Gopher Story

Prologue

Somewhere in the USA, there was a park. This park was quite lush, green, and clean. Children loved to roam and play, the elderly found much peace, and adults were content.
Now it just so happens that two children were wandering about. The boy named Joe, 12, pointed out an odd part of the park that seemed empty of life. The girl named Mary, 12, looked in the direction he was pointing at.

"What the heck?" Mary exclaimed.

"I know right! I've never seen this part of the park!!" Joe yelled in excitement.
"Ok, calm down and let's check it out."
And so it was there on a dismal park bench that the children found her: Lady Jane. Lady Jane, 70, had lived her life quite averagely. Except for the fact that she had witnessed magical events and perhaps had some responsibility for these events.

"Ma'm are u ok?" Mary asked. For you see, Lady Jane was staring at the park as if in a trance.

"...."

"Um, are u like dead?" Joe idiotically asked.

"....idiot."

"SHE LIVES!.....WAIT, WUT U SAY????!!!"

"Please mind my friend he tends to be.....an idiot?"

" 'Tis fine young miss. Lads tend to be that way."

"Yes, well um why are u alone in this part of the park?"

"The land was once lush here as well....if not for them 'twould still be."

"Who's them? And what does it matter? Green is way better than yellow." Joe stated and questioned.

"Poor ignorant lad. This ere world isn't as it once was.....I speak of the gophers."

"GOPHERS?!" They both exclaimed dumbfounded.

"Ok, sure, gophers." Joe said.

"Ya don't believe me. Well I got me some time and so do ye kids. Now prepare yourselves for the tale."

The children looked at each other as if telepathically communicating how insane this woman is. They were also telling each other to run.

"Look ma'm we must really be going. And anyways we don't even know ur name." Mary said.

"The name is Lady Jane. And do not fret child. As I can help slow time down so yer parents needn't worry."

"WUT?" They both replied dumbfounded yet again.

" 'Tis a wee hard but I can do it."

"Ok, shoot. If u really can then why not." Joe said nonchalantly.

"Joe!"

"Mary, if she says she's got this then the woman's got this!"

Mary stared at him amazed, confused, and just irritated. Yet she sighed and finally consented.

"Heck yeah!! I won!"

"Shut it dork!"

"Hush. The tale is to begin, remember limit your interruptions. Heck I wish for ye not to interrupt."

"No promises." Joe said.

Mary facepalmed. Lady Jane seemed to contemplate this.

"I shall keep a steady eye on ye then."

"Okay whatever floats your boat."

Joe then sat down on the left side of Lady Jane and Mary on the right side. Lady Jane, pleased with this, proceeded to cast a spell. The birds chirping slowed down. When a breeze blew it took at least 5 minutes to pass. The clouds stayed frozen in the sky.
Joe and Mary were stunned. The old hag wasn't joking. Fear grew within them at what else she could possibly do. Joe of course tossed this fear to the side as he needed to concentrate on her story. On the other hand, Mary tried to remain calm but the fear was very still there. Lady Jane smiled at their reactions and proceeded.

"Very well then. Let's begin."

~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•
What a lovely old lady. This is but the prologue. Hope ya guys will enjoy the rest of this tale.