"You eva 'eard da story of da Woolubee?" My big brother John asked me. His hair was always sticking up in the back and his eyes were always dark, mean and evil looking. Momma called 'im Johnny Boy, to try and cheer 'im up when he wha looking mean, and he always just sneered at her. But wheneva I tried to call 'im Johnny Boy, he smacks me across da face and tells me to 'shut up'. I think he would look betta with a smile on his face instead of a sneer.

I shook mah head slowly, not really wantin to answer 'im.

"Well," He leaned against da table in da kitchen. He was eatin a apple. Bright an red like the ones from witches tales I 'eard before. "you wanna know then?" I knew betta then to tell John no, but I din't wanna say yes. I kept mah mouth shut.

"Yer gonna 'ear it anyway li'l maggot." He took a big bit of 'is apple, the juice made 'is teeth gleam in da dim light of da kitchen. He stood straight up an sat on one of them chairs 'round da table where we eat.

"On a dark stormy nit, a li'l boy 'bout yer age was a walkin through the forest. He was pickin flow'rs for 'is sick momma, and da forest happen to 'ave some of the most perty ones. He knew wha might be lurkin in there, but he was a good soul, so he din't care.

"All a sudd'n, he 'eard a cry, like a wolf 'owl. But he were stupid an ignored it. Lemme tell ya, bad mistake. Then he 'eard it again, this time closer, and it kep on callin, closer and closer…

"Now da li'l boy was scared, he start'd ta run an run, til he couln't run no more. Dere were a growl right nex to 'is 'ear. When he turn'd 'round, he was gone ina second. No trace."

I sat there starin at 'im. I din't dare ask no question, though I had myself a few. John look at me for a li'l bit, as if sizin me up.

"I bet chur wonderin wha eva became of 'im hm?" I nodded mah head.

"Well, I think it luck that he got out of dere at all." Da worst thing in mah mind wandered away as Johnny say tha', and he saw tha' I was relax more.

"I din't say he got outta dere alive, now did I?" He smiled, bu it wan't like da smile tha' I was hopin fer. Instead it was eerie of sort, creeper.

"Naw, I din't say dat at all. Wha' I mean was tha' he got out, but not alive. Ya see, wha' the Woolubee does is he takes your 'ead an rips it open, first squeezing out da juices an drinks em, then he eat da stringy brain in yer skull." John makes soun affects an some movements, makin ma fear rise evin more, an makin me wan to lurch up mah supper.

"Wanna know the real scery part?" I don bother to answer. "No one knows whe'r da Woobulee is, and he might be outside yer window, just waitin for ya to fall yerself asleep." He smiles tha' creeper smile ag'in, an I git da shivers.

"You lookin kinda cold dere brother." He chuckled, but it felt nice ta here 'im call me brother. "I betta git you on up to bed before Momma comes 'ome." But I wa'nt sleepy. The story Johnny tol me had given me da willies, I wouldn' sleep a' all. But I din't question 'im, or disobey. I knew betta.

As John led me to mah room, he 'ad 'is hand on mah 'head da whole time. When I was in mah bed, he ruffled mah 'air. It was da closest ting to brother he 'ad eva done.

He say goodnigh an left mah room, left me to mah quiet self. I drift off, but I wake up, to da sound of 'eavy breathin. "John? Tha' you?"

"Ya, it me, brother." He say, a li'l too loud. "You wanna 'ear da Woolubee story ag'in?" He ask.

Dis time I say no, I want ta sleep. "Good," he says, stepping into a li'l patch a moonlight so I can see 'im betta. I almost shriek at wha' I see.

"Good," He say ag'in. "Cuz yer in da story, brother." He grins showin rows an rows of sharp pointy teeth, all stuck in 'is ghost white face an almost white, see through eyes. The eye's meet mine an he alread' has a 'and on mah 'ead. Starin at me with hunger.

I scream.