Henry(Marla) “Henry, let’s go for a walk,” Levi Harrison said to his son.

“All right, Dad,” said Henry as he stood up and dropped the stick he’d been using to draw in the dirt.

They headed north from the small cabin. They had moved in only two days earlier. It took several minutes before they came to three small rocks that had been placed in a neat line. “Help me add twelve more rocks to this row and be sure to keep them lined up neatly.”

“Yes, Sir.” Henry didn’t ask why. He knew it was better to wait. When they were done with the task, Henry said, “What are the rocks for?”

“This is as far as you are allowed to go in this direction from the house.”

Henry thought for a moment. He knew the property line was farther out than the rocks. “What’s out there, Dad?”

“I’ll show you. Give me your hand.”

Together continued their walk. They came to a large pit, six feet across and very deep.

“If you stay on the other side of the rocks, you’ll never be too close to the pit. We will build a fence when we can, but until then, you stay on the other side of the rocks, you understand?”

“Yes, Sir.”

They walked back to the house, Henry’s small hand still in his father’s.

Two weeks passed. Henry’s father wasn’t home. It was getting dark. Henry was near the barn, petting the goats as he loved to do before he went inside for the evening, when he saw a man drive slowly up the long driveway. He saw the man go up to the door and knock loudly. Something was wrong. Henry had never seen this man before. He saw his mother open the door and watched as the two started to talk. His mother shook her head. The man laughed and then took a step inside, pushing his mother. She cried out in fear. Henry ran as fast as he could to the house. He grabbed the man’s jacket, and the man turned in surprise. “You little…” he started.

Henry turned back as the man made a grab for him. He ran across the yard. He glanced back and saw that the man was sprinting after him.

He veered slightly to the left, suddenly knowing exactly where to run. It was getting darker. Henry could barely see, but he knew the layout. The man, presumably, did not. It could work. He’d have to be fast. Remember the rocks. Remember how far. Yes, it could work. Henry’s heart raced as sped along. He could hear his mother screaming his name. Finally, the rocks. He went over them; he heard the man stumble slightly and swear but not fall. Straight ahead now. Henry did not slow his pace until the moment that he suddenly went down to the ground. It was going to hurt. He was certain of this.

A heavy boot slammed into Henry’s body. Then he heard an awful cry that ended with a loud thud as the man landed in the bottom of the pit.

Henry stood, shaking from head to toe. He turned toward the house and took only a few steps before his mother had him in her arms. They hugged for a long moment. Then they walked together to the farm, hand in hand, without speaking.

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