1 Jacob opened the small side door of the barn. He stepped into the building. He looked up into the big open space. This was where the tractor would be parked.
2 Dad had given him a tour the day before. It seemed bigger now that he was alone.
3 Jacob jumped when he heard the pigeons fly up to the top of the barn. Their beating wings made a clapping sound that echoed as they flew.
4 He turned slowly as he stared up. He never thought that barns were so big on the inside.
5 Light filtered in through the siding boards. It beamed onto the floor in narrow strips.
6 The dust in the air looked like gold in the light. He waved his hand at it, and the dust motes swirled.
7 Jacob smiled. He was glad his family was moving to the country. Playing in the barn would be fun.
8 He spied the ladder to the haymow. It was the second floor-or upper part-of the barn. It was where the hay was stored.
9 Hay is dried grass. It was cut in the summer. When it was dry, it was put into bales. The bales were used to feed some animals in the winter.
10 The mow was empty now. Jacob hoped they could fill it again in the summer. He stood still for a moment. He heard some scratching noises.
11 Then he heard another sound. Was it someone calling him?
12 "Who are you?" called Jacob.
13 No one answered. The floor creaked in the shadows on the other side of the mow. Jacob's hair stood up on the back of his neck.
14 "Who's there?" called Jacob.
Paragraphs 15 to 29:
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