The boy as he spots the toe.
"The Big Toe" is the first story included in the book Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark. It is adapted from an old American folktale known alternatively as "The Hairy Toe" or "The Skinny Toe".
Plot[]
A boy is digging in his garden when he spots a big toe. He picks it up and hears something groan and runs off. He shows it to his mom and she says that they will have it for supper. The boy's dad carves the toe into three pieces and they each have a piece. Then they do the dishes and when it gets dark, they go to bed. The boy falls asleep right away. But he wakes up and hears a voice calling to him saying "Where is my to-o-o-o-o-e?". He gets really scared as he hears it a few more times and pulls the covers over his head hoping it will go away and he will go to sleep. But it seems to get closer every time he hears it. Then he hears footsteps and the creature comes into his room and yells at him saying "Where is my to-o-o-o-o-e?!" Then he yells, "You've got it!!!!!!!!!"
Alternative ending[]
The boy sees the creature climb down his chimney. He asks what his big eyes are for and the creature answers "So I can see through you!" Then he asks what his big mouth is for and the creature answers "To swallow you!". Then he asks what his sharp teeth are for and the creature answers "To chomp your bones!".