Dr. NoSleep

Sam was just a few months younger than me, while Brady was two years older, and the three of us had been getting into trouble together ever since before we could walk.

Then, one summer night, Brady unveiled a secret.

The three of us were lying on the floor of Sam's room, feeling sluggish and lazy from eating too much of Aunt Ellen's delicious pineapple cake.

We were all wide awake, but for once, none of us had any idea what to do next.

The adults had switched out the lights and told us that it was bedtime, but their bedroom was too far away for them to hear us sneaking around.

The night was ours, and we knew it.

Brady suddenly sat up, a big smile on his face.

He told us about something he'd found earlier that day, something we had to see to believe.

Even in the dark, I knew Sam was rolling her eyes.

Lately, Brady had been lording his age over us, acting like turning 11 had given him some special knowledge that Sam and I lacked.

I didn't want to take the bait, but the curiosity was too much.

I asked him what the hell he was talking about.

That's when he told us about the trapdoor.

He said that he'd found it while we were playing hide and seek.

It was in the middle of the woods, inside a shed, and somebody had left it wide open.

Brady led the way, tiptoeing downstairs while Sam listened for any sign of movement from Uncle Thomas' bedroom.

When we reached the front door, I hesitated.

We had tiptoed around after dark before, but I had a feeling that if we got caught outside the house, the consequences would be a lot worse than a light scolding.

By the time we reached the end of the driveway and turned into the woods, I was getting really worried.

The feeling of slick ferns sloshing against my pajamas and the whir of so many cicadas made the forest feel much wilder than it did during the day.