Mr. Radio

“Yes! We can hear you!” Anna Jane said. “Yes!” There came a pause. The static crackled to life.

“Who’s out there?”

The crew looked at each other.

“What do we do?” Logan asked.

“Let’s answer it,” Anna Jane said.

“What? No!” Vivian said. Everyone started at her. The geisha shrugged.

“It could be a trap,” she said.

“I’m not too sure,” Anna Jane said. The static crackled again.

“Hello? Are you still there? Hello? Hello? Who is there?”

Anna Jane sat up.

“We’re here!” she shouted. “Who are you?” Vivian hit her on the arm.

“Ow,” the other girl murmured. The geisha frowned. The radio crackled loudly.

“Who are you? What is your name?”

The group looked at each other.

“Anna Jane.”

“Logan.” The other two looked at Vivian. She frowned and glared at the radio. Anna Jane nudged him on the arm.

“Come on,” she whispered. The geisha eyed her. Anna Jane and Logan had desperate looks on their faces. Vivian shook her head.

“Just do it,” Logan mouthed. Anna Jane nodded. Vivian rolled her eyes.

“Vivian,” she said.

“Who are you?” Anna Jane asked. Static jumped through the air. The name came out grabbled.

“What?!” Logan asked. They listened in closely. Static. Static. Static.

“A…” Static. Static. Static. “Radio…” Static. “Radio…” Static. Static. Then the radio went silent. The group turned to each other.

“What was that?” Vivian asked. Logan just shrugged. Anna Jane took back her radio.

“Now what?” Vivian asked. No one had an answer. Anna Jane stood up.

“Keep walking, I guess?” she said.

“But where?” the geisha asked. Anna Jane shrugged.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“Meep!” George said. The kids turned to the creature.

“What’s that?” Anna Jane asked.

“Meep! Meep!” the creature shouted. He looked up at the sky. Logan narrowed his eyes.

“What are you saying?” he asked.

“Meep! Meep! Meep!” George yelped. Anna Jane tilted her head.

“You want us to go up?” she asked. “Up into the sky?”

“Meep!” the creature said.

“But how?” Vivian asked. George knelt down to the ground. Teddy and White Bear climbed onto his belly. The three humans watched confused.

“I guess we climb on,” Anna Jane said. Vivian wrinkled her nose.

“You can’t be serious,” she said. The younger girl said nothing. She walked over to her friend and climbed on. Logan shrugged.

“Might as well,” he said.

“No, don’t!” Vivian shouted. The cowboy didn’t listen. Logan walked forward and climbed on. The passengers eyed the geisha standing alone on the moss.

“Climb on,” Logan said. Vivian sighed and rolled her eyes.

“Fine, whatever,” she said. The geisha walked up and climbed on. George felt like a giant marshmallow.

“Hang on tight!” Anna Jane shouted. George stood up and crouched down. He held his breath and jumped into the sky. Vivian screamed the whole way.