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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Kids
- Theme: Fairy Tales & Fantasy
- Subject: Fantasy / Dreams / Wishes
- Published: 06/01/2019
The Magic Key
Born 1960, F, from Tollesboro, United StatesThe Magic Key
By Tammy Ruggles
Benny was 8 when he moved into his new home. His parents were paleontologists with the local college, and began a “bone project” on the 100-acre property. The house was free as long as the project lasted.
It was an old house, with lots of stairs, nooks, crannies, cubbyholes, and closets to explore. There was even a trap door in the floor under his bed with a lock on it, but alas, without a key, it was a door that would never be opened.
“Forget about it,” his dad said. “Just a dusty old fruit cellar.“
“Dark and dangerous,” his mother added.
Didn’t they know that he LOVED dark and dangerous?
But he bit his lip and took the list of chores they handed him:
--Put clothes in dresser drawers.
--Put toys in closet.
--Put books on bookshelf.
--Rake leaves into piles.
--Watch scary movie marathon on TV.
Awesome! His parents were pretty strict about no scary movies until he was 8. And well, he turned 8 two weeks ago, so now the ban was lifted.
Excited and a little scared about what lie in store on the TV tonight, he hurriedly put away his clothes, toys, and paleontology books, then ran outside, snatched up the rake, and began his final task.
The sun was going down, but there was still enough light to see, so Benny raked like a madman, wondering what goblins and trolls he would encounter tonight on the scary movie marathon.
Would he have popcorn and hot cocoa like he had when he was 7 and watching family-friendly movies, or move into more mature foods like cheese ball and sushi?
“Anything but dill pickles,” his mother always warned him. “They’ll give you nightmares.”
Nightmares be gone. He was 8 now, and he would eat a whole jar of pickles if he felt like it. Er, if he could get away with it?
He raked the last bits of leaves into the nice big pile he had going.
“Cool,” he said out loud to himself. “Me and Dad can jump in this.”
Just as he was about to turn and head back to the house, a glint of silver caught his attention and he looked back.
An ornate, silver key gleamed up at him, with all of its royal, mysterious scrollwork.
“Oh wow,” he breathed under his breath as he reached down and picked it up.
It felt kind of heavy, and there was a ring on one end of it, the kind you would clip to a keychain, belt loop, or an even bigger ring of keys.
“Hey, Dad!” he shouted toward the house, “Look what I—“
But then he stopped.
Maybe I’ll just keep this to myself.
Quickly he stuffed the key into his jeans pocket, and ran for the house in the dark.
::::::::::::::::::::::
His parents were making chili in the kitchen.
“Want some?” his dad asked with a mouthful.
“No thanks!” Benny called over his shoulder as he ran for his bedroom. “I’m going to watch the marathon in my room, remember? I’ll be back for cheese ball and sushi later!”
His mom laughed. “All right, Benny, have a good time. And no pickles!”
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Benny went into his room and closed his bedroom door, locking it.
Forget the marathon. I have a REAL adventure on my hands.
He dove straight under his bed and worked the key into the lock that held the trap door shut.
What if it isn’t the right key? What if it goes to a shed or something?
Like magic, the key slid perfectly in, and the lock slipped perfectly off.
Then he calculated that he would have to move his bed to open the door far enough to get down inside the cellar, so that’s what he did, quickly but quietly. He didn’t want his parents to know. They would ban him from the cellar, and never trust him again.
With his hands on the door, he was ready to lift it up and back. In the quiet room, his heart beat loud and fast, his breath going in and out in heavy pants.
Now hold it a second. It’s supposed to be a fruit cellar, but what if there are…other things…down there? In the dark? Things that have been lost and forgotten? Dark, creepy things that crawled and crept behind shelves and inside boxes? Eyes watching you, tongues licking, teeth dripping, claws clicking.
“But it’s just a cellar,” he told himself. “An ordinary, normal, regular, plain old cellar. And you’re 8 now. So do it.”
Holding his breath, he lifted the door up, and when he did, a soft silvery blue glow came up to meet him, and greet him.
A sudden calmness came over him, and all anxiety left. It took no courage at all to climb down the wooden steps; just will. Below him was a staircase that wound around and down in right angles, layers of square landings that seemed to go down into eternal darkness forever.
Once he got down far enough on the steps, he reached up and closed the door over his head, not sure why. He just felt like he needed to.
His eyes grew big in amazement as he made his way down each level of stairs, until finally, finally, he reached the bottom, and the last door. But when he opened the last door, it opened into an underground world all its own, just like the earth above, with gently gleaming bluish silver to lead the way. It seemed to bathe the air, and when Benny looked up, he realized that it was a moon that was providing the light.
What? A moon underground? A second world?
It wasn’t a room.
It was a universe.
Which began to make him feel very small.
But not alone.
He could see eyes watching, tongues licking, teeth dripping, and claws clicking. But he wasn’t afraid, because they weren’t afraid. They were lying around quietly as if drifting off to a good night’s sleep; some munching on plants and greenery; some lapping water from foggy pools; some yawning.
“They” were the giants of old, the young and the old; and the other ancient creatures that had roamed the earth so long ago. The saber tooth tiger. The woolly mammoth. And the others.
A baby mammoth appeared to be stuck, and sinking, in a puddle of mud or quicksand, and made a sound of fear and pain. Its mother was nowhere around to help, so without thinking, Benny rushed over to push and pull on the furry beast, until it was free.
They all seemed to be communicating to him with their minds.
“It’s all right. You’re safe here. Welcome.”
Benny felt respect from them as he led the small but large woolly mammoth farther and deeper into the underworld, toward the colossal mother that waited at the foot of a mountain.
He was no longer inside; but outside. An outside world, hidden but alive inside the earth—fresh, alive, and untouched by any hands except giant hands.
When the mother saw her baby returning, she made her way toward them, dipping her head as if to smell the boy.
Benny should have been surprised, but wasn’t, when she spoke directly to him, telepathically: “Thank you, Benny. We’ve been waiting for you.”
He felt no fear of her, like a movie would make it out to be. Crazily, it felt like family.
He was in awe, but a good kind of awe. The kind that a majestic mountain or surreal sunrise brings about.
The oldest-looking of the giants walked over to him and looked down, not smiling, but not frowning either.
When he finally found his voice, Benny said out loud, although he could have spoken as silently as she had: “Waiting for me? Why?”
The giant spoke this time, out loud, and in perfect English:
“You’re a paleontologist at heart, Benny. A researcher. A scientist. Like your parents. We knew you before you were born. You’re here because you can study us, and write about us, and tell the truth about us. You’ve been chosen to show our world to your world, so that we can all live together, peacefully. We want to be understood, and we want to understand you. We’re tired of living in isolation. We were here first. And we want to co-exist with everyone above. But we’re a peaceful people. We don’t war with others. We want to sit down with your people and talk about how we can live together, and help each other.”
Benny listened carefully. He knew that some people above ground would welcome the giant race, but others would be mistrustful. He thought about telling them that he thought it was kind of unfair to put such a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, but he didn’t.
“We know,” the leader of the giants said as he placed a gentle finger on Benny’s shoulder. “It won’t be easy, but it will be possible. We’ll talk to your parents first, and they can help us assimilate.”
Benny completely understood.
“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I’ll go get my parents.”
End
The Magic Key(Tammy Ruggles)
The Magic Key
By Tammy Ruggles
Benny was 8 when he moved into his new home. His parents were paleontologists with the local college, and began a “bone project” on the 100-acre property. The house was free as long as the project lasted.
It was an old house, with lots of stairs, nooks, crannies, cubbyholes, and closets to explore. There was even a trap door in the floor under his bed with a lock on it, but alas, without a key, it was a door that would never be opened.
“Forget about it,” his dad said. “Just a dusty old fruit cellar.“
“Dark and dangerous,” his mother added.
Didn’t they know that he LOVED dark and dangerous?
But he bit his lip and took the list of chores they handed him:
--Put clothes in dresser drawers.
--Put toys in closet.
--Put books on bookshelf.
--Rake leaves into piles.
--Watch scary movie marathon on TV.
Awesome! His parents were pretty strict about no scary movies until he was 8. And well, he turned 8 two weeks ago, so now the ban was lifted.
Excited and a little scared about what lie in store on the TV tonight, he hurriedly put away his clothes, toys, and paleontology books, then ran outside, snatched up the rake, and began his final task.
The sun was going down, but there was still enough light to see, so Benny raked like a madman, wondering what goblins and trolls he would encounter tonight on the scary movie marathon.
Would he have popcorn and hot cocoa like he had when he was 7 and watching family-friendly movies, or move into more mature foods like cheese ball and sushi?
“Anything but dill pickles,” his mother always warned him. “They’ll give you nightmares.”
Nightmares be gone. He was 8 now, and he would eat a whole jar of pickles if he felt like it. Er, if he could get away with it?
He raked the last bits of leaves into the nice big pile he had going.
“Cool,” he said out loud to himself. “Me and Dad can jump in this.”
Just as he was about to turn and head back to the house, a glint of silver caught his attention and he looked back.
An ornate, silver key gleamed up at him, with all of its royal, mysterious scrollwork.
“Oh wow,” he breathed under his breath as he reached down and picked it up.
It felt kind of heavy, and there was a ring on one end of it, the kind you would clip to a keychain, belt loop, or an even bigger ring of keys.
“Hey, Dad!” he shouted toward the house, “Look what I—“
But then he stopped.
Maybe I’ll just keep this to myself.
Quickly he stuffed the key into his jeans pocket, and ran for the house in the dark.
::::::::::::::::::::::
His parents were making chili in the kitchen.
“Want some?” his dad asked with a mouthful.
“No thanks!” Benny called over his shoulder as he ran for his bedroom. “I’m going to watch the marathon in my room, remember? I’ll be back for cheese ball and sushi later!”
His mom laughed. “All right, Benny, have a good time. And no pickles!”
::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Benny went into his room and closed his bedroom door, locking it.
Forget the marathon. I have a REAL adventure on my hands.
He dove straight under his bed and worked the key into the lock that held the trap door shut.
What if it isn’t the right key? What if it goes to a shed or something?
Like magic, the key slid perfectly in, and the lock slipped perfectly off.
Then he calculated that he would have to move his bed to open the door far enough to get down inside the cellar, so that’s what he did, quickly but quietly. He didn’t want his parents to know. They would ban him from the cellar, and never trust him again.
With his hands on the door, he was ready to lift it up and back. In the quiet room, his heart beat loud and fast, his breath going in and out in heavy pants.
Now hold it a second. It’s supposed to be a fruit cellar, but what if there are…other things…down there? In the dark? Things that have been lost and forgotten? Dark, creepy things that crawled and crept behind shelves and inside boxes? Eyes watching you, tongues licking, teeth dripping, claws clicking.
“But it’s just a cellar,” he told himself. “An ordinary, normal, regular, plain old cellar. And you’re 8 now. So do it.”
Holding his breath, he lifted the door up, and when he did, a soft silvery blue glow came up to meet him, and greet him.
A sudden calmness came over him, and all anxiety left. It took no courage at all to climb down the wooden steps; just will. Below him was a staircase that wound around and down in right angles, layers of square landings that seemed to go down into eternal darkness forever.
Once he got down far enough on the steps, he reached up and closed the door over his head, not sure why. He just felt like he needed to.
His eyes grew big in amazement as he made his way down each level of stairs, until finally, finally, he reached the bottom, and the last door. But when he opened the last door, it opened into an underground world all its own, just like the earth above, with gently gleaming bluish silver to lead the way. It seemed to bathe the air, and when Benny looked up, he realized that it was a moon that was providing the light.
What? A moon underground? A second world?
It wasn’t a room.
It was a universe.
Which began to make him feel very small.
But not alone.
He could see eyes watching, tongues licking, teeth dripping, and claws clicking. But he wasn’t afraid, because they weren’t afraid. They were lying around quietly as if drifting off to a good night’s sleep; some munching on plants and greenery; some lapping water from foggy pools; some yawning.
“They” were the giants of old, the young and the old; and the other ancient creatures that had roamed the earth so long ago. The saber tooth tiger. The woolly mammoth. And the others.
A baby mammoth appeared to be stuck, and sinking, in a puddle of mud or quicksand, and made a sound of fear and pain. Its mother was nowhere around to help, so without thinking, Benny rushed over to push and pull on the furry beast, until it was free.
They all seemed to be communicating to him with their minds.
“It’s all right. You’re safe here. Welcome.”
Benny felt respect from them as he led the small but large woolly mammoth farther and deeper into the underworld, toward the colossal mother that waited at the foot of a mountain.
He was no longer inside; but outside. An outside world, hidden but alive inside the earth—fresh, alive, and untouched by any hands except giant hands.
When the mother saw her baby returning, she made her way toward them, dipping her head as if to smell the boy.
Benny should have been surprised, but wasn’t, when she spoke directly to him, telepathically: “Thank you, Benny. We’ve been waiting for you.”
He felt no fear of her, like a movie would make it out to be. Crazily, it felt like family.
He was in awe, but a good kind of awe. The kind that a majestic mountain or surreal sunrise brings about.
The oldest-looking of the giants walked over to him and looked down, not smiling, but not frowning either.
When he finally found his voice, Benny said out loud, although he could have spoken as silently as she had: “Waiting for me? Why?”
The giant spoke this time, out loud, and in perfect English:
“You’re a paleontologist at heart, Benny. A researcher. A scientist. Like your parents. We knew you before you were born. You’re here because you can study us, and write about us, and tell the truth about us. You’ve been chosen to show our world to your world, so that we can all live together, peacefully. We want to be understood, and we want to understand you. We’re tired of living in isolation. We were here first. And we want to co-exist with everyone above. But we’re a peaceful people. We don’t war with others. We want to sit down with your people and talk about how we can live together, and help each other.”
Benny listened carefully. He knew that some people above ground would welcome the giant race, but others would be mistrustful. He thought about telling them that he thought it was kind of unfair to put such a heavy responsibility on his shoulders, but he didn’t.
“We know,” the leader of the giants said as he placed a gentle finger on Benny’s shoulder. “It won’t be easy, but it will be possible. We’ll talk to your parents first, and they can help us assimilate.”
Benny completely understood.
“Yes,” he said with a nod. “I’ll go get my parents.”
End
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