The Odd Well

He showed again looking down at me. I can see his head tilting back and forth, his eyes squinting, straining to see the floor of my home. The darkness around me keeps me safe and hidden but this boy is annoying. Yesterday he started whistling at me, the echoing squeal was almost unbearable. Today he began by tossing a few rocks and listening to them thump into the ground below. Imagine someone showing up at your home and throwing this and that around, once again this child has chosen to irritate me. It is plain to me the boy will not leave me be, his curiosity getting the better of him. I will have to do away with this unfortunate annoyance, tomorrow I will be prepared .

I placed a shiny coin on the ground  making sure to allow just a little light through my darkness. I’m quite proud of the bait I have set out, I am sure it will suffice. He arrived during my nap and when I woke he was already lighting a wad of straw. I really hate it when people drop fire into my home, its not that it  scares me or the light burns its just unpleasant, the smell remains for days. I snuff the dropped fire and retreat allowing the sunlight to polish the coin.

Surprisingly the boy seemed to ignore the coin and trod off. That's a first I was certain he would lean in and I could just reach up and pluck him like a piece of rosy cheeked fruit. Happily the boy return with a ladder. He’s a brave one that's for certain, the child is actually coming to me, that's nice. The ladder lands on my floor and the boy immediately begins his descent. He pops on his flashlight now that is a problem those gadgets make a terrible humming noise and I am not longer simply annoyed, the noise is painful. He nears the bottom and  I decide that offending device has worn out its welcome. Reaching out at the boy I say “didn’t you mother tell you not to play near wells”

~ Derek