DreadWood

“The assignment is to build a class pet with the materials provided. Please group up in threes. You have today and tomorrow’s class to finish, so get to planning!” Mr Ozby instructed the students.

“Can I get in with you guys?” Darwin asked. Hunter, Dan and Warren already grouped up as they had all year. Darwin again was the last one in the class, everyone else in perfect trios. Ozby said they could do four if anyone was left alone.

“We can’t Darwin.” Warren started. “Ozby wouldn’t let us.”

“He said last time it was fine!” Darwin said.

“Let’s let him do this one with us. It’s the last project of the year. He’s been alone every other build.” Dan suggested. Hunter nodded in agreement.

Warren sighed, holding his fingers on the inside of his eyes and turned to speak to the others. “Darwin is a downer, guys.”

“He’s not that bad.” Hunter said.

“I’m outnumbered here.” Warren realized. They stood out of their huddle. “You can join.”

“Oh really? Thanks guys!” Darwin gasped.

They began to plan the design of their class pet. Hunter proposed a frog, Dan a fish and Warren a bear.

“Darwin?” The guys asked for his input.

“Why don’t we do something nobody else would do?”

“Huh?”

“A spider.”

“What??” Warren asked, looking at Dan and Hunter for further disapproval. They both lit up instead.

“Awesome!”

“We should totally do that!!”

Darwin started drawing drafts of the wooden spider and it took shape quickly much to Warren’s dismay.

“What should we name it?” Hunter asked.

“I want everyone to fear it. I want them to run when they hear it coming. I want them to faint at the sight. We call it Dreadwood.”

“Jeez Darwin.” Warren said off to the side. He contributed little to nothing, a quiet protest to Darwin’s involvement.

They finished their design and went home ready for the following day. Each of them had nightmares of spiders that night. Save for Darwin. He spent his night chopping at the tree in his backyard. Buried below was the grave of his unborn twin.

Darwin thought it fitting to have a piece of that tree in something he created.

Class began and the group got to work. They weren’t great woodworkers, but Mr. Ozby helped with the more challenging parts. Darwin pulled out his chunk of wood when Ozby turned away.

“What’s that?” Warren asked.

“Just some wood.” Darwin replied.

“You guys don’t think it’s weird he brought his own wood?”

“It’s woodworking… why not?” Dan posed.

Warren kept his distance, barely going near the unfinished spider.

By the end of the build, it looked like a spider. But not impressive by any means. They could all say that at least it stood. Darwin’s secret was nailed down inside the thorax to conceal it from Osby.

Grading took place the next day. The students walked into the classroom to find Mr Osby on the ground, paralyzed, wrapped in a splintery rope like many broken toothpicks strung together. They screamed for help and ran out of the classroom. Except for Warren, Dan, Hunter and Darwin. They watched their creation crawl from Osby’s head onto his desk. And then it cried.