Shhhh Don't Tell

By Deb Brainard

Francheska, Zoe, Sadie, and Emma were sure they would have another uneventful summer at Superior Lake; they had been spending summers at their lake houses, and it had always been uneventful. Francheska, Zoe, Sadie, and Emma were very glad that they had each other to hang with. Emma and Zoe's father was a professor of geology at the University of Michigan, and he had gotten a Professor Coolage notes on how he believes that Porcupine Mountain is a dormant volcano and when it erupts, it will trigger earthquakes, which will trigger the Keweenaw fault, which runs along the bottom of Michigan, and if triggered would shove Lower Michigan into Upper Michigan, and Michigan will become an island. Their dad, along with Francheska and Sadie's, studied the mountain and checked for any changes. Francheska, Sadie, Emma, and Zoe decided to try out this new path that had been built the last year. Halfway up the mountain, they stopped at the picnic area and started having lunch when these two girls walked up to them and introduced themselves to Francheska, Sadie, Emma, and Zoe, Ashlynn and Aubrey told Francheska, Sadie, Emma, and Zoe that their parents came to Porcupine Mountain; their parents wanted to bring them and their annoying little brother, Zachery, to the mountain to get away from the distraction of the big city and spend some quality family time. Francheska saw a path from the path that had just been made. The girls decided to take it to see where it led. The girls met a hairy boy their age named Zeek. A large black cloud showed up, and lightning hit the ground; a bear came out of the woods ready to attack them. Zeek had a flasher and flashed the bear, and the bear ran away screaming. Zeek took the girls to his house, more like a mansion, once belonging to a Professor Coolage, who left the home to the Thomlanes. Zeek's mother and father were nervous at first to have the girls at their home but ended up enjoying them. The girls got trapped up the mountain for three weeks because of fires and storms. Emma and Zeek really liked each other. The events that happened changed the girls' lives, as well as Michigan, forever.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Jan 22, 2018
• ISBN: 9781640821569

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Shhhh Don't Tell

Deb Brainard

Copyright 2018 Deb Brainard

All rights reserved

First Edition

Page Publishing, Inc

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc 2018

ISBN 978-1-64082-155-2 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64082-156-9 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Meet Zeek and His Parents

Emma, Zoe, Mr. and Mrs. Stonewall are best friends with Francheska, Sadie, and Mr. and Mrs. Kritz. They have cabins/houses just a mile apart at Lake Superior.

Emma and Zoe are so grateful that Francheska and Sadie spend the summer with them at Superior Lake by Porcupine Mountain. Emma, Zoe, and Francheska and Sadie would be so lonely and bored even with their computers and cell phones, as not much happens at Lake Superior, but that is about to change forever. At different times there are kids their age who stay at White Cloud cabins, and they would meet them and go on the trails that lead up the Porcupine Mountain, or they all would go kayaking on the lake.

Emma, Francheska, Sadie, and Zoe packed a picnic basket and backpacks; they were going to go on a trail. They hardly went on to see if there was anything new, and they wanted to go all the way to the top of the mountain. Porcupine Mountain isn’t real tall, and there are many trails that leads to the top. Emma, Zoe, Francheska, and Sadie had been on almost all of them except the one that they found, and they wanted to take it to see if there was anything more to see, and they have their noise makers in case they run into wolves or bears, and even though it is known that there is a black bear and a pack of wolves on the mountain, the girls haven’t run across them; they usually stay away from humans, but the tail they were going on was new one and more remote. Everyone made sure they had their cell phones charged up in case they needed them.

It was about noon, and the girls decided to stop at the picnic table halfway up the mountain. There is sign in front of the tables that said,

Stop, rest, and watch the wildlife.

You are halfway up the mountain, not far to go.

Please leave no trash; we ask that you only leave your footprint.

Help us keep our beautiful mountain clean and safe for humans and animals alike.

Thank you.

Park rangers

Emma, Zoe, Francheska, and Sadie pulled out the tablecloth and set out the food and paper plates and silverware then sat down to eat.

Francheska said, I have this feeling someone is watching us and has been for a while. Has anyone thought the same as me?

Emma said, Yes, I have too. Look over there in the woods, there is a family of dear, and I think they followed us. Look, the baby is playing with his mom and dad.

Sadie said, Look, there are chipmunks by our table, and they are begging for food, how cute.

Zoe said, Look, there are a couple of girls walking toward us.

Ashlynn and Aubrey walked up to the girls, and Ashlynn said, Hi, I am Ashlynn, and this is my younger sister, Aubrey. I think we are lost. I was glad to see this picnic table and the sign. I thought we were on an unmarked path, and it scared me.

Aubrey said, We are staying in a cabin at White Cloud because my mom and dad wanted to spend vacation with nature. Yeah, don’t get me wrong, nature is fine, but two weeks with old people, bears, deer, wolves, chipmunks, and trees—lots of trees—I am sure glad that we found you guys. People our age, this is great. Do park rangers follow people on this mountain? I swear I keep seeing one out of the corner of my eyes, but when I turn to look, he isn’t there, creepy.

Zoe said, This is a new path. We haven’t been on it until today. I thought someone was watching us, not sure it was a park ranger.

Sadie said, Why don’t you join us for lunch? We have plenty.

Francheska said, Look, there is another path just over there why don’t we take it and see where it goes. We can mark our way so we can find our way back here. I have a knife and we can carve an arrow on the trees like dad showed me once.

Emma, Zoe, Sadie, Aubrey and Ashlynn said, Yeah let’s do that sounds okay to me.

Ashlynn said, Let’s go sounds like fun. I was told there are bears up here, they scare me.

Francheska said, if you make enough noise they usually don’t bother people."

Aubrey said, Okay, let’s go, we have to be back before it gets dark.

Sadie put an arrow on every third tree, and it sure looks like humans made this path; there are candy wrappers and Pepsi cans everywhere. Man, someone really liked payday.

Zoe said, Look we are coming to what looks like a field of clover. I don’t know about you but the whole time we have been walking down the path I felt that someone was following us and watching us.

Ashlynn said, I felt that too.

Sadie said, Me too.

Francheska said, Me too.

Aubrey said, Me too, this clove field smells great.

Zoe, all of a sudden, jumped and asked, Who are you?

The hairy boy said, My name is Zeek. Please don’t be afraid. Your people think of me as Bigfoot, not human. I assure you I am human just a lot of hair, I was born on this mountain. My great grandfather and grandmother came from Airen. We are really from Airen a planet in the Milky Way galaxy. I speak your language, I’m not supposed to do this mom and dad will be mad but I have to have all of you come into our home look, pointing to the sky, look.

As Zeek is pointing at the sky this hug black bear came out of the woods unto the path stood on to feet and growled. The girls screamed and Zeek pulled out of his short pockets a small plastic square thing and he pushed the button and a bright flash and the bear actually scream and ran off.

Francheska, Zoe, Sadie, Ashlynn, Emma, and Aubrey asked, What was that? Where did you get that? The girls looked up and the sky darkens, lightning flash, one lightning hit the ground just feet from where they had been standing. The lightning hit the ground with huge force that the ground shook. Everyone ran with Zeek leading the way.

They ran into these thick bushes and Zeek pushed a button on a key chain he had and the gate swung open, the lightning hit the ground again and everyone ran through the gate.

Zeek pushed the button again and the on this Mansion door and it opened and a women yelled out Zeek take off your shoes before you go into the living room wash up your dad will be home soon and dinner is almost ready.

Zeek said, Mom, Mom, umm, I don’t want you to get mad but I brought some people home they were lost and the storm came, mom I had to, Mom.

Mrs. Kala Thomlane was now standing in the mud room; she was shaking, and her deep-brown eyes were big. She said, Zeek… What have you done? You know it’s not safe to bring the local people here. I’m sorry. We have watched a document on what your people want to do with us. Your people call us Bigfoot and think we are animals.

The door to the mud room swung open in a man 8ft. tall, big muscular with flannels on and look like a mountain man. In spite of the cloths you could tell he was one hairy dude.

Mrs. Thomlane said, "Nijo, umm… Zeek brought home some friends they were lost and it starting storming.

Mr. Thomlane said, Zeek, do you know what you have done?

Francheska said, Sir, please don’t be mad at Zeek, he helped us, we won’t tell anyone where you are at, We wouldn’t want to be responsible for anything bad happing to you Zeek is right we were lost and lightning was hitting the ground. My name is Francheska Kritz.

Sadie said, I am Sadie Kritz I am Francheska’s sister, I promise that I won’t tell anyone either.

Emma said, I’m Emma Stonewall I won’t tell anyone either. You have a nice home here I like it.

Zoe said, I’m Zoe Stonewall I am Emma’s sister. I won’t tell anyone either.

Aubrey said, I’m Aubrey Linderman, I am Ashlynn’s sister. I won’t tell anyone either and man you are really tall, wow.

Ashlynn said, Aubrey that is rude. I am Ashlynn sorry about that but we have never seen anyone so tall. Aubrey always speaks what she thinks without thinking first. I promise I won’t tell anyone either.

Nijo said, I guess we are going to have to count on you all keeping your word.

Beep, beep, beep. Tornado warning for Ontonagon County. Seek shelter until 7:00 p.m. came across the screen of the TV.

Mrs. Thomlane said, Nijo, they can’t leave now it’s too dangerous.

Beep, beep, beep. Breaking news: There’s a huge fire on Porcupine Mountain the rain hasn’t put it out. More rain is on the way but it might not put it out. Lightning strike some dead pines and caught them on fire. No one can get up the mountain.

Mr. Thomlane pushes some buttons by the door and a humming nose is heard around the house. Mr. Thomlane said, The dome is set we should be safe now. How about that dinner I smell cooking Kala I am hungry. Okay, everyone let’s go eat I will deal with Zeek later.

Mrs. Thomlane said, Okay, girls, help me set the table, thank God I made a lot of spaghetti so there will be enough for everyone.

A deafening, roaring, piercing the body, everyone covered their ears. The TV went blank. The house was shaking, as well as the ground.

Emma, Aubrey, screamed and started crying. Francheska, Zoe, Ashlynn, and Sadie said, We are scared.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomlane said, Ok. Everyone get in the storm cellar now.

They all went out the door and into the storm cellar that was just a few feet away. Mrs. Thomlane turned on the lights at the begging of the stairs into the cellar.

The storm cellar was made of cement had wooed floors with carpet in the living room, and all four bedrooms.

The kitchen had all the modern appliances, granite countertops, and a huge pantry, the dinner room had a huge table made of logs and chairs which are made of logs and cushions made of colorful silk with bird design on them. The living room just off from the dining room is huge it has three couches made of leather, three recliners made of leather and inn tables made from logs. There is a 52" TV on one wall and another wall has a huge stone fireplace.

There is this a loud buzzing sound, and the girls asked, what is that sound?

Mr. Thomlane said, It is the dome going up and it should protect us from any high winds, trees falling down and fire. Mr. Thomlane went to one the recliners and sat down and Mrs. Thomlane went to her desk in the corner and plugged in her laptop, Zeek and the girls sat on the couches, Mr. Thomlane turned on the TV.

Beep. Beep. Beep. Tornado warning: Tornado sight outside Ontonagon, Ontonagon County is under a tornado warning until 7:00 p.m. and thunderstorm warning until Thursday afternoon. Fire is still a raging fury that rain doesn’t seem to be able to put out.

Sadie said, Oh, no we aren’t going to be able to go home.

Emma said, I’m sure our parent is worried about us, I haven’t been able to get a signal here sense we walked into the house.

Zoe said, I don’t have a signal either.

Ashlynn said, I don’t have a signal either and I’m hungry.

Aubrey said, You are always hungry, why aren’t we getting any signal on our cells.

Mrs. Thomlane said, "We have a device that prevents you get a signal on your cell phone. We can’t be found here, We are consider to be bigfoot and according to the documentary we saw on TV it would not be safe for us. When the weather and fire pass we will see to it you get home safely. Mr. Thomlane will take you back he is known in town as mountain man Nijo. He goes into town and gets the things we need, collect the mail.

Beep, beep, beep. All clear for Ontonagon, Ontonagon County, and the fire is still burning there are six girls missing prayers are going up for their safe returns.

Mrs. Thomlane came into the living room area and said, "I have warmed up the chilly and put in on the table with the homemade bread. I am sure when we are able to get back down the mountain they will be relieved that you were all right. Mr. Thomlane will take you back and he will tell them that he kept you safe, everyone in town knows him as mountain Nijo.

Francheska said, Your storm cellar is huge almost as big as your house. It is amazing and beautiful.

Ashlynn said, The bathroom is even more amazing than the rest of the place down here. I thought we lost electricity but it came right back on.

Mr. Thomlane said, We have solar power and it is just temporary it kicks in when the lights go and we have all the electricity we need. We are really self-efficient here, we grow our own vegetable and spices.

Aubrey said, "I hope mom, dad and Zackary are all right they have a cabin at White Cloud cabins.

Ashlynn said, I am sure they would have gotten to safety. The owners most likely have a storm cellar, most likely not as nice as the Thomlanes or they are with Francheska and Sadie’s parents. They could be with Emma and Zoe parents.

Emma said, We have a storm cellar. We saw them on the news when the news said that our parents are looking for us.

Zoe said, I am sure they are safe and worried about us. Have you been in the bathroom? It is awesome granite counter tops and shower and huge.

Sadie said, The floor looks like it is made of sand stone. Mrs. Thomlane you are a very good cook, I love the chilly it is not like any chilly I have ever had.

Ashlynn said, Is Zeek’s bathroom just as nice as ours? I am amazed to see you have three bathrooms down here, you could live down here if you had too.

Mrs. Thomlane said, The cellar was built before the house was. The owner had money and wanted everything nice for when friends came and stayed with him, Mr. Coolage found our parents and had them moved in with him. He had lost all his friends and didn’t have a family of his own so it was all left to our parents.

Mr. Thomlane said, Our parents came from Airen and couldn’t get back off Earth. We will tell you all about us latter. Zeek I need you to help get some more wood down here and up in the house. Could I get you girls to help Mrs. Thomlane with the dishes? We will have dessert in a little while.

The girls said they would help Mrs. Thomlane with the dishes.

After the dishes were done they went to the living room and started to watch the 52 TV. Sadie said, Look the Big Bang theory is on I love the Big Bang Theory."

Mr. Thomlane and Zeek return with the wood and loaded it up by the big stone fireplace. Zeek said, "It is looking like we are in for more storms the clouds look really dark and menacing out there dad said it might be wise to stay down here tonight. Zeek pushed the button for the dome and the buzzing of it going back up.

Mr. Thomlane sat down in his recliner and picked up a book from the end table by his chair and started reading. Zeek sat down on the couch that had Emma, Aubrey, and Francheska, on it.

Mrs. Thomlane sat with Zoe, Ashlynn and Sadie and said, I like the Big Bang Theory too. Mrs. Thomlane watches Zeek and realizes he likes Emma and she seems to like him too.

Beep, beep,