Drip.
Drip.
Drip.

Always. 
Drip, drip, drip.

Kevin sits curled,
head covered.
The sounds echo.

Drip.
Drip.
Drip.

Winds howl.
Bats screech.
And always...
drip, drip, drip.

Stalagmites. Or stalactites? 
His mind tries to focus
on anything other than 
the dreary now.

Does anyone miss him?
Does anyone care?

They should.

It'd make the news.
"Field trip cave-in,"
Kevin's mind wanders.
Anything to escape the
drip,
drip,
drip.

Should have stayed with the group.
Couldn't.
The bullies push and shove.
The never-ending laughter.
Always the laughter.
Like water.

Drip. Drip. Drip.

Should have stayed.
Would be safe.
The rescuers come for them.
Not him.

Drip, drip, drip.
The sound still mocks.

Kevin curls further in.
No one misses him.

Drip, drip--

Kevin unfolds.
That horrid sound...
Quiet.

A new sound.

Digging!

The rock breaks!
A figure appears!

Kevin knows that cape and howl.
Dogboy.

A friendly paw helps him stand.
Safe arms hold him well.
A single step, the boy is safe.
Parents greet with warm love.

The job is done,
all are found--
thanks to the Heroic Hound.

Until the next wormhole…thanks for reading.

Copyright 2020 Joe Rover

All rights reserved.

It was a dingy, stormy day; the kind of day that makes everything seem black and white. Johnny Blewz played his sax over the radio filling my office with jazz music.

Who Pranked JR. Releases Mar. 24, 2020. Pre-orders at many eBook retailers.