HARLEM VALLEY HERALD |
Anthony Bonavenia
Anthony Bonavenia and his family were honored on November 5 by the Pawling Board of Education. |
Anthony Bonavenia Poughkeepsie Journal Scary Story Awards English Teacher Linda Chase Joan Roberts has linked the podcast done by the Poughkeepsie Journal of Anthony reading his story and being interviewed. Click here for the podcast of the reading and interview Story By Anthony Bonavenia Rope Swing Terror The day that Derek moved into his room at the new house, he noticed a rope swing hanging from the big old maple tree right outside his window. The house itself was very old, and the window looked like it would be easy to sneak out of at night. When Derek inspected the rope he realized that it was frayed, like someone had hacked off the end of it. That night, as Derek lay listening to the odd noises of the old house, a sound from outside grabbed his attention. It was a slow, whooshing sound, a slight creak, like something heavy swinging back and forth. He jumped out of bed and ran to the window, looking at the ground below. The rope swayed back and forth. As he stared, the "swing" suddenly looked like a noose. Below the noose, he could see scuff marks being made in the dirt as if someone's feet were dragging there. When he rushed outside to get a better look, it again looked like the frayed rope and no scuff marks could be seen in the dirt. This went on every night for a week until Derek finally told his parents about the swinging noose and scuff marks seen from his window and their disappearance when he got up close. His parents looked at one another and then began to tell him a story. Many years earlier, the boy who lived in the house, had snuck out the window and climbed down the tree as he had done plenty of times before. He slipped and accidentally hung himself in the rope swing where his mother found him, his feet dragging back and forth in the dirt. The boy's name was.........Derek. Anthony Bonavenia
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