Pacey Captures Big Foot
Chapter 1: The Idea
“You know Pacey,” said Grandpa, “we should start bringing the bird feeders in at night because the bears should be coming out of hibernation soon and they will be looking for a quick meal after a long winters nap.”
“I know, Grandpa, but I’m more concerned about Big Foot. He eats just about anything. He probably would eat bird seed too. But, it’s supposed to snow tonight. Don’t you think we should at least wait until it stops snowing and warms up a little?”
“Well, I’ve lived in this valley for a long time and I can tell you that the bears come out of hibernation about this time of year whether it snows or not. And, I’ve lost a good number of bird feeders over the years because I tried to out guess those bears. I don’t know about Big Foot though, I’ve only seen evidence that he visited once, a long, long time ago. He left his foot print in the snow just once and that was enough for me. You know, the plaster of Paris foot print Nana showed you last year. Well that was Big Foot’s foot print!”
Pacey’s eyes widened and said with a determined voice, “ i remember but, I still want to capture Big Foot. Grandpa, will you help me capture him.”
“I will if you will help me bring in the bird feeders at night. That way we won’t have to worry about the bears or Big Foot destroying our bird feeders. It’s better to be safe than sorry.”
So, just to be in the safe side Pacey helped Grandpa bring in the bird feeders that night and later, when in bed, he prayed that he and Grandpa could capture Big Foot.
Chapter 2: The Trap
A whole month went by and there was no evidence of either bears or Big Foot around the valley and Pacey had just about given up on capturing Big Foot that year. But, in his mind he had been making plans for how he would capture Big Foot if he showed up. And he even made a drawing for a Big Foot trap just in case. And just when his dream began to fade, one day Grandpa told him that there had been bears in the area destroying bird feeders. One of the neighbors down the road even said that the foot prints around their house were too large for a normal bear. That bear must be a giant so we have to be careful when we take in our bird feeders for awhile until the bears leave our area. But, in Pacey’s mind the giant foot prints were all the evidence he needed to know that Big Foot was nearby.
“I think it’s time to build a Big Foot trap, Grandpa, and I know just how to build it. I’ve been working on a plan and I even made drawings so I would remember when the time came. Can up you help me?”
“OK, get your drawings out and let’s see if we have everything we need to make that trap of yours.”
Pacey ran to get his drawn up plans to show Grandpa. And after looking over the drawings Grandpa said that he thought he had all the things necessary to build Pacey’s Big Foot trap in his tool shed. The two of them went to the tool shed where Grandpa stored his tools and building materials and got out everything they needed to build the trap.
The plan was simple so they didn’t need much. In fact, all they needed was a few boards, nails and lots of rope. Then, they set to work, sawing the boards and nailing them together to form a small box like structure just big enough to hold a bait to lure Big Foot. Pacey did most of the work while Grandpa supervised. He made such a racket when pounding the nails Grandpa had to caution him that Big Foot may be nearby and could hear all the pounding and hammering and it may scare him away. Finally the bait box was completed and Pacy attached a short rope to each of the four sides of the box with a nail. Then he looped the ropes together, kind of like a handle, so the bait box could hang and swing freely. Next he attached another long rope to the rope handle on the bait box. By the time he was through he was all sweaty and dirty and looked like he needed a bath.
“Your mom is going to insist that you take a bath when she sees you Pacey! Now
what you going to do with that contraption you built?” asked Grandpa.
“With your help I’m going to hang it up in that big Maple tree right over there. Over that big strong limb way up high. Do you think the limb is strong enough to keep Big Foot from breaking it.”
“No, not strong enough to capture Big Foot, I don’t think. He’s big and has a lot of big muscles. I would say he’s strong enough to break that limb you plan to use for your bait rope. Better use that great big limb just above the one you planned to use. But, how are you going to trap him? Your bait trap might make him hungry enough to lure him to it but, I don’t see how you plan to trap him.”
“I’ve thought of that too and his is what I planned. Because the bait rope might not hold him we are going to hang a big strong rope over that great big limb just above the bait box limb. And we are going to make a noose to hang down just right so Big Foot will get his arm caught in it when he goes for the bait. I don’t want to hurt him I just want to trap him. Then I will let him go.”
“That sounds like it might work. It’s worth a try anyway.” Said Grandpa.
Chapter 3: The Bait
The two trappers went to work rigging the bait trap and noose just the right way so it would work to capture Big Foot. They tried it out several times to make sure the trap worked. After Grandpa got trapped several times, because he was almost as big as Big Foot, Pacey was satisfied with his trap and lair so they took the rest if the day off eating fresh made Peanut Butter cookies, from Nana’s kitchen, and drinking hot cocoa, with whipped cream on top, while talking about the best food to place in the trap for a lure. They thought of all sorts of delicious food they would eat but didn’t think it was the right bait for Pacey’s lure.
Finally, Pacey said, “I watched a movie once and in the movie they used Peanut Butter to lure Big Foot to their trap. If it worked for those guys in the movie it might work for us.”
“Well, I have a fresh jar of Peanut Butter in the pantry, that I hid from Nana, we can try that tonight and if that doesn’t work we can keep trying different foods until we catch that old Big Foot!” Exclaimed Grandpa
So the two mighty Big Foot trappers waited until dark and placed a big jar of Peanut Butter into Pacey’s Big Foot trap. And Pacey went to bed that night hoping that next morning they would find Big Foot in the trap.
Chapter 4: The Surprise
Next morning Grandpa awoke early well before dawn and waited to get Pacey out of bed just about day light. “I didn’t get you up earlier because there wasn’t enough light to see what’s in that trap of yours. Around midnight I heard all kind of noise out there but, after awhile it got quiet and I went back to sleep. I didn’t sleep too well because I was worried about what might be in your trap. Let’s have some breakfast and then we will go take a look.”
After a hurried breakfast, that Pacy couldn’t eat fast enough because he was so excited that Bug Foot was in his trap, the two trappers cautiously exited the house and quietly approached the Maple tree where Pacey’s trap was located. To their surprise there was nothing there. The trap was gone. The Peanut Butter was gone. The ropes were gone. All that was left was two shredded ropes hanging way up high on the big limbs they were attached to. The ground below the ropes was all torn up with grass thrown everywhere. It looked like a bunch of wild pigs had been rooting around in the dirt that was left. And smack dab in the center of all that dirt was a giant foot print!
“Well, it certainly looks like you caught something in that trap you made Pacey.”
“Oh, I know what I caught in my trap Grandpa. It was Big Foot! That’s his foot print right there in the dirt. I caught him! He just got away! But, next time I build a trap I’ll use stronger ropes. He won’t get away next time!”
Chapter 5: The Tracking
Later, After Pacey and Grandpa worked up their courage they decided to track Big Foot to see if they could find his lair in the woods. Big Foot was easy to track because he had left a big mess through the woods dragging the trap and ropes behind him. Shortly after entering he woods they discovered pieces of the trap laying on the ground strewn up the side of a very steep hill.
“Looks like he went that way Grandpa...up that hill. It’s going to be hard to follow him. Do you think you can make it,” said Pacey.
“It’s a pretty steep hill Pacey. If I was a Billy Goat I’m sure I could. You go ahead up the hill. I’ll find a way around the hill. Your not afraid to go alone are you?”
“No that old Big Foot don’t scare me! I’ll meet you at the top.” And Pacey scampered up the hill like a Billy Goat.
Soon Grandpa joined him and Pacey was excited. “Look, Grandpa, I found the Peanut Butter Jar and it is licked clean. I told you old Big Foot liked Peanut Butter. But, I don’t see any more tracks. Looks like he just disappeared!”
“Yes, I’ve heard they can walk through the woods and not leave a trace, if they want to,” said Grandpa. “It looks like we have lost his trail. We’ll just have to wait until he comes by our house again. You’ll have plenty of time to plan your next trap.”
And the two trackers began their trip back to grandpa’s house. But Pacey couldn’t keep his mind off Big Foot. I almost got him he kept repeating, in his mind, over and over. I know exactly how to make my next trap stronger. Next time I’ll catch that old Big Foot.
The End
Jerry Marvel
March 2021