The Box

Leslie still couldn't believe the changes that had come after her

spelunking trip to the Canadian Rockies last summer.  Back then

Leslie had been Lester McKinley, as student at the University of

Wisconsin branch in Oshkosh.  After a long and stressful year of

classes, Lester had been ready for a vacation, and he was off to

Canada.  He drove straight through to Banff, Alberta, and spent a

few days enjoying the hot springs and the scenery before stocking

up on supplies and heading out on his journey.

As he walked through the beautiful mountains, he was amazed

that place like this even existed.  Lester enjoyed the quiet sound

of the mountains, interrupted only by the passing birds and the

occasional howling of a coyote.  At times her could make out a bear

in the distance, maybe a moose or two, or a convocation of eagles.

On the third day, he had come across his first cave.  He had come

across it almost by accident as it was hidden by some dense

overgrowth.  Had he not stopped there to relieve himself, Lester

would likely ave walked right by.

Taking his saw-back machete from his backpack, Lester began to

clear the brush covering the opening to the cave.  Entering the

cave with caution, he moved the flashlight around.  The cave looked

like nobody had been inside for decades.  Slowly Lester made his

way further into the cave until he suddenly stopped.  Ahead there

was a campsite.  Someone had once called this place home.  There

wasn't much left except for and old music box or jewelry box.  As

Lester tried to open it, the lid refused to relent.  But for some

reason, he became fixated on the contents of the box. He just had

to know what was inside.  Again grabbing his machete, Lester

pried at the space between the tp and bottom.  Finally it moved.

He kept working the machete, and the lid finally opened.  It was

empty.  All that work and the darn box was empty.

Yet there had been something inside the box.  And as Lester sat

looking around, he began to get suddenly warm.  Almost sweating.

Soon Lester lost consciousness, and when he came around, he saw

he had become a girl.  Now a note was in the box, a note thanking

him for releasing her from her prison.  Leslie would become the

modern day girl the woman wanted to be.  Leslie hiked back to her

car, and headed back to Wisconsin, where she quickly found a

boyfriend.  Life moved quickly for Leslie, and she found herself

engaged.  Today she's shopping for a wedding dress in the salon

in downtown Oconto Falls.  Life is full of surprises.