The Floor is Lava!

The mission was simple, or so it was said - just get from the couch to your big fluffy bed. But the floor was lava, as hot as the sun. If you touched it at all, you were dead. You were done!

This fun, rhyming story has all the excitement of a Hollywood blockbuster - just with more lava! Will two siblings make it to their bedroom without being consumed by molten lava or worse, caught by their parents? You'll have to listen to find out!

If you're enjoying listening to Peter G. Reynolds original children's stories podcast Musings and Other Nonsense, please visit www.storiesbypeter.com where you'll find Peter's children's picture book, Lost Hallway: Where Do Lost Things Go and his latest children's chapter book Stitches in Time Travel. Both are available on Amazon. Stitches in Time Travel is also available as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible and iTunes.

Transcript

The Floor is Lava
By Peter G. Reynolds


The mission was simple. 

Or so it was said,

Just get from the couch 

To your big comfy bed.

My brother said, "easy." 

Sam was his name.

And he died on the carpet,

Consumed by the flame.

For the carpet was lava

– As hot as the sun.

If you touched it at all,

You were dead. You were done.

My brother was gone.

It just wasn't fair.

Oh, why did he leap

To my dad's easy chair?

And though I was sad,

He did not survive,

I knew what to do

To keep me alive. 

You only should jump

As far as you're able,

So I moved from the couch

To our old coffee table.

I took a deep breath,

And bent both my knees,

And flew through the air

With the greatest of ease!

I landed, thank goodness 

On Dad's easy chair.

Whew, I thought 

I'm now halfway there!

I threw down a pillow.

Then two, and then three.

It made a nice path

To the hallway, you see.

But now I was stuck.

I had to be clever.

These pillows won't last

In the lava forever.

Then I saw a hamper 

Filled to the brim

The distance was great

My chances were slim.

I landed headfirst

And suddenly froze

The basket was filled

With Sam’s dirty clothes!

Gross dirty socks.

His old underwear. 

And a half-eaten sandwich 

Squished in my hair!

But I was alive, 

With nothing to fear. 

I’d just take a shower 

For more than a year!

My bedroom was close.

Just five steps away.

Fiery steps 

Of death and dismay. 

Could I reach the door?

No, it was too far.

I could pull it closer 

For it was ajar.

I pulled out a shirt.

Held on to a sleeve,

– It smelled even worse

Which was hard to believe.

I swung it real hard

And that's all it took.

It caught on the knob

Like a grappling hook.

I pulled and the hamper 

Moved right to the door,

But it started to melt 

On the hot hallway floor!

And there it was

My bedroom, at last,

But the hamper was melting

I had to be fast!

I climbed up the dresser.

Counted to three,

And jumped with a shout

I made it, yippee!

And was caught in the air 

By Daddy, uh oh!

He looked really mad

– At least, I thought so.

"What's going on? 

You gave me a scare

Jumping like that 

So high in the air!"

"The floor is lava.

I can't tell a lie. 

If I didn't jump 

I'd certainly die!"

Then Dad reached under

My big, comfy bed.

Looked me in the eye

And here's what he said 

"Put these slippers

On both of your feet 

They're hot lava proof

And immune to the heat." 

"Now go to the couch,

And put out your brother.

And whatever you do…

Let's not tell your mother."