imaginatia: the dream frontier
Imaginatia: The Dream Frontier
Michael Koza
Published by Michael Koza at Smashwords
Copyright 2010 Michael Koza
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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Chapter 1: Jason Anderson
Morning. The birds were happily singing. It was the beginning of a beautiful day and everybody was eager to show it everybody, that is, except Jason. Jason half-opened his eyes and glanced in the direction of his bedroom window. The sunlight streaming in through the sides of his window’s curtains merrily danced around, making Jason groan softly, while shutting his eyes due to the brightness of the light seeping around the drawn curtains.
“Oh, man!” cried Jason, flopping around onto his stomach, daring himself to peek out again through his fingertips. “It’s morning, already! Where did the night go?”
Shutting his eyes, again, and hopefully with real meaningful rest, Jason tossed his pillow over his head. Exhausted from a night of sleepless worrying, Jason peacefully dozed off.
But, suddenly!
“Ahhhhh, man!!” anguished Jason, his nerves frazzled as he jumped at the sound from his overly loud digital alarm clock. “Stupid alarm clock! Hey! Stop making that racket! Hey!” he whispered, trying to lazily reach out to his alarm clock and turn it off, all of his actions performed with his eyes closed.
Completely disoriented by the petulant noise of his alarm clock and his apparent failure to immediately silence it, Jason opened his eyes- just in time to watch his hand, seemingly with a mind of its own, swing wildly around, knocking his alarm clock off his nightstand. Jason watched in horror and dismay as his alarm clock bounced twice with a loud protesting crash and disappeared under his bed. Groaning, Jason plopped down onto the floor and hopelessly groped for his errant alarm clock, reaching as far under his bed as he possibly could. When that yielded nothing, except distress, Jason picked up his flashlight from his nightstand and peered under his bed, glaring at his alarm clock as it continued to loudly buzz safely out of reach.
“Fine!” screamed Jason, clicking off his flashlight while sticking his tongue out at his petulant alarm clock. “See if I care!” he growled, tossing his flashlight at his alarm clock, missing it completely, while he hastily jumped back into bed, tossing his bedsheets over himself as he did so.
Just as he had gotten settled in bed, his mother, Mrs. Heidi Anderson, had opened his bedroom door, walked in, heading towards the window. “Jason! What was all that noise I just heard?”
“Mmmmmmghhhhfff?” mumbled Jason, moving imperceptibly, moving just enough to cover his ears and his eyes with his hands and arms.
After drawing the curtains aside, Mrs. Anderson turned back to Jason, noting that his alarm clock sounded strangely muted, as she just barely caught Jason’s final movements. “All right, Jason! Get out of bed, right now! It’s morning! It’s time to wake up!” she called loudly, drawing his bedsheets off him, while she continued on. “And where is that new alarm clock we bought you?!” she finished, turning to glance down at the empty nightstand, after dumping all his blankets at the foot of his bed.
Jason pretended to snore, but made the fatal mistake of flinching when his mother was pulling his blankets off of him, and then, with his right eye only, half opened it to take a peek.
“And, you can continue to pretend that you’re asleep- by snoring- but it won’t do you any good, Jason. I just saw you look at me.... As I was just asking, Jason- and, don’t let me repeat myself; where is your alarm clock?”
Jason stopped snoring and opened his eyes, meekly smiled and pointed down. “Ahhh, under my bed.”
“What is it doing under your bed?”
“I tried to turn it off,” explained Jason, shrugging. “But it slipped from my hands and rolled under my bed.”
“Uh-huh. So, why didn’t you go after it?” asked Mrs. Anderson, dropping to the floor to take a peek under his bed.
“I tried to, but I can’t reach it.”
“It’s still a little too dark to see anything,” mused Mrs. Anderson, her voice coming from under his bed, as she, herself, tried to see if she could grope around and grab it. “Give me your flashlight, Jason.”
Jason hesitated, unconsciously moving away from his mother’s side of his bed.
“Well, give me your flashlight, Jason.” Not getting any response from him, or the flashlight, Mrs. Anderson popped her head out from under his bed and looked up at him, just noticing at the last second that his flashlight was also missing from his nightstand. “All right, Jason, where is your flashlight?”
“It it also fell under my bed.”
“Jason! What’s the matter with you?!” she cried out loud, standing up, glaring at him for a second as she walked out of his bedroom.
“I I ” stuttered Jason, following his mother out of his bedroom, trying to think of a good excuse. “Ahhh, nothing,” he finally mumbled, after a few seconds of thinking, completely drawing a mental blank.
Jason stopped short, his eyes widening when he saw his mother opening the hallway closet and withdrawing a broom. “So, wh what’s the broom for, mom?” whispered Jason, apprehensively, unconsciously taking several steps backwards.
“I’ll need it to retrieve your flashlight and alarm clock from under your bed,” she plainly answered, ignoring Jason’s trepidation and calmly returning to his bedroom, completely unaware that after she past him in the hallway and had re-entered his bedroom, Jason slumped against the wall, breathing a sigh of relief.
Remaining near the hallway closet until she returned, Jason could hear her shuffling about as she worked to liberate the flashlight and alarm clock from beneath his bed. A moment later, the sound of his alarm clock was much louder then, silence.
“Well?! What are you fooling around out here for?” she asked, with a raised voice, when she returned to the hallway and found him loitering there. “You should be getting ready for school.”
“But, mom!” protested Jason, following her to the kitchen. “I don’t want to go! In fact,” he said, pretending to cough several times. “I think I’m getting sick!”
“You know, son,” she said, turning around. “If you didn’t over exaggerate this spelunking trip; you would never feel so stressed out.”
“It’s not my fault!” moaned Jason, hoping to gain a little sympathy.
“It is your fault,” said Mrs. Anderson, a little louder. “You have to realize that you can’t expect to learn about life only from books and school. Half the fun, of life, is to experience things in person.”
“Like this stupid field trip!”
“That’s enough, Jason!” stormed Mrs. Anderson, raising her voice to a roof shaking roar. “I’m getting tired of this well worn argument! You’re going on this field trip whether you like it or not!” Raising a cautionary hand, she continued on. “And I don’t want to hear any more excuses! Understand?!”
“Yes, mother, I understand,” mumbled Jason, disappointedly dropping his head to his chest. “But, that doesn’t mean that I have to participate in anything,” he finished, in a rushed, quiet whisper.
“Good,” nodded Mrs. Anderson, who obviously didn’t hear his comment, or perhaps chose to ignore it. Placing a hand on his shoulders while she spoke in a more nicer tone, she continued on. “Go and wash up. Breakfast will be ready in five minutes.”
Chapter 2: Michael Koza
Morning. The sunlight happily streaming in promised a wonderful day ahead. But that wouldn’t matter to Michael; for today, marked the first time that he was going to be separated from his father and mother for an unbearably long time, even if it was just for two weeks. And he dreaded and hated every minute he was reminded of it.
“Morning, already?” groaned Michael, flopping around onto his stomach. “Where did the night go? It seems like it was only yesterday when Mrs. Goldstone told us about this stupid field trip! Ohhhh! Why does it have to be now? I’m not ready for it!”
Diving under his bedsheets, Michael attempted to escape from the cruel reality that, of all things, today was the field trip to Rainbow Caverns National Park! Resigned to his bitter fate, Michael closed his eyes and tried to forget what lay ahead of him. Exhausted from a night of sleepless worrying, Michael peacefully dozed off.
But, suddenly!
“Wake up, Michael! Wake up!” called his mother, Mrs. Rachel Koza, opening his bedroom door and walking in, quickly pushing his bedroom window curtains aside before moving to his bedside. “Oh, look at it! It’s such a beautiful looking day outside! Michael, it’s time for school! Wake up! It’s morning!” she cried again, leaning over to shake Michael awake, continuing to do so until she got some response from him, which was a groan. “Time to wake up.”
Michael groaned again and rolled onto his side, barely opening his eyes. “Ahhhh, mom!” complained Michael. “I don’t want to get up! I want to just sleep!”
“Stop fooling around, Michael!” cried Mrs. Koza, speaking a little louder. “Time for school! And don’t give me any excuses like that ‘I think I’m sick’ claim you tried last night! You’re going to school, today, whether you like it or not!”
Michael leaped away from the edge of his bed, his eyes popping open in horror. “But, why?!”
“Would you prefer to stay home ....”
“Yes, I would!” shouted Michael, gleefully, his eyes brightening, as he jumped closer to her. “I would love to stay home! Can I really?! Can I?! Can I really stay home?!”
Placing both her hands on his shoulders, Mrs. Koza tried to calm him down. “Hold it! Hold it! You didn’t let me finish!”
“Oh, oh! I don’t like the sound of that!” thought Michael, settling down, after losing his balance and falling down onto his bed when he heard his mother’s vocal tone sounding of impending “bad news”.
“Look, son,” said Mrs. Koza, speaking more quietly, dropping to his side, sitting next to him on his bed. “All through your life you had me and your father to protect and guide you. All right so far?”
“Y yes,” answered Michael, not quite sure what she was driving at. “So, what does that have to do with this stupid field trip?”
“It has everything to do with this field trip.” Raising her hand to squelch his response, she continued on. “Now, listen to me, please. At some point in time in your life, Michael, you may find that we may not be here to help you. You will have to learn how to fend for yourself.”
“But, you will always be here for me. Won’t you, mom?”
“Yes, I would, Michael,” she answered, pausing for a second. “But as you get older, you may find that we can’t or won’t be able to help you. You have to learn to explore and do things that are beyond what you are normally comfortable with. You will have to grow and change; this is what life’s really all about.”
“Than, this field trip- is a test?” reasoned Michael. “Part of my lifelong challenge?”
“Yes,” smiled Mrs. Koza. “That’s precisely what I’m saying.”
“I see,” said Michael, looking up again, not really wanting to be so challenged so early- especially with the rest of his life ahead of him. “But, since I’ve got the rest of my life to live why can’t I skip this one test this time around?”
Mrs. Koza shook her head. “No, Michael. You don’t understand. If you delay this ‘learning experience’, you will only find it easier to make an excuse not to challenge yourself the next time around. And, you will soon find it much easier to make excuses the next time around, as well as those learning experiences that come after that. So, you have to understand you must go through all of life’s challenges or you would ... Ahh, be just like that old man in the green house down the block!” she finished, just as a sudden intuition hit her.
Michael’s eyes widened, horrified at the mere thought of old man Stevens. A man so mean, that children were afraid to walk past his house on the sidewalk even in broad daylight! Someone, the stories say, hated life and was just waiting to die. Someone who despised kids, because- as the stories had rumored, over and over again- they merely reminded that miserably lonely hermit of his once happy life when he was a little boy.
“Would that really happen? Would that really happen to me?!” asked Michael, drawing close to her, tears falling down his cheeks, fearing that he also might end up that way.
“It’s possible. But don’t worry, son,” whispered Mrs. Koza, gently hugging him, rocking him comfortably from side to side. “I intend to make sure that doesn’t happen to you,” she continued on, wiping away his tears and kissing his head. “I will do everything I can possibly do to make sure that won’t happen. You will not end up that way, I promise.”
Sighing, Michael eased up on his bear hug after a minute of his mother’s tender care and consoling, just as she had somewhat regretted the poor, unfortunate choice of using old man Stevens as an example. “I’m glad. But, I’m still a little bit scared to go on this field trip, mom.”
“That’s good, Michael! Admitting you’re afraid to do something will enable you to take whatever means necessary to overcome it.”
“You mean; it’s good to admit that I’m afraid of going on this field trip?” asked Michael, looking up into his mother’s face.
“Yes,” sighed Mrs. Koza, relieved to know that Michael was beginning to understand one of life’s little lessons.
“I understand that I should always strive to challenge myself. But, it still doesn’t help me to overcome my fear of going on this field trip! Since you’re not going and I don’t know anyone else ... How will I cope, mom?!” jabbered Michael, beginning to panic.
“Ah, but you do know someone who’s going,” countered Mrs. Koza, unconsciously raising a hand. “Your friends Jason Anderson and Lisa Holli will be there. If you feel scared, or just need someone to rely upon; you can count on them.”
Michael’s eyes brightened. “You know,” discovered Michael. “I never even considered them as someone I can count on for help. Thanks mom!”
“You’re welcome. After all, that’s what mothers and friends are for,” nodded Mrs. Koza, standing up, dragging Michael to his feet as she did so.
“I will make you proud of me, mom! If I need help, I will definitely ask them for it. I think- I think I’m ready to take on this challenge!”
“That’s good,” laughed Mrs. Koza, turning to leave Michael’s bedroom. “Now, wash up and get dressed for school. Breakfast will be ready in five minutes.”
Chapter 3: Lisa Holli
“Morning!” exuded Lisa, happily clapping her hands in eager anticipation of the day to come. Leaping out of bed, Lisa pirouetted across her bedroom to the window. Sweeping aside the enflowered curtains, Lisa watched the eastern sky, a pale purplish blue, grow steadily brighter and bluer. And, as the sky grew brighter; Lisa’s smile grew wider.
Finally, after what seemed like eternity, even though it was really just thirty-five minutes, the sun fully peeked over the horizon, sparkling like a gorgeous jewel in the clear morning sky.
“Hooray! Hooray!” rhapsodized Lisa, raising both arms over her head, jumping around in sheer pleasure. “It’s definitely morning, now!! Look at that beautiful sun! It’s going to be a delightful day!”
Turning around, Lisa pranced over to her dresser to pick up the lovely yellow dress to wear to school that she had prepared the night before. Reaching down, Lisa grabbed the edges of her nightgown and pulled it off, up over her head. Un-Lisa-like, she carelessly tossed her nightgown aside, quickly putting on her dress and then using her hands to smooth out any wrinkles.
“There!” claimed Lisa, smiling, as she danced from side to side in front of her full-length mirror, checking to make sure that there were no flaws in her attire. “I guess that looks good. So, what should I do next?” she mused, turning around, becoming horrified at what she found.
“Oh, my God! My bed! I can’t leave it unmade! That’s definitely not me to leave my bedroom in such a horrific mess!” she continued on, just noticing her nightgown on the floor by the foot of her bed. “Whoops! I can’t leave my nightgown in a mess either! Must clean it up, too!”
Lisa was so involved in the process of cleaning up her bedroom that she failed to notice that her mother, Mrs. Anita Holli, was watching her from the doorway. Lisa’s mother smiled, shaking her head, still completely amazed about having such a wonderful daughter as Lisa.
Finished making her bed, Lisa neatly folded her nightgown and placed it on her bed, at the foot end of her bed.
“All right,” reflected Lisa, placing her hands on her hips and looking around, slowly backing out of her room, carefully looking around to make sure that everything was satisfactorily in order. “Yes, good! That looks much better! Time to wash up and ohhh! Good morning, mother!” laughed Lisa, taking a half step forward before turning around. “I didn’t see you there, I’m sorry to bump into you.”
“That’s all right. Up a ‘little’ early, aren’t you, dear?” laughed Mrs. Holli, gesturing back into Lisa’s room.
Lisa looked back into her bedroom and saw the sunlight, just beginning to sweep away the remaining shadows of the night from the far corners of her bedroom. “I guess it is a little early.” Turning back to face her mother, Lisa continued on, with a bigger smile on her face than before. “But, that’s only because today is a very special day!”
“Yes,” agreed Mrs. Holli, smiling back. “I guess it is.”
“The fun we can have at Rainbow Caverns National Park! It is something that can never be refuted!”
“Of course, Lisa.”
“I remember the view from Panoramic Plateau from last year. Remember that mother? The view was so beautiful; I could have stayed there the rest of my life and be happy!” Lisa’s eyes blurred and became unfocused as she relived that wonderful memory. “It must be heaven!”
Indeed it was heaven. For on that beautiful day, Lisa was out on a camping trip with her family to celebrate her birthday, along with invited guests; Michael Koza and Jason Anderson. The view was of the setting sun, partially diffused by pale clouds clear enough to see through, yet, thick enough to give everything an ethereal quality. To Lisa, it seemed to be heaven on earth.
“What a beautiful sunset!” claimed Mrs. Holli, reaching out and grabbing her husband’s arm. “I think this is the loveliest I’ve ever seen!”
“Indeed, it is,” agreed Mr. Robert Holli, Lisa’s father. “It is lovely,” he said, turning to her. He reached out and fondled her hand. “Remember, when I proposed to you here?”
“And got married here,” whispered Mrs. Holli, edging closer to him.
“This place does indeed have magic!”
“And romance!” laughed Mrs. Holli, tilting her head, coyishly moving in for a kiss.
But suddenly, a voice rang out, breaking their romantic interlude. “Lisa?! Lisa! What are you doing?!”
“Hey, Lisa! Lisa! What are you doing?!” cried Michael, joining Jason as they both cried out to Lisa.
“Jason? Michael?” asked Mrs. Holli, turning around, looking up at them, as she and Lisa’s father separated from each other to look around. “What is it? What is Lisa doing?”
Jason pointed behind her, still yelling at the top of his voice. “Lisa’s over by the edge! On the other side of the wooden fence!”
Both Mr. and Mrs. Holli turned to look. There was Lisa slowly taking small steps towards the edge! Both her hands were up, as if she were trying to grab at something in front of her.
“Oh, my God!” cried Mrs. Holli, both her hands shooting up to cover her mouth.
“Lisa! Lisa!” called Mr. Holli, bolting after his daughter. “What are you doing?! Lisa!”
It was to no avail. Mr. Holli reached the wooden fence and stopped. Though in much needed repair, the fence seemed to be a million miles high. Without thinking, he climbed the shaky fence. Falling over onto the other side, Mr. Holli bounced and slid in the direction of the precipice. Mrs. Holli screamed as she watched her beloved husband slide uncontrollably towards the edge.
Fate was kind. As Mr. Holli slid by and over a tree root, he managed to grab hold and hang on for dear life, relieved that the fragile looking tree root somehow held while he panted with relief, turning to look over his shoulder at Lisa. Managing to quickly get to his feet and tripping his way over to Lisa’s side, who was only a few steps from going over the edge, Mr. Holli grabbed his daughter by the shoulders and pulled her away.
Breathing a sigh of relief, Mrs. Holli slumped exhaustedly to the ground in tears.
“... Heaven,” invariably droned Lisa, still hypnotically dazzled by the sunset, just as she was spun around to face her father. “Heaven ...”
“Heaven?” asked Mr. Holli, staring into his daughter’s strangely blank face. “Yes, it is heavenly,” he acknowledged, shaking his daughter out of her trance after glancing up into the western sky and then the scenery below. “Come on, Lisa, snap out of it. Heaven is as close as your heart- like mine,” he finished, still breathing heavily.
Lisa looked up into her father’s face and blinked blankly. “That was beautiful dad,” she finally pointed out towards the setting sun, finally coming around as they both turned to look at the setting sun. “It was heaven.”
“Come on with me, dear. It’s time to go, now,” gestured Mr. Holli, pulling Lisa away, while looking up towards the others and calling out to them. “Relax, everybody. She’s all right. She was just hypnotized by the beautiful sunset.”
Everybody breathed a sigh of relief, while they watched Lisa and Mr. Holli climbed over the fence and back onto safe ground.
“... It must be heaven ...”
“Yes, dear,” said Mrs. Holli crisply, folding her arms across her chest. “But for the rest of us it nearly was hell!”
Lisa’s smile quickly disappeared, her face glowing with embarrassment and repentance. “I I’m sorry, mother. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble. But- but, the sun setting that day was the pinnacle of a beautiful and wonderful day! I really, really, couldn’t help myself!!”
Dropping her arms to her sides, Mrs. Holli stood up straight in the doorway. “Oh, Lisa,” she continued on, finally moving into Lisa’s bedroom to hug her. “I love you. And, I’m glad you are filled with and enjoys life.”
“That’s because there’s so much in life to experience and savor!” bubbled Lisa, smiling, looking up at her mother’s face. “How could I not be happy?”
“I’m glad you enjoy life, Lisa,” continued Mrs. Holli, while Lisa’s smile grew larger. “But, dear, you have to control your tendency to recklessly rush into new experiences; it tends to jeopardize your safety and that of others.”
Disconsolate, Lisa looked down at the floor for a moment before looking back up into her mother’s face. “Like that incident at Panoramic Plateau ....”
“Yes, precisely. Like that incident at Panoramic Plateau.”
“I know that what you say is true ...” mused Lisa, pausing for a moment. “But, how am I to know when my zest for life poses a threat to my safety- when I don’t even know when my passions are aroused?”
“You can never know, dear.”
“I don’t understand what you mean, mother.”
“When you are experiencing something new for the first time; there’s nothing you can compare that ‘experience’ with anything that had happened to you before,” explained Mrs. Holli. “So, in order to learn; you need to be able to compare it with something similar before.”
“But considering where we’re going ...” perceived Lisa, speaking very slowly. “The possibility of getting hurt will continue unless ...”
“Unless, Mrs. Goldstone and your classmates keep a close eye on you. That’s why we didn’t leave school immediately after I came to pick you, Michael, and Jason, up two days ago, Lisa; I wanted to ask Mrs. Goldstone if she’d keep an eye on you,” finished Mrs. Holli, continuing on after Lisa smiled and nodded her head. “I knew she’d agree with me, Lisa. And, today, I will also ask Jason and Michael to keep a very close eye on you, too.”
Lisa smiled again, displaying her pearly whites.
“Now that that is settled,” sighed Mrs. Holli. “Go and wash up, Lisa. Breakfast will be ready in five minutes.”
“All right, mother!” obeyed Lisa, turning around and zooming out of her bedroom, heading directly for the bathroom.
After breakfast, Lisa immediately set forth to help her mother wash the breakfast dishes.
“No, dear,” cried Mrs. Holli, jumping forward before Lisa could pick up the dish towel. “I’ll take care of that. Go and finish preparing for school and the spelunking trip to Rainbow Caverns!”
“But, I’m finished, mother. I’m all ready to go!”
Mrs. Holli stopped placing the remaining dishes in the sink and turned to look at her. “Well, is there anything else that you still need to do?”
“No, mother,” answered Lisa, shaking her head. “I’m all finished. I did mostly everything last night.”
“Then how’s about a little television?”
“Ahhh, mother!” protested Lisa. “Television shows geared for us kids are so juvenile and insulting!”
“Kiddie shows, yes,” agreed Mrs. Holli, nodding. “But, last night’s TV ads stated that on The Wild Outdoors show, your favorite animal, the dolphin, will be showcased.”
“Dolphins!!” exuded Lisa, happily jumping up and down, clapping her hands together. “Ohhhh, I love dolphins! When is it showing, mother?!”
“It’s on now, Lisa. Why don’t you go and watch it? We won’t be leaving for school for an hour still. Go and relax a little. Remember, today will be a long and exhausting day; so take it easy, now.”
“Yes, mother,” obeyed Lisa, turning around and zooming out of the kitchen, immediately heading for the family room.
“... And even today,” narrated the male voice on the television set. “We can never explain why dolphins seem to have this ‘natural affinity’ with man. Perhaps, it’s due to the mammalian link we share. But many scientists claim it’s just the natural, and healthy, sense of curiosity highly intelligent animals share ...”
“Lisa!” called Mrs. Holli, walking into the family room. “It’s time to go, now.”
Unlike other children her age, who would fret and pout at having something enjoyable being interrupted, Lisa reached up and turned the television off, tossing the remote control on the television stand as she raced past it. “All right, mother. Oh, wait a second,” continued Lisa, turning around to straighten up the remote, so that it was neatly aligned with the television stand’s side. “Don’t want to be messy!”
“Oh, no, we don’t, Lisa,” laughed Mrs. Holli, covering her mouth when Lisa had turned away from her momentarily, successfully managing to stifle her laughter.
Lisa turned around and pranced over to her mother’s side, still full of energy. “Finally! I thought this moment would never come! And, now, it’s here! Let’s go!!”
Grabbing several bags of very light-weighted camping gear, Lisa danced out the front door. Shrugging, Mrs. Holli grabbed the remaining gear and followed Lisa to their SUV.
Chapter 4: The Journey Begins
Jason had just barely managed to finish his breakfast when somebody knocked at their front door.
“That has to be Anita, now!” predicted Mrs. Anderson, standing up and heading for the door, after she turned to Jason for a moment. “Hurry up and finish your breakfast, Jason. I can stall them for a few minutes.”
“All right, mom!” obeyed Jason, gulping his pancakes down like a ravenous wolf.
Mrs. Anderson turned and trotted over to the front door calling: “I’m coming! I’m coming!” just as the knocking on the door became more louder and more continuous.
“Hello, Anita Oh! Hello, Lisa! Good morning! And how are you, today?”
“Morning!” sung Lisa, smiling, dropping her hand, just as she was in the process of knocking again after pausing a second to listen. “I’m glowingly fine, today! I just can’t wait to go on this field trip! I’m so excited!”
“Yes, I know,” admitted Mrs. Anderson. “Your mother and I had a long chat about that late last night. Seems like she told you a million times- last night- that it was still nighttime and that you had to go back to bed. It seems to me that you just couldn’t wait to go on this spelunking trip, today. Your mother told me that you really wanted the night to end and morning to come- at that moment. I have to admit; I never knew you were this excited.”
“I know it does seem strange,” laughed Lisa. “But, that’s the way I am!”
“Yes, it is strange,” agreed Mrs. Anderson. “But, I’m glad you’re enthusiastic about life, Lisa. It’s wonderful to see this in anybody!”
“Thank you,” gushed Lisa, curtsying. “Ah- I- I don’t mean to be rude in changing the subject. But, is Jason ready to go? I’m anxious to get going.”
“Oh, of course, Lisa,” answered Mrs. Anderson, turning around. “Jason! Hurry up! Lisa and Mrs. Holli are waiting!”
Jason merely grunted as he took one last gulp of orange juice before pushing himself away from the table, still chewing on the last big bite of bacon and eggs.
“Jason!” called Mrs. Anderson, turning to smile at Lisa, before looking back again. “Hurry up! What’s taking you so long?”
When he finally appeared, two seconds later, Mrs. Anderson continued on. “Now, then,” she claimed, bending down to pick up most of Jason’s gear. “It’s time to go.”
With Lisa leading the way, Jason shrugged as he picked up the remaining bags and followed his mother out the door.
The moment when Mrs. Holli spotted the approaching group, she immediately got out of her car to help. “Good morning, Heidi!” she called. “How are you, today?”
“I’m doing well, Anita. And you?”
“As well as ever!” answered Anita, reaching out to help Heidi toss the camping gear into the rear of her SUV.
Jason hesitated, hovering just outside the back door, on the right side of the passenger section of Anita’s SUV.
“Well, Jason?! What are you waiting for?” asked Lisa, giving Jason a gentle push towards the open door. “It’s time to go!”
“But, but,” protested Jason, placing his hands on the door frame for support, looking back at Lisa while he resisted her physical urgings.
“Come on, Jason!” pleaded Lisa, ending her physical urgings. “Don’t you want to feel really alive? Going to Rainbow Caverns will make you really come alive. Believe me!” contemplated Lisa, remembering all the good things that happened on that magical day at Panoramic Plateau.
Jason saw that fiery glow in her eyes and could not help himself from believing her. “All right, Lisa,” relinquished Jason, letting go of the door frame. “If you say so.”
“Oh, I do say so, Jason,” bubbled Lisa, quickly. “I do!”
Shrugging, Jason slipped into the back seat and looked at Lisa while she slammed the door closed. Satisfied that Jason was safely in the car, Lisa flew into the front passenger seat, dragging the door behind her.
“Behave yourself, Jason!” warned Mrs. Anderson, just as Lisa settled into her seat, fastening her seatbelt.
“Yes, mom,” answered Jason, staring out the front window in a half-comatose state.
Mrs. Anderson stepped away from the car, just as Mrs. Holli began to pull away from the curb. “Try to relax, Jason. You might find the experience enjoyable!”
Jason didn’t answer. And what seemed to be eternity to Lisa, they were finally on their way to pick up Michael.
At the Koza household, Michael and his mother had just finished eating breakfast, when a knock on their door interrupted them.
“That has to be Anita, now,” guessed Mrs. Koza, standing up and gesturing to Michael before heading to the front door. “Go and put on your shoes. It’s time to go, now!”
“All right, mom,” responded Michael, pushing himself away from the table and standing up.
“Well, hello Lisa!” greeted Mrs. Koza, upon opening the door. “How are you, today?”
“Hello!” smiled Lisa, quickly blurting out her inner happiness. “I’m fine on this most beautiful morning on a most beautiful day! And I might add, a very special day. But to tell the truth: my mom thinks at least to me every day is a beautiful and special day. And ...”
“I’m ready to go! The most I’ll ever be!” breathed Michael, coming into the foyer, interrupting Lisa’s grand speech.
“Huh?” puzzled Lisa, turning to Michael. “What do you mean by that?”
“He means, Lisa,” explained Mrs. Koza, gently nudging both of them out the front door. “That he’s a little bit intimidated of being out in the big, wide, world for the first time without me or his father by his side.”
“Oh?” asked Lisa, looking up into Mrs. Koza’s face before turning to look at Michael. “But, what about that time when we went to Panoramic Plateau for my birthday? Neither your mother or your father were there, Michael.”
“But, that was only for the weekend, Lisa,” protested Michael, his voice rising just a bit. “That is- if you can call that a weekend. We left to go there Thursday morning, and came back home by Tuesday evening, Lisa. Don’t you remember? But this spelunking trip is for two weeks- actually a bit longer than two weeks....”
“Okay! Okay! Okay, Michael, I get it! I got it, Michael,” waved Lisa, finally breaking through Michael’s long vocal protestation. “This will be longer- much longer!”
“Yes, it is much longer,” confirmed Mrs. Koza. “And I would appreciate it, if you and Jason would keep a close eye on Michael. Would you please do that, Lisa?”
“Certainly,” agreed Lisa, looking again at Mrs. Koza, but not making eye contact this time. “Just as long as Michael would help keep an eye on me,” Lisa continued on, choking on her words. “You know so that incident- at Panoramic Plateau won’t happen again!”
Mrs. Koza stopped walking, remembering the long talk or rather consoling! she had with one of her dearest friends, Anita Holli. Poor Anita! That incident, even today, little more than a year later, still frazzled her!
“I certainly know what you mean,” recalled Mrs. Koza, turning to look at Michael. “So, did you hear Lisa, Michael? You can rely on her. In fact, you both can rely on each other for help.”
“All right, mom,” mumbled Michael, just as Lisa had turned to smile at Michael for a second, before turning to look at Mrs. Koza, before finally turning to look towards her mother’s SUV, catching a glimpse of Jason watching them.
Gesturing towards Mrs. Holli’s SUV, Mrs. Koza continued on. “Here is one of life’s little challenges! Go for it, son!”
Before Michael could answer, Lisa grabbed his hand and began pulling him onwards. “Come on, Michael! It’s time to go!” she continued on, turning to look back at him. “Don’t worry, Michael. I’ll take good care of you! And, you’ll do the same for me, right?”
“Ahhhh, okay, Lisa,” doubted Michael, shrugging, wondering how he would be able to be of any help to somebody like Lisa.
Arriving at the awaiting car, Lisa guided Michael into the left-side back seat. Reaching across his body, Lisa fastened his seat belt. “Just relax, Michael!” she smiled, her face close to his just as she was finished with Michael’s seat belt and was in the process of going out. “Once you get there and start to have fun, you’ll forget that your mom and dad’s not there.”
“All right, Lisa. If you say so.”
“Oh, I do say so, Michael! I do!” chimed Lisa, stepping backwards before closing the door. Jumping around her mother’s SUV and into the front passenger seat, Lisa effortlessly grabbed her seat belt while closing the door behind herself. As soon as Lisa was safely buckled in, Mrs. Holli started off for school.
At their school, Millennium Heights Primary, their teacher, Mrs. Rene Goldstone, had just finished packing her things on the bus when Mrs. Holli arrived.
“Hello, Mrs. Holli!” waved Mrs. Goldstone, just as Lisa’s mother had stopped the engine and got out of her SUV. “How are you this morning?”
“Hello, Mrs. Goldstone!” responded Mrs. Holli, walking towards her. “I’m fine. And you?”
“I’m doing quite well. Thank you.”
“Need any help, Mrs. Goldstone? I can stay and help until the bus is on its way.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Holli. I can use your help.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Oh, mother!” interrupted Lisa, half-running towards them. “We can’t lift these heavier and bigger camping gear that dad had packed last night. We’ll need your help.”
“Of course. Mrs. Goldstone, would you excuse me?”
“Certainly, Mrs. Holli. I’ll assist you.”
“I would appreciate that. Thank you, Mrs. Goldstone.”
“My pleasure,” smiled Mrs. Goldstone, following Mrs. Holli and Lisa to the rear of their SUV.
“All right, now. We’ll start with these lighter stuff, first,” started Mrs. Holli, beginning to direct Lisa, Michael, and Jason. “Jason, you can carry this to the bus. And you can carry this, Lisa.”
“Hey, Lisa!” cautioned Mrs. Goldstone. “Please don’t run with these! Walk, please!”
Lisa stopped to look back and acknowledge the warning. “Yes, Mrs. Goldstone.”
Satisfied that Lisa was safely walking her burden to the bus, both Mrs. Goldstone and Mrs. Holli looked down at the remaining gear before continuing on.
“Michael, dear. Do you think you can carry this one?” asked Mrs. Holli, turning to smile at him. “It is a little big.”
Michael easily picked up the sleeping bag; but, couldn’t see around it.
“Hmmmm. That won’t do,” noted Mrs. Holli. “Wait until Jason returns and he’ll help you with it.”
“All right, Mrs. Holli,” said Michael, dropping the sleeping bag onto the ground.
“Need any help with that?” asked Lisa, arriving back in a rush.
“Your mother said to wait for Jason. But, I guess you can help me carry this to the bus.”
“I’ll handle this side,” said Lisa, bending down to pick up one end of the sleeping bag. “You can handle that side. Can you handle it, Michael?”
“I think so.”
“Good,” laughed Lisa, nodding. “Then let’s go!”
And so, with the cooperative effort of three young children and two adults, the bus was packed with their camping gear. And, since each of their arriving classmates helped to load the bus, they were soon ready to go. Inside the bus, each child was noisily settling into their seat. What a ruckus! It was a wonder how anybody was able to hear anybody else! Whistling loudly for about a minute or so, Mrs. Goldstone was finally able to attract their attention.
“Now that I have your attention, I want to make it clear to you that in order for our driver, Mr. William Hackett, to drive us safely to Rainbow Caverns, he’ll need our cooperation. He will explain it to you. Mr. Hackett?”
“Thank you, Mrs. Goldstone,” smiled Mr. Hackett, gently nodding at her before turning to face the busload of children, his face becoming serious looking as his smile disappeared. “There are several things you need to do for me, children,” began Mr. Hackett, glancing at each face for a second or two. “I want you all to go there and come home safely. And here’s how we are going to do that: First; I want each of you to fasten your seat belts as tight as you can. If you need any help with that, please raise your hand.”
Half the class raised their hands.
“Mrs. Goldstone,” said Mr. Hackett, gesturing to his left. “You take this side of the bus and I’ll take care of the other.”
“Of course,” responded Mrs. Goldstone, setting off.
When everybody was properly secured in their seats, both Mrs. Goldstone and Mr. Hackett silently returned to the front of the bus.
“Now that that is done,” continued Mr. Hackett, glancing at the children’s faces, again. “The second thing I want you to remember is that at all times, do not unbuckle your seat belts and attempt to move around in the bus. This is for your safety. Understand?”
“Yes, Mr. Hackett!” echoed the children, nodding in comprehension.
“And I have to be able to hear any outside noises that could warn me of any thing that might threaten us while we’re on the road. So, I’ll need to have it quiet in the bus. Do you understand this?”
“Yes, Mr. Hackett!” echoed the children again.
“Good!” exclaimed Mr. Hackett, turning to the driver’s seat. “Now, we can be on our way!”
The children cheered, with Lisa cheering more enthusiastically than the others.
Thrilled to be on the way, though required to remain quiet, Lisa began to hum softly to herself. Inevitably, after an hour of non-continuous humming, Lisa began to sing quietly to herself.
A spelunking we will go
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
Stalactites up above
Stalactites up above
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
Stalagmites down below
Stalagmites down below
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
Columns will someday form
Columns will someday form
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
Columns form by water
And mineral deposits
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
Columns form over time
A very, very long time
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
So don’t expect to see them form
So don’t expect to see them form
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
A spelunking we will go
A spelunking we will go
Hey, ho, a merry o!
A spelunking we will go!
Weary from quietly singing these endless refrains that echoed through her mind, Lisa stopped singing and just stared out the window for a few hours, just like the rest of her classmates and friends did. But as the time and the distance traveled seemed to pass by agonizingly really slowly, without anything else to do but sit, many of the children fell asleep. Also falling asleep, from sheer weariness and boredom, Lisa had a frightening nightmare.
“No, stop!” cried Lisa, tears streaming down her face, watching Murky toss Michael in and slam the door shut. Reaching through the small barred window of the great wooden door, Lisa tried to grab one of the guards. “You meanie! What kind of monster are you?!”
The guards just looked at each other and laughed.
“You’re the monster here, in Imaginatia!” roared Darkos, grabbing one of the spears from the guards. Lashing out with fury and striking near Lisa’s hands, Darkos laughed. “But now, monster! I have you. You can never cause me any harm!”
Instinctively, Lisa released the bars and fell backwards. “Have you no feelings?!” she cried, looking up.
“Monster! Poor Michael! Monster ...!”
“Wake up, Lisa! Wake up!” implored Michael, who was her bus seatmate, nervously glancing around at their sleeping classmates, while shaking her awake. “It’s just a nightmare, Lisa! Wake up!”
“Michael ...!” moaned Lisa, flutter opening her eyes, relieved to see him unharmed. “Michael! Whew! I’m so glad that it was only a dream!” Laughing in relief, Lisa gave Michael a big hug.
“Ah, yeah, just a dream,” mumbled Michael, unconsciously pulling out and away from Lisa’s hug. “Only a dream.”
Plopping back into her seat, Lisa sighed. But just then, Lisa spotted a sign that read: “Welcome to Rainbow Caverns National Park.” just as the sign reached her position in the middle of the bus.
“All right!” cried Lisa, loud enough to wake up her sleeping classmates. “We’re here!”
It was true. After a weary, three-quarters day long bus ride, they had arrived at the main gates to the park.
Chapter 5: Rainbow Caverns National Park
Mr. Hackett stopped at the main gates and waited as the park ranger approached.
“We’re from Millennium Heights Primary, Los Angeles, California,” started Mr. Hackett. “Mrs. Rene Goldstone, instructor.”
The park ranger flipped through the pages on his clipboard. “Ahh, yes. You have been reserved for Vista View Cabin, number 2731. Our cleaning and maintenance crew should be finished setting up all the bunks and other amenities- as requested. It shouldn’t take much longer. You can go up there, now, if you wish.”
Mr. Hackett nodded.
“Very well, then,” directed the park ranger, smiling as he gestured down the road. “Continue along this road until you reached the end. Turn right. Your cabin will be about twenty miles down that road. If you get lost, this map should be able to guide you to your cabin. Any questions?”
“No questions,” answered Mr. Hackett, taking the map from the park ranger and handing it to Mrs. Goldstone, while watching the park ranger step away from the bus. “Thank you.”
The park ranger waved “Goodbye” while Mr. Hackett pulled away from the park’s main gate.
The scenery was astonishing! Even for the few children like Lisa, Jason, and Michael, who had seen all of this before it still delighted them. The strains and uneasy restlessness of the near day long bus ride melted away as the relatively short ride to the cabin was filled with pleasant smells, sights, and new experiences, including several sightings of deers, squirrels, and a wide array of native birds, that stopped in their tracks to watch the yellow school bus drift by.
Vista View Cabin, number 2731, looked freshly painted and glowed with a rustic log cabin appearance. Lisa thought of how the pioneers of the Old West lived, and smiled. She really wanted to experience what it would be like to live even for just a day the seemingly romantic adventures of a pioneer in the old American West.
Dreamily, and completely in a haze, Lisa walked down the faux wooden textured concrete pathway to the stairs of the wrap-around front porch. Floating up the stairs, Lisa drifted off to the right, towards the nearest window. Looking in, Lisa imagined she saw an old, black pot bellied stove, rough hewed wood furniture, and the ever present hard packed dirt floor, all surrounded by talking people that seemed to be anxious for their guests to arrive. Lisa watched them stopping their conversation to turn to her, waving and calling out their “hellos” and “Come on in! We’ve been expecting you!”
It all seemed so real! Lisa waved “hello” to the park rangers inside while continuing to imagine them as pioneers of the American West. Sighing, Lisa turned away from the window. Plopping herself down on the porch’s wooden bench, Lisa dreamily gazed out into the wilderness that lay beyond the cabin, as one of those pioneers came to the window to talk to her, pleasantly chatting on about the beauty and the peaceful serenity that the great open forest had when compared with the dirtiness, the ugliness, and the noise of the city.
In the meantime, the rest of the children had disembarked, carrying their small personal belongings with them. Mr. Hackett was about to begin the process of unloading the bus, when several park rangers came out from the cabin, seemingly completely unaware of Lisa’s presence as they walked past the distracted Lisa who merely remained where she was on the side.
“Hello,” greeted their leader, waving his hand as he came down the stairs. “You must be the class from Millennium Heights Primary. Welcome to Rainbow Caverns National Park!”
Mrs. Goldstone turned around and walked up to meet them. “Yes, we are. I’m Mrs. Rene Goldstone.”
“How do you do, Mrs. Goldstone?” asked the ranger, shaking her hand. “I’m Ranger Ray Silvers. How may we help you?”
“I’m fine. Thank you. If you please,” answered Mrs. Goldstone. “I would appreciate it, if you and the other rangers would assist us in unloading the bus.”
“Glad to do it, ma’am!” said a ranger who was behind the others.
“All part of our jobs to please!” echoed a second.
“It will be no problem!” announced a third, already on his way to the rear of the bus, where Mr. Hackett was busily dumping the children’s gear on the ground. “Come on, guys! Let’s go!”
“And where shall we put them?” asked Ranger Silvers, pointing towards the children’s gear.
“The children will tell you where they want to keep their things,” answered Mrs. Goldstone. “We can take care of everything after that.”
As efficiently as an army of ants, the park rangers went back and forth, depositing the children’s gear neatly besides, at the foot of, each bed.
“Finished, Mrs. Goldstone!” announced Ranger Silvers, half clapping, half rubbing his hands together in satisfaction, after they had finished fifteen minutes later. “Is there anything else you need?”
“Nothing I can think of at the present moment. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. If there’s anything else you need, please feel free to call us and we’ll come right away.”
“Thank you, Ranger Silvers. Thank you all for your help.”
“You’re welcome. Goodbye and have fun!”
“Goodbye!” waved Mrs. Goldstone, watching them drive off and disappear in the distance. Once out of sight, Mrs. Goldstone turned and walked up the stairs.
“Why, Lisa!” exclaimed Mrs. Goldstone, shaking her gently. “Come on inside! We still need to unpack our gear before we can call it a day! The sooner we start, the faster we’ll finish!”
“Huh?” startled Lisa, jumping up in surprise. “What?”
“Come on inside, Lisa,” repeated Mrs. Goldstone. “We still have things to do before we can call it a day.”
“Oh, oh yes,” nodded Lisa, instantly comprehending. “I understand, Mrs. Goldstone. I’m coming.”
Inside, each child struggled to unroll the park’s adult sized mattress and unpack their individual sleeping bags to put on top of those mattresses. Tugging and grumbling, the exhausted children barely made any progress. Without a word, Mrs. Goldstone just stared at them, not believing what she saw. She had continuously lectured them to help each other in unpacking and setting up their beds. And was it not this morning, again, before leaving Millennium Heights Primary, that she reminded them?
“Well,” admitted Mrs. Goldstone to herself, shaking her head and sighing heavily as she heard them vocally complain about those “stupid mattresses”. “I guess that long bus ride will make anybody forget. I guess I can’t blame them. Exhaustion will make anybody forget.”
Anybody forget, Mrs. Goldstone? Maybe anybody else would forget, but definitely not Lisa. Because the moment Lisa entered the cabin and saw the problems the other kids were having, Lisa knew what she had to do.
“Michael! Jason!” commanded Lisa, gesturing to Michael and Jason while walking over to her bed. “Come here, please!”
“What do you want, Lisa?” asked Michael, stepping to her left side, clearly exhausted and annoyed by his futile attempts at accomplishing nothing.
“Yeah, Lisa, what do you want?” asked Jason, stepping to Lisa’s right side, feeling the same way as Michael. “We’re both busy trying to make our beds.” Gesturing to the others, Jason continued on. “In case you haven’t noticed, Lisa, the whole class is trying to make their beds. So, why aren’t you?”
Lisa laughed and stepped closer to them, draping her arms around their shoulders. “In case you guys haven’t noticed, but did you realize just how much trouble they’re having?”
“Yes,” admitted Michael and Jason, rather passively, looking down at their shoes, both of them getting the feeling that Lisa had already had an answer for this problem, something that made both of them feel stupid and embarrassed for not coming up with the solution themselves.
“So, what are we to do?” asked Michael, his voice rising half an octave.
“We!” emphasized Lisa, smiling, showing her pearly whites. “Is the operative word here!”
“What do you mean by that?” asked Jason.
“I mean that all three of us, in cooperation, can make each other’s beds. You see, sometimes you don’t have to work harder to get things done; just by thinking about what has to be done, and then devising a plan, can great things be accomplished. This is precisely what Mrs. Goldstone was trying to teach us a couple of days ago!”
“So then,” considered Jason, a smile forming across his tired face. “All we have to do is help each other? We already know what must be done. Let’s do it!!”
“Yeah,” added Michael, nodding his head just as a smile started to form on his face, as though the strains of that day’s travel never happened. “Let’s do it, Lisa! Just tell us what we need to do!”
And so, working as a team, Michael, Jason, and Lisa, easily conquered their titanic task, while the rest of the class still struggled, each child trying to do a “team work” all by themselves, all still completely oblivious to what Lisa, Jason, and Michael, had just accomplished in just thirty minutes. With nothing else to do, after they had finished, they sat on the edge of Lisa’s bed to laugh and talk about what they expect to see and do on this field trip.
When Mrs. Goldstone noticed what Lisa was doing, she delightfully sat in a nearby chair, in the far corner, watching them fix their beds, while the rest of the class still complained and seemed quite oblivious to what Lisa, Michael, and Jason, was doing. After Lisa’s group was finished, Mrs. Goldstone immediately stood up and walked over to them.
“As a reward for your excellent leadership, Lisa, you may go out with your group and watch the sunset. There’s a clearing about 96 feet north of here, halfway between our cabin and the cave we will be exploring tomorrow. Ranger Silvers says it’s one of the best view of the sun setting in this area of the park. But don’t forget to take your flashlights, you’ll need them to find your way back in the dark,” she finished, turning away from them, preparing herself to admonish the rest of the class for their failure to cooperate and help each other.
“All right!! Did you hear that, guys?!” cried Lisa, clapping her hands on Michael’s and Jason’s shoulders. “We get to see another beautiful sunset here! Isn’t that great?!”
“Uhhh huh!” monotoned Michael and Jason, both of them crossing their arms across their chests and remembering that incident at Panoramic Plateau.
Being quite intelligent, Lisa guessed what they were likely thinking of. “Oh, come on, guys! Was it that bad?” Looking from face to face, Lisa got the impression that they weren’t joking. “Was it?”
“It was,” answered Michael. “But, if you really want to see the sunset ...”
“I do,” said Lisa, matter of factly.
“Then we must go with you to make sure you don’t get into trouble,” reasoned Jason, wanting to see the sunset, himself, but without an overly enthusiastic Lisa by his side.
“Yes, we must not let you get into trouble,” agreed Michael, nodding his head, for he too wanted to see the sunset without Lisa there with him. “We don’t have a choice. Do we?”
“No, you don’t!” answered Lisa, guiding them to their beds. “Grab your flashlight, guys. We’re going! Meet me on the porch in one minute!”
Without a word, Jason and Michael went back to their beds to rummage through their personal belongings for their flashlights; while Lisa, who was completely organized, only had to open a separate compartment of her backpack for hers. Anxious to get going, Lisa was at the foot of the stairs, pacing back and forth. When she saw them appear on the porch, she beckoned them down to her.
“Come on, guys! Let’s move it! The sun is about to go down! Hurry up, or we’ll miss it!”
With her feelings said, Lisa turned on her heels and began to run. Arriving in the clearing in less than two minutes, Lisa ecstatically watched the sun turn a fiery reddish orange, illuminating the few clouds in the western sky to a brilliant red, making the sky look like it was on fire. Lagging far behind, Michael and Jason arrived one minute later, completely exhausted.
“How ” gasped Michael, trying to talk between each breath, barely even paying attention to the sunset or the red sky. “How does she do it?”
Jason shook his head and plopped down onto the soft grass that grew in the clearing. Following suit, Michael dropped by his side.
“I don’t know,” answered Jason, lifting his head to watch Lisa jump around. “But, I’m too tired to care about any sunset, now.”
“Yeah,” agreed Michael, yawning. “Me, too!”
Still breathing heavily, Jason and Michael plopped their heads down to the ground and closed their eyes, expecting to take a super mini nap. Twenty minutes later, they opened their eyes and looked around. The sun had just finished setting and the red sky was now a beautiful dark azure with scattered traces of red in the clouds. But, this was of no consequential matter to Jason and Michael, because, Lisa was gone! She was no where in the clearing.