Gregor and the Overlander :: Book 6

Chapter 1

When Gregor stopped peering into the cabinet looking for something to eat for breakfast, he decided to get a head start on his morning chores. He silently walked into his sister's room, where Lizzie, Boots and his Grandma slept. Gregor crept up behind Boots and gave her a wake-up raspberry on her stomach.

"Hey Boots, Good morning" Gregor said enthusiastically. "How would you like to help me clean the barn?" Gregor and his family had moved to his Uncle's farm shortly after they came back from the Underland, where Gregor had fulfilled 5 prophecies that Bartholomew of Sandwich had foretold for him to fulfill.

            "Yes! Hi, You" Boots replied playfully. "Come on Boots". Gregor said while hoisting boots up on his right hip. Gregor's lower left part of his back was still a bit sore from his encounter with the Bane a few months ago.

Gregor stepped out of the room and shut the door quietly. He quickly snuck a peek into his parent's room to see how they were holding up. After a few seconds Gregor told himself that they were going to be fine.

Gregor walked downstairs to fetch a milking pail, and then went to head outside, before he caught a glimpse of a cockroach that was sitting motionlessly on the kitchen counter. "Bug!" shouted Boots. She has taken a favor to all sorts of bugs since her first visit to the Underland.

" Yes I know Boots, it's a cockroach." Gregor then turned to the roach, "Don't let my mom catch you, you know what will happen if she sees you." Gregor said to the cockroach. The cockroach just sat there dumbfounded. "Here." he said while trapping the cockroach in his free hand and let it outside into the bushes next to the barn.

            Gregor walked slowly into the cow pen. He took the stool and placed it next to Lily. Lily is Lizzie's cow that their uncle gave her when they came to his farm.

Gregor put Boots on the ground told her "Stay here, and don't go wandering off. Okay?" "Okay Gregor." Boots replied happily. Gregor sat himself on the stool and started milking the cow. He looked at Boots to make sure she didn't run off. She was still there, sitting on the ground playing with a caterpillar.

When Gregor finished milking the cow he put up the stool. "Come on Boots, let's go." said Gregor. "Les go." replied Boots. Gregor walked Boots back into the house. Boots sat on the couch, pulled out a container, and started playing with her plastic animals they had gotten for her at their old home.

Gregor poured the milk into a jug over the sink, being careful not to spill. When he finished he put the milk in the fridge on the top shelf. He closed the door, quietly, not to wake up the rest of his family. But still he heard footsteps on the top of the staircase.

"Gregor!" called his mom. She has been paranoid about anyone leaving the house without telling her where they're going. "Right here Mom!" yelled Gregor.

"I'm just going to clean the barn. It's not like I'm going to Disappear again anytime soon."

I just want everything to be like it was before Dad went missing, thought Gregor. He grabbed the rake and followed the always happy Boots to the barn. What makes Boots so happy all the time? Wondered Gregor.

He slid open the big brown wood door and Boots ran inside. "Gregor, I find big bug" called Boots when he pushed open and latched the second large door. By the time Gregor walked over to the bundle of hay where boots was standing.

Gregor could not believe what he was looking at. "Oh jeez" Was all that he could force out of his own mouth.