JOHNNY AND THE WOODS

Sitting around the fire
Marshmallows over the open flame
Sitting around the fire
We look around for a victim to name
 
Call out a name
And they are it
Call out a name
And they have to take it
 
“Johnny”
‘s turn it is now
“Johnny”
Must take the bait
 
We watch as he goes
He stands and walks into the forest
We watch as he goes
He has no trepidation, only courage
 
30 steps, then 5 minutes
He’ll have to wait
30 steps, then 5 minutes
Unless first he breaks
 
Then, search and rescue
To retrieve the thrown ball
Then, search and rescue
Bring it back to us all
 
Into the pitch-black woods
Two of us have already gone
Into the pitch-black woods
We returned and have won
 
Now, in Jonny’s turn
The crunch of the leaves dissipates
Now, in Johnny’s turn
His silhouette vanishes without a trace
 
In the trees
Are hooting owls
In the trees
Animals that may devour
 
Suddenly a screech
Suddenly a break in the night--
No more owls, no insects
No stirring wind in flight
 
“Johnny!”
Is called
“Johnny!”
No answer
What could possibly have happened, this grows stranger
 
Check the woods
Approaches one
Check the woods
Approaches another
But after a screech,
WHO wants to enter?
 
The night goes still
And we all look at one another
The night goes still
Until we jump and yelp, when out pops Johnny in laughter