The Sidewalk Monster

Five seconds after getting dressed, Manuela was in the kitchen. already wolfing down half a pancake as she sat at the table for breakfast. Then Mom said, frowning: "Manuela! don't eat your food like a starving wolf. Please slow down." Then Manuela said, fretting: "But, Mommie! I want to go to the playground. What if the storm comes back before I have a chance to go out? I have to hurry, Mommie." The storm had lasted three full days, but it was a beautiful sunny day now. "Finish...
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Five seconds after getting dressed, Manuela was in the kitchen. already wolfing down half a pancake as she sat at the table for breakfast. Then Mom said, frowning: "Manuela! don't eat your food like a starving wolf. Please slow down." Then Manuela said, fretting: "But, Mommie! I want to go to the playground. What if the storm comes back before I have a chance to go out? I have to hurry, Mommie." The storm had lasted three full days, but it was a beautiful sunny day now. "Finish breakfast first, Manuela. The storm has come and gone. Don't fret yourself. Here's another pancake." That was easy for Mom to say, she was not five years old and itching to go watch the playful ducks on the pond.After finishing off a second pancake, Manuela jumped off the chair and was about to rush out the door, when she bumped into Dad. "Whoa! What do we have here?" Dad lifted her up like a feather and kissed her on the cheek. "Where to so fast, my little woman?" "Please Daddie," Manuela said in despair. "I want to go to the pond before the ducks fly away for winter." "What?" Dad laughed and put her down. He began to explain: "We're only in August-" but the girl was already out the door.Manuela hopped down the steps, but was careful to go one at a time. On the sidewalk, pivoting to her right, she headed straight for the playground. Then, suddenly she stopped! Twenty feet away, there was -a thing! She had never seen this thing on the sidewalk before ...