They finally got to the little bay where the water nymphs usually would come to visit with them, but Doug kept going. He was going further into the woods that either Steve or Ronnie had ever been. The trails they usually followed were pretty well worn, and as long as you headed towards the open sky you could find your way out of the woods. However, Doug was heading deeper into the woods, where the trails were just a shadow of disturbed leaves and the three had to climb over fallen trees and cross muddy creeks. The good thing was Doug had slowed down enough that the other two could catch up with him. The other good news was he seemed to be back to his good natured self.
“Ronnie, give me your hand, that rock is a little wobbly.” Tentatively Ronnie took his hand and was relieved to see the friendly sparkle was back in his eyes. He stayed put to offer his hand to Steve next. “Here Steve, that rock’s…” it was too late, Steve’s foot slipped and his leg went knee high in black goopy mud.
The three of them seemed to freeze. This whole thing was too weird, and Steve did not handle pressure well, he was either going to flip out, or start laughing.
“Freakin-a! You have got to be kidding! First we run a marathon to keep up with you, then you lead us into the depths of Squire Woods, and now I am up to my knee is black ooz! Whatever is going on had better be worth it!” Ronnie and Doug just stared, still not sure what to do next. “Well would you quite gawking and help me out of here? I am assuming we have to climb a mountain before we get to wherever the heck we are going.”
A flurry of uncomfortable laughter filled the silent woods for a few minutes as they pulled Steve, and then his shoes out of the mud.
Once they were settled Steve turned to Doug and with a not-to-light tone asked again “So what the heck is going on?”
Doug glanced over his shoulder and for the first time Ronnie and Steve noticed another pond, this one was deep in the woods.
“You asked me if there were mer-people in my pond, our pond, the one we go to all the time. The answer is no, there are no mer-people in that pond. However…” he nodded over his shoulder “I have see mer-people in these ponds.”
“But how?” Ronnie asked in disbelief. “That pond looks even smaller than the other one?”
“That’s why I asked you why you asked. Anyone who knows anything at all about mer-people would know that pond is way too small for ever the smallest mer-person.”
Steve and Doug both looked at Ronnie, who seemed to have missed the question.
“So why did you ask?” Steve prodded.
“What? Oh, right, well remember when we were having lunch with Stella?”
Steve nodded and Doug shook his head.
“Ronnie, give me your hand, that rock is a little wobbly.” Tentatively Ronnie took his hand and was relieved to see the friendly sparkle was back in his eyes. He stayed put to offer his hand to Steve next. “Here Steve, that rock’s…” it was too late, Steve’s foot slipped and his leg went knee high in black goopy mud.
The three of them seemed to freeze. This whole thing was too weird, and Steve did not handle pressure well, he was either going to flip out, or start laughing.
“Freakin-a! You have got to be kidding! First we run a marathon to keep up with you, then you lead us into the depths of Squire Woods, and now I am up to my knee is black ooz! Whatever is going on had better be worth it!” Ronnie and Doug just stared, still not sure what to do next. “Well would you quite gawking and help me out of here? I am assuming we have to climb a mountain before we get to wherever the heck we are going.”
A flurry of uncomfortable laughter filled the silent woods for a few minutes as they pulled Steve, and then his shoes out of the mud.
Once they were settled Steve turned to Doug and with a not-to-light tone asked again “So what the heck is going on?”
Doug glanced over his shoulder and for the first time Ronnie and Steve noticed another pond, this one was deep in the woods.
“You asked me if there were mer-people in my pond, our pond, the one we go to all the time. The answer is no, there are no mer-people in that pond. However…” he nodded over his shoulder “I have see mer-people in these ponds.”
“But how?” Ronnie asked in disbelief. “That pond looks even smaller than the other one?”
“That’s why I asked you why you asked. Anyone who knows anything at all about mer-people would know that pond is way too small for ever the smallest mer-person.”
Steve and Doug both looked at Ronnie, who seemed to have missed the question.
“So why did you ask?” Steve prodded.
“What? Oh, right, well remember when we were having lunch with Stella?”
Steve nodded and Doug shook his head.
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