Benjamin in Blunderland - Part 2

As No Name led Benjamin into the bootcamp area, Benjamin couldn’t help but take it all in. The bootcamp area was quite bizarre, there was an obstacle course but the obstacles were quite colorful and odd, yet still somewhat familiar to something Benjamin would see back home. A clearly cut path to follow along. “C’mon kid! This way!” No Name exclaimed as he hurried Benjamin to the front of the course. “This is the start of the game! The rules are simple. Overcome each obstacle and make sure not to lose your spoon!” No Name explained as he pushed Benjamin from behind his legs, “No time to waste!” Benjamin let out a laugh as he looked at the first obstacle before him. The first obstacle didn’t quite look like an obstacle but rather a path lined by trees. The trees covered the path which seemed relatively short in length. Although Benjamin wasn’t quite familiar with the type of the trees that lined the path, he couldn’t help but look upwards overwhelmed with a sense of joy and excitement. As Benjamin began he couldn’t help but to start skipping wildly down the path, laughing with pure joy with each bound. Without a warning, Benjamin was suddenly snatched from above by a firm hand of what must've been something very strong! Before he knew it, he was somersaulting in the air like a basketball and then caught by another firm, strong hand like the one before and then was somersaulting again! Benjamin was laughing uncontrollably as he went from hand to hand, until he felt the slow descent. It was then Benjamin saw the source of the hands that have been causing his laughter, it was a family of baboons! As his laughter settled Benjamin couldn’t help but smile, and then suddenly remembered about the spoon and checked his pocket where he tucked it away. Relieved when he felt the spoon. The baboons all waved as Benjamin completed the first obstacle of the game. “Wahoo!” No Name appeared at my feet peering with his bright, vivid green eyes “Let’s keep playing!” Benjamin giggled as they moved along to the next obstacle. Benjamin and No Name walked to a white line depicting the start of the second obstacle and Benjamin, still laughing from the baboons, was eager to see what surprises awaited him on this obstacle. Before him there was a purple pond, surrounded by lilies of various colors, and croaking bullfrogs. The pond was wide, and it was clear he had to get across it somehow. Before crossing, Benjamin knelt by the edge of the purple waters, intrigued by its color he submerged his hand and swirled it around, wondering what was beneath. As Benjamin swirled the purple water with his hand, his eye caught a glimmer effect in the water as it swirled around in a weak vortex. Benjamin, although wanting to keep investigating the waters, felt pressed for time to complete the obstacle, and began looking for a canoe or boat of some kind. Now, Benjamin was a weak swimmer, he began to remember vividly how his father “taught” him to swim by throwing him into the pool’s deep end. With no safety, Benjamin remembered how he flailed around thrashing the water and had to fight the urge to go under and give in to the violent, unforgiving nature of the pool. He remembered gasping for air, clenching onto the grass when he finally managed to climb out of the pool. “What’s wrong kid?” No Name asked with concern in his eyes, “It’s nothing…I’m fine.” Benjamin reassured No Name, or so he hoped as he shook the memory free, and found himself frantically looking around. Benjamin closed his eyes, wishing that the canoe would suddenly appear for him to cross the pond. With his eyes shut tight, he heard the water rippling and bubbles bursting at its surface. Benjamin snapped his eyes open, afraid of something emerging from the water, and then suddenly there were giant lily pads scattered around the pond. “How do I get across?” Benjamin asked No Name, who peered confused at Benjamin. “Well you use the lily pads of course!” He said with a laugh, “Follow me!” And with a leap, No Name jumped onto a lily pad and continued jumping as if on trampolines from pad to pad until he was across the vast pond. “Benjamin smiled, relieved he didn’t have to swim across,” “Try not to fall in!” No Name yelled across, as Benjamin took a steady breath, he walked into the purple waters and climbed upon the closest lily pad. He knew he needed momentum, so Benjamin began to jump on the lily pad, where he began jumping higher and higher, until he had enough momentum to reach the next pad, and then the next, until he reached the opposite edge of the pond. “See! You just needed to take a leap of faith!” No Name proclaimed, as he began running towards obstacle three with Benjamin running closely behind feeling a little more confident and accomplished. “Welcome to the third obstacle” “Woah!” Benjamin was taken by awe and amazement of the new obstacle. There were two long, massive hedge walls creating a path that was covered by heavy fog. “Well, what are you waiting for?” Before Benjamin could answer, No Name ran ahead into the hedge lined path. Benjamin was in awe, but felt a sense of dread as he began slowly walking into the foggy hedges. It was hard to see, and the air grew wet and cold. Benjamin began to hear the cracks of twigs and ruffling of leaves as he walked further and further into the fog. He began feeling afraid of what he couldn’t see, “Ohh Benjamin! Where are you?” Benjamin heard the echoes of No Name, but something seemed a little off…his voice was a little too familiar. “C’mon Ben! There’s no point in hiding.” No Names voice began to taper off and Benjamin noticed the infliction of No Names voice, and before he knew it Benjamin found himself running frantically in the fog, suddenly feeling lost. BAM! Benjamin had gone straight into a hedge wall he hadn’t seen from the thickness of the fog. Upon impact, he fell backwards landing awkwardly. “There you are Ben!” Benjamin finally recognized the voice, as it got louder and closer, it was his father! Afraid of being in trouble, or another lashing, Benjamin forced himself to his feet, still a little woozy from the fall and began running, unaware that he was in a hedge lined maze! Benjamin couldn’t help but question if No Name had transformed into something else, or if his father was seeking him from the other world and found this hidden world. But he couldn’t focus on that now, he had to make sure to escape the grasp of his father. How did this world go from silliness to fearfulness?!

Will Benjamin evade the impending anger of his father? Will No Name reappear to guide Benjamin? Or is this world fed by Benjamin’s thoughts and emotions? Stay tuned to find out in Part 3!

If you’d like to write part 3 comment “AGREE” below :)