Tag: stories

Isaac’s Adventures Underwater: Chapter Twelve

Timmons led Isaac back to the beach. A narrow bridge of sand snaked across the water to a smudge of land on the horizon. “There it is,” he said. “You’d better hurry.”

And so Isaac hurried over the sandbar, worried that any moment the water would come rushing back to cover it back up again and wash him out to sea. Luckily, he made it across just fine. But when he stepped on the beach and looked back, the middle of the path was already underwater again. Scary.

Isaac looked around. It looked like there was a sign next to a path leading up the sand dunes at the edge of the beach. Isaac walked over. There were two signs. The top one said “Anna’s House” and pointed to the right. The next sign said “Hannah’s house” and pointed the same way.

Isaac unfolded his map. There was a red X on the island with two houses. Well, that made sense. He wasn’t sure who to visit first, but he didn’t need to decide yet. There was only one path for now. He followed the path off the beach.

He continued following the path as rocks and ferns and palm trees were replaced with rose bushes and bunches of bright orange lilies and magenta hibiscus flowers. There were sign posts every so often along the path, but they kept pointing the same way.

He reached a white rock path that led to a white house with a red tile roof. Both signs pointed to the house. Did Hannah and Anna live in the same house? Then why were there two houses on the map? Read More

Grandpa’s Astronomy Lesson

“Grandpa, look at the book I checked out from the library,” Jim said. He held up a book with a picture of the solar system on the front.

Grandpa took the book as he sat down on the couch next to Jim. “The planets?” He opened the book and flipped through the pages.

Jim leaned over and turned the pages to show a picture of the earth with a wedge removed. “See, the earth has layers, like a jawbreaker. Inside the center, there’s liquid and solid metal. Neat, huh?”

“Of course there is,” Grandpa said. “That’s what baby space phoenixes look like.”

“Huh?” Jim looked at the diagram again. “Space phoenixes?”

Neil, who had been adding a mustache to a picture of a panda in Carrie’s coloring book, dropped his pen and grinned. “Is this a grandpa story? We should get Lynn. She’ll want to hear it.” Read More

Charlie’s Room: The Shoehorn

Isaac took the chocolate pudding out of the refrigerator, whisked it, and divided it into three bowls. He carried them to the table, one at a time. First Marianne’s, then Charlie’s, and then he sat down with his own bowl.

“It looks wonderful,” Marianne said.

Isaac sighed. “I forgot to get whipped cream. Chocolate pudding is always better with whipped cream.”

Charlie already had a chocolate beard and mustache. How did that happen so quickly? He grinned. “It’s good. I wish we could have pudding every night.”

Marianne laughed. “If we had pudding every night, you’d get sick of it.”

Charlie frowned. “No I wouldn’t.” He sat up and set his spoon down. “Dad? Can I use your special spoon to eat my pudding? I’ve always wanted to try it.”

“What special spoon?” Isaac looked at Marianne. She shook her head and shrugged.

“The one on your dresser. The shiny metal one.” Charlie sighed. “I’ll go get it and show you.” Read More