Lucy and the Scarecrow, Rachel Judd [electric book reader txt] 📗

Chapter 1

“Stuff the straw right up the trousers, Lucy,” Miss. Baker said “Make sure he’s nice and plump.”

Lucy got a handful of golden straw and pushed more up the trouser leg.

“Are you sure you’re alright on your own?” Miss Baker whispered in Lucy’s ear, “Wouldn’t you like to work in a group?”

Lucy shook her head. She was fine on her own; in fact she was really enjoying herself. Her scarecrow was going to be the best in the class. She was determined. She glanced up from her work and noticed Paul Brown and his gang had started arguing about their scarecrow. They began shoving each other as each tried to fill the jumper with straw. Miss. Baker noticed too, and went over to stop them before it turned into a full blown fight. Another group, girls this time, hadn’t even tied the poles together. They were whispering about who liked who and who they didn’t like and who was their best friend and who wasn’t.

Lucy carried on with her scarecrow. She had already put the poles together and had stuffed a rather fetching green shirt she had found in the bag of old clothes that Miss. Baker had brought in. The shirt was big and soft and cuddly. She had found a pair of old brown cord trousers that Lucy thought went rather well with the shirt. The only problem was that there was a large hole in the knee, but she could sort that out later. Lucy picked up another handful of straw. It smelt sweet and delicious. She put her head in the bag of straw and took a long deep sniff of it.

“What’s Lucy doing now?” The group of girls began giggling.

She quickly took her head out and continued filling the trousers. This is fun, Lucy thought.

The rest of the Year 5’s had gone on a three day trip to an adventure centre where they would be doing abseiling and canoeing and orienteering. Lucy didn’t mind not going. She wanted to stay with her Dad. She liked helping him around the school. Besides, he needed her. Caretaker of the school was a very important job. Miss. Baker had tried to think of fun activities for the children who hadn’t gone to the adventure centre. So far they had had a Sports Morning, which Lucy had hated. No one had wanted her in their Rounders team and she had been caught ‘Out’ almost immediately. They had done some gardening in the school garden, which had been great. Lucy had planted a row of runner beans. And today they were making scarecrows and cooking.

“Lucy’s using up all the straw Miss.” Sophie complained.

“No she’s not. There’s plenty for everyone.” Miss Baker answered. Then she said quietly, “Maybe that’s enough now Lucy.”

It was enough. Lucy didn’t want her scarecrow too fat or too thin. She wanted him just right. She got some string and tied the bottom of the trousers to stop the straw falling out. He was looking good, she thought. No head yet, but …She smiled at her work so far.

“Well done, Lucy, your scarecrow looks fine”. Miss Baker smiled at her. “Children, stop what you are doing and come and look at Lucy’s scarecrow!”

There were a few tuts and sighs as the rest of the class came over and gathered around Lucy’s scarecrow lying in the corner of the workshop. Lucy put her head down.

“What a fantastic effort so far!” Miss. Baker praised her. “And all on her own. Some of you have barely started.”

“The trousers have got a hole in.” Sophie said. “Bit like your Dad’s, Lucy.”

Lucy said nothing. She kept her head down and waited for them to go away.

Miss. Baker either didn’t hear or pretended she didn’t hear.

“OK. Come on Year 5’s. Let’s see if we can get these scarecrows finished by lunch time. A bit more of an effort please. We’re cooking after lunch.”

There was an excited hubbub as the children returned to their places.

“What we cooking, Miss?”

“Are we making cakes?”

“Can we take them home?”

“Can we go home now?”

Lucy was pleased they had gone. Now she could carry on with her scarecrow. She found a beautiful long, stripy scarf and tied it carefully around the top of the jumper. She just needed a patch for the knee. Lucy rummaged through a bag of materials and found a shiny purple piece. That would do perfectly she thought.

“Now children!” Miss. Baker called, “It’s really about time that we make a start on the heads. Could you all choose a pillow case and stuff the heads with straw. There are buttons and cotton and wool. Help yourself. Try to give your scarecrow a personality.”

Lucy knew exactly what sort of personality her scarecrow would have. She would like him to be funny and smart and kind and friendly. She filled a light brown pillowcase with straw and chose two pretty royal blue buttons for eyes. She had them sewn into place in no time. Most of the children were having difficulty threading the needle and were moaning because the needle had pricked them.

“Look Miss!” cried Paul Brown. He had a tiny spot of blood on his finger. He had gone very pale.

“Quick! Call an ambulance!” Miss. Baker joked.

Lucy laughed quietly to herself. Paul didn’t look so tough now, she thought.

While Miss. Baker was busy helping the rest of the class, Lucy cut some thick black wool and she set to work, lovingly and carefully sticking on the scarecrow’s hair – each strand perfectly in place. Lucy was not one for boasting, but he really was looking splendid. Lucy decided to draw the scarecrow’s smile on before she sewed it, so it would be just right. She wanted him to have a big, happy smile. As she carefully drew, Sophie walked up behind her and deliberately jogged her arm.

“Whoops! Sorry Lucy.” She said, with a smirk on her face.

Lucy looked down at the crooked smile that she had now drawn. She liked it. It gave her scarecrow an interesting look – kind of curious and puzzled. She decided to keep it like that.

“That’s okay Sophie,” Lucy replied, sweetly.

Sophie turned on her heels and tutted as her blonde plaits swung, nearly hitting Lucy in the face.

Lucy spent the rest of the lesson, sewing the scarecrow’s crooked smile and small button nose. She added a floppy blue hat that matched his eyes.

Lucy stood back to admire her work. Suddenly Lucy stopped in her tracks. She could have sworn that her scarecrow had just winked at her. Was she going crazy? She stared and stared deep into those royal blue eyes. Eyes?!!! They weren’t eyes, they were just buttons. OK, they were beautiful, sparkling, twinkling buttons, but that was all – just buttons. Lucy stared as hard as she could. But nothing happened. Of course it didn’t. But Lucy carried on staring – just in case…

“Lucy’s gone into one of her trances again Miss.” One of the girls shouted. Everybody laughed.

At that moment the bell rang for lunch. Lucy grabbed the purple material and shoved it into her pocket. She’d mend that hole later – when it was quiet, she thought. She took one last look at her scarecrow and went out with the others.

A little later, while all the children were playing in the playground and all the teachers were having lunch in the staff room, Lucy crept back to the work shop. It was very quiet. She knew she would be in trouble if she was caught, but she just had to mend that hole in her scarecrow’s trousers. He didn’t seem finished with it like that and it wouldn’t take a moment. Lucy had become quite good at sewing since…since her Mum had gone…Lucy stopped for a moment and took a deep breath. No time to think about that now. She gulped hard and concentrated on sewing on that lovely purple patch. Now he really did look finished. He looked very smart now without that big hole. Lucy put the spare piece of purple material in her pocket.

She had to hurry. Lunch would be over soon. Lucy headed to the door. As she went to turn the handle, something made her stop. She suddenly had the feeling that she was not alone. She didn’t move a muscle.

A voice behind her said, “Thanks Lucy.”

Lucy froze…

Chapter 2

It was a few days later and Lucy was sitting in the Friday Morning ‘Well Done’ Assembly. A few days since she had thought her scarecrow had spoken to her. She felt very silly. A talking scarecrow? How could she have been so stupid? Since then the scarecrow had not uttered a word! Of course he hadn’t.

Her scarecrow, along with the others had been fixed to the poles in the school garden. By her Dad actually. And, although Lucy’s was the most impressive, lined up in the middle of the ramshackle of other scarecrows, he had not spoken!! He looked great, sure! But he was just a scarecrow, made of straw and old clothes.

It must have been her imagination. Lucy had found herself imagining a lot recently. ‘Day dreaming’, Miss. Baker called it. Ever since her Mum…Lucy took a deep breath and tried to concentrate on the week’s achievements instead.

Mrs. Rexstrew, the head teacher, was handing out certificates to the Year 6 football team. Of course she had given the certificates out to the wrong boys and they were all having swap!

Mrs. Rexstrew (the children called her Tyrannosaurus Rexstrew, behind her back), read out a list of names of children who had improved that week – children who had moved up a reading book, children who were on time everyday, children who had used a full stop, children