Note to Logbook from Jenna:

I'm afraid to write down what I've seen here in Cabin Eight, but I feel I must warn you . . . I don't mean to scare you or anything, but please, read on . . .

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

Hi. My name is Jenna Johnston. I'm so happy to be here at Castle Haven Cabins. It's our third time here, and my first time in Cabin Eight. I'm here with my Mom, my Dad, and my younger sister, Lisette. She's nine and thinks she's the smartest person on earth (yeah, right!). I hate sharing a bed with her because she wiggles in her sleep all night. Maybe I'll sneak out into the living room tonight, and I'll sleep on the couch. Besides, you can hear the waves from the lake (Lake Superior) louder from the living room, and it will surely lull me to a good night's sleep.

Thursday, June 7, 2007

We drove over to Gooseberry Falls today and hiked the harder trail. Lisette complained she was too hot, so Dad finally gave in and let us roam through the Gift Shop for an hour while he and Mom sat and chatted. Came back to Cabin Eight and Lisette and I put our purchases in the dresser drawer. Mom fixed dinner while Dad, Lisette, and I explored the rocks along the lakeshore. We watched an ore boat on the lake, heading for Duluth Harbor. The ore boat was too far away for us to read its name, even with binoculars. When Dad wasn't watching, Lisette pushed me. I slipped and fell on the rocks, and I skinned my knee. Dad figured it out pretty quick and sent Lisette up to the cabin to help Mom get dinner ready.  

I sat on a toasty rock and read a book while Dad scanned the coastline with his binoculars. Mom served us "dinner on the rocks"—it was great! Hot dogs, beans, and fresh strawberries. Dad built a campfire and we roasted marshmallows as we watched the sunset reflecting on the calm lake waters. Soon, the stars were twinkling and the moon made a silvery path of moonbeams across the water . . . it looked like you could just step on the water and walk that shiny path right to the moon! That night, I dreamed I was the first girl ever to walk to the moon, and I wasn't even tired thanks to the shortcut the lake made for me. It was a great dream. Lisette wasn't allowed on the moon—it was for older sisters only.

Friday, June 8, 2007

It's very hot and humid today, so Mom told Lisette and I to open every cabin window to catch the lake breeze. She and Dad headed down to the Quilt Shop to visit the Castle Haven Cabin owner, Debbie Lind. The minute they were out of sight, Lisette headed for the rocks, leaving me the job of opening all the windows. Sigh, it's  amazing how clever Lisette can be about getting out of chores! 

After getting our bedroom windows open, I was about to leave the room when I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. I froze. 

What was that? 

I'm not a bug slayer type of girl. In fact, I hate creepy-crawly creatures in any form. I was afraid to move lest I found myself face-to-face with a . . . Gasp! A bug, or a mouse, or a . . .More tomorrow.

Saturday, June 9, 2007

Crack! Lightning zigzagged outside, then thunder boomed. Minnesota is well known for its sudden, fierce, summer storms, and this one caught me totally by surprise. I ran into the bedroom to close the windows from the downpour. Mom and Dad had gone into Two Harbors to buy more groceries, so it was just Lisette and me at the cabin. 

Just as my racing heart started to calm down from the last loud boom of thunder, I saw a fast movement on the floor. 

Yikes! 

I screamed and leapt onto the bed in a panic. Whatever was on the floor wasn't going to get me! 

"What's the matter, Jenna? Why'd you scream? Are you afraid of a little lightning and thunder?" Lisette's smug voice drifted from the kitchen and smacked into my fear-stricken brain. 

I put on a brave front. After all, I'm the older sister. "Ha!" I shouted. "You should talk! I heard your voice quiver a little." 

"Did not!" 

"Did too!" 

I must've gotten the  creature's attention again with my hollering. It jumped straight up at least a foot, and danced near the window. 

By now I was screaming in fear for my very life. I kept jumping up and down on the bed so that the "thing" couldn't jump on me and get me! 

I could hear Lisette's disgusted comments. "Geez Louise, what's going on in there?" 

For once in my older sister life, I was praying that courageous Lisette would come and save me from . . . The Monster in Cabin Eight! 

Sunday, June 10, 2007

I was so frightened yesterday, I had to wait ‘til  today to finish writing about what happened next. Just as Lisette headed to the bedroom where I was still screaming, the cabin monster jumped up onto the bed with me! 

I jumped off the bed and hit the floor running. I smacked right into Lisette, and we tumbled onto the hallway floor together. 

"What's your problem?" she screeched. 

"P-please, Sis, there's something really scary in there." I pointed to our bedroom. "C-can you please go in there and slay the Cabin Monster . . . er, kill the bug, er, squish the mouse, er . . .." 

Lisette cackled. "What’s the matter? Older sis is afraid of a l’il ‘ol bug?" 

"Lisette, it's not a bug! It's big, and furry, and it moves really fast! Please. I’m afraid of whatever it is!" 

Lisette looked me over as I still sat there on the hallway floor, still crumpled from our collision, still shaking with fright. I wanted so badly to wipe that superior smirk off her face, but I didn't dare do anything nasty to her  until she slayed the Cabin Monster, or whatever it was.

Lisette stood up and walked over to the hall broom closet. She grabbed the floor mop and held it like a weapon. Armed and dangerous, my little sister was a sight to behold. She could lead armies into battle with her fierce look of determination to go and face the enemy, and slay him! 

"Okay, Cabin Monster," she hollered, "ready or not, here I come! I'm gonna getcha!” 

I’m still shaking here, trying to write. I'll write more tomorrow.

Monday, June 11, 2007

Lisette charged into our bedroom with her mop-weapon at the ready, while I fled to the safety of the kitchen in case she missed the little varmint. 

Whack! Twap! Twang! Bang! 

Lisette was really going after the darn thing. Gosh, I was so proud of her, and in awe of her bravery.  

Suddenly, all was silent. 

Then, I heard it. A little "snick" noise. Then a stamp of Lisette's foot. Then, her full-blown laughter. Belly laughter. The kind that starts way down inside you, and erupts like lava out of a volcano. Laughter? I was stunned. 

"Jenna, you big baby. Come here and see what you were so afraid of," she demanded in between guffaws. 

"No!" I shouted. "No way!" 

"Way!" she countered. "If you don't come here right now, I'll make your life miserable. I'll make YOU do all my chores the entire vacation!" 

If nothing else, Lisette can be a bully, and her punishments were legendary, so I knew I'd better go look. 

Shudder, shudder. Visions of squished mouse danced in my head. I squeezed my eyes tight and bonked into the bedroom door. 

"Open them," she barked. When I kept my eyelids firmly sealed in the "down" position, she pinched my arm. "OPEN!" 

They popped open by themselves when her pinch sizzled through my nerve endings. I was about to come face-to-face with the Monster of Cabin Eight. 

The look of shock on my face had Lisette bent over laughing. In her outstretched hand lay the slain monster—at least I think it was the monster. I didn't want to look, and yet I had to know. 

Unbelievably, it was still in one piece. I fainted. 

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

My sister blackmailed me, big time. She wouldn't tell anybody about the Monster in Cabin Eight if I did all her chores for the entire vacation. You should see my hands. They're wrinkled up like prunes, just after one day. 

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

I kept waking up all night, screaming with nightmares of the Monster. I was a wreck, and my nerves were so shot that Mom and Dad started questioning me as to what was the matter with me. I didn't dare tell them. One look at Lisette's evil glare convinced me it was better to stay silent on the matter and let her continue blackmailing me than it was to confess all to my parents. I spent the day sitting on the rocks, staring at nothing, staying out of Lisette's way, taking over all her chores, much to Mom's shock.  

I asked if I could sleep in the living room and was granted permission. I could hear an occasional muffled snicker from Lisette in the bedroom, who was supposed to be asleep. Thankfully, Lake Superior's crashing waves were louder that night than Lisette, so I was able to fall asleep. I dreamed I ran to the safety of the moon and away from my little sister. This time, when I got to the moon, the moon turned into a big face: Lisette's! I woke up screaming again. 

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Dad decided we should cut our vacation short and head home today. Clearly puzzled by my odd  behavior, they wanted to get me home as soon as possible.   

I'm still embarrassed over the entire monster incident, and of course, Lisette will never let me forget it or my "duties" to her. 

It's time to go. I hope I didn't scare you too badly about the Cabin Eight Monster. I do hope you enjoy your stay in Cabin Eight, if you can. Just remember. You've been warned. 

Jenna Johnston

Andover, MN

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Friday, June 15, 2007 

Hi all! We just arrived at Cabin Eight. I love reading this logbook! My name is Kevin Jones, and I just read what Jenna wrote. I wonder what the Monster of Cabin Eight was? I looked everywhere for it. The only thing I found that would even remotely resemble the monster was a huge Dust Bunny. I found it in the broom closet. It had some black lint attached to it, almost looked like an eye. Do you suppose . . .? Nah, it couldn't be. Who'd be afraid of a dust bunny? Yeah, they're way rare here at Castle Haven. They do a good job of cleaning the place, know what I mean? I don't know this Jenna, but she couldn't be that dumb, could she? Ah, girls stink!

Bye.

Kevin, age 12

~THE END~