Poke at Hotflat | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: Poke at Hotflat | Previous Challenge Entry
By Gerald Shuler
02/19/18
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As a turtle Poke was, in almost every way, very average. He ate slowly, walked slowly, talked slowly and lived slowly. He understood that was simply the nature of turtles, but he wished it were not that way. What was different about him, though, was his extreme spirit for adventure. Poke could remember Papa telling him exciting stories about Hotflat. Hotflat was a stretch of black nothingness that kept most of the animals content to stay in the pasture they called home. He had heard horrifying stories about the monsters that protected Hotflat... huge beasts that always showed, in their see-though skins, prisoners they had captured and swallowed alive. Nobody dared cross Hotflat for fear of the Beasts that guarded the dark wasteland. Of course, being a turtle, Poke didn't understand the ways of human beings. He didn't know that Hotflat was simply an asphalt highway and the Beasts were just automobiles driven by humans. He only knew Hotflat had taken his cousin, Pidd, and then his father. Pidd had wanted to see if the tales were true about how much better life was on the other side of Hotflat. He crossed and was never seen again. Papa then decided to cross Hotflat himself to rescue Pidd. That was the last Papa was seen.

Now Poke found himself having the desire to cross Hotflat to find Papa and Pidd. Mama tried, with a flood of tears, to keep Poke from going. Even Pidd's family tried to change his mind. But Poke would not listen. He walked slowly to the very edge of the blackness and told his loved ones goodbye. Then he took his first step onto Hotflat. The sun had, indeed, made this expanse uncomfortably hot. Hotflat had been well named. Poke thought about not taking another step onto Hotflat, but his adventurous nature kicked in. If he didn't go he would never discover what wonderful treasures could be on the other side. Was the grass greener? Tastier? Easier to chew? He must find out.

So Poke took his second slow step and then his third. The cheers (and tears) faded from sight and he realized, for the first time, what a lonely journey he had begun. He began to take a another step when he heard the unmistakable roar of a Hotflat beast. Instinct kicked in and Poke jerked his head and feet tightly into his shell, which is about the only thing turtles do quickly. The Beast whizzed past him, just barely touching the back of his shell. It caused Poke to begin spinning, round and round, finally coming to rest far from where he had been. He had actually gotten spun all the way to the other edge of Hotflat. He had made it to the other side.

To his surprise, a crowd was gathered in the field to greet him. Many of his friends and neighbors who had vanished crossing Hotflat were cheering him as if he were a hero. At the front of the crowd, with the biggest of smiles, was Papa, standing next to Pidd.

“Papa?” Poke hadn't expected to learn so quickly that his father was still alive. “Papa? Why didn't you come home? We thought... we all thought...”

“I'm sorry, Poke.” Papa was nearly in tears. “I wanted to come home but... but... I was too afraid.” Creatures all around Papa were nodding their heads in agreement. “There are no treasures over hear. Everything is just like it is on the other side. But none of us dared risk crossing Hotflat again. We were all blessed to make it even once.”

Poke knew instantly what he needed to do. He turned around, turtle slowly, and faced Hotflat again. He took his first step onto the black surface.

“Poke... what are you doing? It isn't safe trying to cross Hotflat.” Papa was not alone in this. All the creatures were begging him not to go.

“I must go.” Poke said. “They need to know the truth on the other side. We all need to appreciate the treasures we have where ever we happen to be. No others need be lost to the Hotflat creatures just because they didn't know the truth.”

With that, Poke took his second slow step onto Hotflat.

So, if you happen to be driving in a car going down the highway and you see a turtle crossing the road... slow down and wave. It could be Poke crossing Hotflat again.

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