L.Y. Levand's Blog, page 24
May 18, 2013
The Disguise Rod (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Beenie followed Ella, and the other younglings followed Beenie.
The tunnels of the catacombs were musty, dusty, and dark. Here and there, there was a torch, but these were few and far between.
Beenie stifled a sneeze, and sniffled. It was very dark. She wondered where they were, but didn't think that it would be a good idea to ask Ella about it. She probably wouldn't tell them anyway.
Up ahead, Beenie saw Ella come to a stop. As she came closer, she saw that Ella was crouched in front of a bare stretch of wall. The younglings crowded around them, and Ella frowned at the slight upswing of noise. When they had quieted again, she hopped forward - and vanished.
Beenie gaped at the wall.
"Ella?" Troy called, his tail twitching in an agitated fashion. "Ella? Where-?"
"Follow me." Ella said, and her head materialized out of the wall. "It won't hurt you. Come along."
"She wants us to go through the wall?" the baby hummingbird asked. "But how do we go through the wall?"
"I don't know," Beenie said. "The same way she did, I guess."
She hesitated a moment, and then took a deep breath. She reached out to touch the wall, and watched as her fingers vanished without making contact with the earth. As she went forward, her hand disappeared, then her wrist, then her arm all the way to the elbow. Then she closed her eyes, her heart pounding, and took a full step.
"Took you long enough," Ella said severely.
Beenie opened her eyes.
They were in another tunnel. As she turned to look over her shoulder, she saw where she had come from. And, to her surprise, she could see Troy and the others on the other side, and they appeared to be arguing about who would go next.
"Get them in here, if you please," Ella said.
Beenie poked her head out of the tunnel mouth. "Come on," she said. "It's fine."
She pulled her head back in, and watched as Troy tentatively poked his gray paw through the entrance. Beenie stifled a giggle. His eyes were closed, and he looked frightened. Had she looked like that?
Soon, he was all the way through, and the others were following him. Beenie and Troy's success at getting through appeared to have given the rest of them enough courage to follow faster, and it wasn't long before they had all gathered on the other side.
"How does that work?" Beenie asked, pointing at the hidden entrance.
"No one is quite sure," Ella replied. "It was a gift many years ago from the Greater Fairies to the Forest Council. It disguises things." The rabbit hopped up to the entrance, stood up on her hind legs, and poked at a long piece of wood that had been fastened to the earth above the tunnel mouth.
"We think the carvings might have something to do with it," she said.
"I've never heard of the Greater Fairies," Beenie said.
"There aren't any of them around now, are there?" Ella said. "You probably wouldn't have heard of them. I would have been surprised if you had, actually."
"So that's magic?" Troy asked, referring to the stick of wood. .
"The disguise rod? Of course it's magic! We can disguise things, but not like that."
Ella hopped off down the hall, and the younglings followed, murmuring about the disguise pole, and Greater Fairies. Beenie wondered. Had the Greater Fairies disappeared when the council had? Why had they gone? And why hadn't the fairies of the field gone with them?
The tunnels of the catacombs were musty, dusty, and dark. Here and there, there was a torch, but these were few and far between.
Beenie stifled a sneeze, and sniffled. It was very dark. She wondered where they were, but didn't think that it would be a good idea to ask Ella about it. She probably wouldn't tell them anyway.
Up ahead, Beenie saw Ella come to a stop. As she came closer, she saw that Ella was crouched in front of a bare stretch of wall. The younglings crowded around them, and Ella frowned at the slight upswing of noise. When they had quieted again, she hopped forward - and vanished.
Beenie gaped at the wall.
"Ella?" Troy called, his tail twitching in an agitated fashion. "Ella? Where-?"
"Follow me." Ella said, and her head materialized out of the wall. "It won't hurt you. Come along."
"She wants us to go through the wall?" the baby hummingbird asked. "But how do we go through the wall?"
"I don't know," Beenie said. "The same way she did, I guess."
She hesitated a moment, and then took a deep breath. She reached out to touch the wall, and watched as her fingers vanished without making contact with the earth. As she went forward, her hand disappeared, then her wrist, then her arm all the way to the elbow. Then she closed her eyes, her heart pounding, and took a full step.
"Took you long enough," Ella said severely.
Beenie opened her eyes.
They were in another tunnel. As she turned to look over her shoulder, she saw where she had come from. And, to her surprise, she could see Troy and the others on the other side, and they appeared to be arguing about who would go next.
"Get them in here, if you please," Ella said.
Beenie poked her head out of the tunnel mouth. "Come on," she said. "It's fine."
She pulled her head back in, and watched as Troy tentatively poked his gray paw through the entrance. Beenie stifled a giggle. His eyes were closed, and he looked frightened. Had she looked like that?
Soon, he was all the way through, and the others were following him. Beenie and Troy's success at getting through appeared to have given the rest of them enough courage to follow faster, and it wasn't long before they had all gathered on the other side.
"How does that work?" Beenie asked, pointing at the hidden entrance.
"No one is quite sure," Ella replied. "It was a gift many years ago from the Greater Fairies to the Forest Council. It disguises things." The rabbit hopped up to the entrance, stood up on her hind legs, and poked at a long piece of wood that had been fastened to the earth above the tunnel mouth.
"We think the carvings might have something to do with it," she said.
"I've never heard of the Greater Fairies," Beenie said.
"There aren't any of them around now, are there?" Ella said. "You probably wouldn't have heard of them. I would have been surprised if you had, actually."
"So that's magic?" Troy asked, referring to the stick of wood. .
"The disguise rod? Of course it's magic! We can disguise things, but not like that."
Ella hopped off down the hall, and the younglings followed, murmuring about the disguise pole, and Greater Fairies. Beenie wondered. Had the Greater Fairies disappeared when the council had? Why had they gone? And why hadn't the fairies of the field gone with them?
May 15, 2013
The Weekly Quote - Survival and Weeds (Yes, I said Weeds)
"A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows." ~ Doug Larson
Some people are plants, and some people are weeds. A weed has its good points. They survive despite everything, and pop up everywhere regardless of our boundless desire to get rid of them. Persistent little buggers.
But they also have their bad points. They can't grow in rows, and lots of them don't serve the correct purpose when they just pop up.
However, the plants we want to grow do not have that same sort of adaptability. At least, they often don't seem to, since occasionally they have a perverse desire to keel over and die when we most want them to live.
Anyway, perhaps those weeds do have a purpose. You can eat dandelion greens, you know. Rip 'em up and have a salad you don't have to pay for!
Some people are plants, and some people are weeds. A weed has its good points. They survive despite everything, and pop up everywhere regardless of our boundless desire to get rid of them. Persistent little buggers.
But they also have their bad points. They can't grow in rows, and lots of them don't serve the correct purpose when they just pop up.
However, the plants we want to grow do not have that same sort of adaptability. At least, they often don't seem to, since occasionally they have a perverse desire to keel over and die when we most want them to live.
Anyway, perhaps those weeds do have a purpose. You can eat dandelion greens, you know. Rip 'em up and have a salad you don't have to pay for!
May 13, 2013
The Weekly Health Challenge: Rice and Exercise
Weekly Challenge (Level One):
Dump the white rice
If you're planning on a meal that includes rice this week, try brown rice. Brown rice hasn't been stripped of its nutrients or processed to such an extent as the white variety. Plus, it has more fiber, which means you absorb fewer calories.
If you're not planning on rice this week, switch out your bread or pasta for the whole wheat variety. Just make sure there's not a boat load of high fructose corn syrup or sugar in it, or you'll be shooting yourself in the foot.
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do fifteen crunches and pushups five days this week
We're upping the intensity some this week; make sure your form is correct or you could cause yourself more harm than good, especially as you add more to your full lineup. If your form suffers, take a short break before continuing. Improper form can hurt you. If you can't, to save your life, maintain proper form, then scale back to ten again.
Extra Challenge:
If this is too easy for you, then add fifteen squats to your exercise lineup. You can see how to do them here. Again, proper form is important!
Dump the white rice
If you're planning on a meal that includes rice this week, try brown rice. Brown rice hasn't been stripped of its nutrients or processed to such an extent as the white variety. Plus, it has more fiber, which means you absorb fewer calories.
If you're not planning on rice this week, switch out your bread or pasta for the whole wheat variety. Just make sure there's not a boat load of high fructose corn syrup or sugar in it, or you'll be shooting yourself in the foot.
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do fifteen crunches and pushups five days this week
We're upping the intensity some this week; make sure your form is correct or you could cause yourself more harm than good, especially as you add more to your full lineup. If your form suffers, take a short break before continuing. Improper form can hurt you. If you can't, to save your life, maintain proper form, then scale back to ten again.
Extra Challenge:
If this is too easy for you, then add fifteen squats to your exercise lineup. You can see how to do them here. Again, proper form is important!
May 12, 2013
The Dangers of Public School, Part Six: The Homeschool Solution
I've (hopefully) given everyone a lot to think about these past few weeks. But if you've been with me this far, you're probably wondering what exactly I expect you to do about it.
I can't tell you what to do, and the solution I have may not work for everyone. But I can tel you that it helps. A lot. But first, I'm going to tell you how I know that it helps.
In a past post, I mentioned how I hated math for a very long time. That changed when I got to about fifteen or sixteen. And it changed for one simple reason.
My parents took me out of public school at the age of eleven, and put me on a homeschooling program. By the time I was sixteen, I'd become immersed in the learning process.
The homeschool program I was put on is called the Robinson curriculum. And, for those of you who say you don't have time to teach your children, how's this: it's a self-taught program. My parents didn't teach me math, or reading, or writing. I did. If i didn't understand something, the book was right there and I taught it to myself again, in different ways, until I'd figured it out.
When I tested for my GED, every score I had was in the honors range, and I graduated in the top ten percent of my class. I even had a science score in the honors range - and the curriculum doesn't even have a science book until physics.
And this, mind you, was with a very watered-down version of the Robinson curriculum. Had I participated in the entire curriculum from start to finish, I would have gone much farther, much faster.
All your children need to know to get started is how to read, and have the multiplication tables memorized up to twelve. If you don't have time to teach your kids these things, you could do what my parents did. I attended public school through the fifth grade, and before middle school they yanked me. I knew how to read, and I knew how to multiply.
Obviously not all children will excel in this way, at least at first. Especially the kids who aren't trusted to correct their own work or who are known to take 'shortcuts' when they shouldn't. However, it is possible, with some effort, to get the change made.
In my next post I'll go over some of the challenges that face homeschooled kids - such as the social aspects many complain about. I'll also go over some of the benefits.
If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to contact me. If you want to know more about the Robinson curriculum, the website can be found here.
I can't tell you what to do, and the solution I have may not work for everyone. But I can tel you that it helps. A lot. But first, I'm going to tell you how I know that it helps.
In a past post, I mentioned how I hated math for a very long time. That changed when I got to about fifteen or sixteen. And it changed for one simple reason.
My parents took me out of public school at the age of eleven, and put me on a homeschooling program. By the time I was sixteen, I'd become immersed in the learning process.
The homeschool program I was put on is called the Robinson curriculum. And, for those of you who say you don't have time to teach your children, how's this: it's a self-taught program. My parents didn't teach me math, or reading, or writing. I did. If i didn't understand something, the book was right there and I taught it to myself again, in different ways, until I'd figured it out.
When I tested for my GED, every score I had was in the honors range, and I graduated in the top ten percent of my class. I even had a science score in the honors range - and the curriculum doesn't even have a science book until physics.
And this, mind you, was with a very watered-down version of the Robinson curriculum. Had I participated in the entire curriculum from start to finish, I would have gone much farther, much faster.
All your children need to know to get started is how to read, and have the multiplication tables memorized up to twelve. If you don't have time to teach your kids these things, you could do what my parents did. I attended public school through the fifth grade, and before middle school they yanked me. I knew how to read, and I knew how to multiply.
Obviously not all children will excel in this way, at least at first. Especially the kids who aren't trusted to correct their own work or who are known to take 'shortcuts' when they shouldn't. However, it is possible, with some effort, to get the change made.
In my next post I'll go over some of the challenges that face homeschooled kids - such as the social aspects many complain about. I'll also go over some of the benefits.
If you have any questions about my experience, feel free to contact me. If you want to know more about the Robinson curriculum, the website can be found here.
May 10, 2013
The Catacombs (Free Fantasy Short Story)
A Quick Note:
You're getting this a day early, since I won't have access to a computer tomorrow, so enjoy! :D
Beenie blinked, and halted just inside the doorway.
But before she could get her bearings, the others were pushing inside next to her, and she was going forward as they pushed at her arms and shoulders and legs, trying to fit inside all at once.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" she said, bracing herself on the dirt of the walls. The pressing abated for a moment, and Beenie took the opportunity to look around and figure out where she was supposed to be going. The tunnel went forward for a bit, but then sloped steeply downward. She assumed this was the way she was meant to go, since there wasn't any other choice, and flew forward, her toes scraping the floor.
The others followed her inside, talking in hushed voices. Beenie went down, into the downward slope of the tunnel, and when it leveled out, it opened into a large room. This room was lit with torches, and was the source of the red light Beenie had seen, and the warmth.
But as her eyes adjusted further to the light, she realized that the tunnel they had come through was not the only one that ended in the room. There were dark openings all along its walls, and the tunnels beyond led into shadow.
All of them waited for Ella to join them, and when she hopped in with the last of the forest younglings, they were all bunched into a small group in the center of the room. None of them knew what was in the tunnels, and Beenie, at least, was reminded of the gnomes by the gaping tunnels and wondered where they led.
Ella checked to make sure they were all where they were supposed to be, and then hopped off toward a tunnel on the left side of the room.
'This way," she said.
They followed.
"Where are we going?" Beenie asked, hurrying to catch up with the white rabbit.
"We're inside the catacombs," Ella said. "Inside, there's a complex of apartments where you'll all be safe. Peter had the rabbits and other digging creatures excavate it out so we'd always have a safe haven. Just in case."
"Oh."
Beenie followed the ghostly shape of the white rabbit as she led them into one tunnel, out of another, and through opening after opening.
"The closer you get to the center, the more confusing it gets," Ella said. "Stay close. And no one had better try to get out of this place without help. You'll get lost, and we can't spend days trying to find you."
"I don't like this place," Troy said from his place next to Beenie. "It's too small and stuffy."
"You're a squirrel," Beenie said. "Of course it's small and stuffy to you." She, however, was quite at ease. It wasn't that different in size from her own home back in the field.
"We're almost there," Ella said at last.
You're getting this a day early, since I won't have access to a computer tomorrow, so enjoy! :D
Beenie blinked, and halted just inside the doorway.
But before she could get her bearings, the others were pushing inside next to her, and she was going forward as they pushed at her arms and shoulders and legs, trying to fit inside all at once.
"Wait a minute, wait a minute!" she said, bracing herself on the dirt of the walls. The pressing abated for a moment, and Beenie took the opportunity to look around and figure out where she was supposed to be going. The tunnel went forward for a bit, but then sloped steeply downward. She assumed this was the way she was meant to go, since there wasn't any other choice, and flew forward, her toes scraping the floor.
The others followed her inside, talking in hushed voices. Beenie went down, into the downward slope of the tunnel, and when it leveled out, it opened into a large room. This room was lit with torches, and was the source of the red light Beenie had seen, and the warmth.
But as her eyes adjusted further to the light, she realized that the tunnel they had come through was not the only one that ended in the room. There were dark openings all along its walls, and the tunnels beyond led into shadow.
All of them waited for Ella to join them, and when she hopped in with the last of the forest younglings, they were all bunched into a small group in the center of the room. None of them knew what was in the tunnels, and Beenie, at least, was reminded of the gnomes by the gaping tunnels and wondered where they led.
Ella checked to make sure they were all where they were supposed to be, and then hopped off toward a tunnel on the left side of the room.
'This way," she said.
They followed.
"Where are we going?" Beenie asked, hurrying to catch up with the white rabbit.
"We're inside the catacombs," Ella said. "Inside, there's a complex of apartments where you'll all be safe. Peter had the rabbits and other digging creatures excavate it out so we'd always have a safe haven. Just in case."
"Oh."
Beenie followed the ghostly shape of the white rabbit as she led them into one tunnel, out of another, and through opening after opening.
"The closer you get to the center, the more confusing it gets," Ella said. "Stay close. And no one had better try to get out of this place without help. You'll get lost, and we can't spend days trying to find you."
"I don't like this place," Troy said from his place next to Beenie. "It's too small and stuffy."
"You're a squirrel," Beenie said. "Of course it's small and stuffy to you." She, however, was quite at ease. It wasn't that different in size from her own home back in the field.
"We're almost there," Ella said at last.
May 8, 2013
The Weekly Quote: On Gardening and Plants
"A garden requires patient labor and attention. Plants do not grow merely to satisfy ambitions or to fulfill good intentions. They thrive because someone expended effort on them." ~ Liberty Hyde Bailey
In this respect, people can be a lot like plants. When you start life as a small child, you don't really have any ambitions in life, or good intentions. Typically, a child will grow and learn based on the attention it receives. That can be a good thing or a bad thing.
People can also be very different from plants, in that we can fly in the face of whatever attention we have received, and do the opposite of what is expected of us. Just because someone expended effort on us doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to grow well, or turn into the people our parents or grandparents expect.
These things can be good or bad - the difference between them, however, is that we cannot change the circumstances of the first (the similarities to plants). But we have ultimate control over the second, the way we're different from the plants.
In this respect, people can be a lot like plants. When you start life as a small child, you don't really have any ambitions in life, or good intentions. Typically, a child will grow and learn based on the attention it receives. That can be a good thing or a bad thing.
People can also be very different from plants, in that we can fly in the face of whatever attention we have received, and do the opposite of what is expected of us. Just because someone expended effort on us doesn't necessarily mean that we're going to grow well, or turn into the people our parents or grandparents expect.
These things can be good or bad - the difference between them, however, is that we cannot change the circumstances of the first (the similarities to plants). But we have ultimate control over the second, the way we're different from the plants.
May 6, 2013
The Weekly Health Challenge (Movement During Commercials, Crunches, and Push Ups)
Weekly Challenge (Level One):
Exercise during commercials
When watching TV, get up during those aggravating commercials and MOVE. It doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you're moving. You can clean, you can lift some weights, jog in place, or do the dishes.
Everyday movement accounts for most of your calorie burn each day, if you up your daily movement, you up your calorie burn, and that helps you lose weight. Every little bit helps!
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do ten crunches and ten pushups five days this week
Most everyone I know wants a toned tummy. Crunches are one way to get closer to that goal, and pairing it with pushups improves your core while also working those arms. Having a strong core helps your posture, and can also help with other physical activities and endurance.
Hint, hint: If you can't do pushups you can try planks and weight lifting instead.
Extra challenge:
Add some cardio! Do a set of ten or twenty jumping jacks with your pushups and crunches.
Exercise during commercials
When watching TV, get up during those aggravating commercials and MOVE. It doesn't really matter what you do, as long as you're moving. You can clean, you can lift some weights, jog in place, or do the dishes.
Everyday movement accounts for most of your calorie burn each day, if you up your daily movement, you up your calorie burn, and that helps you lose weight. Every little bit helps!
Weekly Challenge (Level Two):
Do ten crunches and ten pushups five days this week
Most everyone I know wants a toned tummy. Crunches are one way to get closer to that goal, and pairing it with pushups improves your core while also working those arms. Having a strong core helps your posture, and can also help with other physical activities and endurance.
Hint, hint: If you can't do pushups you can try planks and weight lifting instead.
Extra challenge:
Add some cardio! Do a set of ten or twenty jumping jacks with your pushups and crunches.
May 5, 2013
The Dangers of Public School, Part Five: Drinking and Drugs
I've mentioned this before, but since it's such a huge topic, I decided that this could use a whole post.
Drinking and drugs. As far as I'm concerned smoking is included is drugs; even if just for simplicity's sake.
We all know these things are bad for people in general, and especially children and teens. But the numbers about drugs and drinking in schools are horrific. Better than fifty percent of students know that drugs can be had on campus. That's bad enough - but who's supplying these drugs?
Other students, of course.
And then there's drinking. One in five high school aged girls binge drink. It's dangerous enough for a grown adult to drink. Drunk driving takes thousands of lives. Alcohol reduces good judgement, can cause drunk rages, fights, or even poisoning. Imagine your daughter, son, niece, nephew, sister, brother, granddaughter, grandson, involved in those things. If that doesn't send a shiver down your spine then there's a bigger issue here.
You don't want your kids involved in that, do you? It's dangerous.
And drugs are another story. I'm sure you've seen the before and after pictures, heard the stories of how drug addiction turned good kids into criminals to support their habit.
This is a terrible plague on the children of the our nation. It's taking promising children and turning them into criminals, drug addicts, and alcoholics.
It's dangerous. It's insidious, deceptive, and ruinous.
It starts in schools.
Drinking and drugs. As far as I'm concerned smoking is included is drugs; even if just for simplicity's sake.
We all know these things are bad for people in general, and especially children and teens. But the numbers about drugs and drinking in schools are horrific. Better than fifty percent of students know that drugs can be had on campus. That's bad enough - but who's supplying these drugs?
Other students, of course.
And then there's drinking. One in five high school aged girls binge drink. It's dangerous enough for a grown adult to drink. Drunk driving takes thousands of lives. Alcohol reduces good judgement, can cause drunk rages, fights, or even poisoning. Imagine your daughter, son, niece, nephew, sister, brother, granddaughter, grandson, involved in those things. If that doesn't send a shiver down your spine then there's a bigger issue here.
You don't want your kids involved in that, do you? It's dangerous.
And drugs are another story. I'm sure you've seen the before and after pictures, heard the stories of how drug addiction turned good kids into criminals to support their habit.
This is a terrible plague on the children of the our nation. It's taking promising children and turning them into criminals, drug addicts, and alcoholics.
It's dangerous. It's insidious, deceptive, and ruinous.
It starts in schools.
May 4, 2013
Away With the Younglings (Free Fantasy Short Story)
Beenie shook the baby hummingbird in her lap, and the bird blinked. She nudged it out of its place, and stood up. Ella, the white rabbit, was twitching with what Beenie could only assume was impatience.
The animal younglings that were awake shook the ones that were asleep until they opened their eyes. When all the animals were awake, Ella hopped forward a few paces, toward the edge of the clearing, and then looked back, waiting for them.
Beenie fluttered her wings and led the way. The others followed more slowly, with Troy the closest behind her.
"Where are we going?" a baby chipmunk asked. "What's going on?"
"We're going to the catacombs," Ella answered without turning back. "The gnomes are coming."
The sleepy whispers of the younglings turned frightened, and as they lagged behind Ella to talk, the white rabbit turned around, grunting with annoyance.
"I'm taking you to safety," Ella said firmly. "You'll all be fine, if you'll keep up and stay together. Now let's go!"
"Come on," Beenie urged, waving for them to follow.
"Go on, children," Peter said from his place at the head of the clearing. "You will see your parents soon."
The knot of youngsters followed at their urging, and as they passed out of range of the unicorn's light, Beenie looked back. Peter was laying very still, his slender head pillowed on the grass. His liquid eyes watched them go, and were the only part of him that moved.
The younglings hadn't ever met Peter; Beenie knew that Troy had not, even though his parents were involved in the network; but they didn't question his authority. Perhaps they were too tired. Or maybe they had figured it out quickly enough to obey. Either way, they followed Ella without complaint.
After the brightness of the clearing, the woods seemed very dark and cold. Beenie and the others bunched together, following the pale smudge that was Ella, leading them down a path that only she could see.
It seemed like a long trip through the forest, though Beenie didn't think they had come that far. They'd had to go slow, so that the smallest and slowest could keep up. But, finally, Ella stopped.
"One at a time," Ella whispered, standing aside. She was propping open a door made of tree bark that concealed the entrance. It was in a tree, but Beenie could see that inside it went abruptly downward, like a slide. And she could see this because somewhere inside, there was a light shining.
Beenie was the first in. She flew into the doorway, and into air that was surprisingly warm and bright.
The animal younglings that were awake shook the ones that were asleep until they opened their eyes. When all the animals were awake, Ella hopped forward a few paces, toward the edge of the clearing, and then looked back, waiting for them.
Beenie fluttered her wings and led the way. The others followed more slowly, with Troy the closest behind her.
"Where are we going?" a baby chipmunk asked. "What's going on?"
"We're going to the catacombs," Ella answered without turning back. "The gnomes are coming."
The sleepy whispers of the younglings turned frightened, and as they lagged behind Ella to talk, the white rabbit turned around, grunting with annoyance.
"I'm taking you to safety," Ella said firmly. "You'll all be fine, if you'll keep up and stay together. Now let's go!"
"Come on," Beenie urged, waving for them to follow.
"Go on, children," Peter said from his place at the head of the clearing. "You will see your parents soon."
The knot of youngsters followed at their urging, and as they passed out of range of the unicorn's light, Beenie looked back. Peter was laying very still, his slender head pillowed on the grass. His liquid eyes watched them go, and were the only part of him that moved.
The younglings hadn't ever met Peter; Beenie knew that Troy had not, even though his parents were involved in the network; but they didn't question his authority. Perhaps they were too tired. Or maybe they had figured it out quickly enough to obey. Either way, they followed Ella without complaint.
After the brightness of the clearing, the woods seemed very dark and cold. Beenie and the others bunched together, following the pale smudge that was Ella, leading them down a path that only she could see.
It seemed like a long trip through the forest, though Beenie didn't think they had come that far. They'd had to go slow, so that the smallest and slowest could keep up. But, finally, Ella stopped.
"One at a time," Ella whispered, standing aside. She was propping open a door made of tree bark that concealed the entrance. It was in a tree, but Beenie could see that inside it went abruptly downward, like a slide. And she could see this because somewhere inside, there was a light shining.
Beenie was the first in. She flew into the doorway, and into air that was surprisingly warm and bright.
May 1, 2013
The Weekly Quote (On Gardening)
"Gardening is not a rational act." ~ Margaret Atwood
It most certainly is not. I figured this out the first time I had to chase deer out of the garden. Running outside in your pajamas and slippers, screaming and throwing rocks, is definitely not rational. Neither is it entirely rational to yell your opinion of slugs at the slugs before throwing them over the fence.
I'm not entirely sure that gloating when you finally get a tall enough fence that deer can't get in is irrational, though. It seemed perfectly normal at the time.
It most certainly is not. I figured this out the first time I had to chase deer out of the garden. Running outside in your pajamas and slippers, screaming and throwing rocks, is definitely not rational. Neither is it entirely rational to yell your opinion of slugs at the slugs before throwing them over the fence.
I'm not entirely sure that gloating when you finally get a tall enough fence that deer can't get in is irrational, though. It seemed perfectly normal at the time.
