Zach slowly walked up to the whole hole in the fence, Nate was right behind him. They were both excited and little scared, too. Adventures can be like that, especially when you are trying something new, especially when a hole in a fence suddenly appears and invites you to explore what is on the other side. Nate’s eyes sparkled with the excitement. Zach adjusted his backpack and his resolve. Nate stepped up next to him. They stood right at the edge of the whole hole.
Zach looked at Nate. Nate looked at Zach. They both took a deep breath and with grins on their faces they stepped over the invisible line where the fence would have been and into the whole hole.
No sooner had they crossed that line then a slight breeze picked up and ruffled their hair. It was a cool and inviting breeze. They couldn’t tell which direction it was coming from but it felt good on their faces. And in the breeze there was a faint but elusive scent of chocolate chip cookies, lemonade and cotton candy. If they tried to smell it, it eluded them but as soon as they quit trying it was there.
Zach and Nate both noticed immediately how rich all the colors were. Everything around them seemed so brilliant. It was as if they had stepped from their backyard into the best High Definition television ever created. The sky was bluer, the grass greener. All the textures vibrated with color and life. The clouds were so soft and billowy they reminded Zach of cotton candy. “I wonder if that’s where the smell is coming from?” he thought to himself as he looked around.
All of a sudden Nate shouted, “That is so cool.”
Zach turned around to see what Nate was talking about. For the first time he noticed they were standing on a well worn path or road. When he looked in the direction from which they had come, the road stopped right at the fence line, right at the line where the whole hole divided their yard from everything on this side of the whole hole. When Zach turned back around and followed the road with his eyes, he noticed that it led up to the river. As he looked, he could tell that the road continued on the other side of the river as well but it seemed to just fade into the woods.
Zach did notice that the path was lined with beautiful flowers which had multicolored petals and bright green leaves. They swayed and moved with the slight breeze.
Zach heard Nate giggling and remembered why he had started to turn in the first place. As he turned, he also took a short step off of the path to where Nate was laughing and giggling. When he did, the leaves and petals of all the small flowers along the path seemed to explode in a shower of color all around him. He was surrounded by a burst of fluttering, tickling color. He was startled at first but then he began laughing and giggling as much as Nate.
The cloud of color surrounding them was actually the wings of small butterfly like creatures. It didn’t appear that they were dangerous but the close proximity of all those wings in motion was like one giant tickle fest. The boys could hardly move because they were laughing so hard. Zach tried to roll further into the grass beyond the flowers but as soon as he did, more and more of the Tickle Flies surrounded him. So Zach tried rolling back toward the path.
When his feet hit the path, the number of Tickle Flies or whatever they were called, began to decrease. When Zach rolled all the way onto the path, the annoying ticklers all settled back into their places. Zach was trying to catch his breath from giggling and laughing so hard and could hear Nate still laughing. So, he jumped up and ran over to where Nate was lying in the grass giggling. Nate could hardly breathe and tears were running down his cheeks from laughing and giggling so hard.
Zach reached in and grabbed his brother by the hand and pulled. There was some reluctance on Nate’s part but, with Zach’s help, he gave in and began to get up. As his feet touched the path, the intensity of the Tickle Flies began to decrease. And when Nate was finally standing on the path, all of the little creatures had returned to their places and the path appeared to be lined by flowers again.
“Wow, that sure was weird wasn’t it?” said Zach.
Nate was still giggling and wiping laugh tears from his face. “Yeah!” he said, “Let’s do it again.” At that, Nate started to step off the path again. When his foot touched the grass, the Tickle Flies burst into action again.
Nate was giggling loudly when Zach realized what was happening. Zach pulled Nate back onto the path and said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. I think the Tickle Flies are guarding the path. They don’t want us to get off the path.” Then Zach pointed toward the creek, “Look, the flowers line both sides of the path as far as the eye can see. They don’t want us to leave the path.”
Nate, wiping tears from his eyes and still giggling a little, looked and asked, “I wonder why?” As he looked around, he pointing off to the fields around them Nate said, “Well, it doesn’t look like there’s anything interesting out there so let’s just stay on the path.”
Zach said, “Good idea. Let’s see where the path leads us OK?”
“OK,” said Nate, “The Tickle Flies want us to follow the path, so let’s just see what kind of adventure they want to take us on and where the path goes.”
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Chapter 1: The Hole In The Fence
Well, hello there. I’ve been waiting for you. Yes! You! “Who am I, you ask?” That’s not important, I’m just the narrator. You’re the important one. You know why you’re the important one don’t you? That’s right! You’re the important one because without you, this book would never be read. And what good is a book if it’s never read?
I knew you were a smart one the minute you picked up this book. And when you started to read, it only confirmed it. We are going to have so much fun together, you and I.
What? You want me to get on with it? You’re ready for the story? Well, OK. Let’s go.
Twice upon a time ago, twice upon a time, because all the really great adventure stories and fairy tales need to be told more than once. Most of them are told over and over again as this story should be. So, in preparation for more than one telling, twice upon a time ago there were two brothers named Zach and Nate. These two brothers didn’t possess any extraordinary powers. They weren’t invisible and couldn’t levitate. Neither one of them had any magical ability. They were just ordinary brothers who liked to play together, occasionally had squabbles but loved each other and were always polite and obedient. (You are aren’t you?)
That might sound a little boring to some and the word ordinary might not be the best word to describe these two young men. They came from a very nice family. Mom and Dad loved them deeply and provided as much attention as any Mom and Dad can do and still do all the things Moms and Dads need to do to raise three little boys.
Yes, dear reader, there were three boys, but Evan the youngest was still an infant when these adventures began. And in one sense, Evan was the cause behind Zach and Nate discovering these adventures. But we’re getting ahead of the story.
As is the case when there are more than one or two children in a family, it is hard for Mom and Dad to spend the amount of time a child really wants to spend with Mom and Dad. It is even harder when there is a third child in the house. And that is how Zach and Nate began their adventure.
One summer day Dad was at work and Mom was at home with all three boys. Zach and Nate were being typical boys and playing loud and laughing and having a great time. But because they were loud and noisy, laughing and having a good time, little Evan couldn’t get to sleep. So Mom sent the older boys out into the back yard to play.
When Zach and Nate stepped outside, it was one of those perfect summer days, not too hot, just enough clouds to break the heat and just enough deep blue clear sky to make the day beautiful.
At first everything seemed normal but then Nate noticed that there was a hole in the fence between their house and the neighbor’s. It wasn’t the hint of a hole. It wasn’t a partial hole. It was a whole hole. “Hey Zach, look at that.” Then he pointed to the eight foot gap in the fence.
Zach turned and looked and couldn’t believe his eyes. “Where did that come from? What happened?” What he was seeing wasn’t just the neighbor’s back yard. The neighbor’s yard had all but disappeared. What the boys were looking at through the whole hole which was the gap in the fence happened to be an open field beyond which was a river or very large creek. And on the other side of the creek was a deep woods. Not quite a forest but a very deep and dense woods.
A thousand questions ran through their minds. As they stood gazing at the scene before them, they both could feel the woods inviting them to explore. The longer they stared, the longer they looked the stronger that feeling became.
Zach and Nate pondered what they should do. Zach suggested that they go exploring. They just had to. Nate agreed but he suggested they needed to get their backpacks with some water and maybe a snack or two. They didn’t know exactly how long they would be exploring. Zach agreed. “That is a really good idea, Nate.”
Nate loved it when his big brother told him how good his ideas were. (Way to go Zach). So, together, they very quietly entered the house. They quietly retrieved their backpacks and a few supplies. They loaded the backpacks with water bottles and snacks and then quietly went back outside.
As Zach opened the door to go outside, he closed his eyes and held his breath. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the whole hole was gone and everything was back to normal. As Zach opened his eyes, he let out a sigh of relief as he saw the field and the creek and the deep woods.
Nate shut the back door quietly and then asked: “Is it really real or is this just make believe?”
Zach raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know. Let’s go find out.”
I knew you were a smart one the minute you picked up this book. And when you started to read, it only confirmed it. We are going to have so much fun together, you and I.
What? You want me to get on with it? You’re ready for the story? Well, OK. Let’s go.
Twice upon a time ago, twice upon a time, because all the really great adventure stories and fairy tales need to be told more than once. Most of them are told over and over again as this story should be. So, in preparation for more than one telling, twice upon a time ago there were two brothers named Zach and Nate. These two brothers didn’t possess any extraordinary powers. They weren’t invisible and couldn’t levitate. Neither one of them had any magical ability. They were just ordinary brothers who liked to play together, occasionally had squabbles but loved each other and were always polite and obedient. (You are aren’t you?)
That might sound a little boring to some and the word ordinary might not be the best word to describe these two young men. They came from a very nice family. Mom and Dad loved them deeply and provided as much attention as any Mom and Dad can do and still do all the things Moms and Dads need to do to raise three little boys.
Yes, dear reader, there were three boys, but Evan the youngest was still an infant when these adventures began. And in one sense, Evan was the cause behind Zach and Nate discovering these adventures. But we’re getting ahead of the story.
As is the case when there are more than one or two children in a family, it is hard for Mom and Dad to spend the amount of time a child really wants to spend with Mom and Dad. It is even harder when there is a third child in the house. And that is how Zach and Nate began their adventure.
One summer day Dad was at work and Mom was at home with all three boys. Zach and Nate were being typical boys and playing loud and laughing and having a great time. But because they were loud and noisy, laughing and having a good time, little Evan couldn’t get to sleep. So Mom sent the older boys out into the back yard to play.
When Zach and Nate stepped outside, it was one of those perfect summer days, not too hot, just enough clouds to break the heat and just enough deep blue clear sky to make the day beautiful.
At first everything seemed normal but then Nate noticed that there was a hole in the fence between their house and the neighbor’s. It wasn’t the hint of a hole. It wasn’t a partial hole. It was a whole hole. “Hey Zach, look at that.” Then he pointed to the eight foot gap in the fence.
Zach turned and looked and couldn’t believe his eyes. “Where did that come from? What happened?” What he was seeing wasn’t just the neighbor’s back yard. The neighbor’s yard had all but disappeared. What the boys were looking at through the whole hole which was the gap in the fence happened to be an open field beyond which was a river or very large creek. And on the other side of the creek was a deep woods. Not quite a forest but a very deep and dense woods.
A thousand questions ran through their minds. As they stood gazing at the scene before them, they both could feel the woods inviting them to explore. The longer they stared, the longer they looked the stronger that feeling became.
Zach and Nate pondered what they should do. Zach suggested that they go exploring. They just had to. Nate agreed but he suggested they needed to get their backpacks with some water and maybe a snack or two. They didn’t know exactly how long they would be exploring. Zach agreed. “That is a really good idea, Nate.”
Nate loved it when his big brother told him how good his ideas were. (Way to go Zach). So, together, they very quietly entered the house. They quietly retrieved their backpacks and a few supplies. They loaded the backpacks with water bottles and snacks and then quietly went back outside.
As Zach opened the door to go outside, he closed his eyes and held his breath. He wouldn’t have been surprised if the whole hole was gone and everything was back to normal. As Zach opened his eyes, he let out a sigh of relief as he saw the field and the creek and the deep woods.
Nate shut the back door quietly and then asked: “Is it really real or is this just make believe?”
Zach raised his eyebrows, shrugged his shoulders and said, “I don’t know. Let’s go find out.”
How It All Began
This adventure with my Grandchildren began as a result of the birth of our third grandson, Evan. The other boys had spent the weekend with us so Mom and Evan could get settled after Mom came home from the hospital. On the way home, the boys asked me to tell them a story. So I started making up a story as we drove, asking them for ideas and characters and situations. Because Nate was calling me Paw Paw at the time, that became the name of the place where this series of stories we have created takes place.
We only had a few details of the story by the time we got to their house but when they unloaded, they took off to see Mom, Dad, thier new little brother and play with their toys. Like all boys, they were a little noisy. It came time for Evan's nap and Mom suggested they play something quiet. I asked if they wanted to continue the story we started. So, we all sat around the kitchen table and started weaving the rest of the story. Two and a half hours later we finished our adventure. Except for the drawings Zach did and the items Nate had to run and get to be our tools and weapons, we sat at the table using nothing but our imaginations.
Thus began the adventures of Zach and Nate (and Evan pretty soon) in Paw Paw Land.
We only had a few details of the story by the time we got to their house but when they unloaded, they took off to see Mom, Dad, thier new little brother and play with their toys. Like all boys, they were a little noisy. It came time for Evan's nap and Mom suggested they play something quiet. I asked if they wanted to continue the story we started. So, we all sat around the kitchen table and started weaving the rest of the story. Two and a half hours later we finished our adventure. Except for the drawings Zach did and the items Nate had to run and get to be our tools and weapons, we sat at the table using nothing but our imaginations.
Thus began the adventures of Zach and Nate (and Evan pretty soon) in Paw Paw Land.
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