A, B, C, Caterpillar?

Julie sighed as she gathered berries. Did she really have to go to school? Montana was boring enough. She had already learned to read and write. Besides, what was she going to read on the prairie? Well, she did need to finish the family album. But that was just about all there was.

Lunch was packed. Now it was time for the long walk to school. All three miles plus the way back. Julie waved good-bye to her father as she started on her lonely walk.

While she walked along the dusty road she noticed a well in the middle of the prairie. It was painted with reds, yellows, and greens. Julie didn’t want to be late for school on the first day, but this was an exception. She had to investigate this. One minute wouldn’t matter, would it?

As Julie peered down into the well she felt a chilling breeze rushing up her spine. Was there something down there or was that just her imagination? Before she knew it she was falling down, down, down into the deep, dark well. She expected to hit the floor in a matter of seconds. Instead, it took a few minutes before she realized that this was not going to be an ordinary well. Suddenly, she felt as if she were diving into a cold lake. Then, everything seemed to turn around her, and before she knew it, she was lying on the floor of the well.

How would Julie get to school now? How had she fallen down here anyway? She had only meant to look down the well, not fall down the well. What would she do now? What could Julie do now? 

Hours later, Julie’s stomach growled as she felt her way along the damp walls of the well. Maybe she could climb back up. That idea didn’t last long. The walls were just too smooth. How would she ever get to school on time?

Suddenly, Julie felt something on the wall. It looked like a knob. She remembered her recent trip to town. Julie remembered a knob much like this one on the front of the post office. When someone turned the knob, a door opened.

Slowly Julie turned the knob. It was a door! Slowly she began to walk inside. What she saw amazed her, a single patch of light in the biggest room she had ever seen. Julie held her breath as began to walk toward the light. When she got there she was disappointed to find only a small wooden box and a note. Julie knelt down and lifted the lid of the box.

At that moment Julie felt a strange feeling spread through her fingertips and up her arms. Suddenly the box became almost twice its weight. She peered inside and was surprised to find only caterpillars. How would caterpillars help her get out? Then, Julie remembered the note. She set the box down and picked up the note. This is what it said:

Julie,
I know you do not want to learn anymore about reading. These caterpillars can help –

The rest of the note must have been washed away during a storm. Julie was puzzled. Who could have written this note? How did this person know who she was?

Julie thought for a moment. Slowly she stood up. Her eyes widened in amazement. There in front of her stood the largest staircase she had ever seen. Why didn’t she notice this before?

Hurriedly, Julie grabbed the box and closed the lid. A strange feeling went through her arms once again. At the same time, the box began to feel empty. She quickly folded the note and began to run toward the staircase.

Julie was so excited she ran all the way up the stairs. At the top she discovered another door. Without thinking Julie flung the door open. She was back on the Montana prairie!

The sun was just setting as she reached her home. Julie ran inside and gave her father a big hug.

“How was your first day of school?” he asked her. Julie laughed and told him the entire story. He smiled. “I thought you might find the secret room”, he said. Julie stared in amazement. “You knew about the well?” she asked. “I also put the caterpillars in the box”, he added. “Why did you put caterpillars?” Julie asked. “Hand me the box and I will show you”. She gave her father the box. He lifted the lid and took out the caterpillars. They began to wiggle around on Father’s hand. Soon the caterpillars wiggled into the word “HELLO”. “Can I try?” asked Julie. “Of course you can try”, answered her father.

So they spent the evening playing with the caterpillars. Soon, it was time to send them back. The caterpillars wiggled into the word “GOODBYE” and sleepily crawled back into their box. When it was finally time to go to bed, Julie said to her father “You were right, reading and writing aren’t really that bad. I think I want to go to school after all.”