And he was learning other things as well. How people helped one another. And what they thought about. And how sad his friends were because they had become so poor. For now the air was getting colder. Their cow no longer gave milk. And the food they had saved from their garden was almost all gone.

At night, when they were fast asleep, the Monster would sneak out of his hut. Then he would go off to look for berries and nuts. Very few were left. But he saved most of them for Agatha and Felix and for their father. In the morning, they would find something to eat lying on their doorstep. And they would wonder how the food got there.

Months passed. Little by little, my Monster taught himself to speak. He wanted to talk as well as they did. If only I can sound like them! he thought. Maybe they will like me and let me stay. The Creature still did not know why people were afraid of him.

But then, one moonlit night, he came across a pond. He stared into it and saw a face. It was like none he had ever seen before. Not like any of those he loved. Not like any animal either. It was horrible. It made him afraid. And he hated it! And now it was looking back at him as if it wanted to kill him!

Quickly he picked up a large rock and threw it at the face in the pond. This Creature had a rock too! Smash! The face was gone. But then it came back. He smashed it again and again. Each time it returned and did the same things he did. Then, all of a sudden, he knew the truth. HE was the face!

 

He was a monster! But why? Where did he come from? Who was his family? What kind of being was he? He did not know.