The Cave of Mystery

By L.A. Williams

The Cave of Mystery is a mid–twentieth–century story filled with the exciting adventure of two twelve–year–old friends who live in the small mid–western town of Hickory Creek. All school year, Andy and Wes overheard the older kids talk about a cave, near the old abandoned farm, that none had ever been able to find. Fascinated that no one had found a simple cave, Andy wakes early on the first day of summer vacation, quickly does his chores and rushes over to Wes's house to see if he could go swimming and possibly do some exploring. On the way to the abandoned farm, Andy and Wes must walk through the woods, which just happen to be next to an old lady's house. The old lady is known and feared by all the kids in the county as the "Old Witch." None of the children dare to get too close for fear they will never be heard from again. During their first day of searching, the two friends stumbled upon the cave. It looks normal. However, it isn't until Andy and Wes invited their siblings to come along with them that it all changed. Summer will never be the same… With this, her first book, L.A. Williams gives us a story for the child in all of us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Page Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: May 1, 2019
• ISBN: 9781640826663

Book preview

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The Cave of Mystery

L.A. Williams

Copyright © 2019 L.A. Williams

All rights reserved

First Edition

PAGE PUBLISHING, INC.

New York, NY

First originally published by Page Publishing, Inc. 2019

ISBN 978-1-64082-665-6 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-64082-666-3 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

To my Dad

Chapter One

The Start of Summer Vacation

The day finally arrived that every kid in Hickory Creek County dreamt about since last Fall. It was the first day of summer vacation which meant no school and homework for the next three months. For Andy and his friend Wes, it was also a summer full of adventure.

Sounds of robins singing outside Andy’s bedroom window wasn’t the reason he awoke early that day. It was the day he and Wes were going to find the cave every kid in the county heard about at one time or another. He changed his clothes and began to walk towards the bedroom door when he remembered what his mom said the night before. Andy sighed and mumbled, When you come down in the morning for breakfast, I expect your room to be picked up, see you in a clean shirt and clean shorts, as well as your hair, combed!

This won’t take long at all, Andy muttered to himself. He made his bed and picked up his clothes off the floor. Finished in less than five minutes, he continued.

Andy ran down the long, narrow stairway from his attic bedroom carrying a small bundle of clothes under one arm. Just before he reached the bottom step he realized he forgot the last thing his mom told him to do, comb his hair. He quickly ran his fingers through his hair like he did every other morning and continued down the stairs.

*     *     *

Good morning, Andy said.

Good morning sleepy head, are you ready for breakfast? We are having your favorite—pancakes, Mom replied.

Sounds good to me, Andy answered as he walked into the laundry room. He quickly sorted his clothes, placing them in the correct baskets and walked back to the kitchen table. Pulling out his chair, he noticed pancakes still on the serving platter. His dad was famous for being the biggest pancake hog in the county so his mom must have hidden some.

How many pancakes would you like, Andy? Mom asked.

I could eat a stack as high as the moon! Andy replied and laughed.

I don’t think mom has that many pancakes. If she did, that would just make you a P-I-G! Amanda commented and started to giggle. She looked at her brother and began to snort like a pig.

Listen young lady, if I hear any more snorting coming from your direction, you’ll be eating outside with the real pigs! Mom said sharply.

Yes, ma’am, Amanda answered. She was several years older than her brother and knew not to say things like that in front of her mom or dad.

Andy gobbled his breakfast all the while thinking about the fun he and Wes were going to have. He had the whole day planned. It was already hot, so swimming was on the list, but the top priority was to find the cave. The story was that near the old abandon farm there was a cave. Most of the kids say it’s just talk while others say there is but they can’t find it. If they have, there isn’t anything special about it. Andy believes he and Wes will find this mystery cave and there will be something special about it.

I’m all done, can I go play with Wes? I think we’ll go swim and then maybe do some exploring if that’s okay, Andy asked.

I don’t care, just make sure you are home before supper. Let Wes’s mom know what you’re doing before you leave, Mom answered. Would you like to take a couple of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with you? You might get hungry, she continued.

Yes please and maybe a piece of chocolate? Andy asked. He loved chocolate, probably even more than his mom.

Maybe a small piece for each of you but you’ll both have an apple in your lunch pail too. Now run up to your bedroom and get your canteen. You can fill it up on your way to Wes’s, Mom answered.

While his mom made the sandwiches, Andy ran up to his bedroom to fetch his canteen. He knew right where to find it. His room wasn’t the cleanest like his mom would like, but Andy did know where to find everything.

Dad stood up and pushed in his chair. Well, I best get to work before Mr. Thomas hires someone else, he said and walked over, kissed Andy’s mom, Jenny, grabbed his lunch and headed out the door.

Andy, here you go and remember–stick together, Mom reminded him and handed him the lunch pail.

Thank you, Mom. I promise, Andy answered.

Come on girl, let’s go! Andy called to Wolfie, the family dog, as he ran out the back door. Wolfie was Andy’s best friend, next to Wes that is, and she goes everywhere with him.

*     *     *

Stopping only for a moment to fill the canteen, the two continued down the hill to Wes’s house. Andy hoped Wes would have his chores done by the time he got there.

Andy reached the MacDouglas farm within ten minutes and, as usual, he found Mr. MacDouglas working hard in the field. Andy waved and continued to the house.

Good morning Andy, Mrs. MacDouglas said as she opened the screen door.

Good morning ma’am, is Wes home? Andy asked very politely.

Yes, he is. I’ll get him for you, Mrs. MacDouglas an-

swered.

She walked