Exploring

“It opens up?” Dave nodded in response to my question. I referred to what was an oversized crack in the rock wall. An average sized human being should be able to fit through it but it didn't look like there was any reason to fit in it. “I used to play in there as a kid,” Dave explained. “It felt like a giant cave then but it was just a room. I didn't explore it much because it didn't seem safe.”

“Even with a flashlight and string?” Tina teased.

“I never got any string,” Dave moped.

“So we're going inside then.” I started testing how I'd fit. There was a slight amount of gut sucking in required.

“Don't bears live in caves?” Tina wisely pointed out.

“If we can barely fit in here, no pun intended,” I responded, “then I don't think it's home to a bear.” I started working my way into the gap, shuffling along through it.

“What about a smaller bear?” Tina questioned.

“You're not helping,” I informed.

The gap in the rock was just long and thin enough to be uncomfortable. I am aware that I have some issues with enclosed spaces, not so much that I'd call myself claustrophobic but enough where I began to become nervous and tense as I progressed. Not being able to take a deep breath did not help. As I was able to keep moving the entire time, my growing panic never got out of control.

I soon popped into a large dimly lit 'room'. The ceiling was within reach and I used it to help me maneuver in the room, dodging the occasional stalactite that hung from the ceiling. Or is that stalagmite? Never was good at remembering that. Tina and Dave soon joined me. “This was your little clubhouse?” she asked.

Dave grinned. “Yeah.” He gravitated towards a corner. “I used to fit in there, eat my lunch, while tucked in between those rocks.” He kicked a candy wrapper. “Mallo cups.”

“Question.” I interrupted. “Where is all this light coming from?”

We'd been in the cave for a few minutes now and I found it far too easy to see for being in a cave. Dave frowned. “That's a good question. It was never pitch black in here but I always had a flashlight with in the past; one of those square lantern style ones I could put on the ground. I never really thought about it as a kid. Crack in the ceiling maybe?”

“Perhaps.” I kept examining the far wall, the area from where the light appeared to be coming. There was another, wider gap in the wall there, more of a tunnel compared to the entryway. It was large enough that the light emanating from it was defused, making the edges of the tunnel difficult to define. “Where does this go?”

“I don't know,” Dave informed. “I never explored in there.”

“Never had the string,” Tina added.

“What she said,” Dave agreed.

“Don't have the string now either,” I noted. “Today it's not going to stop us.” I began feeling my way into the gap.

“Is this a good idea?” Tina asked.

“I doubt it.” I kept moving.