For the month of May, Sunday’s are going to be different and busy days. As expected, there’s a link to the Thursday Doors Sunday Recap. All the door posts that I could collect from last week’s participants. There’s also a link to the Thursday Doors Writing Challenge (TDWC) summary. We’re off to a great start.
In addition, I am planning to post my writing entries for the TDWC here because I don’t want to add an additional day of posting during the weeks. I should also mention that I will be on a bit of a break from May 13th until the 22nd. I’ll be tending the TDWC entries, but I won’t be blogging or reading many blogs. I’ll explain more about that later. For now, let’s get to my first story
I Bet I Can Fly
Roli and LeeAnne walked over to the gate in the front yard of their new home. LeeAnne noticed a young couple pushing a baby stroller.
“What’s that odd contraption, Roli?”
“Huh?”
“Do you see those people?”
“Yeah, I see them.”
“Well then, what’s that odd contraption? That thing on wheels? That’s a strange kind of wagon. It looks pretty useless to me, and it doesn’t roll very easily on the dirt road.”
“That’s a baby carriage.”
“You’re crazy. Baby carriages have big wheels, and a comfortable bed hanging from shock-absorbing springs.”
“There you go again.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You’re acting like you believe that fairy tale mom told us about where we are.”
“We’re here, in an unfinished house someone was building. That person died, but the mayor let mom put us up here while she’s in the hospital having a baby brother or sister for us. I don’t see what’s so hard to believe about that.”
“That’s cause you’re a girl…ouch. Why did you kick me?”
“Because you’re an idiot, and you’re mean. I hope mom brings us a baby sister home from the hospital. I don’t think I can stand having another brother.”
“I just meant that girls don’t like science. You accept what you’ve been told, and you never think for so much as a minute that people could be lying to you.”
“Don’t start that again, Roli. Pretending you’re a spaceman—whatever that is—was fine when we were little kids. We’re practically grown up now. It’s time to deal with reality. Although, if you ask me, dealing with reality isn’t your strong suit.”
“Wait, where are you going?”
“I’m going over to our house, well, the finished corner of this house, to get something to eat and a drink. Maybe I can wash your nonsense out of my mind.”
LeeAnne watched Roli from her sheltered space. He kept pushing against the gate. She thought he was crazy, maybe certifiable, but she didn’t want him to get out. If he walked onto the road, he could get hurt.
“Roli, get away from the gate. The wagon with all the people will be coming by soon. You might get tangled up with the horses, and you might get run over by the wagon.”
“If I get out, I’m not going where the wagon goes. I’m going up over that hill.”
“Why? What could possibly be over that hill that’s any better than what we have here?”
“Don’t you understand? This is all fake.”
LeeAnne walked back over to the gate and stood behind her brother.
“Okay, tell me again, Roli.”
“Mom told us that we’re in a town in New England and that it’s eighteen-thirty-four.”
“Right, but you think we’re on some other planet and it’s who knows when in the future.”
“I know when.”
“Roli, look out there. The road is dirt. The walls are stone. I can see the hospital where mom is, and I can see the Cobler’s shop and the Cabinetmaker’s shop and the Meeting House. Everything is the way mom told us it was when we were little.”
“I’m telling you; this is fake. The people walking by are always different. It’s never the same people. They don’t live in this town. They come from around here, but to see what things were like in eighteen-thirty-four.”
“The people who feed us are always the same—I like Tommy.”
“You have a crush on Tommy because he gives you gives you a bite of the apples he carries as treats. Tommy works here. He feeds us because it’s his job.”
“So, you’re saying what? We’re on display?”
“Yes, and it isn’t eighteen thirty-four.”
“I don’t even know what that means anyway, so if it is true, it doesn’t bother me.”
“Don’t you want to know the truth, LeeAnne? Don’t you care what year it is?”
“Nope.”
“Why not?”
“Roli, we have food, fresh water and a warm comfortable place to sleep. We have a pasture to graze in and people to shear off this coat when it gets too hot. Why would I want or worry about anything else?”
“Well, I want to know. I’m curious.”
“Why?”
“What if we live in a different time? What if there have been advances that we don’t know about? What if…”
“What if other sheep can fly and you can’t only because someone is making you think you’re living in the past?”
“Exactly!”
“Roli, you’re crazy. Sheep can’t fly. Sheep can’t never fly. Not now, not in the past and not in the future. We don’t have wings! We have four feet and when we need to move from place to place, we walk. If something scares us, we run. I’ve been in a flock that ran pretty fast, but nobody left the ground for more than a few seconds—nobody flew!”
“I fly in my dreams, LeeAnne, but not like a bird. I fly like a cannon ball.”
“Maybe someone stuffed you in a cannon. I have to say, I’ve had that though more than once.”
“Here comes your heartthrob.”
“Good morning Roli. You’re going to have to move away from the gate so I can bring your breakfast in. That’s a good boy, here.”
Tommy slipped Roli a chunk of apple, scratched his head and closed the gate behind him. He poured some kibble in their food pan and filled their water buckets from the faucet near the side wall where the shelter had been built. LeeAnne was near the shelter.
“How’s my favorite girl today? I have something special for you, LeeAnne.”
Tommy held a piece of yellow squash that had been sliced into thirds lengthwise.
“This has got some bruises, so the women don’t want to use it for the cooking demonstration. I told them I knew someone who would enjoy it.”
LeeAnne munched down the squash, almost nipping Tommy’s fingers.
“Easy! I have more. One more piece for you, and then I’ll give the other piece to your brother.”
LeeAnne finished the squash and rubbed her side up against Tommy’s leg. He patted and scratched her head. Roli came over when he smelled the squash and collected his piece. He walked off quickly to eat it.
“I don’t think Roli likes me, LeeAnne. Maybe he’s just skittish.”
Tommy rubbed LeeAnne’s head again and then walked to the gate.
“You two have a nice day.”
LeeAnne walked over to the pan of kibble where Roli was already eating.
“Why did you run away from Tommy?”
“I didn’t run away. I just like to eat in private. That way, no one can take my food.”
“No one? I’m the only other one here, Roli and I wasn’t going to take your food—I had my own.”
“Yes, and your boy toy.”
“Stop it. He’s just a nice young man.”
“Well, you go back to the shelter and get some sleep. You can dream about your nice young man.”
“And you go off to that shady corner and dream about flying out of here into the future.”
No Facilities 
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