A Monster in the Fog

As I walked home from school alone that day, I felt a sense of fear surge through my body like an electric shock. I swiveled my head around to see nothing but a foggy haze covering the farmlands. I turned back nervously, picking up my pace, catching a glimpse of my house and the barn where our horses were stabled.

The darkness advanced fast, and I shivered despite my jacket. Reaching the driveway, a sharp wind blew and the hairs on my neck prickled. I dashed to the barn, hoping to find my father.
    
I peeked in, but I saw no sign of him. The darkness in the barn gave me a chill, and I started for the house when I heard a thud and a mean grunt behind me. Knowing my father wouldn't make that sound, I only snuck a quick glance back before I screamed and rushed toward the house. What I had seen was a monstrous hulk, but the darkness was too thick to see much.

I heard footsteps pounding behind me as I screeched, "Father!" The sounds of shallow breathing and snorts were so close, I felt I could touch the monster.

Almost to the door, I tripped, hitting my face on the porch. As I shrieked, scrambling to my feet, I felt a body close to mine and a cold hand on my shoulder. "What?" A rough hand pulled me to my feet. "It's the Richardson's stubborn cow, Bess." My father chuckled and held a lantern to a black-and-white face.

Our neighbor's cow grunted, panting, as Dad tied a rope around her neck. And though I knew she was the monster who had chased me, I couldn't stop trembling. Dad took my hand and murmured, "I heard your screams from the kitchen. Old Man Richardson mustn't have kept an eye on this here gal. She's as stubborn as a mule and likes to run. Stop shakin'. I'd never let anything happen to you." Dad wrapped an arm around me as we went to return Bess to its owner.