Playing Wolf Wolf

When I was young I lived in Michigan where our home was out in the country. The area was corn fields and trees. We had a big family and we got together all the time. One of our favorite games was called wolf wolf. It was played at night. One person would be the wolf. They would go out into the dark and hide. The rest would wait for that person to call wolf wolf and they would head out to find the wolf. Once the wolf was found we would holler wolf and race to the goal. Anyone caught would then be a wolf and it would keep going that way until there was one person left.

One night my friends were over from around the block and we decided to play wolf wolf. There were 6 of us playing. I was the start wolf so I went out to hide. It was around 2 AM. My friends came to find me but when they did they did not run so I was wondering what was up. They asked me who the kid was over by the tree. I thought they were playing a game on me and trying to scare me, but they kept asking so I asked where and they proceeded to lead me to the spot.

Right in front of my grandmother's house there was a cedar tree that was bare of branches 6 to 7 feet off the ground. Sitting at the base of the tree was another kid about our age. He had his back against the tree and his arms around his legs like he was sitting in a fetal position. He had his head down. I said to him "hey who are you and what are you doing". He did not answer or look towards us. My friends would not get near him. So I said it again with no answer again. I walked towards him and got to about 5 feet from him. He then looked up at me with big red eyes. I started walking backwards away from him and turned. My friends already bolted back for my house. I then ran after making sure I was not followed. It was the scariest thing I have ever seen in my life.

My friends were crying when I caught up to them and still had to walk 2 miles home. I begged my father to take them but he would not because he had to get up for work the next day. So I decided that I would walk them home. Keep in mind that this is in Michigan and most of the way was wooded area. When we got them home I then said good night and had to walk back home by myself at 3 AM. The whole way home all I could hear was something walking right behind me. The fear that washed over me was crazy bad. I had all I could do not to bolt and run in terror, but I didn't. I did not want it to think I was afraid. I made it home just fine but since then I have always been aware of the things in the night. Even now that I am older it is still very hard for me to go out into the night alone.