In the Cave

This is an unfinished beginning of a story that Peter wrote for his fourth-grade class. I think it's a great first chapter, but he has to finish it up to make it a story!

In the Cave

The rocks crumbled beneath my feet as I climbed higher and higher up the mountain I was exploring in Ancient Greece. Suddenly, I saw a cave, and as curiousity overwhelmed me, I stepped inside.

A strong smell swirled around me, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Oh, well, I thought. I'd better get back to exploring the cave. I went deeper into the cave and Inoticed the walls were lined with moss. Something caught my eye, and I saw a trunk.

I crept towards the trunk, but as I came closer it seemed to be going farther away. My hands clinched up in anger an dI broke into a sprint. Suddenly a tree root loomed out of nowhere. I tripped and landed in front of the trunk. It was a deep chocolate brown and it had gold plates and one of them had an inscription. "Hippo-cry-tees" I sounded out aloud. Suddenly it came to me. Hipocrites!" I exclaimed. And then I saw the skeleton.

Understanding washed over me. I was in Ancient Greece. This trunk must be Hippocrates' and that was his skeleton watching over it. For the first time I got a good look at the skeleton. He was wearing a tattered and torn robe, and sandels. Pin pricks covered his arms and legs. I thought he had died smiling because he was wearing a big grin. I don't know why I was standing there because my brain was yelling at me to get out, but I was still standing there. The smell came back and this time I knew what it was! It was Medicine.

"So." A voice came out of nowhere. "Enjoying yourself?"

"Oh, yes, " I replied in a voice dripping with sarcasm, "this cave is very lovely." the skeleton walked towards me. He was still wearing that rove, and my brain was telling me to show some respecdt and that this skeleton was the skeleton of the father of medicine, but I still was cautious of it.

I backed away slowly and tripped on the tree root again. The trunk opened and I peered inside. To one man it would be junk, but to me it was a treasure. Scrolls and bottles filled it up, and, with my hand quivering with excitement, I reached inside.

"Go ahead, choose one." The skeleton urged me on.

"Okay, " I replied. I took a deep, shuddering breath and chose one. "Depressed: " I read aloud, "Mix Hot Chocolate, orange juice, and a plant. Dosage: every 3 hours. Does this really work?" I asked the skeleton.

"Oh, of course, " he replied in his gravely voice. "You don't think I would tell you something if it didn't work, do you?" he inquired forcefully.

"N-No, sir!" I stuttered.

"Didn't think so." he muttered.

Finally I had to ask the question. "Are you the skeleton of Hippocrates?"

His malicious grin got bigger, but I was getting impatient. He must have sensed that becuase he said, "OK. Sit down, and I'll tell you."