The path home lay ahead, only yards away.

ÒWatch out for that hole,Ó Debbie said. ÒStep around it, Mark.Ó

I looked at it. ÒItÕs only a circle,Ó I thought. ÒWhat was Debbie talking about. I can walk on it.Ó I was somewhere else and stepped forward. My foot didnÕt touch the ground. The sudden fall forced me to gasp, diaphragm convulsing. I tired to scream, but an icy pressure suffocated my panic. A fluid sky swam past me. ÒIÕm underwater.Ó The insistent current dragged me down stream. I clawed at the ice but felt nothing. Light danced in the water, bright ghosts reaching out to me. Their voices gurgled a song I couldnÕt understand. I stopped struggling and white enveloped me. I felt pushed forward. I bumped my head on something brown. A gigantic spider web appeared magically above me. ÒThe spiderÕs still there. ItÕs tryinÕ to grab me. Leave me alone! I donÕt want to go!Ó

I donÕt know why, but I reached for the spider. I felt lighter.

Something slapped my back once, and then again. ÒDrew! Drew!Ó someone shouted. ÒDrew!Ó

Water rushed out and air in. Crying and coughing, I lay half in and half out of a watery womb. I pulled at my collar to help me breathe. ÒWhere are my stars?Ó I wondered.

ÒMommy? Mommy, IÕm cold. Can we go home now?Ó