There is an old well by my house.
A large tree grows next to it.
It's made of old granite.
A large piece of wood lays across the center of it.
I think someone forgot about this well.
My parents don't know it exists, but I do.
Every day after school I go to this well.
I sit by it and speak my thoughts out loud.
I say things like "Oh I wish I had friends. I wish I had someone to play with."
This may seem odd, but I can confide in you.
Some days it feels as if the well speaks to me too.
If I sit quietly after sharing my thoughts, I hear things like "Me too!"
I know that sounds crazy.
But just like with the well.
I feel I can trust you.
One day I was walking to the well.
I saw a grasshopper on a tree.
I picked it up and carried it with me.
I thought to myself "The well would appreciate this."
I took it to the well and I said "Hello well. I found a grasshopper."
The well said nothing so I placed the grasshopper on the well.
"Why don't you talk to me well?"
Just then the well spoke. It was soft at first but then it got louder. "Place it inside me."
I thought for a moment as I saw the grasshopper stretch its legs.
"But wouldn't that kill the grasshopper?" I asked.
"No" said the well.
So, I picked up the creature and dropped it in the well.
I heard nothing. I saw nothing. It was just darkness all the way down.
"You must be the deepest well in my entire city" I exclaimed.
"I am" the well spoke.
One afternoon I was sitting against the well. I thought about my life. I thought about my friends at school.
I stretched out my hand to block out the sun with my thumb.
"You know Mr. Well. I can block out the sun with just my thumb."
The well said nothing.
Another day I was walking around the edge of the well. I was humming a song to myself. It was a tune I heard on the radio. It was a nice tune.
"Would you like to join me?" said the well.
I stopped walking and thought to myself. "Join you? What does that mean?"
The well said nothing.
On a rainy day I ran to the well. I hid against the tree that grew next to it. To shield myself from the rain.
"I wish it wouldn't rain so much." I exclaimed in protest.
The well said "It never rains down here."
On the day of my birthday, I was walking with a balloon. The balloon was bright red and said happy birthday.
"Hey Mr. Well." I exclaimed. "Check out my balloon!"
The well spoke "That is indeed a nice balloon. Would you like to see my gift for you too?"
I smiled and jumped up and down. "Oh yes please!"
Just then a man in a black coat and tall top hat appeared from around the tree.
I stopped moving and protested "You are not the well."
The man gave a long bow and said "I am not the well. But I speak for the well."
I kept my eye on the man and climbed onto the well.
"You speak for the well? What does that mean?"
I clutched my balloon tightly.
The man gave a large grin "It means that I am the well and the well is me."
I gave a sigh "Hmm. That doesn't make sense but alright."
The man held out his hand "Would you like to receive your gift now? It's just over the hill yonder. I can take you there."
I studied the man's hand. It was larger than mine. Slightly hairy like my dad's.
I looked at the man's face. "Alright. But I have to be home by supper time or my mom will be mad."
"Oh of course." Smiled the man in black.
I took his hand and he led me away from the well.
We walked and walked. Closer to the ridge of the hill. The man didn't speak and neither did I.
Before we crossed over the hill, I thought to myself.
"Maybe I should have wished the well goodbye."