Historical fiction · Set in
A well by the house
They’re putting a new well in beside the house. The children had been sent out to play and were all back by the kitchen door within five minutes, taking turns to guess how far down the water was.
The youngest guessed clear to China. The oldest went indoors for a school ruler, then came back to see what could be done with twelve inches. I put the ruler on the windowsill and sent everybody to find the two bicycles before they were buried in the pile of dirt.
When the work stopped for lunch, the children stayed by the door. They wanted to be there when it started again. I had to carry the sandwiches outside.