Worth Beans

“It worries me to death, Albert. It really does,” Mrs. Taylor said. She twisted her apron, nervously in her white hands before going back to cooking.

“There, there,” Albert Taylor attempted to calm his wife. “He’s a smart boy, and old enough to take care of himself.”

“I know, but…” her voiced trailed off.

“Now see here, Edith! He’s not your little baby anymore, like I say, he’s older now.”

Mrs. Taylor let out a melancholy sigh as her husband proceeded to smoke his pipe. A chilled silence filled the room. Finally she spun round.

“Oh, Albert, what if something happens? We haven’t got a thing to our name ‘cept our son, and what if – what if we lose him too? Why couldn’t you ‘a gone?”

Albert gave her a stern look from where he sat, leg propped on a nearby table, and took his pipe out of his mouth.

“For the same reason I can’t work! There’s nothin’ I can do about my leg, and believe me if there was I would do it in a second and go up to sell the cow myself. It’s a short trip and he’ll be home by mornin’ so stop fussing!” he put the pipe back in his mouth and puffed it angrily.

The night went on as such until the couple wore each other out enough to sleep and finally morning came.

Mrs. Taylor had gotten up to prepare breakfast but was unpleasantly surprised to find the cornmeal almost gone. She had known that this day would come soon, but found it hard to believe that it was actually here.

When her husband found her sitting at an empty table he know what had happened. Slowly he moved towards her and put his hand on her drooping shoulder.

“It’ll be alright,” he whispered, trying to sooth her. “When Jack gets home we will have the money and we’ll buy some more. We’ll be fine.”

A tear rolled down her cheek.

Then the rumbling noises of a nearing wagon shook both of them from the melancholy state in which they were. Thoughts of their returning son flooded their minds and hushed their stomachs as they ran toward the door and flung it open.

The Entrance

The small room feels black and empty after you turn out the lights, but they are standing somewhere nearby in the darkness and reassure you that it won’t be dark for long.

They’ve been telling you other things too, but you still don’t understand why they brought you here, or what you are supposed to be doing. They say that it will be well worth your time, and you believe them because they’re your friends, and they are good people.

There is the buzz of a zippered bag and something that sounds hollow and metallic is placed on the floor. Some scuffles, then, all at once, the middle of the empty room is set ablaze. You have to squint to see anything near the long, blue column of light, but it is very localized and lets the corners of the room remain black. The light pulses quietly and its glow makes everyone’s skin look pail and slightly alien. You are about to ask some of the many questions that are flooding into your mind when Kenny steps forward and proceeds to walk through the shaft. Only, he doesn’t come out the other side.

Others go as well, and all of them disappear. They soon command you to follow the others and will not listen to your panicked protests. They try to remind you of the trust you’ve had in them, and promise that it’s nothing harmful. You hardly see their faces, your eyes are fixed on the light, and as you stare into it a strange thing happens. A feeling of persisting curiosity begins to prod you and though a part of you protests you are overwhelmingly intrigued with the dazzling glow. Your friends plead with you one last time to “just try it”.

Against your better judgment you step through.