Years ago, I was to spend time at a summer camp in the woods…but I missed the bus.

It was a long walk to camp, but I didn’t mind it. As you all know, I love walking. The breeze felt nice blowing through my ribs, and the walk was nice, too. That is until it grew dark. Suddenly, the owls hooted, the tree rattled their leaves, but scariest of all was the whisper. Yes, the eerie, hungry whisper. No louder than the wind, it said, though I couldn’t then be sure, ‘Hungry, hungry! I wish to eat of you.’

Full of terror I ran through the forest. I ran until I found the camp.

Everyone had gathered around the fire, just as we are now. I found the lead counselor, but being the skeleton I am, he did not see how white with fear I was, and with my teeth chattering I couldn’t tell him.

‘The beds are all full, I’m afraid.’ He pointed to a far cabin, the one nearest the tree line. ‘You’ll have to stay there.’

‘Alone?’ I asked.

‘Alone,’ The counselor nodded. So alone I went and found my bed. It felt warm and comforting, though I still wished I were home in my own room.

Some time after lights-out, I heard a scratching. I figured it was tree branches rubbing the side of the cabin… That is until I heard the whisper once more.

‘Hungry, hungry!’ it said. ‘I wish to eat of you.’

My bones shook. Then the whisper disappeared after a crinkling sound, and I fell asleep.

The next night I felt better about sleeping alone. That is until I heard the whisper once more. This time it seemed to come from the closet, and a growl accompanied it.

‘Hungry! Hungry! I wish to eat of you.’ The voice said, for it was now indeed more than a whisper.

With the crinkling sound it faded, and being too afraid to rise, I hid under my blankets until morning.

The third night the voice called once more, ‘Hungry! Hungry! I wish to eat of you.’ This time it came from under my bed.

I grabbed my flashlight, and worked up the courage to look. My hands trembling, I came to the edge of the bed.

‘Hungry! Hungry!’  the voice said, and then there came the crinkle and a wet growl.

I swallowed and held my breath and peeked over the side of my bed, but lost my balance and tumbled off.

‘Hungry! Hungry!’ I heard the voice say loudly just in front of me. ‘I wish to eat of you. Eat you whole!’

I scrambled for my flashlight and pointed it under my bed. And you know what I saw?

I saw sharp teeth. I saw feral eyes.

I saw…

Gummy, before he lost his teeth. With a crinkle he unwrapped and ate the last of Slender-Tender meat stick.

THE END