The Monroe Monster

By James Aa. Keister

1965 was filled with stories of a monster that was seen on foggy rainy nights in wooded areas that framed the country side. a monster known to scare lovers who parked in it's woods and sent them screaming to the police to look into peoples windows invade their gardens and property one whos fame reached other countries thanks to the media. brought countless hunters tourist and mayhem causing people to doubt their sanity at times planned and instituted by two friends an event that actually took place

• Language: English
• Publisher: James Aa. Keister
• Release date: Jun 3, 2012
• ISBN: 9781476316888

James Aa. Keister

James Aa. Keister, was born and lives in Monroe, Michigan. An artist in both the arts and music. Letting this strong sense of talent flourish over into his writings. With an imaginative endorsement of realism that brings forth an ever flowing twist to his novels.

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PROLOGUE

June 10, 1964

The night was warm, dark and dreary. The skies clouded over with threats of rain, as storms move in over Michigan's, Monroe County. Slivering streaks of lightning lace the blackened sky, chased by booming crashes of thunder. Far from home they trudged through the rain soaked woods. Trying to make their way back from further south. The rain heavy ferns and weeds matted fur to tired legs, all the way up to their waist. As if soggy pants were being worn. Making the trek that much more tiresome. Already not in the mood to deal with the weather, they move on. But this was perfect for traveling. Only because no one in their right mind would want to be out in such nasty weather.

Rounding a crop of trees, they stopped to catch their breath that labored in heaving lungs. The run they made through the mud soaked field just minutes before proved taxing. The moon was full when it dared to peek it's face through rain laden clouds. Casting eerie shadows that seemed to walk along side them. Clicks and cackles stirred from the trees around them. Then went silent as they c lumbered by. Huge padded feet softly stomp over damp leaves and fallen branches. As further they trod until they step over a small four foot wide ditch and onto a gravel dirt road. Only pausing to look down each pass of road before they continued to make their way across. Feeling the sharp gravel stones that stab irritatingly at their heels. Back across the small ditch on the other side and into the trees, helping to hide their advance. In through the dripping trees that seem to cry drops of water that only added to the fact that their stomachs were growling pinged with hunger. Still they moved on.

Just ahead there was a small garden that had been planted by the humans. The scent of fresh wild strawberries floated on the air above the fog that had begun to settle in around them. Creeping along the ground and sneaking in among the trees. Hiding the ferns beneath it's willowy white veil. They stopped in the middle of the small garden and begun pulling the fruits and vegetation from vines and root. Gingerly wiping them on fur matted skin and leathery hands. Placing the delicacies into their mouths to fill the hunger that gnawed at them. Once they had their fill, they stood, Looking around. No sound was needed. As just a quick glance was all it took to let each other know it was time to move on.

Just as they turned to go, a light exploded out over the yard and into the garden where they stood. They froze. A door swung open. A small white dog came running out. Circled a few times, then stopped. The dog seemed to be searching the ground. As it squatted to relieve itself. Totally unaware of their presence. The stood watching the small white dog. Then looked up at the person in the door who stood staring back at them, wide eyed and mouth agape. The dog finished and kicked dirt back at it's leavings, turned and raced back up the three steps into the house. The woman slowly closed the door and continued to stare at them through the glass. They look at each other, turned in unison toward the darker recesses of the woods, disappearing into the shadows of night.

A half mile away they found the shore of the lake and turned east following the waters edge. Dowagiac lake wasn't very big, but it had it's prestige beauty. Out across the lake they could see the glistening sparkles of light cast by the advancing storm. They could tell it would be a bad one. So getting back to safer grounds was imperative. Already rain soaked and weighed down, they continued. Stopping at the garden had helped to regain needed strength. On ward, they followed the lakes edge a half mile more through back yards and park where they again turned inward toward the trees. Watching the storm cross the lake with sheets of pelting rain. Whipping it's waving hand back and forth in trails of glittery ribbons. Closer it came and they still had yet a half a mile to make way. So they picked up their pace and took short cuts when they were able. Making it to safer ground just as the storm raged it's ugly face above them. Feeling the cold splashes of rain that hit them with driving force. Just as they stepped in and out of the night.

The Story Begins:

Monroe County sheriff's department. How may I help you?

Yes, I want to report a...well it was an animal, I think, but it looked like big foot.

Ma'am, this isn't a place to be joking like that.

I'm not, I swear! She cried.

Okay, give me your name and address. I'll send an officer out there. You can give him your information and tell him what you saw. Okay?

Okay, thank you.

The dispatcher took Mrs. Jeffery's information, then sent out an officer from the Flat Rock State Post. A knock came at the door as Mrs. Jeffery answered it. The officer was polite despite the woman's overbearing excitement.

So what is all this about ma'am? He asked.

It's about a big hairy monster...No two...out in my garden. That's what it's about.

Can you show me the garden?

Yes, right this way, She said as she lead him through her home, fussing over little things that were out of place or in the way. They made their way out to the back door where Mrs. Jeffery stopped on the old porch. Pointing off toward the garden. The officer looked out at the garden full of plants, then stepped off the porch and across the short spans of grass to the garden area. He could clearly see that something had been in the garden and disrupted the flow of lines the vegetables grew in. He stopped just outside the garden perimeter, took a moment to look both ways along the ground for any kind of foot prints or tracks that may have been left behind. He saw none. Then slowly moved into the rows of plants, looking for tracks as he went. Then stopped when he got to the place where most of the plants were torn up and displaced.

He could see some sort of tracked prints, but with the rain they had that night, most of what remained was a blur. Just an oblong shape of a footprint. He could not tell what had made it. He could tell that whatever or whoever had made it, had to be well over 300 pounds. The prints sank deep into the soil. But the rain distorted it. Washing any details away. He saw that there were in fact, two sets of tracks, one lighter than the other. He had noticed too that only certain plants were taken or eaten. He made notes of the garden prints, and what was taken. He tried to follow the tracks into the woods, but lost them once he entered the trees. And with the rain wash it was certain that any scent left behind was laundered away, thus rendering the use of dogs out of the question. He took notes on all he could think of and told Ms. Jeffery that if she saw them again, to try and watch where they go. He then left out in the direction she said they had went. He searched the roads and along the lake road, but found nothing. No 9 foot, hairy monster, weighing some 500 pounds, light brown and black hair that was long and tangled, covering his entire body except it's face and hands that were or looked old and leathery. Eating vegetables out to some ladies garden with a friendly disposition. Nothing. And no other reports had been made since. So the police officials deemed it untrue and left the file sit in some dusty cabinet along side all the other unexplained incidences.

Chapter One

June 05, 1965

( one year later)

The night was warm, clear and moonless. The three of them were headed back from Valorie's place on 4th street near Monroe Street, downtown Monroe. They stopped off at Valorie's to pick up some overnight clothes, and were on their way up to Susan's house on Labo Road, then back toward Telegraph Road. To Cathy's place. They turned onto Maxwell road. Just after picking up Susan.

Hey have you guys heard this song yet? Cathy asked while turning the radio up a little louder. They were listening to a new Led Zeppelin song. Singing along with the words.

So where are we going? Valorie asked from the back seat of the old '59' Ford.

Over to my house. But first we needed to go over to Susan's to get her clothes. Cathy said

Hey, pull over, will you. Susan asked as she bounced in her seat.

Why?

Cause I need to pee, that's why.

Drank too much pop, huh?

A little bit. Cathy looked for a dark place to stop the car so Susan could run into the woods. She stopped the car and put it into park, but left the motor running.

Don't take forever. Cathy shouted as Susan opened the door and skirted out. Susan fumbled across the small ditch, stumbling over fallen limbs and foliage. She had a small flashlight but the batteries were weak and it didn't give off much light. Only enough to allow her to see directly in front of her. She made her way into the dark trees and found a place she could relieve herself. But as she was about to pull her shorts down, she heard something moving in the woods. She turned toward the road. She could hear her friends still talking and laughing. She turned back around to the sound that came from deeper in the trees. Pushing through the small saplings and brush. Snapping twigs and branches. Crunching through the leaves. Grunting and groaning loudly. She knew that whatever it was, it was headed right toward her. Panic set in.

Chapter Two

The girls are suppose to spend the night here Henry." Rhonda Osemen said to her husband. Her daughter Cathy Valor was out with her friends and should be on their way back. Rhonda wanted her lazy husband to be aware that they were going to be having company. So he wouldn't be lazing around in his boxer shorts, watching television and drinking beer all night. Rhonda fussed about the house picking up small messes. Even though it was only her daughters friends who were coming over, she wasn't going to leave the house a mess. In fear that they might think they lived like slobs and tell others so. So she danced around the house cleaning up little piles of out of place items. Yelling at Henry to go put clothes on. She yelled at him until she finally had to take the beer out of his hand and then smack him on the head, for him to grunt and groan and finally roll himself up out of the lazy boy chair and waddle off into the bedroom for clothes. Once she knew he was on his way, she sat his beer back down on the end table and went into the kitchen to clear dishes off the table and counters. Placing them into the sink to be washed. Wondering what could be keeping the girls so long. She knew that the car had a couple bad and balding tires and hoped she didn't have any problems with them. So she continued to fuss over the house as she kept watch of the window for their return. Noticing how dark it had gotten outside with this moonless night.

Chapter Three

Trudging through the darkened woods, he knew a road was coming up. One he had to cross to get to where he needed to be. Out at this time of night was the best way to move without being seen by anyone. And with the moonless sky, no light was cast to wave shadows from the warm air that blew through the trees and limbs. Ahead he saw a faint flicker of light . He could see the glow of a cars headlights out on the road. But they were not moving as the other cars did. This one was stopped. He heard the sounds of laughter and voices of people coming from the car. So he moved in closer to get a look at who was out in the night. And as he moved in, he heard something stirring in the woods. The faint glowing light beamed in circles, darting off in every direction. Taking a side step, he hid behind a tree. Waited for a second then stepped out from around the tree and toward the faint light. There pacing around in tiny circles, nervously, was a girl. She seemed to be searching for something. She had set her light on the ground and was about to take her clothes off when she froze. He stopped. Standing there watching her. With the pending darkness that diverted the eye to darker shadows, it stood between two trees, just feet from the girl. She paused, looked back at the car then again at the woods. She slowly reached down and drew up her little light. The beam was weak, but enough to pan in on her deepest fears. The lights beam reached up and found the near by trees that stood next to it. Then as it fell on the beasts face, the light froze. She screamed a piercing siren, The light flew up and he watched the girl run out toward the car. Screaming all the way. He walked to where she was standing just before she ran off. He picked up the small light and fumbled it in his hands until he could switch the thing off. Looked back up at the road, just in time to watch the car speed off, throwing gravel from spinning tires.

Walking out toward the road, he looked back at the woods in wonder, then again at the fading tail lights of the car. Shrugged his shoulders and headed off across the road, disappearing