Donut Dwellers #7

  
 Here is the next episode of Donut Dwellers for my now five year old buddy!  Happy Birthday :)  I hope it was an amazing one.
Here are the previous episodes.

Donut Dwellers episode 1
Donut Dwellers episode 2
Donut Dwellers episode 3
Donut Dwellers episode 4
Donut Dwellers episode 5
Donut Dwellers episode 6
August didn't know when Zandy had left.  Had it been minutes ago?  Hours?  He had no idea where she was headed.  He didn't even know if she was safe or cold or scared.  He just knew one thing.  He had to find her.  
"I shouldn't be gone long.  I hope."  he told Zoomer.  
Zoomer blew bubbles at him.
"I know, I'll miss you too." August said, giving his pet fish some food.  
What if he wasn't back before Zoomer ate it all?  He would just have to make sure that he was. 
Opening his backpack, he tossed in a flashlight and a few of his sister's favorite snack foods.  He slipped the straps over his shoulders and crawled out the tunnel.
What if he couldn't find Zandy?  No.  He wasn't going to let himself think like that, besides, he had a trail of crumbs to follow.  
It felt funny not talking.  He and Zandy always talked.
"I wonder how far I will have to go."  he said to himself.
Talking to himself was even stranger than not talking at all.
The door was getting closer and closer.
When he was almost to it he could see that it was open just a tiny bit.  
August had to turn sideways and hold his breath to squeeze through.
"Phew. This is it.  I'm going outside."
Funny or not he had to say it anyway.  He'd never been outside before and now he knew why.
It was just like a jungle in a story book.  All he could see was green, green under his feet, green reaching toward the sky, and green growing on top of green.  
It was a good thing he liked green.
He pushed aside a huge stalk of grass and marched on.  
He kept going until he heard a noise.
It sounded like a sneeze.  
"Zandy?" he called.  "Is that you?"
Whoever it was didn't answer.
"Zzzzandy?"  
This time he didn't need an answer.  He saw a girl up ahead.
She turned around.
It wasn't Zandy.

Donut Dwellers #6

    
 Here is the next episode of Donut Dwellers!  I hope that my almost five year old buddy likes it!  If you have missed the other episodes here is the links. 
Donut Dwellers episode 1
Donut Dwellers episode 2
Donut Dwellers episode 3
Donut Dwellers episode 4
Donut Dwellers episode 5


 August sat down to catch his breath.  It felt like he and Zandy had been rolling that red button forever. 

"You think we would be closer by now."  Zandy said, wiping sweat from her forehead.

"That's exactly what I was thinking."  August said.

He still had no idea how they were going to get the button to the top of their donut but it looked like he had plenty of time to figure it out.

It wasn't until they made it all the way to the tunnel that he began to get worried.  Very worried.

"It almost seems like it is taller than it was before."  August said, tilting his head back as far as it would go.

"I think it's the same, we are just so tired it looks taller."  Zandy said.

She was probably right but August wasn't completely convinced.

"Do you think it’s worth the trouble?" August asked.

"Yes.  I do" Zandy said.  "Especially since we just spent hours and hours rolling it here.  You do still want a tower, don't you?" 

"Of course I want one."

Nothing could be better than having a house with a tower on top.  He would be able to see for ever and ever. Who knew what he might discover if he could see that far.

"We could loop a rope through one of the holes and try to drag the button up after us."  he said after he had thought about it for a while.

"I don't think it will work." Zandy said.  "I think it will get stuck and dig a pit in the side of our donut.  It might even cause an avalanche."

August agreed.  It wasn't worth the risk.  Maybe the tower wasn't meant to be after all.

"I'm going to bed."  He said.

"What? You're just going to give up?"

"Yes." 

August was mad.  His arms hurt.  His head hurt.  He wanted to curl up in his bed and watch Zoomer swim in circles until he fell asleep.

"We can't just give up, we've come so far."  Zandy said.

August didn't answer.  He crossed his arms and went to his room.

When he woke up in the morning he felt better.  He felt so much better he ran to tell Zandy that he was ready to come up with a plan, a great plan, but he couldn't find her.  He checked all of her favorite places.  She wasn't in any of them.

She was gone.  The only clue that she had left behind was a faint trail of crumbs leading to the far wall.  There was only one reason to travel to the far wall and that was to go through the giant door. The giant door led somewhere that August had never been before.  It led outside.

(to be continued)

Donut Dwellers #5

 Here is part 5 of the donut story I'm writing for a four year old buddy of mine!

Zandy looked up at the tower her brother had just built.

"August, it’s crooked.  Really crooked."
"Again?"  He said.
He shook his head and a cloud of sugar dust encircled him.
"Aaachhooo." August sneezed.  It was his twenty-seventh sneeze that morning
"Bless you, again"  Zandy said.
She tipped her head to one side. 
"It looks ok if my head is half way to my left shoulder."
August stepped back.  Zandy was right.  It was really, really crooked.  He looked carefully at Zandy and tipped his head exactly like hers.  That did make it look better, a lot better.
As far as August could tell, they had two choices.  They could walk around with their heads tilted to one side so it looked straight or they could rebuild it from the ground up. 
He didn't want to rebuild it.  He had already done that just this morning.  He didn't even want to remember how many times he had rebuilt it yesterday.
August was just about to suggest that they leave it like it was when his neck began to hurt.  He rubbed at it until it felt better and then he sighed.
"Well, we don't have a choice.  We have to rebuild it."  He said.
"August, do you think it’s crooked because the donut is too soft so it sinks in on one side?"
August studied the bottom of the tower.  It did seem to be sinking.
"Ugh!  It doesn't matter how many times I fix it, it’s just going to sink."  He said.
Zandy walked up to the tower and gave it a little push.  It began to sway from side to side. 
"I think the weight is too heavy for such a small part of the donut to support."  Zandy said. "Maybe it would be better if we built it on something big and flat.  That way the weight would be spread out more."
August thought about it for a minute.  It made sense.  It made a lot of sense, but what could they use for a base?
He looked around him.  He didn’t see anything.
He looked way off in the distance. 
"Zandy, look.  What's that thing?  The red, round thing way over there?"
"I think it’s a button."
"Do you think it would make a good base?"
"I do.  Oh August, if it’s like most buttons it will have four holes in it, just perfect for sticking the corners of the tower into. Then it wouldn’t shake when I push it anymore!"
"Do you think that the button is big enough to keep it from sinking?" August asked.
"I don't know but I do know how to find out."
Zandy grabbed a square of shiny paper cut from a magazine cover and started sliding down the side of the donut.
August grinned.  Donut sledding had been his idea and it sure was a fun one.  He grabbed his own magazine cover sled and slid after her.
When they reached the bottom of the donut they rolled up their sleds and started the hike towards the button.  It was much farther than it had looked from the top of the donut.  When they finally arrived at their destination they could only stare.  The button was big enough.  In fact it was so big that they would have to make the tower bigger if they wanted the corners to fit in the holes.
"So Zandy, any ideas on getting it to the top of the donut?" August asked.
Zandy just stared at the button, her eyes big and round.

(To be continued...)

Donut Dweller's #4

Here is part four of the bedtime story requested by a super sweet four year old!  When this series is done my own four year old has requested one on mermaids.

August sunk his feet deep in the bottom of the tunnel and pushed against the fish bowl as hard as he could.. 
Zoomer slid slowly, slowly through the tunnel.  Little bits of donut fell into the bowl.  Zoomer didn't mind one bit.  He snapped up each crumb and licked his lips.
"I don't think I can push him much further, Zandy."
"You can't give up now!  You're almost there."
Zandy leaned against August and gave them a giant push.
"Wow!  Great thinking!  That helped a lot."  August said.  "One more push like that and we should be inside the donut's center."
"You mean the courtyard." Zandy said with a giggle.
August and Zandy gave Zoomer's bowl one more shove.  It did the trick.  Zoomer broke loose from the tunnel.
"Ahhh.  Now to relax in our new home." August thought.
He looked around. 
"Zandy, where did you go?"
Nobody answered.
"Zandy?"
Still nothing.
August looked back at the tunnel, or what use to be the tunnel.  All he could see was a mound of crumbs.
"Oh no!  Don't worry Zandy.  I will save you."
August knew just what had to be done.  He began to dig.  He dug faster and faster and faster.
Finally he saw a bit of  purple peeking through the crumbs.  It was Zandy's dress.
"I've almost got you.  Hold on."
One, two, three more handfuls of crumbs and he could see his sister's hand.  He grabbed it and pulled. 
Zandy flew out of the tunnel and landed right next to Zoomer.
"Are you ok?" August asked.
Zandy didn't answer at first.  She was to busy eating donut crumbs. 
"Sorry."  She said at last.  "This donut is just so delicious."
"Just make sure that you only eat the crumbs."  August said. 
Now that Zoomer was here and Zandy was safe it was time to make this donut look like home.
August reached into his pocket and pulled out a picture of his favorite super hero ever and stuck it on the wall near the tunnel. 
There.  Much better.  Bed's and rugs and the tower he and Zandy wanted would have to wait.  Pushing a fish bowl through a tunnel and rescuing a sister was hard work.
August curled up around Zoomer  and fell fast asleep.

Donut Dwellers # 3 and JuNoWriMo

Here is part three of the bedtime story that I am writing for a very sweet four year old that asked me to write a story about little people living on a donut.  To read the first installment click here.  For the second click here.

Water splashed onto August's toe. 
"If your not careful he is going to run out of water before we get him to our house."  Zandy said.
"I know.  I'm trying."
August wrapped his arms as tightly as they would go.  Why couldn't Zoomer have a square fish bowl?  Maybe one with wheels on the bottom. Round bowls were so slippery. 
"Watch out!" Zandy screamed.
August jumped.  His foot hit something hard.
"No, no, no.  I won't let you fall, I won't let you fall."  Even as he said the words he could feel the bowl slipping from his grip.  He hit the ground with a thud.  Zoomer would be next. 
What if his bowl broke?  His poor, poor little fish. 
August waited for the sound of smashing glass.
 He had tripped.  He was flat on the floor, but he hadn't heard anything break.  He hadn't even heard a thump.
August looked to one side.  Nothing. 
He looked to the other.  There was Zandy.  She was on her back and balanced on top of her was Zoomer! 
"That was close." she said.
"You saved him.  How did you do that?" August asked.
"I don't know." she said, shaking her head. "I saw him falling and I just sort of slid under him."
"That was the best save ever."
August peered over the edge of the bowl.  Zoomer looked at him and blew a few bubbles.
"I'm so glad your ok, little buddy."  he said.
August looked ahead.  He could see their donut home straight ahead.  Had the tunnel always been so skinny? 
"I sure hope you fit inside." he whispered to his pet.
(to be continued next week)



I can't believe that it is almost June!  I also can't believe that I decided to write 50,000 words for JuNoWriMo!  I am so excited.  I haven't done anything like this before and I can't wait to finish drafting "Simmer".  I tried to convince myself to plot at least a little but I only have a vague outline, some amazing characters and my crazy, runaway imagination.  Since this novel runs parallel to the first one I wrote I do have my setting figured out.  I can't wait to see what happens when I sit down to type it out.  I'm going to try to blog like usual but if I'm scarce this month, you know where I will be, drafting with a giant cup of coffee beside me!

Donut Dwellers (part 2)

This is a series of short stories that I am writing for a little buddy of mine.  If you missed the first story you can read it here.

Zandy flicked donut crumbs out of her hair. 

“How long do we have to dig this tunnel?”  She asked.

“It shouldn’t be much longer.” August answered.  “We can’t be that far from the center.”

“What if it doesn’t have a hole in the middle?” Zandy asked.  “Oh, no.  August, what if it is one of those jelly filled ones?”

August didn’t answer at first.  He hadn’t thought of that.  What if they dug and dug only to have the tunnel fill up with jelly?  How would they get out?

“If it does, start digging a tunnel going up as fast as you can.”  He said.

He closed his eyes and grabbed another handful of donut. 

 If he was going to get covered in jelly he’d rather it just happen.  He didn’t want to see it. 

No jelly came out.  He took a deep breath and reached for his next handful.  It wasn’t there.  Nothing was there.  He opened his eyes. 

“We did it!  It is just a normal donut, no jelly.”  He said.

“That’s good.” Zandy said.  “I didn’t want to get sticky.”

“Me either.  Can you help me make this hole big enough to go through?”

With both of them working the job was easy.  

“Do you want to go in first?”  August asked.

“Yes!  Thanks.”  Zandy crawled through.  

August went after her.

“Its huge in here.” He said.

“It is.  I like it.  It’s like the courtyard of a castle.”

“We will have to build a tower on top of the donut.   Then it will really be like a castle.”  August said.

“But first, we need to rescue Zoomer.  I’m worried about him.”

(to be continued next week)

 

Donut Dwellers (bedtime story #1)

 One of my favorite four year olds asked for a story about little people that live on a donut.  I had trouble keeping it to one story, so...  I'm now writing a weekly donut bedtime story until my ideas run out :)


"I'm not living in that." Zandy said, wrinkling her nose.
"We have to live somewhere, at least until I can scare that spider out of our house."  August said.  He tugged at the old shoe.  It seemed sturdy enough.
Zandy shivered. 
"You'll be careful, right?  That spider is almost as big as you."
"I'll be careful." August said, as he climbed into the shoe.
It smelled horrible.  His sister was right.  There was no way they could live in here.  
"What about up there?"  Zandy said, pointing to a wooden mountain, or maybe it was a table.  August couldn't decide. 
"Maybe the spider won't find us if we are up so high."
"Maybe" August said.  He jumped out of the shoe. 
"How would I get Zoomer up there?"
"You're going to bring your pet fish?"  Zandy asked.  
"Of course.  He's my trusty buddy."
August took a deep breath.
"What's that smell?" he asked.
"It's probably the shoe."  Zandy answered.
"No, this is different.  This smells sweet."
Zandy took a little sniff.
"Ooo.  It does."
They followed the smell until they hit a dead end.
August tipped his head back as far as it would go.
"Careful!" Zandy said, giggling.  "Your going to fall over."
August wobbled and fell into the giant... thing.
"I think its a donut." he said, wiping something white off of his nose.
"Isn't it a bit large for a donut?"
"Not for someone that's full sized." he answered.
"I don't know.  It still seems way to big."  Zandy said.  "August, why are you grinning?"
August didn't answer.  He sunk his teeth into the giant..., whatever it was.
"Yup. Definitely a donut."
He wiped his hands on his pants.
"I think we just found our new home!" August said.
"You want to live on a donut?"  Zandy said.
"Its that or the shoe." he said.
"If I choose the donut, how are we going to get up?"
"Watch."  August said. "I have an idea."
(to be continued next week)