LeRoy and the Hole to Nowhere

LeRoy digs a hole to China

LeRoy and the Hole to Nowhere

By Lea Sheryn

 

LeRoy took the spade from his neighbor's shed.  He could have used dad's, but he saw the shed next door was opened with the spade beckoning him.  Carefully looking to his left and to his right to be sure no one was watching him he reached his hand inside and took it.  He was going to dig a hole straight through the earth to China.

 

Finding a likely spot at the edge of the vegetable garden, he placed the blade into the ground and stamped down on it with his right foot.  Working the shovel back and forth in the unyielding ground, he pulled up the first clump and threw it over his shoulder.  Deeper and deeper he went.  Surely he was getting close to China.  Again and again, he attacked the ground making a nice round hole straight down into the earth.  Maybe with the next couple of digs, he would see a Chinese man grinning at him and waving excitedly as he came up on the other side of the globe.

 

Again, he sunk the blade into the ground and heaved up a chunk of earth.  Depositing it on the growing pile behind him, he felt sure he was close to his goal.  LeRoy was a determined little boy; he always was.  Once he set his mind to a job, he finished it.  For a seven year old, he had spunk.  He had wanted to dig to China for a long time.  Today was going to be the day.  Working hard with his spade, he went further down into the earth.

 

At first, his mother could see his whole body as he started to dig then he was up to his knees.  Pretty soon, his upper body was all that was visible.  When his head sunk beneath the ground, his mother began to worry.  "LeRoy," she called as she stepped out onto the porch.  "Get out of that hole," she yelled as she rushed closer to the gap in the earth. 

 

Ignoring his mother's anxious voice, LeRoy took one more dig with his spade.  Water gushed up around him as sand gave way beneath his feet.  Tossing the spade onto the mound of dirt he had created, he scrambled out of the hole and onto solid ground before the quick sand could take a grip on him.

 

"Where did you think you were going, LeRoy?" his mother asked, relieved that her child was safe. 

 

"Nowhere," the child answered as he picked the spade up to return it to the neighbor's shed.    

Reviews

[roarke]

old adage: Never ask a seven y/o where's he's going toting a shovel...
Leroy is an industrious little guy. I know when I'm digging a hole, throughout the physical labor, my mind lets loose a zillion distractions. What was Leroy thinking as he dug? This piece had nice flow and strong visuals. Enjoyed.

[Lea Sheryn]

Thank you for your review. How many little boys have tried to dig their way to China. My brother was constantly trying to get there when he was a child of 7.

[Betty Hermelee]

What little boys will do, especially with their imaginations. A good story, thankfully with a saving ending. Maybe learned his lesson, but boys will be boys, curious and daring.
Nice story Lea.

[Ted Kniffen]

Back to those childhood days when a shovel and a good patch of ground were all you needed to have fun.
We had good old Essex County clay ... impossible to dig when dry and a right soggy goop when wet but many an hour was whiled away with a round-nosed spade.

I like the story Lea ... short, but good.

Take care ... be safe.

[Sam-Stafford]

Really enjoyed the story, and I was pretty relieved that LeRoy was alright in the end. It also brought back so many childhood memories! Really evoked that childlike feeling of playing alone and wonderment.

I don't know if you want any tips or if I'm qualified to give them. Maybe look into redundancies. I think everyone does it but I'll give a little example from this piece.

Original: "Finding a likely spot at the edge of the vegetable garden, he placed the blade into the ground and stamped down on it with his right foot.

How I'd edit it: "He found a likely spot on the edge of the vegetable garden, placed the blade and stamped down with his right foot."

I would say the second is just a bit cleaner. But I also think people go too far with removing redundant words (like me!) and the story lacks any soul. Up to you, just thought it might help your writing.

Thanks and look forward to reading more of your stuff.
Sam

[Coyote Poetry]

My grandchildren love to dig hole. If I allow them. They would dig a giant one. I enjoyed the tale and poor mother. We are lucky to mothers, who act like generals. We listen to them. Thank you dear Lea for sharing the entertaining tale.
Coyote

[Lea Sheryn]

Mothers do get anxious about the things kids do.

[Coyote Poetry]

Yes they do dear Lea. We need someone to keep us safe.

[Lea Sheryn]

It's what mothers do best

[Wild Rose]

Yes he DID hit it > I was waiting for him to break through to china > perhaps open a Chinese food shop
(Ha)
OR hit a water pipe

[Lea Sheryn]

This story is based on a true occurrence. My brother was the hole digger in the family. Since we lived on an island, he didn't have to go far before he hit water. My mother was always concerned about a cave in.

[Wild Rose]

I don't wonder going so deep

[Dave Brown]

When our water level drops each summer and the well is less forthcoming, we could use his energy to dig deeper
By the time he's 16 he'll be looking at different interests

[Lea Sheryn]

I'll send him your way when summer comes around.

I'm sure his interests at 16 will be rather a bit more feminine.