The Circles in the Field.

The cornfield looked amazing as the yellow corn sprouted upwards from the dirty soil below.

Along one side of the vast field a dirt track had been formed over many years. Usually heavy farm vehicles like tractors and carbine harvesters flattening the once wild area.

Some teenagers from the local village used the dirt track frequently, the motorbikes

screaming up and down, as the bike engines roared.

On this particular day the teenagers had decided to bring more bikes then usual, slight gray smoke from the exhausts floating up into the air.


Farmer Keith kept an eye on them, knowing young people were troublesome.

“Bloody youth,” he grimaced.

That day he were dressed in his blue holier then now jeans, a white T-shirt and a stripy

red lumber jacket. He knew lumber jackets were not in fashion any longer, but in the

cold winter months that certain clothing would keep you warm.

Keith stood half-leaning on his pride and joy, the tractors name was Cheryl.

It seemed a bit silly naming a tractor, but it was the best most reliable vehicle he had ever

owned.
2

In the distance he saw a couple of black birds fly from one of the trees near where the

track was situated.

The bloody smoke from them bikes would soon kill off all the wildlife he thought to

himself.

The drone from the bikes echoed noisily across the cornfield.

Keith gave the little troublemakers one more dirty look before heading back to his farm,

which was about a mile away.

He opened the door to his beloved Cheryl, and got in.

The other day he had hurt the top-part of his left leg, and it still hurt somewhat.

“Bloody pain,” he grimaced.

His wife of eleven years said he were good at whinging, and that he should take it up as a

hobby.

He just remembered thinking at the time, silly mare.

The thing is no one really understood him, to most he was perceived as a moaner.

But deep down he was quite touched by most things.

Like when his first granddaughter was born, he cried.

But he did not care what other people thought.


He put his foot down on the accelerator after turning the key, the engine roared out nicely.

In gear he was now off up the field towards home.

The noise from the bikes could not be heard any longer, as Cheryl’s engine was far more

superior.

3


“Hello love,” he said brightly, kissing his fifty-four year old wife on the top of the head.

Linda was busy making some corned-beef and tomato sandwiches for her hard working

husband.

“Hi love,” she said looking up at him.

She kissed him squarely on the lips.

She had not seen him since the evening before.

That morning she had awoke about seven O Clock, he had already left the house five

thirty exact.

She wore her comfortable flowery dress, which was now very worn. But for chores

around the farm house it were perfect.

“Are them blessed kids there again,” she said.

Keith gave her an agreeing look, “Why my field, can’t they play somewhere else.

Listening to the racket all day gets me down.”

“But your tractor is noisy also,” she replied.

“But I can be noisy in my own private land, also Cheryl does important stuff around the

farm. Them bleeding bikes are a hazard, also ripping up my field at the same time.”

Linda placed the bread on top of the sandwich filling, then handed the plate of food to

Keith.

“Thanks,” he said politely, then tucked in.

He had a lot to do that afternoon, and could not hang around for too long.

“Don’t eat to quick, you may get indigestion if not careful,” Linda remarked.

4

Keith gave her a look like a naughty school boy being told off by the headmistress.

He then decided to eat his food properly.


A few months back he had visited the local doctors complaining of slight chest pains.

The doctor said the reason for the chest pains were probably due to stress.

So rushing out after lunch was no longer a good idea.

Running a farm was hard work, Keith were now in his late fifties and needed to take it

more easy for his own sake.

He finished the sandwiches in goodtime, then got up from the table he had temporarily sat

at, placing the wooden chair back under the table.

Linda kissed him softly on the cheek as he left the house.

“See you tonight love,” she shouted out to him, giving him a wave.

He waved back before climbing back into the tractor.


He worked relatively hard for about three hours, he deserved a rest.

The fence was now secure as he had dug new holes for the posts to be repositioned in.

The old holes had crumbled under the constant rain.

He looked at the wooden fence and was proud of the job he had done.

Now time for a cigarette he thought.

His wife did not know he still smoked, he usually blamed the smoke that lingered on his

clothes from the tractor exhaust.

Sitting on a slight mound at the corner of one of the fields he owned, he lit the cigarette.

Lovely he thought.
5

Something distracted him as at the corner of his eye a quick movement was seen.

He looked round and then realised the teenagers were riding across the field he sat in.

Cheeky bastards.

He threw the quarter smoked cigarette onto the grass, then stomped angrily to where his

Cheryl was parked.

He was going to catch the little blighters up and then give them hell.

The tractor now at top-speed he followed the little shits through three fields, luckily the

gates to the fields were already open.

He had opened them earlier you see, saves him opening and closing them for the

remainder of the day.

The plan from earlier had now backfired as the teenagers had found there way in.

Usually they would stay just on the dirt track, but today they had broken the rules.

While driving through another open gate that led to the fourth field, he noticed the sun

above glimmering on something that lay on the ground.

He stopped the vehicle and then got out.

Six cans lay near the post of the gate, beer cans.

Not were they just breaking in on private land, they were pissed also.

This was definitely the final straw.

In the distance he saw them, no longer on there bikes.

This was his chance to catch them.

He flew into the tractor and revved it to top speed, heading towards the little bastards.

He could see they were absolutely slaughtered as they swerved to and fro laughing and
6

pointing.

The farmer got out of his tractor with a baseball bat held in his right hand.

He would never use this weapon on anyone, but he was not sure how they would react to

him confronting them.

He had to be tooled up just in case.

“What are you arseholes doing then?” he shouted.

One of the spotty teenagers spoke, “Get lost old man.”

Keith was utterly dumbfounded at the sheer rudeness of this certain individual.

“What did you say?”

“Piss off,” another teenager shouted, his cap covering his eyes.

Keith just stood there demoralised.

If he had spoken to anyone like that when he were a kid, he would have had the beating of

a lifetime.

His chest ached a little, as his head spun somewhat.

He needed to get back to his tractor where his heart pills sat in the glove department.

“Just go please,” he said to the youngsters‘, his energy had gone.

“This place is a shit hole anyway,” a couple of them shouted.

Keith walked slowly back to his vehicle, hearing the bikes start up behind him.

He looked back and the vile youngsters’ had rode off heading for the open gate of field

five.

Beyond field five were the main road.

Keith climbed with some trouble into the front part of the vehicle, and swallowed two
7

pills, with the help of some water.

He slowly felt better, thankfully.


“Are you alright?” his wife asked.

Keith walked through the front door placing his muddy boots on a mat.

He peered at the time on his watch, five sixteen.

“Them bloody teenagers really took the piss today, I am going to ring the bloody police.”

“What happened?” Linda worryingly asked.

For the next minute he explained to his wife what had happened that day and how rude

they had been to him.

He then rung the law justifiably.


The sun shone beautifully the next day, the sky a light blue with only the odd floating

cloud.

The dirt track was empty of bikes and youngsters, this were a sheer joy.

The cornfield in front glistened.

That is when Keith noticed something different about the field.

He ventured into the field area walking through averagely tall corn sure something was

not right.

Suddenly the corn ended and he found himself standing in open-space. Looking around

him he realised he were standing in a circle. The floor of the circle looked burned as the

flattened corn had a strange darkness to it.

And he knew who to blame for this, the vile teenagers.
8

“Bloody kids.”

He looked about him disgusted, he could not believe what they had done.

But he must admit though the vile teens were clever.

Corn circles were looked upon as messages from another world.

If he went to the police with this they would just laugh at him.

Some even thinking he created the bloody thing himself for more attention-seeking

reasons.

He did feel like there was nothing he could really do for the time-being. Maybe it was

a one off, that is what he were hoping anyway.


He left the circle behind and ventured out of the field.

The fence he had sorted out yesterday still needed to be tested, it would be a safe

sanctuary for the sheep he owned.

The problem being when he needed to do work on the animals they would run around

huge fields, and he had a job of catching the bloody things. But trapping them in smallish

fencing areas with the help of his farm dog were the best way to go.

With Cheryl’s help he drove across three fields to where the more improved and sturdy

fence stood.

Stopping the tractor he got out, then whistled using two fingers.

A faint barking was heard as his beautiful dog had heard its masters call.

Usually night time Keith would keep the dog in the house, where it slept in a basket. But

during the day weather permitting, the dog was allowed to roam where ever it liked.

9

Over a nearby hill where an open-gate stood the black-coated dog appeared its tongue

flapping from its canine mouth. The dogs eyes filled with utter excitement at seeing its

master again.

Woof, woof…

“Hello boy,” Keith shouted happily at the oncoming animal.

The dogs name was Percy.

Keith wrapped both arms around Percy, “Good boy, you know how to keep me happy

don’t you.”

The dog ran around his legs the tongue still hanging out with sheer joy.

“Time to get to work Percy.”


For sometime that afternoon Percy was busy as it rounded up all the sheep on the two

fields where they roamed.

After about two hours Keith finally locked the front gate of the fence area, twenty sheep

stood in this certain area with confused looks on there faces.

They had plenty of grass to eat so they should be alright he thought.

Cleverly he had placed the fence area in more longish grass then previous. Leaving the

grass to grow were a good idea if you had farm animals to eat it.

He looked at his watch and the time were four.

“Time to get back Percy.”

He knew once he got into the tractor and drove back to the house the dog would follow.

So that is what he did.

10

“Better today love?” Linda asked, as she saw him walk through the front door.

“Kind of I suppose, but guess what the little bleeders that done now?”

“What?”

Keith sat on the dinner-table chair and then continued, “They have cut a circle out of one

of my cornfields.”

“Is it a big circle of corn that is missing?”

“About twenty metres across, a bloody enough.”

“Little troublesome bleeders,” Linda said angrily, she hated anyone who upset her

husband.

“The corn isn’t missing just flattened and somewhat damaged.”

“Are you going to ring the police?”

Keith thought about it as he pondered on the best course of action.

What should he do really?

He finally spoke, now he had made his mind up.

“I will catch them red-handed, and then tell the police.”

“But the police may not believe you.”

“Then I will have to buy myself a certain device and catch it all on film, good idea or

what,” Keith chuckled.

Linda were now a little worried as she did not want her husband to go jumping into a

situation that might be dangerous.

“Think about it first, promise me you will sleep on it?” she asked.

“Alright I will,” he agreed half-heartedly.
11


The next day against his wife’s wishes Keith walked reluctantly into the electrical shop

that was situated at the end of a nearby village.

The village only had two thousand or so residence.

The shop were near the local train-track that ran all the way to London.

Being a simple farmer he was not really clued up with the latest technology, but if he was

going to catch the scoundrels that messed up a part of his beloved field he would have to

take drastic action.

A man wearing a black suit and striped tie looked at him rubbing his hands.

Keith was somewhat unimpressed at this certain person scoping him out.

What did this idiot want?

Then the answer to that question was given.

“How can I help you sir?” the strange man asked.

Keith did not really know how to explain himself, “I’m looking for a camcorder, not an

expensive one though.”

The smarmy bastard then went into his selling technique as he started to go through all

the items of that particular brand.

“Well we have a lovely model here, the price only being five hundred and forty-nine

pound. You must admit that is an absolutely terrific price to pay, I do know what you are

thinking though, but yes it is really that cheap.

Cheap Keith thought, this shop is a bloody joke.

“I have changed my mind, I cannot afford these ridiculous prices,” Keith said.

12

The salesman then panicked as he could tell he was losing a sale, “Alright sir, just wait a

minute Ok, I will find something in your price range.”

He scurried off down the aisle checking out the second shelf from the bottom on one of

the further racks.

Keith heard him mutter something, as he waited there patiently.

The man came back holding something in his hand, a box to be exact.

“This camcorder is selling for one hundred and fifteen pounds, an absolute bargain I

promise you,” he concluded.

Keith wanted so badly to catch them kids, but as cheap as the so-called camcorder were,

was it worth it really.

Sod it he thought.

“Leave it behind the counter and I will pick it up a little later as I need to get more money

out from the money building,” Keith said.

“Money building,” the man said confused.

“The bank.”

“Oh I see what you mean, yes that will be fine sir.”

Keith left the shop heading straight for the local bank, which were a couple of small

streets away.

The only problem being it had just started to rain.

The dark clouds overhead making everything look more shadowy, as the cold water spilt

from the sky.


13

Keith had now purchased the item and was heading back home through countless thin

lanes.

The rain still poured as it made driving somewhat harder then normal.

The odd tree shook from the strong winds that battered the countryside that day.

“Bloody weather,” Keith groaned.

The front window to his wife’s car was smothered as he pushed the button for the

window wipers for the fiftieth time, or that is how it seemed.

The thing is he did not like to have the window wipers on constantly as it made him lose

his concentration from the road in front.

Ahead in the road he saw some people standing by what looked like bikes.

Keith then realised it were the teenagers that had given him grief that certain day.

Also the same teenagers that had vandalised his precious cornfield.

They seemed to be laughing about something as the smiles on there faces were slightly

intimidating.

What had they done now?

The farm were two miles away as he passed the troublesome mob now turning up a

slightly wider lane with more trees either side.

Strangely enough the trees on view were not rocked by the wind so much as the trees

behind took the brunt of the storm.

It were now late-morning and he had not checked the cornfield that day.

When getting back to the farm that would be the first thing he does.

Last night they could have broken in again, only time will tell.
14


He headed the car into the front driveway of the house and then proceeded into a parking

position, beside his tractor.

“Morning Cheryl,” he said patting the side of the vehicle.

He made his way into the house greeted by his wife.

“Did you get one then Keith?” she asked, a little concerned still thinking it a bad idea.

“I certainly did love,” he grinned from ear to ear.

The carrier bag he held he lay carefully onto the dinner table, removing the biggish box

inside. The box cover had the picture of the camcorder, with all its details.

“How much did it cost?”

He had temporarily forgot and grabbed hold of the receipt from his left trouser pocket.

Peering down the codes and other typed figures he finally came across the price.

“One hundred and fifteen pound and ninety nine pence.”

“That is quite a lot isn’t it love?”

“Well the salesman in the electrical shop reckons that was a bargain, he told me that was

you see,” Keith said a little confused, had he been conned he was unsure.

“It just seems a lot to me that’s all,” Linda remarked, “By the way love what do you

fancy for lunch?”

Keith had to think because he wanted to check on the cornfield first before food.

“I’m not sure love, but I want to check around the farm first to see if them little beggars

have been about.”

Linda looked at the wall clock, “It is five past twelve, see you at one.”

15

“That is a promise love.”

Keith made his way towards the front door picking up his heavy boots so he could put

them on.

One foot was in as he struggled with the second boot, the problem with steel toecaps were

the material was a lot tougher and sometimes harder to wear, unlike trainers.

The problem with trainers though they were not really suitable farming footwear as you

would break your foot or toe within hours.

He heard his wife behind him as she shouted something from the kitchen.

“What you say Linda?” he shouted back.

Her face appeared from around the corner, “I’ll make you some ham and salad

sandwiches if you do not mind.”

“That sounds lovely,” he concluded, walking out of the door.


Cheryl’s engine pumped along nicely as the farmer drove up a slight hill of one of the

fields. On the left of him were the fence that housed the few sheep he had, the fence still

stood nicely. His repair job of a couple of days ago was a winning success.

In the mornings he would open all gates, but the gate in front that led to the cornfield

were closed.

Maybe he had forgot to open that particular gate?

He got out of the tractor and made his way to the heavy gate and untied the rope, then

swung the rusting gate open as it creaked with delight.

He got back into his tractor and carried on with the journey.

16

Running beside the tractor Percy the dog could be seen as its tongue flapped with delight.

“Keep up boy,” Keith shouted through the half-opened side window.

On purpose though Keith did put his foot down so the vehicle would go quicker.

Percy still kept up though, which surprised the farmer no-end.

The cornfield in front the tractor came to a halt.

Keith got out of the vehicle and made his way to the edge of the field.

That day there were no droning of bikes, so that was the second day the teenagers had

purposely stayed away.

There guilty consciences getting the better of them maybe?

Keith moved some high corn away from his face as he entered the cornfield a little

cautious, he hated surprises.

He approached the flattened corn-circle.

But had they caused more damage last night?

That is when he noticed something which sent shivers up his spine.

At the far-end of the circle was what seemed like a little opening to something else.

He walked across the damaged corn and then peered through the slight gap.

In front another circle had appeared, but this time bigger, the scorch marks on the ground

were darker in tone then the first.

“You bloody bastards,” Keith shouted, he felt like murdering the little shits.

He was happy he had purchased the camcorder now, if that is how they wanted to play it,

he were definitely up for the challenge.

“You bastards have met your match,” he grimaced to himself.
17

Percy ran through the corn towards his master, his dog eyes full of excitement.

“I love you boy.”

Keith hugged his loyal pet.

Woof, woof.

“Tonight me and you are going camping.”

Funnily enough it was like the dog understood what he said as he ran around in circles

around Keith’s legs.

Keith then left the field with Percy following not far behind.

The farmer knew the dog would be busy that night so he let Percy into the tractor also as

they made there way home for lunch.


One bite followed by two, and then three.

“Thank you love,” he said, staring longingly at the beautifully made round of sandwiches.

“That is alright.”

Keith wanted to tell his wife of the plan to go out that night, and keep watch over the

field, but he did not know how. He knew she would be upset because of his ticker

playing up, but he had know choice anymore.

“Linda I have something to tell you,” he said nervously.

“You never call me by my first name unless you are angry or nervous about something,”

she queried.

“Alright we will come to the chase, me and Percy are going to catch them troublemakers

tonight by exposing them on film.”

18

“But what about your heart Keith?”

“But I have to stand up for principal here,” Keith protested, banging his clenched fist

onto the table.

Linda sat down somewhat shocked by her husbands response.

“Well if you are going out I am coming with you, like it or bloody not.”

“Deal.”

That was it, the plan was assembled, they were all going out that night, with camcorder in

tow.


The afternoon went relatively well as the farmer drove his tractor with pride, feeding the

animals when required. Certain other farming responsibilities came to hand with not

much difficulty.

The most important thing was, Keith were on top of it.


“Ready,” the farmer shouted up the stairs.

“In a min,” Linda shouted back.

She was packing a bag for the nights camping, she knew it would be coldish so she

packed a couple of cardigans, and other assorted objects, mainly home comforts.

She were ready, “Coming love.”

Linda was very excited now, at the prospect of camping in the great outdoors, like some

adventure.

She ran as quickly as her ageing legs would let her down the old creaking stairs, with a

big supermarket carrier bag in one hand.
19

“What’s in there?” Keith asked.

“Just stuff I might need.”

“Alright lets be off.”


They left the confines of the house, Keith whistling the dog who now roamed somewhere

in the back garden.

Woof, woof, woof.

“Here he comes,” Linda said.

They looked round in the direction of the noise, and the dog ran through a thin hedge

towards them.

Keith helped his wife into the tractor, it were a double-seater.

On her lap she placed the carrier bag.


He stopped the tractor and got out as he walked to the passengers-side and helped his

wife out, including the big carrier bag that had came with her.

“Are you alright?” he asked her.

“Fine.”

“Follow me,” he said a little excited.

She took his hand and he led her into the cornfield to the first circle, where he then

stopped.

“Where are we going to camp then love?” she asked.

“Here, perfect don’t you think.”

Keith then left his wife in the darkened flat circle while he retrieved the camping gear and

21

other items for that night.

Twenty minutes later the tent was all set-up, the camcorder in its place just in case the

teenagers decided to show there dirty faces.

Strangely enough the dog had not yet shown up, maybe it had got lost along the way?

“It is so peaceful out here tonight,” Linda remarked, looking high up into the more starry

sky then previous as the clouds from before had now moved on.

Keith agreed quietly as his focus were on the mission in hand.

In front a scurrying of something was heard as whatever this creature were ran for its dear

life maybe from an unwanted predater?

Out of the far-end of the first circle a grey rabbit appeared as it hopped towards them.

Linda held the torch and shined it at the unaware animal, as it came closer.

She noticed with utter shock that its eyes were bloodshot, and one leg were missing like

it had been chewed off.

“Poor thing,” she said saddened.

“Shush love.”

The rabbit hopped with difficulty past them as it carried on with its misguided journey of

survival.

Linda knew the field animal would be dead by morning.

What a sad thought to behold.

They sat there what seemed like ages.

Keith peered at his watch a couple of times, tutting every time.

22

This was a lost cause, they were not going to show that night, devious swines.

“This is a bloody waste of time now,” Keith grimaced.

“How long have we be sitting here for love?” she asked, growing slightly impatient.

“Bloody three hours, and the time is two O Clock in the bloody morning. If they were

going to show it would have been about midnight to now I reckon.”

“What makes you think that?”

“I watched a programme on corn circles a little while back, the intruders pick between

midnight and three to perpertrate there crime long before the sun coming up you see.

You have to take it into consideration also that they have tools of the trade that have to be

removed, also safeway out of the place without being detected.”

“Well thought out love,” she said proudly.

“I have had enough tonight, lets go.”

Keith collected the gear and took it back to the tractor, leaving the tent and camcorder to

carry on filming. He knew he had only purchased the camcorder that day but if he left

it deep in the corn no one should find it.

Maybe they would still show and get filmed doing it?


The next morning Keith awoke and with great anticipation drove his Cheryl to the

cornfield, and with utter delight realised a third circle had appeared.

Checking on the camcorder he realised it were still there.

“Yes, yes, yes,” he screamed with happiness.


About half an hour later he plugged the electronic item into the back of the television,

23

then pressed play.


On the TV screen the darkened field appeared as Keith started to fast-forward the tape.

Suddenly purple and orange lights appeared from everywhere as something seemed to

float above the field.

Keith then resumed to play wandering what was happening on screen.

A lightening bolt struck the field as it stayed there for a few seconds.

What the hell was going on?

The bolt seemed to be drawing a pattern as it moved to and fro before vanishing up above

in a split second.

The lights then vanished.

The darkness of the field was then seen again as this particularly strange phenomenon

had now gone from the area.

Keith then realised the teenagers were not to blame at all.

Whatever had caused them circles were something outworldly.

He rewind the tape before showing his wife.

As predicted she sat there with a dumbfounded look on her face.

“I just don’t believe it,” she gasped.

“We have caught something on tape ten times better then teenagers vandilizing a bloody

field,” he shouted with delight.


Within the next few months most radio and television stations had got hold of the news of

24

the alleged corn circle footage, with great excitement abound.

The money seemed to be rolling in as Keith had never felt so plush before.

The one hundred and fifteen pound he had forked out for the camcorder was paid over ten

times.


Finally Keith and his wife were on a winning streak.

But ironically no more circles appeared that year or any other year, like the sky

perpetrators knew they had been caught in the act.


The End