Cosmic Cavern
by Michelle Brown
Gavin double-checked his harness, shrugged on his backpack, and grabbed hold of the rope. Don’t look down, he reminded himself. Whatever you do, don’t look down.
He couldn’t move. All his friends waited at the bottom of Cosmic Cavern for him to crawl over the mouth of the cavern and repel down the rope. What a dumb idea for a birthday party, Gavin wanted to yell. Why would Marcus want to turn ten in this hole? Gavin had waited to go last, hoping that somehow he’d find the courage to face the dark expanse by the time it was his turn. It hadn’t worked. His palms were wet inside his gloves, his heart was a runaway train, and his legs were wobbly jell-o. Maybe he should tell Mr. Chesterfield he was sick. It wouldn’t be lying.
Mr. Chesterfield put a hand on Gavin’s shoulder. “Everything okay?”
Gavin swallowed and nodded, then with a death grip on the climbing rope, forced his shaking body over the edge. He pushed against the cavern wall with his feet and released the rope with his right hand. Ziiip! The rope slid through the descender device, which kept Gavin from free-falling. He glued his eyes to the light on Mr. Chesterfield’s helmet up above. Below him, his friends urged him to speed up so they could start exploring the cavern. All except his best friend, Marcus. “Take your time, Gav,” he hollered. “No big hurry!”
Gavin tried to move faster, but his body wouldn’t cooperate. He hated being afraid of the dark. Ten-year-olds weren’t supposed to be afraid of the dark. He didn’t like bats much, either.
Suddenly, Gavin’s right foot slipped on the slick surface of the wall. A wave of fear rolled through him, and he glanced at the ground. Six headlamps shone back like small stars in a black night. Gavin lost his grip on the rope and zipped to the bottom, landing hard on his back…
About the Story
Gavin and one of his buddies become lost in the cavern. In the dark. And there are bats!
You can read the full version of “Cosmic Cavern” and 30 other fantastic read-aloud stories inside The White Sail – Volume 2 in our Story-A-Day Literacy Initiative. The book is a collection of 31 stories (one for each day!) that promotes early childhood literacy through daily reading.
About the Collection
This collection includes stories about cave girls and viking boys, aliens and pirates, salamanders with socks and violin-playing cats, lions, tigers, grasshoppers, gorillas, dragons and oh, so much more! A collection of 31 fun and original stories from knowonder! Never run out of short, fun stories again. Great for bedtime, story time, or just ANY time! Share the joy of story time with your child as often as you like (we recommend daily) and “know the wonder” of their imagination, as well as the love and joy you experience together.
Buy the book here: Physical Copy | Kindle version
About the Story-A-Day Literacy Initiative
Reading to your child every single day from birth is the single-m0st important thing a parent can do to ensure that child’s success in school and in life.
The knowonder! Story-A-Day Literacy initiative supports those parents who have made that commitment by giving them a new story every single day, by making it accessible, and by keeping it affordable.
Click here to learn more.