It was a quiet night for the March Foster Care Ranch teens at the pond as they sat around the fire watching the fireflies swarm over the ponds waters offshore. Trudy their Foster mother was getting ready to return to the main house for the night. The six Teens, ranging in age from 14 to 16 where having their annual end of school year camp out in the Cabin at the pond. The youngest Twins, 14 Mort and Becky Sanchez, Debbie Miller 15, Steve Samson 15, brothers Charles 16, and Terry McGuire 15, sat around the fire talking about how things went in school this year, their grades, and how busy they were going to be on the ranch this summer helping out their Foster Care mother, a recent widow losing her husband Todd in Afghanistan. Each foster teen had their own emotional and physical challenges from being confined to a wheelchair, to hearing loss, legally blind, and dealing with emotional issues of abandonment, ADHD. The March Foster Care Ranch was the only Foster care home they really felt at home with as both Trudy and her husband Todd where up to the challenges of each teen's needs. Before Todd was killed they had just finished building a new home with all the amenities to serve the teens needs and challenges. The ranch was a part of Trudy's Grandfathers century old farm and lands. Trudy herself an orphan taken in by her Grandfather raised on the farm. The six teens felt lucky to have finally found a foster care home that gave them hope and acceptance. Trudy left them with a warning not to wake up the bears."Did Trudy just say don't wake up the bears." Mort nervously asked."Yes, she did Mort. I wouldn't worry about the bears it is the pond sprites that can get a bit angry if you disturb there sleep in the pond." Charles told Mort."Charles is right, those pond sprites will rise from the pond small Orbs of light and will chase you. If one touches you, you turn into a frog Mort." Steve said."Stop it you two, Mort there is no such thing as pond sprites. Shiny Orbs of light that come out of the pond to turn you into a frog. The boys are teasing you." Debbie tried to comfort Mort."Debbie, if there are no pond sprites then what are those?' Mort said pointing at the Pond were 12 glowing lights floated just under the surface of the water about 20 feet offshore heading into shore. One by one six Orbs came to the surfaces, hovering just above water dancing around in a circle. Then jumping over each other as they rose higher into the air while the remaining six Orbs remained in the water. The first six Orbs held position some 8 feet above the ponds surface hovering changing colors, dancing around each other. The six teens stood on the shore mesmerized by the Orbs as they slowly approached the shore. The closer they came the teens heard a soothing melody of sounds that were out of this world. First one orb, then the next, and the next until all Orbs were hovering in front of the six teens no more than a yard away, stationary in the air."What are they Charley?" Terry the first to speak."I don't know Terry.""Are they drones of some sort." Steve asked."I don't think they are pond sprites, that's for sure." Debbie spoke."Becky, what are you doing, don't go near them?" Mort yelled at his sister."I can't help it Mort, my wheelchair seems stuck in forward. My joystick won't respond." Becky shouted back at Mort. "Mort what is happening?""Becky, your wheelchair is raising off the ground hang on sis." Mort yelled."Help me, someone help me." Becky screamed. I am a Award winning Poet, Writer, Artist, Sculptor, Pop Sociologist, an Inductee into the National Deans List, a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. I have been active in Community Service: Past Board Member of the Vine Neighborhood Association (3 terms), Membership Chair, Fund Raising Committee, Board secretary and interim Board Treasurer. Past member of the Recipient Rights Committee, County Mental Health Board. KVCC Public Museum Volunteer for 20 years. Involved in Community Theater for 5
