The Cardboard Box Adventures - Part 11 (620 hits)
Category: GeneralLabels: cardboard_box_adventures
Rating: 2 on 24 reviews (Rate this item) (V)
Submitted by <brdn_nkd.at.yahoo.com> (View user info) at 2006-01-10 12:14:01 EST
Part 10 - http://www.ubersite.com/m/81817
"Have you learned how to flip yet Ben?"
"Is that when I move somewhere else by thinking about it?"
"Good, can you create here?"
"I think so, I made a castle and some trees, and stuff."
"Have you met your inner child?"
"What do you mean granddad? Have I met myself? I met the big man and he was me and now he's part of me. I fought him and trapped him."
"Good Ben, that makes you all the stronger because now you're of one mind. Do you know if the Bangers have located the source yet?"
"What do you mean? The source of what?"
"Ben, the Bangers are here to harvest your pure imagination. They need to find the source of your imagination before they can harness it to collect it. Do you know if they've found that yet?"
"I don't know. I know they have dad though and I'm worried about him."
"Well, first things first Ben, Let's get your dad, actually you get your dad. Can you see him?"
I thought for a moment and then I saw the scene again; dad tied to a chair surrounded by dancing and chanting Bangers. "Yeah, I see him!"
"Ok, now see him next to us."
Picturing dad tied to the chair I opened my eyes to see granddad already untying him from the chair.
"Good job Ben!"
"Dad? What are you doing here? How'd you get here?"
"No time right now son, we have to help Ben get rid of the Bangers. They're after his imagination and it's just too early for our favorite boy to lose that." Granddad said winking at me. "Once we're done here I'll take you boys for ice cream and we can all talk then. Alright Ben, you have to do most of the work since your dad and I really don't have any power here. You said you made a castle? Was it super safe?"
I nodded and granddad asked me to take us there. I closed my eyes and felt the flip this time keeping dad and granddad in mind.
"Good job Ben. How about something to sit on?"
I pictured some soft and bouncy couches and when I opened my eyes granddad was already easing himself onto a purple couch and dad was looking at me like he was surprised.
"How is he doing that dad? How is any of this happening? Is it real?"
"Sit down son and listen. We need to help Ben. Ben can do the things he's doing because this is his mind but it's all very real. I think that if you think back you can probably remember a visit from the Bangers. I don't think they usually come this early but I think they do end up visiting every child. I never forgot my visit, I've watched and waited trying to learn all I can and so far all I know for sure is that if we don't stop them the Bangers will take Ben's imagination and force him to grow up far too fast."
"I don't ever remember the bangers dad, I'm not sure I believe any of this."
"I think they came to you just after your mom died, you were twelve. I watched you apprehensively and wished I could help you but it was your fight. You went from being a daring pirate adventurer to being a book worm and sports enthusiast. For some kids it seems very abrupt like it was for you, just all of a sudden there's no more of the creativity that imagine brings to play, instead it becomes about performance and competition. For other kids it seems to fade from their play, but the special kids, kids like Ben, with a big well of pure imagination keep it forever if they fend off the Bangers. They become the world's painters, writers, musicians, sharing their imagination with world. Those that lose the fight, well, they aren't left with much, especially when they're as young as Ben. Ben's lucky; he's strong enough that when he asked for help he could bring it to him."
"How do you know all this dad?"
"None of that's important right now, we have to find the source of Ben's imagination. Just like the real world there is a structure here and Ben's imagination will have a physical representation. Ben, you have to think of the source, think of the beginning of a river, or the first stone being laid for a building, think of anything you can that might be the start, when you think of the right thing you'll know it for what it is."
So I sat on the couch between my granddad and dad and started thinking. It wasn't long before we heard Pickle calling from outside the castle walls.
"Ben, the time has come! You will deliver us to the source or you and your dad will die here. Come to me now."
"Ben, did you imagine it Banger proof?"
"I think so, now stop talking to me; I'm looking like you asked me to."
From outside We all heard Pickle again; "Ben, this is your last chance! Come out now or we're coming in to get you!"
I tried to return to my search but shortly after Pickle's warning the castle shuddered and a loud crash reverberated throughout. I ran to a window and looked out. On the hill leading up to the castle were thousands of Bangers. As I peered down at them they began to chant, shout, and stomp their feet on the ground. I looked at all the Bangers below and then I spotted Pickle. He looked at me like he was mad at me. Granddad and dad walked up behind me to look too and when Pickle saw them it almost looked like he'd been kicked into the air. He flew off his feet and now I was pretty sure he looked scared.
User Reviews
Submitted by Stagger_Lee (user info) at 2006-04-12 02:34:06 EDT (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Crystle (user info) at 2006-03-15 20:44:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
for the record, my 8-yr old uses the word "reverberated"
also - seriously think about cleaning this up and publishing as a childrens story.
Yes, it's that good.
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2006-01-13 06:25:20 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Oh, and shame about bigs losing his daring pirate adventuring skills.
I pray that never happens to me.
Yarr!
Submitted by Nellypaal (user info) at 2006-01-13 06:23:02 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Thank Jeebus for granddad's explanation.
My brain doesn't hurt so much anymore.
+3
Submitted by Serious_Melvin (user info) at 2006-01-11 20:53:33 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Pentameter (user info) at 2006-01-11 12:52:38 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by inion_de_trua (user info) at 2006-01-11 12:52:28 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
i love these.
Submitted by ghola (user info) at 2006-01-10 20:54:26 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by Ditka (user info) at 2006-01-10 14:39:30 (#)
Ranking: 2
auto cardboard +2
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i'm fearful these will end.
Then i'll have to go stephen king "misery" on your ass and tie you to a bed, break your ankles and force you to continue writing.
Submitted by thorpe (user info) at 2006-01-10 19:22:32 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
The best so far...
Submitted by JonnyX (user info) at 2006-01-10 18:53:16 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Brdn_Nkd (user info) at 2006-01-10 16:39:45 EST (#)
Ranking: 0
"An 8 year old shouldn't use the word reverberated."
Damnit. That's probably true, though my nine year old is fairly loquacious ;), still a very valid point.
Those of you reading to kids are they into it? I tried reading part of this to my son and it felt to wierd reading something I wrote out loud. May have to try again.
Thanks all for reading and for the comments. B
Submitted by Kirbage (user info) at 2006-01-10 16:30:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Still awesome.
'Was it super safe?'
I'm super, thanks for asking.
'I tried to return to my search but shortly after Pickle's warning the castle shuddered and a loud crash reverberated throughout.'
An 8 year old shouldn't use the word reverberated.
Submitted by Phinch (user info) at 2006-01-10 15:54:39 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm gonna go hide my wife's pills so we can have a kid and I can read this to him/her/whatever.
Submitted by Davros (user info) at 2006-01-10 15:17:43 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2006-01-10 13:07:14 (#)
Ranking: 2
This is wonderful!
I'm passing it on to my son when it's finished, too.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-01-10 12:56:30 (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm gonna print this off and read it to my daughter when it's done.
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I would do it too, if I had a son, or a daughter.
Bugger it I might just do it anyway.
-Dave
Submitted by The_Yellow_Dart (user info) at 2006-01-10 14:40:55 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by Ditka (user info) at 2006-01-10 14:39:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
auto cardboard +2
Submitted by the_thorne (user info) at 2006-01-10 14:03:00 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
Short, but I'm so gratefull for another chapter, I'm not going to whine about it.
GIVE US MORE!
Submitted by MyNameIsTim (user info) at 2006-01-10 13:53:07 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
chapter was too short...too quick.
still captivating.
i wish more happend.
Submitted by AshK (user info) at 2006-01-10 13:07:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is wonderful!
I'm passing it on to my son when it's finished, too.
Submitted by Snark (user info) at 2006-01-10 12:56:30 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
I'm gonna print this off and read it to my daughter when it's done.
Submitted by BLITZKREIG_BOB (user info) at 2006-01-10 12:34:14 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
This is picking up nicely. Keep going.
Submitted by ripple (user info) at 2006-01-10 12:33:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by punkerrjess (user info) at 2006-01-10 12:27:49 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment
Submitted by wookie (user info) at 2006-01-10 12:23:48 EST (#)
Ranking: 2
No Comment