Pathways To Adventure

By Sandra June Upchurch

How Angie and her best friend Alexis found themselves in the giant mysterious forest was as strange to them as it was frighting, all the bizarre looking animals, large spiders and other strange creators could talk, but none of could lead them back to the correct path so they could go home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: URLink Print & Media, LLC
• Release date: Apr 22, 2021
• ISBN: 9781647537760

Sandra June Upchurch

Sandra June Upchurch was born and raised in Sonoma County California, home of the beautiful giant Redwoods. Visiting the the redwoods many times as a young child gave her the inspiration to let her imagination as a young girl come alive.

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Pathways to Adventure

Copyright © 2021 by Sandra June Upchurch. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording or otherwise without the prior permission of the author except as provided by USA copyright law.

The opinions expressed by the author are not necessarily those of URLink Print and Media.

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Published in the United States of America

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021907555

ISBN 978-1-64753-774-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64753-775-3 (Hardback)

ISBN 978-1-64753-776-0 (Digital)

08.04.20

In Memory of Sandra June Upchurch

1945 - 2020

Contents

The Forest

The Strange House

The Little Village

Mildred

The Giant Pink Kid

The Flying Fish

The Tall Green Building

The Strange Food

Mildred’s Special Liquid

The Creepy Creatures

The Green Room

It’s Saturday

Looking Through the Secret Window

The Rainbow Yard

Back In The Little Village

Escaping The Secret Hallway

Out In The Yard

The Little Stream

Miss Cathy’s Garden

A Canyon, A Desert, and A Forest

The Cookie Lady

The Beautiful New Room

Timothy’s Trip

Miss Chanler

The Trip

A Different Village

So Many Waterfalls

The Long Walk Back

An Unexpected Ride

Chapter One

The Forest

That had to be a dream Robin thought, but it seemed so real. Lying back on her pillow, she imagined again that place in her mind she had just left- that beautiful, green, and sunny garden. In her dream, she was only a little girl, not more than five. It seemed like such a small amount of time had lapsed, so of course it was only a dream. It was just a dream, yes, that was it, but why did it seem so real. The place she was seeing in her mind she had never seen before, ever! Now she wanted to see it again, but she knew if she went back to sleep she would not return. Whoever returned to a dream, especially if you wanted to.

When she fell back to sleep, she was in the same garden, only this time she was not a little girl, but a bit older. In her adult mind she thought, I have to be at least eleven or twelve. I know I’m sleeping this time, but it’s so real. My name is Angie; I know it is.

Angie, Angie, she heard someone shout her name.

Oh Alexis… hi, I thought you would never get here. Come and see what I found.

They both ran to the end of the enormous garden. The garden was full of bushes, trees, and a lot of other greenery you could get lost in. The girls at other times often played hide and seek for hours on end; it was such a lovely place to play.

This time was different. There was a large opening going through the hedge in back of the yard. The best friends looked at the hole and saw that it was big enough to crawl through, so they went in. They crawled and crawled, and when they finally came to the end, there was another opening. Where were they? After walking only a short distance, they knew something was not right. It was no longer green and sunny. It was as if they were in another place. The sky was dark, it wasn’t raining, but it looked like it could start any minute.

They looked at each other and didn’t have to say anything; they just began running to the opening so they could get back to the safety of the beautiful garden, but where was it? It wasn’t there. They ran along the brick wall they now saw instead of the green hedge. It was getting dark, but it was only noon when they crawled into the tunnel. That many hours could not have passed. Where were they?

They walked beside the brick wall for what seemed to them like forever. Nothing changed, it looked the same, step after step, for what felt like mile after mile. It did not get any darker, but it started to rain, not just rain, but it poured down. They had no coats, hats, or anything to protect them from the wet and the cold. After all, they had just left a warm sunny garden. How were they to get back? Would their parents miss them? Would they think to go through the opening at the end of the garden, or would it be gone, like the opening at the end of the tunnel.

As they continued to walk, the brick wall gradually disappeared, and now they were walking in what looked like some kind of forest, only not just a forest, but with paths leading in different directions.

Should we take one? Angie asked.

I don’t know, Alexis said. I just wish we could get back. Do you think one of these will take us home?

Maybe, let’s try one. I’m getting scared, and I want to go home! Which one do you want to take?

I don’t care, pick one and let’s get going, Alexis said, she looked as if she wanted to cry.

They went down the one that looked the most inviting. They had not gone far when the rain stopped, and they began to dry off. The path was getting narrower and narrower, and soon there was no path at all, just dirt and dead leaves. As they walked, the leaves made loud crackling noises, and the enormous dead trees were becoming thicker and thicker, making the gray sky hardly visible.

The girl’s imaginations were running wild. As they talked to each other, they just knew the most horrible things were going to happen.

What if we never, never, ever get back, Alexis said, looking at the many trees in front of them. Now, instead of the trees looking dead and ready to fall down, it looked like they were entering a jungle.

Look at this place, said Angie, I hope we don’t run into any lions, or worse, snakes.

"Don’t say things like that! You know it could happen."

I don’t think so, I’m sure this is just a nice green forest. Listen to the birds in the trees, Angie said, looking up. The sky is getting blue again.

I hear strange noises, Alexis said, and look at all the mosquitoes. I have bites all over me! I think we should go back and see if we can find the opening to the tunnel.

Ok, but let’s go a little farther, maybe we’ll see something that might give us a clue as to where we are.

"Alright, but I don’t want to go to far. It’s getting late and I do not want to be in here when it gets dark," Alexis told her, as they continued down the path.

They hadn’t gone far when they began to see some small animals and very large insects that looked completely different from anything the girls had seen before.

These ants are huge, and look at the trees, they’re all tangled up. I have never seen so many vines.

And so many colors, said Alexis, "no picture of any jungle in any book that I’ve ever seen, had vines of purple, blue and red like this. This is weird!"

How long do you think we’ve been in here? Angie asked.

I don’t know, but it seems like a long time, answered Alexis.

The girls decided it was time to turn around and go back. This time the path did not change, but it did continued to get darker.

Do you hear that? Alexis asked, as she turned to look at Angie. It sounds like someone running, only I can’t tell in what direction it’s coming from. They turned around and went the other way again, and then saw what was running; coming up behind them, was a boy around the same age.

He saw the girls and said, You better get out of here! It’s right behind me. The boy kept running, and then the girls saw why he was running.

They had never seen anything like that. It was some kind of animal, but it looked so strange. It’s fur was an odd looking green, but not exactly green, it had orange marbling going through it; his ears stuck straight out, and were bright yellow. It ran past as they hid behind a tree. After it ran by, the friends were afraid to come out.

Now what do we do? asked Alexis. If we go back we might run into some more of those strange animals, and if we go forward, we’ll meet that one again.

What about the boy we saw? Don’t you think we should try to find him? Angie asked, looking in the direction he and the strange animal were running. I really think we should find him and see if he needs help, or maybe he can tell us how to get back.

So reluctantly, they went to look for him. They had only gone a short distance when they found him sitting on a large boulder.

Hi, he said. What are you doing here?

Trying to get home. Are you from around here? Angie asked him, trying to sound as calm as possible.

Not really, I just kind of ended up here. I was taking a walk down the road by my house when I found myself in this forest. I’ve been trying to get out all day, and I am really, glad to see you guys. Did you see that strange creature? I’m James by the way.

What was it? the girls asked him.

I’ve never seen anything like it, Angie added when she caught her breath.

"I hid behind this boulder, and it ran past. I must have been imagining this, but I thought it told me to ‘hide,’ before Mildred gets you."

"Strange animals do not talk!" Angie said, and looked at him as if she thought he was as strange as the beast they had just seen.

I told you I might have imagined it.

What’s a Mildred anyway? asked Alexis.

That’s when they saw something they could hardly believe. This thing was coming right toward them. It was large and hairy. It looked like a spider, but no spider could ever grow to be that size. The three took off running in the direction of the strange creature they had just seen, thinking it was friendlier than that big black spider. At least James thought the strange animal had spoken to him and tried to help.

The forest was very dense with overgrown trees and a lot of brush, so they were able to find somewhere to hide, because Mildred, or whatever its name was, did not move as fast as they thought it would. It was only a few minutes though before it was walking past their hiding place.

They looked at each other and knew they had better find someway out. The population was not too inviting.

What are we going to do? asked James, when he finally thought it was safe enough to speak.

I don’t know, but we can’t stay here, it will be completely dark pretty soon. We better look and see if we can find some place to stay until we find the way out, Alexis told them, as she came out from behind their hiding place.

They decided to continue going in the same direction, because they figured if they went back, they might run into some more of those Mildred things. After walking for a while, the forest seemed to be gone. Now they were walking in a sunny green meadow. It looked pretty inviting after what they just came out of, but up ahead it did not look any better than the forest in back of them.

They knew they could not stay here, because there was no place to hide or any protection from the rain if it started again, and the way things were happening around here, you could never tell what would happen next. They had to make a decision as to whether go forward or back, and decided to go forward.

As they continued to walk, the path they were on began to go up, they were walking along a very narrow and steep path. They could tell from looking down, they were a lot farther up than they wanted to be, but knew they had to continue to go up. The farther they went, the more dense the surroundings became, and soon the path they were on, was going straight up. They knew they could not turn around, and there was no alternative, they had to continue to climb. One side went straight down, the other at least had a solid side to it, although it was covered with strange looking brush and tangled weeds.

This path is getting too steep for me, Alexis told them. I sure hope I don’t fall.

I hope not, said Angie. I don’t think we would be able to go down after you. It must be at least 300 feet straight down.

Have you guys ever been camping? asked James.

No, why, asked Angie.

Well, I’ve been camping with my dad, he said, "and we saw a big bear on a trail like this one, although the trail we were on was not like this. It led us back to our camp; but this one just keeps going on into the unknown.

James, said Alexis, do you think that strange looking animal we saw running past us down on the path below came up here?

I hope not, where would we hide? I sure don’t see any trees up here we could hide behind. There’re all so beautiful, but we only have the tops up here. I don’t think I could run down that steep slop even if that thing was chasing me.

I think we’re reaching the top, exclaimed Angie, look up ahead, it looks like the path might be straightening out.

After reaching the top, they were thankful they had finally found some place to rest, but to their horror, the path went straight down, and they could see it had twists and turns, as it wound it’s way to the bottom.

Look at this fallen tree. Let’s rest awhile, suggested Alexis. We’ve been walking up that hill for a long time, but at least now we have someplace to sit. I can’t believe how big these trees are.

Sounds good to me, said James. I don’t think we need to be in any hurry to get back down, after all, that spider is down there.

It is pretty up here, said Angie. The trees and wild flowers are so colorful. The flowers are the brightest colors. There’re not near as colorful at home, and we have some mighty pretty flowers in our garden.

Well we better get back down and see if we can find a way home, it will be getting dark soon, Alexis reminded them.

We better be careful going down, that path is sure steep, cautioned James.

As they begin their trip down the rugged trail, the path, that had been covered with dirt, and some large gravel rocks, that helped keep them from losing their footing, changed to a dirt path. It was so slippery that holding on to the side of the cliff was almost impossible.

Angie started to slide, and James grabbed on to her arm just in time.

You need to be careful Angie, said James, as he helped her get her balance.

Well I’m trying, she said, you know, it is kind of slippery.

Well just be careful.

All of them were having trouble staying on the path and not sliding, but they made it to the first bend. Then, without warning, as they were continuing to go down the slippery trail, Alexis began to slide. She wasn’t able to grab on to any of the wild flowers, or weeds that were growing from the solid side of the path, and went sliding down the steep embankment. She ended up, after sliding a good seventy five feet or more, on her bottom, on the only flat surface visible the rest of the way down the embankment.

Oh no, shouted Angie, what are we going to do. We have to go down and help her.

Alexis, James hollered, are you hurt?

I’m not sure, my ankle hurts, I can’t stand.

We’re coming down, he shouted back at her.

We have to get down there, he said to Angie. I’m sure we can make it. We just need to go slow, if we try to slide down on our butts, I’m sure we can make it down safely.

Ok, lets go.

They began climbing down very slowly, and as they went, grabbed on to whatever they could to keep from sliding. As Angie grabbed onto a branch of something that was growing out the ground, to keep from sliding any farther, she started to slip, it came loose, and she tumbled head over heals, and ended up all scratched and bruised, half way between James and Alexis.

Are you ok? both James and Alexis shouted to her at the same time.

I’m fine, just scratched; my arm is bleeding, but it’ll be ok.

Hold on, James said, I’ll be right there.

James managed to get to Angie without falling, and after resting a few minutes, they continued down to Alexis.

How are you Alexis? Angie asked as soon as they reached her.

I’m just scratched and bruised a little, although my ankle does hurt some, but not as bad as it did when I first fell. I should be able to walk on it.

As soon as she said that, she started to cry, What are we going to do, we’ll never get out of here and back home. Look at this place, it’s nothing but big trees, wildflowers and over grown weeds. There isn’t even a path to follow now.

Should we try to climb backup? James asked them.

I think we should, said Angie. "I don’t want to go all the way down this way, look, it goes straight down, at least there is a path up top; and besides, it’s a shorter distance to the top, than it is to the bottom.

I agree with you, said James, I think it would be easier to climb up than to try going down.

Ok, said Alexis, by now she had calmed down a little, but let’s sit awhile before we start. My ankle is still sore, but I’m sure it’s ok. I just need to be off it for a few more minutes.

It is nice here, said James. I think you’re right though, we do need to rest for awhile.

It seems kind of strange around here, Alexis said, I don’t hear any birds or anything, it seems so quiet.

It does, remarked James, I hadn’t noticed it before, but it is mighty quiet.

It’s just peaceful, that’s all, said Angie. There’s nothing strange about that. We’ll be home as soon as we get back on the path we were on this morning.

I’m ready to get started, said Alexis, "I’m sure I can make it now, how about you Angie? Are your scrapes and bruises doing ok?

Yeah, I’m ready, she said with a big sigh. How about you James?

Let’s go.

Climbing up was a little easier than sliding down, although it did take longer. On the way up, it was James turn to get banged up; he slipped half way up and tumbled down, almost to where Alexis had landed. He was able to grab hold of a bush and stop his fall. So with only a few scratches, he managed to climb back to the girls.

Are you alright? asked Angie, I thought for sure we were going to have to go back down.

No, I’m fine.

We only have a little way to go and we’ll be at the top, said Angie. Are you going to make it James?

Yes, I’m fine. Let’s just get up there, so we can get down.

So they began to climb again, grabbing hold of whatever happened to be handy when one of them started to slip. Finally, without anymore causalities, they made it to the top.

It sure flattens out up here, said Angie. I wonder where we would end up if we went on one of the paths going through those trees over there, instead of continuing down.

I have no idea, said James, but I’m for trying, it looks a lot safer than going down that steep hill in front of us.

Well, said Alexis, if we go on that path we’ll never get back home. I think we should go down the hill.

Alexis, said Angie, that path going down the hill is too steep, do you want to fall again, what if we break a leg or something. Besides, we might find another path that’s not so steep that will take us back down.

I guess you’re right, but I don’t want to get lost.

We’re already lost.

Well, said James, what way do we go?

It does look safer, said Alexis, I guess we should go that way.

The path this time was filled with all sorts of larger than large trees, the three of them had never seen such large and tall trees. There were trees everywhere. It was more than a forest, it was like a painting with nothing but trees, large, green trees. Still it was very quiet, they did not hear birds, and they did not see any insects. It was quite different than when they first entered the forest, after climbing out of the hedge in back of Angie’s yard.

I wonder where all the large insects are, said Angie.

Just be glad they’re not around, said Alexis.

Look, up ahead, said James very excitedly. Is that the meadow we were in?

It sure is! said Angie. How did we get back, it didn’t seem like we were walking down hill.

Well at least we’re back, I don’t care how we did it, said James. He looked all around, and then said to the girls, Now I’m getting hungry, I sure wish there was something to eat.

Everybody was getting hungry, and had no idea what they would eat. All the trees they had seen so far had nothing they could eat growing on them. Nothing growing on the ground was anything they wanted to eat either.

Now what do we do? I’m getting hungry too, said Angie. Do you think there might be a nice inviting hamburger place up ahead?

Ha, Ha, said James. But we might find some berries if we’re lucky.

Then, like magic, they walked about ten more steps, and right in front of them was a berry bush, with the most scrumptious berries just waiting to be picked.

Good job, shouted Angie, do you think you could wish for some cream to go with these?

I’ll try, he said. We would like some cream to go with these nice berries. Nothing happened. Oh well, the berries look good.

They began to pick at them, and then they heard a voice.

Listen, said Alexis. They turned around and saw the strange looking animal that had run past them earlier in the forest.

Looks like you got away from Mildred, it said.

"You can talk, I knew I wasn’t imagining it! What’s a Mildred?"

You didn’t see her? She came right past me just a little while ago.

Looked like some kind of spider to me, said James. "I do not want to see it ever again."

The girls looked at both of them as if they did not believe what they were hearing.

They are talking to each other, right? Alexis asked.

Yeah, Angie said in disbelief.

James asked the strange animal if he had a name, and he said it was Bowein.

Ok, said James, So your name is Bowein. Why can you talk, you’re an animal?"

What’s so strange about that? Most animals around here talk. Where do you come from? Bowein asked.

I sure don’t come from around here, and neither do my friends. We come from a place outside this forest. We just kind of ended up here. Are there any other people around?

I have seen others, how they get out of here, I do not know, but if they do not, Mildred gets them and takes them to a place at the other end of the forest.

Do you know how to get out of here? Angie asked him.

I do not know how anybody comes and goes from this forest. I have lived here all my life, as long as I stay away from Mildred everything is ok; she does not come around much. Good luck to you, I must be going. And he