The Hole in the Floor...

...and the ball ( a short story). It starts with the hole growing and the ball falling in.

Jack, of course, was hot on the tail of the ball and down the hole he went. He didn't come back up for a long time, so I stretched out on the floor and hung my head into the hole. I caught occasional glimpses of moving darkness that was a tiny bit darker than the background darkness. But Jack knew he was home free and he had the ball to himself, so he wasn't about to come out. Besides it was cool under there!

Finally he decided to come out.

He was quite proud of himself. I picked up the ball and, predictably, Jack anticipated that the ball was headed for the back 40. He put his rear end into high gear intending to meet the ball when it landed. I dropped the ball down the hole again. Ben and Maggie were part fascinated, part flummoxed, but had no intention of going down the hole for the ball (there might be spiders down there!)"Hey, Jack, the ball's down the hole again!"

"So what do you want ME to do about it?"

"Uh, we don't know how to get down there and thought that maybe, uh, since you've beeen down there already, you could...you know...get it?"

" I could..what'll ya give me if I get the ball for you?"

"Um, I dunno, whadda ya want?"

"Nuthin', kid, you don't have anything I want."

"Jack? Jack? Jack! You down there?"

"Maggie, I can't see Jack anymore! I thnk the hole ate him AND THE BALL!!

"Wait, I heard something! Was it Jack? Tell me it was Jack..."

"Shit, Jack, ya scared the hell outta me!"

Then Jack disappeared again. We all watched the hole, and watched the hole, and watched... No Jack. While we were wondering if Jack was going to ever come out, the sneaky bugger was using another exit that didn't require him to share the ball.