Another distraction on my way to school (in addition to the ditch) in the mornings was the occasional loose dog. There was one house on the way to school with a particularly mean dog. One day it got loose and came after me. (I was probably in the 4th grade)

Dog grabbed my sleeve and started pulling and biting at my jacket. A car passing by saw me walking to school with this dog attached to my sleeve and told me to "get in the car!". I told the lady (probably a teacher from the school) that I couldn't get into a car with a stranger and I continued walking. Eventually, the dog lost interest and left me alone. I think he ripped my jacket pretty badly but I was basically unharmed.