The Desert Monster

 The Desert Monster

    Casey woke up with a start. "What's that noise?"

    Jonica rubbed her eyes and sat up in the tent. "What noise?" she asked. Then, she heard it, too. They grabbed a flashlight and climbed out of the tent, careful not to wake their parents.

    "The desert is home to all sorts of creatures," said Casey. "I sure hope we don't find one."

    "You're letting your imagination run wild," Jonica replied, clinging to Casey's shirt. They crept along the path near the campsite. Whooo! Casey aimed the flashlight at the sound.

    "Look!" yelled Jonica. "It's a monster with two huge arms! It has gigantic eyes and a mouth!" The girls dashed back to the tent and hid under the covers. When day broke, they cautiously climbed out of the tent. "Maybe the monster's gone," said Jonica.

    They walked along the path. Then Casey let out a loud laugh. The girls stood before a huge saguaro cactus. Its branches looked like arms.

    Three woodpecker holes formed two eyes and a mouth. Inside the "mouth" was a tiny owl. "Look at our desert monster now!" said Casey with a laugh.