Chapter 1
Tommy led the way through the forest. He stopped and turned around to wait. He wanted to get this over with.
“Come on, slowpokes!” He called to his friends.
They were coming to the place he’d discovered last evening. He was afraid, but he didn’t want anyone to know that.
The boys lived in a town nearby. They all knew that they weren’t supposed to be in the woods. Bravely they pushed through the jumble of weeds and saplings that had overgrown the path.
Tommy knew that he wouldn’t be here in the first place if it wasn’t for his big mouth. He should’ve kept what he’d seen to himself.
Tommy’s cousin Eddy, was close behind him. He and Tommy were dark-haired and strong. Their fathers were brothers, and the two boys were pals as well as cousins. James and Gary were brothers. James was the oldest, and he kept reminding his brother of that. They came next. They were in Tommy’s class at school. James was the boldest. He always took the lead over his brother. Sammy was last. He was always last. He was the smallest of the group and everybody sort of looked after him. He was always happy, even when the other guys make fun of him for things.
The boys tangled themselves in the weeds and got smacked by little branches as they followed Tommy.
“Shh!”--- said Tommy as they crept into a clearing. “Be quiet, Sammy.” he whispered.”
Sammy had tripped over a root or something, and he yelped. He was glad to have reached the open. He was only behind because he’d been peering into the thick bushes. He said that he hoped that he wouldn’t see a fox, or a wolf or something.
When they were in the clearing they sat and rested for a while under the trees at the edge of the forest, Tommy wanted to watch and listen to make sure that no-one was around. He shuddered as he remembered the last time he’d been here. He’d seen the roof of a building. It was square with a flat roof. He almost didn’t notice it. It was camouflaged so well. At this moment, Tommy just wanted to leave! He was still shook up about what had happened last time.
He had found this place by accident while he was looking for his dog. He and Sparky went for a walk. The huge white sheepdog was always ready for a walk. He came with his leash in his mouth when he knew they were going, and he never left Tommy’s side while they were out. This time Sparky did something he didn’t usually do. He bolted after a rabbit. He squeezed through a hole in the fence and went into the woods. Tommy tried to catch him. He could hardly fit through that hole in the fence. He knew he wasn’t allowed in the woods, but he had to get his dog. This took him down a path that was overgrown with weeds and stuff. It ended at the edge of a steep hill. He looked down, and discovered the strange building.
It wasn’t quiet, like it was now. There were men loading things into trucks. They weren’t laughing and talking the way the garbage men did. It seemed like there were dozens of them. He flattened himself in the grass like they were doing now. No one would have noticed him if it hadn’t been for that stupid dog. All of a sudden Sparky came running from nowhere and jumped on Tommy, barking all the time. The men looked up and saw him. Tommy ran as fast as he could, and Sparky followed him. They managed to get away through the thick trees and brush. Tommy was really scared. He was out of breath, and his shoes and socks were full of mud from when they ran through a stream. Sparky was all dirty and matted. Tommy knew that he had to bathe him, and fast. He’d be in big trouble if his parents saw the dog like that.
He had a hard time getting all the burrs off the dog, and his own socks and pantlegs, but he managed.
He had just finished bathing the dog and washing his socks and shoes when his mother got home. The socks were as clean as he could make them, and they were down the basement near the laundry tub. His shoes were in his room in the closet when he hoped they’d be dry in the morning. No one would notice the socks until washday. They’d be dry by then.
Mom was always home before Dad. She saw that Sparky was still damp and said. “How nice, Tommy. You’ve bathed the dog. I didn’t even have to ask you to. You certainly are becoming a responsible young man.”
Tommy was sheepish, He hung his head, and if his mother had looked at him right then she’d know that he’d done something wrong. She didn’t though-----she was busy looking in the refrigerator. She was trying to decide what to make for supper.
“Did you do your homework?” she asked.
“No,” he answered. “Not yet, I’ll do it now.”
He was glad to escape into his room. Sparky went upstairs with him. He was almost dry now. He was tired from his run, and he lay on the floor in Tommy’s room. His head was between his paws, and his eyes kept opening and closing till he fell asleep.
The next day at school, during recess, Tommy told his friends. He wished he hadn’t, because they didn’t believe him. So here he was again just because they wanted to see for themselves.
They reached the edge and all the boys got on their bellies, commando style.
“Someone must be in there.” said Eddy. “What if we went down and knocked at the door? We could say that we’re lost. We could ask them how to get of the woods.”
“Not me!” The boys all answered as if they were a chorus.
“Yeah, let’s go to the park and play some basketball before it’s time to go in for supper.” James said as he jumped up to his feet.
Gary seconded the suggestion, and all of the boys got to their feet and started back home. Tommy was glad. He wanted to get away from there.
The next day in the schoolyard James said. “That place was neat, but I really don’t believe that you saw lots of men doing things. I think that you made that part up.”
“No way! I saw it with my own eyes. When they looked up at me, I ran as fast as I could. I’m lucky that they didn’t catch me.”
“Well, I’m going back after school. I want to see if there really is something going on. Who’s going to go with me?” asked James.
“I’ll go.” yelled Gary.
“Yeah, me too.” echoed Eddy.
Tommy said. “I don’t care if you believe me or not!” I’m never going back there again.
After school the boys walked, jumped, and played around as they always did. When they reached the path that led to the woods James; Gary, and Eddy wriggled though the hole in the fence, and started up the path.
James jeered. “We’re going to see if we can find those big, bad, men you’ve been talking about. See you later, scaredy cats.”
Sammy and Tommy walked home together. When they got to Sammy’s street they stopped for a minute.
“Are you sorry that you didn’t go with them?” asked Tommy
“No, I was afraid last time. I was glad to get away from there. It was creepy.”
“Me too, that how I feel.” Said Tommy.
“See you tomorrow.” they said to each other.
The next morning the other boys were quiet.
“What happened last night?” asked Tommy?
