459. Where the Watermelon Rot

Scare You To Sleep

Host Shelby Novak opens the episode by announcing closed submissions and introduces a swamp-themed horror story titled 'Where the Watermelon Rot' by author Tina Michelle. The narrative follows a young boy named Nick and

Key takeaways

• Author Tina Michelle wrote 'Where the Watermelon Rot,' a bayou-set horror story about a boy navigating local witch folklore while crawfishing.
• The character Ronnie warns Nick that the swamp witch makes things rot and rust quickly, demanding gifts from those who take from her waters.

Main topics

• Swamp witch folklore & supernatural horror
• Bayou crawfishing & outdoor survival tension

Notable quotes

"You ever wonder why things rot and rust so quick out here?"

Conclusion

Listeners receive a tightly paced atmospheric horror tale that blends regional folklore

Transcript preview

Speaker 2 (0:00) For many of us, going further isn't a choice. It's a feeling we can't ignore because ambition has a way of outgrowing where it began. Speaker 2 (0:11) Turning dreams into direction. Speaker 2 (0:17) Every journey brings us closer to the life we imagine. Speaker 2 (0:23) So, where will your journey take you? Etihad. Beyond Borders. Speaker 2 (1:05) and welcome to Scare You to Sleep. I'm your host, Shelby Novak, and I'm here to read you a bedtime story. Entries for kids' submissions are officially closed. Thank you to all who sent yours in. If you did not, then no worries. You can always submit next year. So this week I have for you a swamp story, and I know you all love swamp stories. This comes to us from author Tina Michelle. This is Where the Watermelon Rot. Speaker 2 (1:50) Down by the bay, Dad sang softly, where Speaker 1 (1:55) the Speaker 2 (1:55) watermelon grow, I echoed, hardly pausing with my work. That afternoon had been quiet as we sat on the dock, outside the bait shop, mending the holes in our crawfish traps. The water was smooth and green, and the only clouds were as thin as torn cotton, draped far off in the western sky. Speaker 2 (2:18) Back to my home. I dare not go. Speaker 2 (2:25) My voice started to trail off as I found a knot in the string I was threading into my needle. Dirty old rotten string. For if I do, my mother would say. Speaker 2 (2:40) Dad paused. Speaker 1 (2:43) Did you ever see a goose kissing a moose? I grumbled. Speaker 2 (2:49) Down by the bay Speaker 2 (2:53) I huffed as I continued to tug at the hopeless length of string. You want to trade? I wordlessly offered over my trap and accepted Dad's. Thanks. No problem, Nick. He worked quickly to detangle the knot as I continued to weave his back together. Speaker 2 (3:15) How do you think we're going to do this season? Speaker 1 (3:20) Well, Granny always says if there's thunder in October, it's going to be a good season. And Speaker 2 (3:24) we had the big storm right there at Halloween. Must be. Speaker 2 (3:31) He nodded in approval. We fell into silence till Dad started to sing the song again. I couldn't remember a time before I knew the song. Down by the bay where the watermelon grow Speaker 2 (3:49) I don't know about watermelon. But I've sure seen enough of them rot. Speaker 2 (3:56) The haggard old man stepped out of the shack at the end of the dog. I didn't remember his name. He limped and thumped along the wood walkway with his big, wooden walking cane. Speaker 1 (4:10) Hey Ronnie Speaker 2 (4:12) Dad glanced up over his rusted, wire-rimmed glasses to grin at the other man. He flipped the appealing five-gallon bucket of what I assumed was fish over the edge before sitting down on it. Speaker 1 (4:27) You know why things rot, boy? Speaker 2 (4:31) The man leered over to where I was squatted on the mildewed deckwood. His teeth were almost yellow and hardly there at all. I shook my head in response before shrinking back down to my work. Speaker 1 (4:46) It's because of that swamp witch. Speaker 2 (4:49) Oh, don't start in on that, Dad chided. Nick is far too young for all that ghost mess. Speaker 1 (4:58) How old are you? Speaker 2 (5:00) The man barked over in my general direction. Speaker 1 (5:04) Almost 11 Speaker 2 (5:06) I gazed out at the moss dangled from the cypress behind his head. I didn't want to look in his almost yellow eyes, either. That's plenty old Speaker 1 (5:17) enough to know about the old witch. Besides, he's gotta give her something if he's planning to take. Speaker 2 (5:25) He eyeballed the trap in my hand. Speaker 1 (5:29) You know Speaker 2 (5:29) there ain't no witch in that swamp. Dad gave me a reassuring smile as the old man started in on his story. I do too. I seen her! She took my foot when I went fishing without a gift. He pulled up his pant leg and brandished a stump with an old rusted prosthetic attached. That was gators, Dad interjected. She sent them, he answered. You ever wonder why things rot and rust so quick out here? He asked me. Speaker 2 (6:08) I shook my head. Speaker 1 (6:09) His Speaker 2 (6:10) leather-like tan skin made his eyes almost seem to glow in that yellowish hue. Speaker 2 (6:19) Things rot so Speaker 1 (6:20) quick Speaker 2 (6:21) because of all Speaker 1 (6:22) the folks she got rotten in the bottom of her swamp. Speaker 2 (6:27) Ronnie. It's true. He turned to Dad and continued. You know the story. Dad sighed. It's just a story. Speaker 1 (6:41) The old witch Speaker 2 (6:42) has been in the swamp as long as I can remember. She was in there before my daddy and my granny, too. Way back when she was still kicking. Folks used to pay her for all kinds of stuff. Love potions, poison, good luck charms, boo-doo, hoo-doo, all that Speaker 1 (7:04) nasty stuff that preacher don't like. Speaker 2 (7:09) I glanced over at Dad. He shook his head and kept working. I stopped to listen. There was always a price. If you didn't pay up, she'd... She'll put you down in that swamp with the gators. Eventually, she paid the swamp, too. He grinned at that one. She went down to the bottom with the best of them. Now she takes the folks who take from the swamp. That's why you gotta bring a gift. Speaker 2 (7:44) He put his old bony hands on his knees and leaned forward towards Dad. Speaker 1 (7:50) So... Would you bring the good old swamp witch, Ralph? Speaker 1 (7:57) You know I don't believe in all that crap, Ron. Speaker 2 (8:01) Dad sat down on the trap. Speaker 1 (8:03) Nick don't either, right? Speaker 2 (8:06) He gave me a pointed look. I nodded real quick. Hmm Speaker 2 (8:13) His knees cracked as he clambered to his feet. Speaker 1 (8:17) Suit yourself. Speaker 2 (8:18) Have fun being Speaker 1 (8:19) Gator Speaker 2 (8:20) Bait. He guffawed loudly. Speaker 1 (8:24) Don't worry about us, Ronnie, Dad Speaker 2 (8:27) replied with a grin. I've been doing this for years and I ain't seen nary a swamp witch. Speaker 2 (8:35) Ronnie paused to look at me halfway down the dock. Speaker 1 (8:39) Take it from me, son. Speaker 2 (8:41) He said lowly. If you gonna take from the witch, you better give her something back. Remember. When you see those yellow eyes. It's the witch. Coming for