Living Ghosts and Mischievous Monsters by Dan SaSuWeh Jones

Author:Dan SaSuWeh Jones
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

La Lechuza, the Owl-Witch

TOLD BY LUIS WICHO AGUILAR, WESTERN CARRIZO TRIBE, SOUTH TEXAS

Before telling this story, I had to get my mother’s permission—we must get permission to tell a tale of such dark powers of nature. That is our way: We still go by our old traditions. My grandmother shared this story with us over thirty years ago—about a local legend that’s been around for many generations. To people of the Rio Grande, La Lechuza has long been known as an old woman who turns herself into a huge owl. Some say it’s to seek revenge for her child being taken from her. Others say she simply wants to snatch children and waits in the dark until a child wanders away from home. Whether you believe this story or not is up to you. Sometimes we have to open our perception to ancient beliefs because there’s a reason they are told through every generation.

My grandmother came from a long line of curanderas, or medi-cine women, of the Peyote people of South Texas. She grew up on the Upper Rio Grande Valley in an area filled with myths and folklore. Many years ago when she was very young, she was out in the monte (woods) collecting herbs and harvesting peyote with her aunt Teresa.

It was a warm South Texas summer evening, but, my grandmother said, something about it seemed different, as if something was watching them or walking near them.

As they gathered the herbs, she and her aunt Teresa strayed off the path, wandering too far into the woods. Soon the shadows lengthened, and before long it grew dark. When they turned around to head toward home, they noticed it had gotten way too quiet. The crickets had stopped chirping, and the nighthawk birds suddenly spooked, flying off into different directions.

Aunt Teresa got very nervous and grabbed my grandmother’s small hand, telling her to follow her closely down the path. As she walked, Aunt Teresa pulled dry Texas sage out of a bag and started to crush it in her hands. She said a prayer and then threw the crushed sage in all directions. “What is wrong?” my grandmother asked at last.

Aunt Teresa answered sternly: “La Lechuza—Owl-witch—is nearby. Her eyes are upon us.” Suddenly the silence was shattered by a horrible screeching sound from behind a group of large mesquite trees.

“Do not look at any large glowing eyes!” Aunt Teresa ordered my grandmother. “Just focus on the path back to the ranch house.” The frightening noise was coming closer, and they started to walk faster. Aunt Teresa kept saying silent prayers as they walked fast on the path.

My grandmother felt a strange, cold wind hit her from behind. Young and frightened, but also curious, she turned her head back to see what was behind her. There, on the path, towered a huge, shadowy figure. She faintly glimpsed its hideous-looking face and large, glowing eyes. Then she felt a penetrating chill and heard a strange whispering voice in her head—in a language she couldn’t understand.

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