I wish I had a tail. That would be so cool.

“How do you know it’s not going to eat us?” asked Rameah. “How do you know it’s not going to just reach its hand in here, smash through the window and chew us all up?” “Because I have a feeling,” I said. “Trust me.” “Okay,” she replied. I could see her calming down as her face seemed to relax. “Everything will be okay,” I smiled. “We’re all going to die!” screamed Corban Barkley.

Corban Barkley. Huh. I didn’t see him earlier.

There he was standing two kids over from me, surrounded by all of his friends, including Jeremy Bird and Nolan Peterson. Corban looked really scared. His hair looked good though. So did his shirt. I wish my mom had enough money to buy me cool clothes. Oh well. An...y...way.

I moved closer to the window and pressed my face against the glass. I could see the Ogre-Beast sniffing around the sandpit and stepping over to the Learning Garden. It reached down and picked up a tiny flower in between its claws. It lifted it up to its nose and sucked the pedals right off the stem. “It doesn’t look scary, it looks nice,” I said, scratching my head.

“Nice?” replied Corban Barkley with a squeak. “Are you insane? That’s the Ogre-Beast you’re talking about. It’s a life sucking monster. Monsters aren’t nice. They’re deadly, heartless and mean!”

I giggled to myself hearing him say that. That was pretty much how I described Corban to my mom at the supper table the other day while eating brown beans, cauliflower and pickled eggs. “Okay,” I replied.

As I continued to watch the Ogre-Beast out the window, a strange feeling came over me. For some reason the monster reminded me of someone. For some reason I wanted to talk to it. “I think I’m going to go out there and say hello,” I said, stepping away from the window. “Are you nuts?” muttered Corban Barkley.

I’m not sure if it was because of the way he asked me that question, or whether it was because he was starting to get on my nerves, but I wanted to go and see the Ogre-Beast more than anything. “No,” I replied, walking towards the door.

“It’s going to eat you, you know that, right?” added Corban. “But then again, I don’t think anyone would care.”

I stopped at the door and turned back to Corban. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a piece of gum. I tossed it at him and smiled. “Chew on that for a little while,” I said. I walked out into the hallway and slipped past a couple of teachers by the office.

I could hear sirens outside as a fire truck and police car pulled up to the front of the school. I knew I wouldn’t be able to go out that way because the Principal would see me and make me stay inside. The Principal didn’t seem to like me much anyway and he always smelled like peanut butter. I turned back down the hall and hustled towards the back of the school. I could hear children crying and screaming as I passed by their classrooms.

“It’s going to gobble me up and I won’t be able to have my birthday party anymore!” shouted a little girl as she stomped her feet.

“I hate the ugly Ogre-Beast!” cried a boy running out into the hall. “Call the army and get them to blow it up!”

Just as I was about to go outside, I spotted a little girl crying underneath the water fountain. I reached out my arm and guided her to the kindergarten room at the end of the hall. When I brought her inside I saw Chloe Swan sitting with a group of little children on the carpet, right beside the bookshelf and oven that I broke. It was actually her. She looked pretty. (Even prettier than she did when I spat on the floor the other week.) I could feel my forehead get sweaty as I walked up to her. “I found this little girl under the water fountain,” I said. “Okay,” smiled Chloe. “Can she join your group? I think she’s scared.” “Sure,” replied Chloe. “I want my brother!” shouted the little girl. I leaned down to her and held her hand tightly. “It’s going to be okay. You’re safe.” “I want my brother!” she shouted again.

I could hear more screaming out in the hall as I sat down on the carpet. The walls started shaking and the floor began to vibrate. “Who’s your brother?” I asked with a smile. “Farid...my brother’s name is Farid.”