"Dreaming" by French Fry Bird

Okay, I’m just going to make this clear now. I’m not too smart. My name is Delia, and I’m 11 years old. But still...not too smart.
    I had this crazy idea about 3 months ago. See, I live near a cliff that’s about 40 feet high. And my dream has always been to go skydiving. So I figured that, well, might as well try it with the cliff! I made a parachute out of a huge old quilt and some jump rope. (I told you, dumb idea. I know that now.)
    I called my friend Sally over to make sure she could watch me do it. I didn’t tell my parents. I knew they wouldn’t approve.
    “Ready, Sal?” I asked. She nodded, amused. She’ll go along with anything so long as it is interesting to her. I tied the jump ropes around my torso, under my armpits. She took out her phone and dialed 911.
    I stood at the edge of the cliff and hopped off it.
    Immediately the parachute opened, but it didn’t work! As I fell, the wind making my eyes water, I regretted my decision. I screamed long and loud. I remember the ground rushing up to meet me, and then blacking out.
    Strangely enough, I awoke in a forest. I didn’t recognize this one. I walked along slowly, looking around me. I wondered how I had gotten there. Maybe I was in the afterlife.
    I came across a tea table set in the middle of the woods. A big rabbit and a guy with a crazy hat sat there. They were eating tea cakes and drinking tea. I knew this story!
    I called out, “You’re the Mad Hatter! And you’re the March Hare!”
    They jumped and stared at me. Then the Mad Hatter spoke up and said, “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be in this story!! OUT! SHOO!! GO AWAY!!!”
    They both started beaning me with tea cakes. “OW! OW! OKAY! I’M GOING, I’M GOING!!” I ran away from the angry storybook characters. Eventually, I came to a clearing. A girl stood there, strangely enough. I’d seen enough of the book to know that this wasn’t Alice. She looked at me, confused.
    “Where am I?” she asked me.
    “I have no idea. I just saw the Mad Hatter and the March Hare, so maybe this is Wonderland.” I replied. Just then, a guy in a business suit walked by and got run over by a rhino.
    “Or not,” she said, wiping some blood off her dress. “I don’t remember the children’s book being this violent.”
    “Neither do I. The last thing I remember is jumping off a cliff, so maybe we’re dead and this is Purgatory.”
    “You committed SUICIDE?” she asked incredulously.
    “NO! I thought my quilt-parachute would work!”
    She looked at me like I was a complete moron. I probably am. Obviously, she was no help, so I left her and went on. Eventually, I saw a huge pink plastic house. A (I am NOT kidding you here) Barbie started to walk inside. I stopped her and asked, “Where am I?”
    “Here? You are in the space between the afterlife and the living world. You are suspended. Probably half-dead. What did you do, try to jump off a cliff with a homemade parachute?”
    I blushed.
    “WAIT. That’s seriously what you did? You idiot!”
    “I know, I know. So what are YOU doing here?”
    “I’m a doll. Half alive, half not. Meant to seem alive, but I am not quite. So when the people sleep or leave us alone, our minds and souls come here.”
    “But I just saw the Mad Hatter and the March Hare.”
    “Those two? They’re not drinking tea, honey. Alcoholics only have half a life. Part of their minds reside here.”
    “And the businessman who got hit by a rhino??”
    She frowned. “He must also be here because he was injured and is half-dead. May have gotten hit by a car, and the replay got screwed up.”
    “...Replay?”
    “Yeah. It happens to humans who are injured. Their story gets replayed here. I’m really not sure why.”
    “Wait. How do I get out of here?”
    “You don’t. Nobody’s figured out yet, though some make it back anyway.”
    First, I was filled with despair. Then, the most brilliant idea I have ever had popped into my head. I thanked the Barbie and headed back to the clearing. I waited.
    Eventually, I saw a cliff appear nearby. I saw myself with my parachute on, about to jump. I sprinted to her, and as she was about take the leap of faith, I shoved her out of the way and jumped off myself.

    I awoke in a hospital bed. My parents stood around me, along with Sally. They cheered as I opened my eyes. I tried to sit up, but I was so wrapped in bandages I couldn’t move. Two different liquids dripped into my arm.
    I managed to just barely whisper, “What are these things in my arm?”
    Sally rolled her eyes and said, “What do you think? Nutrients and painkillers, stupid.”
    I should’ve guessed. Anyway, I made a full recovery there at the hospital and here I am now, telling you the story. I still often wonder about the other girl who was there, and if I’ll ever see her again. And if she ever figured out how to escape.
    Okay, I know, I know. If I hadn’t tried the stupid stunt, it would have never happened. But all in all, it was pretty interesting. Maybe even fun. I wonder if anything like it will ever happen again.
    Even though I got really badly hurt, I’d probably do it again and just use the time to wander around in the world between worlds.

    Sometimes, I’m glad to have bad ideas.

A Pond

This is a picture of a locally owned private pond, lightly edited for clarity.
      Taken by Albatross

Owl People

Created by Condor.

Leopard Moth

A friendly leopard moth that had joined us on a camping trip.

Photo taken by Thunderbird

Cardinal's Song

Softly, I hear you sing to me.
Your vibrant red flashing amidst the green.
I close my eyes, absorbing the sun on my face.
Listening, for you.

Bring me comfort little bird.
Sing to me sweet notes of life.

Copyright Chickadee 2012

The Fairy Dance

Fairies dance in a fairy ring.
A butterfly comes and announces spring.
The fairies clap a bunch with joy.
The grumpy owl they did annoy.
The owl flies down and fairies scatter.
While the chipmunk and squirrel have friendly chatter.

Copyright Cardinal 2012

Outer space

Outer space over an ocean horizon.
I used five colors of spray paint, an old rag, two cans of paint and a cup to make the planets.

Created by Phoenix

Buddhist monks

These are three Buddhist monks leaving the ruined Bayon Temple in Cambodia. Lightly retouched with selective color.

      Taken by Sparrowhawk

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