BELLYACHE Read online

  “You broke it!” exclaimed Lina.

  Noise like running water was coming from above. Something was happening to Joe’s cage. Peter got up from the floor and stepped back to get a better look. Lina backed up, too. Joe looked unnerved. The glass around him appeared to be steadily melting, forming a new pattern, diagonally downward.

  “Stairs!” exclaimed Lina. “You did it, Peter—a way down.”

  The glass continued to melt and mold itself, stair after stair, until a glorious staircase was complete. Joe remained standing, cage-free, on the top step, and he looked much more relaxed then moments ago. It was a beautiful sight among the ugliness to see the massive ice-like stair sculpture.

  “Come on down, Joe,” Peter called.

  Joe looked at Peter and Lina and gave a face-swallowing smile. Peter couldn’t remember ever seeing someone so happy. Joe took his first couple of steps cautiously, picking up speed as he got closer to the ground.

  “Thank you, thank you,” he sang as he ran toward them. He reached Peter first and held out his hand in a gesture of peace. Peter took it and shook it firmly.

  “You are very welcome,” Peter said nobly.

  Lina was already moving toward the light under Angela’s cage. “You work for me like you did for Peter,” she commanded, placing her medallion in the slot as Peter had. Away it went like its twin before it, the ribbon nearly slapping Lina in the face as it fell down.

  The same noises as before started from above. Lina joined Peter and Joe to watch. Soon there was another set of beautifully sculptured stairs. In a mad rush to get down, Angela tripped. The others were horrified. In the blink of an eye, the staircase molded itself into a magnificent glistening slide, catching Angela and bringing her safely to the ground. The children were astounded and cheered.

  “That was kinda fun,” she giggled, standing and composing herself.

  They all ran up to her to greet her, and she gave a grateful thanks.

  “Don’t mention it,” Lina said casually.

  Crackling noises filled the tower, louder than the ones Lina and Peter had heard earlier. The floor beneath them began to rumble. The walls of the tower were beginning to crumble.

  “Peblars!” Joe shouted.

  “What?” Peter shouted back. Peter looked back at a portion of the wall. Rapidly coming out of it were figures, dark pebbled figures.

  Run!

  “Run!” Lina screamed.

  All of the children scrambled toward the door. The dark figures continued to break themselves free of the wall. Peter had been right; he had felt something strange earlier. Joe called them Peblars, and they were watching their every move the entire time.

  First out was Angela, then Lina and Joe. Peter raced desperately after the others. He took one last glance before exiting the room, and he found himself eye-to-eye with a Peblar. The moment was brief but terrifying, and Peter was not willing to stick around to see if they were friendly or not.

  As soon as they were out the door, the children headed down the staircase as swiftly as possible, round and round, hoping for a gust of wind to carry them down. No such luck. The children were panting and exhausted by the time they reached the bottom. They continued toward the castle door. Joe made it to the door first and pulled hard to open it. The giant door opened a smidgen, enough to let them out. Peter was last and pulled on the handle to tug it shut. It started closing but stopped short. Long pebbled fingers were holding the door ajar. Peter let go and fled with the others.

  Lina stopped, bending over to catch her breath. Joe and Angela were ahead but slowing with exhaustion. Peter ran to Lina’s side, grabbing her arm and urging her forward. She fought him.

  “I can’t, Peter. I have no energy left and I’m having a terrible side pain.” She grimaced with one hand clenching her side.

  Peter looked behind them. The Peblars were still approaching. Peter thought they should have caught up by now. He noticed they seemed to move somewhat sluggishly.

  “They must be weighed down by all those pebbles!” Peter said. “Please, Lina, we have to keep moving or they will catch up!”

  Lina took small steps forward. “This is as fast as I can go. It hurts,” she whimpered.

  Joe and Angela stopped ahead when they noticed Peter and Lina were no longer accompanying them. The Peblars acted in a strange fashion.

  “They’ve stopped,” Peter stated, puzzled.

  “They have?” Lina looked over her shoulder to verify for herself. “Maybe they don’t want to hurt us.”

  Peter mulled it over, turned to face them, and called, out of breath, to the sea of pebbled faces, “What do you want with us?”

  All but one of the Peblars took a step back. The one who remained was tall and quite brawny.

  This gargantuan Peblar spoke, strong and bold, “All we want, dear boy, is for all of you to stay with us…forever!”

  The multitude of Peblars roared with cackling-crackling laughter.

  Peter was determined for that never to happen.

  Joe shouted forcefully from behind him, “That is Goaltan. He is rotten, rotten to the core!”

  Goaltan suddenly raised his right arm and, with great force, slammed his fist into the ground, causing the ground to split straight for Joe, stopping inches before his feet. The children’s bodies trembled as they stumbled.

  Goaltan laughed mightily, mimicking Joe, “Rotten, rotten to the core.” His followers cheered.

  Angela cried to the others, “Let’s get going!”

  Goaltan stomped the ground with his foot, and his followers cheered him on.

  The children braced themselves, but nothing happened. They looked at one another and started to run again. Lina gained her second wind and began picking up speed, and soon the children were running side by side. Abruptly a sink hole formed beneath Lina, and she fell in, shrieking. She dangled there with one arm, nails deep in the dirt. The other children stopped immediately to help. Peter looked back and saw the Peblars starting toward them again. Urgently, the two nearest children swooped down to pull her out. Peter seized her dirt-covered hand while she swung the other one up for Joe to grab. The boys swiftly yanked her back to her feet.

  The Peblars were storming closer, and Goaltan had absolute fury on his face.

  “Come on, guys,” Peter yelled. “We have come this far; we can do it.”

  The Peblars were closing in. Peter knew it would be close.

  A moment later, Joe vanished. Peter smiled briefly; he knew Joe was safe. Seconds later, Angela disappeared as well. Next was Lina, but not before glancing behind her. Her eyes flashed from relief to horror before she was gone. What was the matter? Peter worried. A moment later, Peter felt warm fresh air beginning to penetrate the cold. He was going to make it; everything was going to be all right. Seconds later he could see blue-green grass, the special delivery package, and Lina’s face again, and the sight comforted him. What a lovely face.

  An ice-cold pebbled hand ripped across his chest. Peter battled the grip. He held his hand out toward Lina. She grasped it and began to pull. She could see the yellows of Goaltan’s intense eyes. Joe had taken Lina by the waist to help pull. Goaltan saw this attempt and immediately started laughing, a deep disturbing laugh. Upon hearing this, the children fought even harder to free Peter.

  Suddenly, Goaltan’s laugh grew quieter and his face softened. Something was happening; his grip was getting warmer. Goaltan’s eyes were lightening to a shade of green, and the yellows were disappearing into whites. He began rapidly losing pebbles from his body, and his grip loosened. Peter shook free easily; Goaltan was no longer trying to hold him. The children stared. His pebbled upper body was being replaced by stunning crystals.

  Goaltan seemed to have forgotten about the children as he studied his arms. His laugh changed, sounding pleased.

  He spoke. “At last, my old glorious self! I knew I would find Maple Town again!”

  As if being pulled by force with little time to respond, Goaltan’s arms and face retu
rned to their pebbled state; he became a Peblar again. He began to laugh madly and disappeared back to his domain. What stood in Goaltan’s place was the beautiful scenery of Maple Town.

  The children stood for a moment in silence before Lina spoke, “Whoa, that was fun. Let’s do that again!”

  The others just stared at her.

  “I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Seriously though, what the heck was that all about? We could have been in some serious hurt.”

  Angela spoke up. “You know, growing up, we were told to behave and treat others with respect and heard stories of a place like that, but that is all we thought they were: stories.”

  Joe added, “I used to laugh at my parents when they mentioned the stories of the Peblars. I guess I shouldn’t have.” Focusing his attention on Lina and Peter, he continued, “The Peblars once were Candonites like Angela and me. Only they went terribly wrong. The most feared, the worst of the bunch, was Goaltan. We had the pleasure of meeting him. Story has it, eons ago, Goaltan was once the most beautiful Candonite anyone had ever laid eyes on. Well, you saw for yourself.”

  Peter interrupted, “Rock candy.”

  “Precisely,” Joe went on. “It goes to show you that just because you are beautiful on the outside doesn’t mean you are the same on the inside. He terrorized our world and wreaked pure havoc. The Candonites lived in constant fear. Something had to change. One night while Goaltan slept, ten Candonite men snuck into his home and tied him up. They carried him out and put him in a horse-drawn wagon and took him as far away as they could. The Candonites prayed and prayed that he wouldn’t wake up as they traveled. When he did wake, the Candonites were already out of harm’s way. When Goaltan realized what had taken place, he was so irate.

  “After some time alone, he began to think it was best for him to be surrounded by the only thing he truly loved, himself. But, as the days went on, he grew bored. No one to boss around, no one to torment. He tried to come back, but he could never find home. Some say he couldn’t return because the Candonites wished he wouldn’t so deeply. I myself wished it just moments ago.”

  “So did I,” said Angela.

  Joe continued, “The legend goes that Goaltan looks and smells as he does now because he was so filled with hatred and so unforgiving that his heart became solid rock and the rest of him slowly turned into pebbles. He became a rotted Candonite and turned into a Peblar, nearly unrecognizable except for his stature and mannerisms. Soon after, from time to time, wretched misbehaving Candonites were said to have vanished into thin air, and a gray pebble was left in their place. Goaltan was suspected all this time. Now we know what happened to all those people.”

  “Peblars,” Peter said. Everyone nodded in agreement.

  “We just thought they were tales the elders told us to keep us in line. I certainly hadn’t heard of anyone that I knew vanishing.” Joe turned toward Angela. “Had you?”

  “No.”

  “I was opening my front door to head to the parade, and when I closed it, the next thing I knew, I was in that dreadful cage. Angela was also headed to the parade. Her car door was closing and she ended up in the cage beside me.”

  Angela looked at Joe and back toward Peter and Lina, speaking from the heart for the both of them. “We wanted to say thank you for saving us despite the way we acted. We were real jerks, and we realize that we didn’t deserve your help. If it wasn’t for you two, we would have been stuck there forever and become one of them.” She shivered.

  Peter remembered something that sweet Mrs. Baker had said to him, and he repeated it out loud. “Mistakes are worth forgiveness if you truly mean you’re sorry.”

  “That is why no one else had the capability to save you. We had to forgive you. Think of all those people who weren’t forgiven,” Lina became sadly aware.

  All four children nodded in agreement. They truly understood.

  “We really should try to get home now, Peter,” Lina coaxed.

  “Yeah, I’m tired of looking at your faces,” Joe said, agitated.

  Everyone stared at him blankly.

  “Just kiddin’, guys!” He laughed, and the others did, too. Lina let out a snort that made everyone laugh harder.

  “Come on, let’s get you two home,” Joe broke the laughter.

  Standing in front of the special delivery box, Peter and Lina had mixed feelings. They were happy to be going home, but sad to be leaving.

  The two of them placed their hands gently on the box and took one last look at the place they had grown to love and the faces of their two new friends.

  “This time, this is really it,” Lina realized.

  “Ready?” Peter asked her. She nodded.

  Lina and Peter spoke together, “One, two, three…free to go home!”

  Peter thought he heard Angela’s voice, “Noooooo!” from behind him, and then darkness and quickly nothing.

  A Familiar Place

  “Peter, Peter, wake up.” He could hear Papa’s voice in the distance. “Peter, it’s time to go home.”

  “I know,” he said, opening his eyes.

  Papa was standing above him, his glasses nearly falling off the tip of his nose. Peter shot straight up and looked around the room for Lina.

  “Where is Lina?” Peter questioned.

  “What?”

  “Lina, have you seen her Papa?” Peter pressed.

  “Oh sure, I saw your friend earlier today. Such a nice girl. She is probably at home having dinner with her family. How are you feeling? Any better?”

  “What are you talking about, Papa?”

  “Oh dear, we really should get you home. I thought a nice long sleep would take care of all those sweets you ate today.”

  Peter felt especially guilty and he was sure it showed on his face.

  “I may be an old man, Peter, but I know you snuck all those sweets you shouldn’t have. Sweets are best in moderation,” he said. “I believe you have learned that lesson.”

  “I’m sorry,” Peter admitted. “Sorry for sneaking candy I shouldn’t have.”

  “Never mind that. Let’s get you home.”

  “Home,” Peter repeated. His mind focused back to his wondrous adventure. “I wonder if Lina made it home,” he said aloud.

  Papa looked at him strangely, “Of course she did, Peter.”

  “Papa, I looked for you earlier when I woke up and I couldn’t find you anywhere. The lights were all out, the store was closed, and I didn’t call home because I didn’t want you to get in trouble.”

  “What are you talking about, Peter? I have been here all day. I closed the shop early so I could take you home now.”

  Peter looked at his watch. It read 4:42 p.m. “But it was 5:42 p.m. earlier, and there was this package—it was left on the table.” Peter searched around for it, looking under the table. “It said ‘Special Delivery’ on it, and it swallowed me whole.”

  “Oh dear, I should have taken you home earlier.”

  “No, Papa, I feel fine. Ask Nana; she will know what I am talking about. She has been to Maple Town and seen the Candonites,” Peter rambled.

  “Nonsense, Peter, your Nana never mentioned any Candonites to me. You have been right here sleeping for quite some time. Let’s get you home and straight to bed to sleep this off.” Papa was adamant.

  Peter was stupefied. He thought, Could it have all been an extremely vivid dream? No, it was real…wasn’t it?

  No such luck. When Papa dropped him off and told his parents what had happened, they sent Peter straight to bed. No talking to Nana and definitely no calling Lina.

  Peter’s father partially closed the door to his bedroom and popped his head in to say, “I know you had an interesting day, son, but try to get some rest. We love you.”

  They did love him, and they would listen to him if they believed a word he was saying. But it sure did seem real, every second of it.

  Peter awoke the next morning feeling rejuvenated. He convinced his parents he was feeling well enough to go to school. They
had no doubts when he was standing by the front door ten minutes earlier than normal, holding his lunch bag in one hand and backpack in the other. He was eager to get to school.

  Peter waited around for Lina outside in the school yard. She was usually at school by now. He knew she couldn’t be late to class again or she would have to stay in at recess, and he definitely did not want her to have to do that. He watched his watch count down the minutes until the first school bell rang. The students started swarming into the school, he hesitated and then joined them, looking for Lina the whole time. The second school bell rang. He was nearly to his class.

  A tap on the shoulder grabbed his attention…Lina!

  She took his hand and shoved something small into it. “I have to get to class!” she said frantically. He watched her rush past him, run-walking toward her own class. He was left standing in front of his. Peter opened his hand. Directly in the center of it was a piece of candy. Not any old piece of candy, but a wonderful piece of peppermint candy, complete with glued-on paper ears and tail, fishing wire whiskers, and, drawn on with permanent marker, bright blue eyes!

  The final school bell rang.

  Crystal Marcos has been a storyteller her entire life. Being the oldest of five children, she had a lot of entertaining to do. She is a member of SCBWI. Crystal lives on the Kitsap Peninsula in Washington State with her husband and their daughter, Kaylee. BELLYACHE: A Delicious Tale is her first book.

  Visit her at www.CrystalMarcos.com