Axel and Urban #writephoto

Axel said to Urban, “So, we’ve got another summer day in front of us. I think it’s time for another adventure.”

Urban was a little bit hesitant at this invitation, because last summer, right after their seventh-grade year ended, they went on a trip together, and things got scary. Their parents trusted them, since previous summer vacations had involved adventurous trips through mountains, caves, or wooded areas.

Urban’s parents went to school with Axel’s parents, and afterwards, Urban’s parents moved to the city, while Axel’s parents decided to further the agricultural aims of the nearby county.

Last summer, they and their parents took a trip through the woods. Although Urban was used to the critters of the city like rats, cockroaches, and spiders, he was not prepared for the snakes that he would find in the forest. Despite the fact that they were doing geocaching, which was one of his favourite activities, his ophidiophobia strongly discouraged him from going far away from the city in the last year.

In one of their travel magazines, Axel’s parents had shown him the following picture, which, though it looked like it was the walls of a castle, was actually hidden within a cave. The opening at the top would be too small for an adult to fit through, but rumour had it that there were amazing treasures for anyone who could get up there. Axel had a great idea, but wanted Urban to see it too. The treasures might be useful for his family, because his Dad had a strong interest in relics.

So, Axel continued, “I know about the snakes, but they won’t live in this cave. Besides, I know you’re not afraid of darkness. Hate to be honest, but I sometimes don’t understand  the fears of people from the city.”

Urban retorted, “And what makes you so qualified to comment?”

Axel, trying to defuse the situation, said one word: “Treasure.” That seemed to be the magic word to get Urban to acquisce, and not unwillingly.

So, they took off for this cave, each with caving tools, flashlights, and provisions in their backpacks. Axel took the wheel, and was surprisingly deft with his driving at the age of 14, given that he had been driving tractors for a few years previously. Urban was not scared by this, and his parents seemed to have sufficient trust.

The entrance to the cave was very well-lit. The walls had both stone and an emerald-coloured tint on it. Urban said, “I’ve read about these kinds of caves. They might be gold mines. Maybe I shouldn’t have worried so much–the gold would be worth it!”

Axel responded, under his breath, “Always about the money. What about the thrill of adventure?”

Traipsing down the slight hill in this cave, they arrived at a clearing. This clearing had a stone wall, a platform of green and stone, which looked like it may have been an ancient area for rituals. On the wall, there were two square holes that looked like they could go through to the other side. But they were too small for any human to fit through, and they were also 2.5 meters above the ground, towering above Axel and Urban’s respective statures of 1.5 meters apiece. Not only would they not fit in to these holes, but they would have to stand on each other.

But, three meters up from the ground, there was a passageway in the shape of a Norman window. Urban thought, “To get up there, we could use one of the small openings as leverage.”

Axel had another idea. He reached into his backpack, and pulled out a heavy cylinder. Inside it was a portable trampoline. Don’t ask me how he managed to make this work, but he said, “This trampoline will let us both go together through this cave. Come on! We’ll be known as Axel & Urban, the Gold Minors!”

Urban’s face was shock-still with surprise at Axel’s ingenuity. Particularly because he knew his periodic table and perhaps thought about the lack of coincidence here. His trepidation turned into pure enthusiasm, as they excitedly bounded the trampoline, caught onto the ledge, and crawled through the tunnel…

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Kenosha: 18 days.

Orientation: 32 days.

Day 1: 57 days.

This post is my response to the 14-July edition of Sue Vincent’s #writephoto challenge. No sponsorship required!