Panadonia

By Larry Wade Livingston

PANADONIA is about a secret world hidden within earth. For thousands of years it has been a world of peacefulness and tranquility. It’s not until humans from earth’s surface comes to Panadonia and challenge their way of existence. Thanks to volcanic vents and tubes, only a few Panadonians and one earth boy can travel to and from the two worlds. Mercury’s Retrograde has a tremendously powerful affect on how everything is possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9781664130807

Larry Wade Livingston

Larry Wade Livingston was born in Cincinnati, Ohio in the month of November. He grew up traveling state to state only living in cities sometimes for only a few short weeks. His step-dad was an over the road truck driver which allowed him to attend countless schools throughout his entire childhood. Always being the new kid in school he really had no friends. He found that by writing stories it occupied his mind and he could create his own little world. It was a world that he could control and was accepted. I hope you enjoy the stories that Mister Livingston still amuses himself with as an adult. He writes humorous tales to deep complicated ones and covers many subject matters. If you enjoy his tales and downhome style, you can also find other books by Larry Wade Livingston at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Other books by Larry Wade Livingston The Poetic Storyteller. A book of poems representing the many poetic forms. Three Agendas. A book of three Sci-Fi stories filled with suspense and intrigue. Short Stories from My Heart. A book of Mr. Livingston’s favorite short stories. Sterling Sands. A book of a lawyer’s morality between good and evil. The Protectors. A book of people that are unseen and control part of earth’s survival. The Alignment. A book with many clues throughout to explain the Alignment and its prophecy. A life living fate. A lawyer’s story of making decisions, but were they his alone, or were they predestined? Panadonia. A book about a secret world hidden in the center of earth, until a young boy from earth discovers it’s existence.

Book preview

Copyright © 2020 by Larry Wade Livingston.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted

in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,

recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system,

without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the

product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance

to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 09/14/2020

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

819822

Contents

CHARACTERS

PLACES OF INTEREST

DEDICATION

PART 22

PART 23

PART 24

PART 25

PART 26

CHARACTERS

PLACES OF INTEREST

DEDICATION

I would like to thank so many people. I have to give thanks first and foremost to Connie Hughes. She was my muse and I’m still sad from her passing. She believed in me when I didn’t. She helped me to develop my writing and my own confidence in writing. I have to give a special thanks to my mother Goldie Lee Miller and my aunt Ann Parsons. They both were writers in their own ways. It’s sad that their talents were never able to make it to the public to read.

I have to give a tremendous thank you to Ernie Peters. Ernie is a friend and he proof read this book and the one before this one. He was invaluable for catching misspelled words and punctuations. He was excellent in making timeline corrections. Where people were and why, etc. Without his help, there would be many typos and errors. I say again, Thank You Ernie, you’re a good friend.

I hope that any of my books can bring some emotions to the readers. If through my writings I can have a reader laugh, cry, get angry, feel sad or jump for joy, I’ve accomplished what I intended to do. To connect to the reader is the goal of anyone that writes. I hope I have caused you, the reader, to be moved by any one of your emotions.

Larry Wade Livingston

Garret Clearwater was your average seven-year-old boy growing up on his family’s farm. It was the only life he had ever known. He had chores gathering eggs and feeding the Holsteins. He enjoyed his life, but he dreamed of a world that was a secretive one. The one he imagined in his mind and brought excitement to him.

The family farm was 1200 acres split into two six-hundred-acre sections. Half was for cattle and the other half was for whatever crop that was most profitable for that year. Usually, it was corn, however, his father would grow alfalfa once in a while.

The Clearwater farm was at the edge of a forest and that allowed Garret the opportunity to play in the woods. In front of the house were the two sections of the farm. Behind the house was the Bureau of Land Management’s property.

The BLM property was at a steep angle and rose to the top of the Cascade/Siskiyou Mountain Range.

The Clearwater farm was located a few miles out of Ashland, Oregon, but close enough that Garret went to Walker Elementary. The school bus fortunately came far enough up the Greenspring’s road, that Garret had a ride to and from school.

Jack and Beth Clearwater wanted to home school their son, but pressure from the school district changed their minds. They thought time away from the farm to battle the administration would ultimately cost them money; because of work time being away from the farm.

Garret had no friends to play or socialize with. That was why he mentally developed a world of his own. He was an A student and his teachers only complaint was that he seemed to be daydreaming several times a day.

Mr. and Mrs. Clearwater had to come to the school and talk to Garret’s teacher. She expressed her concerns about their son’s difficulties in focusing on his schoolwork.

Miss James, my son gets nothing but A’s on his report card from you. How is that possible if he isn’t studying his assigned schoolwork? Mr. Clearwater stated.

That’s a puzzle to me also Mr. Clearwater. I believe that if your son focused one-hundred percent, he would qualify for the above average program and that would challenge him more. Then he wouldn’t be bored and find himself daydreaming as much. Mrs. James said.

Next week school lets out for summer vacation. I will make a point of talking to my son and find out why he is choosing to display the daydreaming you’re describing. Mrs. Clearwater said.

That sounds very positive and I’m sure it’s something that you can resolve by the start of next school term.

The Clearwater’s left the school and went to town and stocked up on food and picked up a couple of tractor parts from the John Deere dealer. As they drove up their driveway, they saw Garret carrying a basket of eggs that he had just gathered. g

Don’t worry about a seven-year-old boy being home alone. Garret himself was far beyond any other seven-year-old. His father had taught him to drive the tractor and shoot a 22 pistol.

He had his own cell phone to use if anything were to happen. Garret knew exactly what he was allowed to do and more important, what not to do and the consequences of violating those rules.

Besides, Cody was always by his side. No one would ever get close to Garret once he would tell Cody to protect him. Not too many people want a 55-pound pit bull charging them at full speed with a I’m going to kill you look in its eyes.

How did everything go son? Mr. Clearwater asked.

Fine father. No one came by and no one called. I did my chores and Cody stayed with me every second you were gone.

That’s excellent son. Cody, you’re a good dog aren’t you boy? Jack said as he rubbed the dogs head.

Garret took the eggs into the house and then helped his parents bring in the grocery’s. When that was done, Mr. Clearwater grabbed the tractor parts.

Garret, would you like to come and help your dad replace this water pump and hose on the tractor?

Yes sir, I’d love to help.

Come on then. I want to get this pump installed before your mother finishes fixing dinner.

Garret went and helped his dad install the new water pump and hose on the tractor. Mr. Clearwater just finished tightening the last bolt when Mrs. Clearwater yelled. Dinners ready.

After saying grace, Garret filled his plate with mashed potatoes and gravy. A large portion of fried chicken and some green beans. He drank his glass of milk and ate his hot buttered roll.

Once dinner was over, Mr. Clearwater sat Garret down and talked with him about daydreaming in class.

What is distracting you from your schoolwork son? Your teacher says you are doing more and more of it every week. What can your mother or I do to help you get over this problem?

I get bored sometimes dad. I finish my work faster than anyone else and I have to just sit there and do nothing. I fill the time thinking about all sorts of things to occupy me. I didn’t know I was doing anything wrong dad.

It’s not wrong, it’s just not appropriate at school. If you’re getting finished before the other kids, maybe you need to be in another class that will challenge you more.

I like my teacher and classmates. I don’t want to be in any other class.

I can talk to Miss James and see if see can give you tasks that are for older kids. That way you can fill the time and get a start on your classes after you graduate.

That would be nice dad. I would love to start studying higher level work. Thank you, dad.

I’ll talk to your teacher tomorrow when I take the broken tractor parts to the store. The water pump is a trade-in item for them to rebuild.

After the weeks passed, school let out for the summer. Mr. Clearwater was tilling the fields and Garrett’s mother started her canning for the winter.

After doing his chores Garret started venturing into the forest behind his house. He loved the woods and the sounds that the different birds made. About a month into the summer, Garret and his dad built a treehouse in the woods, a hundred yards from their house.

It took a couple of weeks to build because Mr. Clearwater was busy with the cattle and crop work. Once the treehouse was completed Garret took a sleeping bag, some food, water and a radio with batteries. It became his home away from home.

His parents let him sleep overnight in the treehouse. They knew they could trust their son to be cautious and adhere to safety measures. Garret was much more mature than a seven-year-old boy.

He was happy because Miss James had agreed to giving him higher level schoolwork after he finished his assigned work. He was looking forward to going back to school while never wanting summer recess to end.

Each day Garret ventured deeper and deeper into the forest. His parents didn’t worry about his safety because they knew Cody was by his side. He also had a cell phone that his mother had given him in case something did happen.

One afternoon as Garret walked deeper into the woods, he noticed out of the corner of his eye movement off to his right. Cody jumped in front of him and a sounded a loud growl while standing erect and focused on where Garret had seen movement.

Anyone there? Garret shouted.

There wasn’t any response so he continued walking on the deer path he was traveling on. After a hundred yards he saw movement again off to his right. This time Cody took off at a full run towards the movement.

Garret chased after him yelling for him to stop, but Cody had other things he wanted to do instead. Cody came to a sudden stop and let out a yelp. Garret caught up with his pet and looked all around.

What is it boy? What do you see Cody?

Cody tried to go forward but he couldn’t. It was as if there was an invisible wall in front of him. Garret noticed that anomaly and thought what the heck was happening. He walked around Cody and tried to walk forward. He also struck the invisible wall. He started banging on whatever was in front of him and Cody. He became frustrated and began screaming and pounding as hard as he could against the unknown anomaly.

STOP! You don’t have to do that, came a voice out of nowhere.

Who said that? Garret said.

A young girl about the same age as Garret physically, stepped out from behind a large tree.

I said that.

Who are you and what are you doing here, deep in the forest?

I’m Annabella and I’m only walking in this beautiful forest.

Where are you from and where are your parents?

I’m from Panadonia.

Where is Panadonia? I’ve never heard of it before?

It’s far, far away from here.

Then how did you get here?

I can’t tell you that. Can you keep a secret?

Yes, my name is Garret and I live right outside the forest with my parents.

I know, I’ve seen you and your father building a house from in the trees.

What’s the secret you want me to keep?

Please don’t tell your parents or anyone that you saw me or talked to me. Can you keep that secret for me, Garret?

Yes, Annabella.

Thank you, you can call me Anna if you wish.

I must go now. When I leave, I will remove the unseen barrier in front of you.

Wait, will I see you again Anna?

As long as you keep my secret and walk in the woods, I’m sure we will meet again.

Anna disappeared behind the same tree she had emerged from earlier. Cody ran up to the tree and looked around with a look of confusion on his face. Anna was nowhere to be found and that confused Garret as well.

He turned and followed the deer trail back to the edge of the forest. He watched his father laying the water pipes out between the rows of corn. He knew that soon the big cannon Sprinklers would be watering the field.

Garret retreated back to his treehouse and found a note from his father. It instructed him to come home and help his mother with taking her canned goods to the underground shelter. He liked that the shelter was cool and the chance to get out of the 103-degree temperature.

He made his way to the kitchen and saw that his mother had several jars of fruit canned and ready to be stored.

There you are son. Give your mom a hand and help me take these canned goods to the shelter.

Sure, I’d like to help you mom.

It took the both of them four trips to complete moving all the canned goods. Mrs. Clearwater started fixing dinner and Garret went out into the field. He enjoyed riding on the tractor with his dad. Most of the time his dad let him drive the tractor.

However, since he was carrying long water pipes, he might not let him actually drive today. He was correct, his father said the task of carrying the pipes was too risky for him at the moment. It was Garret that saw his mother waving a towel from the porch that said dinner was ready. Jack drove the tractor inside the barn and he and Garret went inside and ate their dinner.

Over the next couple of week Garret ventured deep back into the woods where he had met Annabella. She was there to meet with him each time. She still had the protective invisibly wall up between them. However, by the end of two weeks Anna approached the barrier and stood just inches away from Garett.

He couldn’t reach out and touch her, but he was pleased to be able to talk to her without speaking loudly. After a few minutes Annabella made a motion with her hand and she stepped forward. She reached up and touched the side of Garret’s face.

Your skin is so smooth and your eyes are very blue. How did you acquire those attributes? Did you ask for them or were they a gift?

No, I was born with everything you see and touch.

You mean, you came just the way you are now, when you first arrived on this planet?

Yes, weren’t you born the way I see you?

Yes, but my parents ordered my DNA and characteristic traits before I was conceived.

I don’t understand what that means.

In Panadonia, parents to be have the technology to pick their child’s sex, hair color, eye color and in some cases the ability to enhance certain traits. Those can be if their child is right or left-handed, tall or short and even skin shade, as you can see, I’m white like you.

How does all that choosing of stuff make a child? I think you’re fooling me.

"No, I’m not. Panadonia’s doctors have the ability to do gene crossing and splicing. After the parents give their decisions on what they want their baby to look like. They believe they have the best DNA possible for their family’s bloodline.

The doctors do all the collecting of genes, the male’s contribution, female eggs and DNA markers. Then an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure is performed on the mother to be by the doctors."

How old are you Anna?

I’m eight years old by your planets years. I’m forty-eight years old on Panadonia.

I understand most of what you explained to me. I want to know why the adults on Panadonia don’t have sex like men and women do here on earth?

"My people learned many years ago, that by having children in the way you’re referring to, only created children with many faults. Why should a couple risk an imperfect child, when the doctors can guarantee the perfect child that has all disease markers removed?

There is no chance of the child ever having cancer, diabetes or any disease for that matter. You must agree Garret, if you had the choice of risking your child’s health or knowing the child would be safe for their lifetime, which one would your choice be to carry on your family’s legacy?"

I can see how that might very well cause anxiety in people considering having a baby. Where exactly is Panadonia Anna?

I’ll tell you about my home the next time we meet. I have to return home before the sun has completed going down and it has almost sunk below the horizon. Good bye for now Garret.

With that said Anna stepped behind the same tree and disappeared. Cody ran circles around the tree barking, he was still dumbfounded at not being able to find Annabella.

Garret and Cody hurried home. They were running late and made it home just as the sun disappeared. His father and mother were upset with him for not only being late, but for not calling them too.

His father grounded him for three days for his actions. Garret thought that wasn’t fair, but there wasn’t anything he could do. He continued doing his chores and helping out both his mother and father.

Garret didn’t mind his chores or helping out around the farm. He enjoyed living there and being a helper that was contributing to its livelihood.

When the morning of the day after his punishment arrived, he and Cody darted off to the forest. It wasn’t long until they both arrived at the tree where they had been meeting Annabella.

Cody looked around and didn’t see her. Garret began calling her name without any response. Then a loud rustling in the bush got his attention. He whipped around and saw two men carrying rifles and dressed in what was considered normal hunting attire.

Are you lost young man? Are you looking for a girl? I heard you calling out for Annabella, is she your sister? The hunter asked.

Cody was by Garret’s side growling and showing signs that he wanted to attack.

Sit Cody, sit. I was just playing like Robin Hood in Sherwood Forest. He had Maid Marian and I decided to call my maid Annabella. I live just down that deer trail a little way. My dad should be along pretty soon.

No reason to fear anything from us boy. We’re cougar hunting and headed up to the cliffs along the top of the mountain. You take care and maybe We’ll see you and your dad on our way down from hunting.

The two men left and started up the steep grade to the cliffs that lined the top of the mountain. They were out of sight in a few minutes. Cody was still growling and looking up the mountain where the men had gone.

Hello Garret, Anna said.

Cody ran over to her and sat by her side. She reached down and stroked his head and Cody’s tail was beating back and forth loudly as it hit the tree.

I thought you weren’t coming or something happened to you. Garret said.

I saw the two men approaching, so I hide until they left and were far enough away, then I could reveal myself to you. I was worried that you would leave and think things like you just referred to.

Do you have time to tell me about Panadonia?

Yes, but I was curious where you have been for three days.

I was grounded for being late the last time we talked.

Grounded, what is that exactly?

That means I couldn’t leave our farm. I had to stay home and help out doing chores and stuff.

Oh, that must be hard for you to do, because you’re an explorer and an adventurist.

It wasn’t that bad; I deserved the grounding for being late and not calling. Tell me about Panadonia.

Panadonia is a place of peace and tranquility. It’s beautiful beyond any words that one could ever find to even try. It’s a mesmerizing vision that is spellbinding to all that view Panadonia.

If you were to imagine the perfect world Garret; you couldn’t dream one percent of what is Panadonia. It’s that beautiful."

Wow Anna, it sounds wonderful. Where is Panadonia?

It’s far away from here and only a handful of people outside of Panadonia know of its existence.

Can I go with you and see Panadonia, Annabella?

That is highly irregular and almost impossible for the Elders to approve. I could ask them if you would like.

I do Anna, I want you to ask.

"You are a very special boy, Garret. I have been watching you for months. I was instructed to do so by the Elders of Panadonia. Once in a hundred years or so, a human is born that is different than other boys.

You were noticed by the Elders at the age of four, in your time implements. Time is recorded much differently in Panadonia. Remember when I said I was eight years old in your world. In Panadonia I’m forty-eight years old.

Time on Panadonia is six times faster than your time. I’ve found that while watching you over the years, my aging has slowed down to represent your time. That is a major concern of the Elders and the long-term effects on the Panadonia people.

I know the Elders would have welcomed you with open arms until the dysfunctional time alterations were discovered. It concerns them greatly and has been the subject of several meetings in Panadonia’s High Court.

If the Elders did allow you to visit Panadonia, would you be concerned about the time alteration?"

No. You said for years you have been visiting here before you noticed a time change. I don’t think a visit would have any effect on altering my time.

I will ask them for you and let them know of your view on the time difference. I will return either tomorrow or the next day.

Annabella turned and disappeared behind the tree as Cody ran up and sniffed all around the tree’s trunk to no avail. Garret had to laugh as he watched Cody go round and round the tree.

You’ll find her eventually, Cody. You just keep looking and someday Anna will be there.

Garret made his way down the deer path towards home when Cody stopped and started to growl.

What is it boy? What do you see?

Garret saw movement fifty-yards to his left on the upside of the mountain slope. In a lightning fast jump a cougar pounced out from the underbrush and charged Garret. Cody took off at a run directly towards the cougar, ready to fight and protect his master.

Garret was a deer frozen in a car’s headlights. He couldn’t move or yell. He stood there like a carved marble statue. As the two animals were about to engage in a fight a shot rang out and the big cat fell to the ground. Garret didn’t stop Cody from attacking the dead carcass as if he had killed the big cat.

Garret snapped out of his frozen state and exhaled a sigh of relief. He looked up and saw his father standing a hundred-yards away with his rifle in hand.

You alright son? Mr. Clearwater asked.

Yes dad, thanks to you and Cody, but mostly you father.

Let’s go home. Help me with the cougar son. There’s a fifty-dollar bounty on cougars as of last month. I had a little time to spare and thought I’d try and get one. As it turned out, it’s a blessing that I did.

They took the cougar to the Fish and Game office in Ashland and exchanged it for the fifty-dollars the state was offering.

Once back home Mr. Clearwater had a long talk with his son.

Garret, I know you love to play in and explore the woods. After today, I am rethinking if its safe for you to continue to do that.

Father, please don’t forbid me to go in the forest. I love to have my adventures with Cody and find new things that I haven’t seen.

I know son; but your safety is a priority and my responsibility.

Dad, you taught me to shoot a couple of years ago. You said I was good and a fantastic shot at my age back then. I’m older now and I’m better than I was then. Please dad, I’ll take the 30/30 with me and my phone and an airhorn.

I have to live with your mother Garrett and she’s not going to be easy to convince that you should be allowed back in the woods alone.

I won’t be alone. I’ll have Cody. You saw how he was going to fight the cougar and protect me. Besides, I’ll have with me all the items I mentioned. Please father, I love going in the forest. It’s the place I can call my own little world.

At that time Mrs. Clearwater walked into the room.

I’ve been listening and I can see how much you love the forest Garret. I’m inclined to let you continue to go in the forest with the items you described. However, I have one exception. You can only be gone from home no longer than four hours. That way you can’t get a long way from the farm.

I agree mom, I really will do that. Thank you so much mom.

You heard what your mother said. I’ll get the 30/30 out of the gun safe and clean it for you to take tomorrow. You can use the airhorn we take to the Ashland Grizzly’s football games. One last thing son, you keep an extra special eye out for any type of danger.

I promise dad, I will.

Garret went to bed that night with a feeling of victory, because his ability to reason convinced his parents he was capable of defending himself. With Cody lying next to him in bed, they fell asleep both thinking of the next day’s adventure.

Next morning Garret was up early and rushed through his breakfast and was ready to enter the forest.

Son, here’s your rifle. I cleaned and oiled it for you last night. Mr. Clearwater said as he handed the 30/30 lever action Winchester to him.

Thanks dad, I’ll be safe and will be home in four hours, I promise.

Garret and Cody disappeared into the forest in a flash. His father was still concerned, but Garret was going to turn eight in two weeks and he had to let his son prove he could handle responsibility.

Garret hurried as fast as he could to reach the tree where he met with Anna regularly. He arrived and didn’t see her at first. He sat on a log and had petted Cody for a few moments when Annabella stepped out from behind the tree.

I thought I might have missed you, Anna

I was late because I was discussing you visiting Panadonia with the Elders.

What did they say? Can I visit Panadonia?

Yes, but you must swear to never speak of its existence to anyone. You also must promise not to show the location of the portal. That’s the gateway from earth to Panadonia. Do you promise Garret?

I promise Anna, I won’t ever say a word about you, Panadonia or the gateway portal.

Will your parents miss you while you are away?

"I have to be back here in two hours my time. I