The Hole

Johnny walks down the old gravel road that he has been down almost every day of his short life. It is the road he takes to go to and from school. He is seen the road hundreds of time. But on this spring day, on his way home from school, he noticed something different by the trees just beyond the meadow of wildflowers. It appeared to be a hole of some sort. But not like a hole in the ground. It was more of a vertical hole. Almost like a doorway with no door. He knew he had to get home. His mom was probably waiting for him. But his curiosity got the most of him and he just had to go check this out. The closer he got, the more he could see inside the hole. But it was puzzling to Johnny. It was dark and appeared to have

nothing inside. It looked like an empty closet with no lights on.

When he finally got to the hole, he stopped. Cautiously, he moved forward. Getting closer and closer, and finally reaching the edge, he peaked in. Without any warning, the hole closed and engulfed Johnny with it. In an instant, Johnny and the hole disappear. “JOHNNY!” a voice yells on the old gravel road. It was Johnny’s mom looking for him. She has told Johnny several times to always stay on the road. It was safest. But she had been up and down this road three, maybe four times already, and still, no sign of Johnny. She was trying to not worry, but that is difficult to do when your son is missing. She finally decided to head back home, hoping that Johnny was there.

When Johnny’s mom arrived back at the house, she noticed the door was left open. Johnny always did that, and she thought for sure that he had made it home. “Johnny, how many times have I told you to shut the....” She turned the corner to walk into the kitchen. It was not Johnny. Her heart stopped for a moment when she saw who was in the kitchen. She put her hands to her mouth as she gasped for air. “Mrs. Johnson?” a voice asked. “The door was unlocked, and we let ourselves in. I hope you don’t mind.” The two men stood up from the kitchen table. “We have a few questions we’d like to ask. Do you have a moment?” Meanwhile, Johnny is finding himself lost. Since being swallowed by the hole, he has been feeling as if he is falling. All around him is black -- a sense of nothing. It is dark, yet he can

see his hands and feet with no problem. Even though he feels as if he is falling, he feels no air pass by. It feels more like a floating sensation. He also feels a sense of security. Almost as if he knows he will not get hurt. It is a sensation he has never felt before.

(Your turn... Finish the story.)

Julia

Henry awakes from his sleep as he usually does every morning around five o’clock in the morning. He quietly puts on his robe and slippers and walks into the kitchen to start his morning tea. His cat, Julia, notices Henry is awake and runs to the kitchen to meet him with a faint meow and a rub on his leg. Julia has been Henry’s companion now for the last six years. He picked her up at the local shelter shortly after Henry’s wife died. He wanted some company, and Julia ended up being the perfect house guest for him. Henry bent down to pick up Julia. “How’s my kitten this morning,” he asked. As always, Julia responds with some gen-

tle purring and a rub against Henry’s face.

(Your turn... Finish the story.)