Davida Blanton

The Tarantula Hole Treasures

Astrid Hemmel sat on the rickety old steps of the wooden deck out behind her mother’s Texas ranch home, watching her four children dig an “army dugout” in front of the play fort they’d constructed out of broken pallets and whatever they could find around the ranch. “These kids are gonna be absolutely filthy by the end of this,” Astrid thought. “Whatever was I thinking letting them dig this big hole in the middle of the yard?!” She teetered on the verge of regretting her decision, until her five-year-old Duncan confidently approached her, waving his shovel confidently, his smile beaming to illuminate his whole face as he declared, “Momma, this is going to be the most awesome fort ever! We’re gonna protect you every day!” She gave an acknowledging nod of affirmation, mustering a grin in response, wishing it could really be that simple.