It all started during Debates Club. My team, which consists of me, Amra and Vero was up against Archie's team. Our topic of discussion for today was 'Is war good?' I was in the opposition team while Archie was in the government team.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvweDR8unX
"Members of the Parliament," I addressed. "There is nothing good in war. Countless innocent lives are killed, even soldiers. These soldiers are humans like us. One of those soldiers who is fighting on the front lines is my father. Every day, my family and I always worry about his fate. I only receive letters from him every three months. I don't know what's going to happen to him. It makes me more anxious about him. In my opinion, war does more harm than good."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlE7b6G4ZPX
"I agree with you, Governor Tan," he acknowledged, as he stood up. "I have loved one's fighting for this country but at the same time, war helps with technological and cultural advancement. Such examples can be seen during the second World War. The atomic bomb was invented and most third world countries such as South Africa gained independence from their former colonies. So in my case, war does good for humanity."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HwZbOgw1m
"Member of the Parliament, a prolonged war will bankrupt the country, " Amra made her point. "The government of the country who participated in the war have to spend millions of dollars to buy weapons and ammunition to fight the opposing sides. As a result, the government has no choice but to ration our basic needs and withdraw funds that were used for education and healthcare. And if the war has ended, the government will be in debt and its citizens would have to suffer. Take Germany for example. After World War 1, the country was in bankruptcy and their debt was in billions of dollars, which they're still paying for to this day. The Germans were starved to death as the price of basic goods fluctuated. As a conclusion, we cannot deny that there is nothing good in war."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJVllpVV1LS
"I have to disagree with you, Senator Amra," pointed out Raj. "War helps the economy to grow. For example, the USA after World War 2 became the world superpower, with the standard of living and the country's GDP was increasing since the 1950s. And let's not forget Japan, who rose from the ashes after World War 2. They are now leading the automobile and technology industries, which became their biggest exports for the country."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVCxVxHkGn
As both teams argued, the timer rang, signifying the end of the debate. I groaned in frustration. I was enjoying myself moments ago. "Could anyone from both teams form a conclusion?" asked Ms Hye, our Debate teacher. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpznk7jJyRC
"In conclusion, war brings more harm than good as it caused destruction of human lives and bankrupts the country," concluded Vero. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQs9OZuYGOt
"In conclusion, war has its own benefits such as technological and cultural advancement and grows the country's economy," Seokjin wrapped it up for Archie's team. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOPGG0Df3n
The last bell of the day rang as we thanked Ms Hye and left our classroom when Archie stopped me. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ6Um06joA
"That was an impressive performance you did back there," he praised. I smiled. "I could say the same thing about you, Archie," I replied. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7ln768UeD
"So what is your opinion about the ongoing war?" Archie asked me. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4vDxkqHag
I glanced towards the ceiling and stroked my chin. "I'm confident that our country will win against the Bowan states," I justified. "Our army is more established than the newly-formed army from the separatist states, and we have better weapons and ammunition than them."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhtdH17O19
"It's true, but I'm worried about my Uncle Emilio," he said. "My family and I were close to him and I'm worried that we'll lose him."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGIXB9GlBw
"I'm worried about my father," I expressed. "My heart aches every time I think about him. It's been three months since I wrote to him. I haven't heard any news about my father since then. I hope to God that he's okay."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNOvibnoqp
I pressed my lips together when I noticed Ferdinand approaching me. Archie looked at him and winked at me. "I'll leave you two alone."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFoQE7afM6
He walked away from me as Ferdinand tapped on my shoulders. "So how were debates?" asked Ferdinand. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGcawdegGG
I sighed. "Ms Hye didn't get to decide who won."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmFFvEm8LO
"That's so sad," he gave a small laugh. "Now come on, Naomi's waiting for us outside."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtHnMTJLQS
"Bugsy," Naomi gleamed. "I take it your Debates Club went well?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlO0gH1Vhl
I shook my head. "What about you, Naomi? How was your Karate Club?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9O8FoXxJB
"I did some sparring with Lisa and Farouk," she answered. "What about your Drama Club, Ferdinand?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGoiJsFflQc
"Well, we're rehearsing for 'The Merchant of Venice'. I get to be Antonio while Ephraim is Shylock," he elaborated. "And Maya is Portia, Bassanio's girlfriend."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTEiZXOdaW
"So which are you guys in?" I questioned. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdnYRfqcVvJ
"We're still in Act 1, where Shylock loaned Antonio some money."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡein6Cmcksb
We walked along rows of cornfields, with the yellowish corn stalks fluttered in the wind and the scarecrow who stood idly in the middle of the cornfield, scaring the crows away. I noticed the corn was ripened, ready to be plucked. "Looks like it's the beginning of the corn season," I noted. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xuygCSHLJ
Naomi nodded. "I've never seen a cornfield before."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9Z3zyVMLc
"They don't grow corn in Japan?" Ferdinand wondered. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlegFjT8UZ
Naomi nodded. "Tōmorokoshi is only grown in Hokkaido. From where I came from, it's a big city."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3o14lkvHF
I exhaled. "If only I live in a city," I dreamed. "There are so many things to do there, unlike here in Slaborough where it's small and boring."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uHYZxyIf5
Naomi shook her head. "Oh, Bugsy, if I was born here, I would never leave this place," she snorted. "Life in Japan is so much stressful where I have to stay in school until 10 p.m. Here, you have more time to relax and have some fun."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hjobbEir9
We talked for hours about how living in a small town is so boring when we passed by a small farmhouse, with a family of four lounging on the veranda. Naomi waved at the family. "Good afternoon," she greeted. Not a word came out of their mouths. Naomi's smile turned into a frown. "How rude." 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyvB758zOG
"They're always like this," Ferdinand mentioned. "Just ignore them."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6N5A7NFKb
Their blank stare gave me goosebumps. For years, that family always remained in the same position whenever I walked along the cornfield to visit Ferdinand. I've never seen them anywhere else in Little Owl Coffeehouse or at the annual carnival. Something's up with them.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5hFmvMIfS
We stepped inside Ferdinand's house, took off our shoes and slipped our feet inside a house slippers when we were greeted by his mother, Mrs Ong, who prepared us Woolton pie for lunch. "So how's your family?" she asked. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnqlISbi3m
"They're getting by, Mrs Ong."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBiFkvlFOI
"What about you, Naomi?" she glimpsed at Naomi. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLU3d7EH6R
"My family and I are familiarizing ourselves with Blanca's culture. It's difficult, especially with the ongoing war, where we had to ration our food and clothes."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfDoT5DSIe
Mrs Ong sighed. "I understand where you're coming from. My mother was the same when she moved from China in the 50s."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrlGSpFmFL
"Well, I guess I have a lot to learn from your mother, Mrs Ong."
"Take your time, my dear. You and your family will thrive here on Slaborough."
"Come on, Naomi," Ferdinand gestured. "The food's getting cold."
Once we were done with our meal, Ferdinand washed the dishes while we helped to clean up the table with Mrs Ong. We went up to Ferdinand's room and placed our bags on the floor. He shut the door behind him and opened the window halfway for the cold wind. "It's a nice day today," he laid on his bed. "Are you guys in a mood for a movie or something?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHf21IETB1
I shook my head as I gazed outside the window, looking at the golden cornfield. My mind wandered at the farmhouse I previously passed by. Their empty stares, their mouths shut the whole time. What are they? They don't seem to age or grow up. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliVFX1OSE7
Naomi grunted. "I'm bored. Let's do something fun."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7HLQuFSMR
"Like watching last week's episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer?" Ferdinand suggested. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLXdiOU3oT
Naomi gave a mischievous grin. "Let's sneak into that house we just passed by?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhXJEm8y6X
I let out a cough as Ferdinand dropped his jaws on the floor. "You're kidding, right?" I stuttered. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNpG1AaWI7
Naomi tried to contain her laughter but failed. "I'm serious, Bugsy."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqfKnzYcvr
Ferdinand took a deep breath, with his palms clasped. "Have you lost your marbles? We could get caught and thrown in the slammer."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwUERrMsLD
"I know the risk, Ferdinand," she defended. "But I have a feeling they're not people." 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrvV7Vrady
I raised one of my eyebrows. "What are you saying, Naomi?"696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgEk2U0ipU
"I think that they're aliens from outer space," Naomi theorized. I blinked my eyes rapidly, taken aback by what she just said. Are the family of four aliens? I'm being skeptical. Part of me wanted to ignore that ridiculous notion but part of me wanted to explore the unknown. After all, I've strange things in town anyways. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXLUlNhTax
"If that's what you want, then you're not alone," I volunteered. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvh2v9yZ9Z
Ferdinand but his lips. "So do I. But only because Bugsy agreed to this."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YU0Jy3FEV
As night falls, we sneaked out of the house after dinner and walked towards the farmhouse. With Ferdinand's binocular, I noticed that the lights were switched off and the windows were wide open. As quiet as a mouse, I slowly opened the front door and found the house empty. There was no furniture and the paint on the walls was peeling off, with the woods infested by termites. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfigvNzubwU
We tip-toed towards a room, with nothing but a bundle of corn, which was harvested from the cornfield. Ferdinand took one of the corn and devoured it, in a greedy manner. Naomi and I stared at Ferdinand, dumbfounded. "What are you looking at?" he said. "You know I love corn."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVk5SFSz5c
I rolled my eyes. "Careful not to choke on your stupidity, Ferdinand," I snared. "You'll be the first to get caught."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyq5xFFTFS
Then, we heard heavy footsteps heading towards us. I pulled Ferdinand's hand and we hid behind the bundles of corn, hoping we wouldn't be spotted. I took a peek and saw the father searching through the room. I was covered in sweat as I brushed my hands against Ferdinand's hand, hoping to calm myself down. Naomi closed her eyes and sealed her lips, not making a single sound.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkxAI1V7kP
A few seconds later, he left the room, giving us a cue that playtime was over. We were heading towards the front door when suddenly, it slammed by itself. I attempted to pull the door handle, but it couldn't be opened. Glancing at the wide-open window, I tried to climb, but the windowpane landed on my fingers, making me scream. Naomi pulled my fingers and blew on them, hoping to soothe them. We turned around and saw a family of four, armed with a knife.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfXlDntkTa
Its empty eye sockets stared at us, with their lips sewn with a thread. Naomi stepped forward and bowed. "Our apologies for breaking in."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa1PE9177k
No reply came out. I dashed into the family and made my way out from the back door. "Come on, guys," I shouted. "Let's get outta here."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mFM5LyLd3
Naomi and Ferdinand stood in horror as their heads and limbs were dislocated from their bodies, lying in a pool of blood. Naomi shrieked as Ferdinand threw upon their bodies. I held the father's head as it disintegrated into the corn, which caused Ferdinand to threw up even more. More footsteps were approaching us from downstairs as we ran out of the house and into the cornfield.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCV06HVLWB
As we ran through the maize stalks, I bumped into a scarecrow and slipped, only to be caught by Ferdinand's arms. "I've got you, Bugsy," he spoke. I got up and dusted off my jeans and a T-shirt as I tried to make the scarecrow but it grabbed me by my arms. I yelled as I tried to pull away from his grasp. Naomi rushed towards me and chopped off the scarecrow's hand with her bare hand. Naomi and Ferdinand held both of my hands as the scarecrow staggered towards us.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHLx5vUG2k
We sprinted across the cornfield as more of those 'family' were tailing us from behind, along with the scarecrow. I felt a pang in my legs as I paused, trying to catch my breath. Ferdinand ran towards me and carried me with both arms and joined Naomi, who was next to him. One of the families yanked Ferdinand's jet black hair, causing him to drop on the ground, soiling the back of my jeans. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRNaAXbdE8
Naomi lifted her right leg and kicked its a torso, freeing Ferdinand. He squeezed my hands as Naomi led us towards Ferdinand's house. She twisted the doorknob opened and locked it, preventing them from entering. The scarecrow's hand, which was chopped off, crawled underneath the door. The lights of the living room were switched on as Mrs Ong entered, with holy water in her hand.696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4PGXdik0Q
She sprinkled it on the scarecrow's hand, making the scarecrow screeched. The family fled as Mrs Ong sprayed around the living room. The creepy 'family' strutted away from Ferdinand's house in fright. Mrs Ong scowled at us. "I was worried about you kids," she expressed her disappointment. "You could've gotten yourself killed."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOqPX8woRX
"I'm sorry, Ma," Ferdinand apologized. "I was naïve into thinking there's nothing wrong with provoking that family."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHuHqsKZN0
"This families you provoked made a deal with the Devil centuries ago," she explained. "They wanted to live forever, but they paid a heavy price, by becoming scarecrows for the rest of their lives."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqQYZW6P1M
"All of them are scarecrows?" Naomi raised a question. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfXe0PPfmY
Mrs Ong nodded. "They had to give up their soul to become scarecrows."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXxTy48uw1
I peeped through the window and looked at Mrs Ong. "Will they come for us again?" I asked. 696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn1MYdGyAg
"They will if you walk alone in the cornfield."696Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv5oPKERDs
