More laughter ensued. Benjamin took a deep breath and let one eye peek around the corner. Before him was an enormous cavern, its tall ceiling punctured in the center by a beam of sunlight that shone on a natural spring sparkling with blue light. Small steady streams of glistening water fell down into the pool from the dark rocky ledges high above. The vibrant blue crystal sides of the pool reflected the sunlight throughout the spacious cavern.

Benjamin was surprised to see a large chunk of limestone behind the pool that resembled a small throne. But the biggest surprise was the inhabitants: groundhogs, goats, squirrels, chickens, cats, dogs, pigs, ducks, rats, and all kinds of animals, wild and domestic. Benjamin had never even seen some of them in that part of the country. All were deep in conversation, not paying attention to anything else.

He couldn’t help himself. Smiling in amazement, he took a few steps and walked out into the great room. Only a few feet from him a piglet and a rat were talking.

“No, no, no,” the piglet said. “Watermelon rinds need to dry at least a couple of days before they’re nice and ripe.”

“Ah, you’re crazy!” The rat pointed his fingers at his belly. “When I’m hungry, I don’t care. I’m eating it whether it’s fresh or not!”

Sniff, sniff. The piglet’s nose moved up and down. “Do you smell something?” His nose led him to the tall, skinny boy looking down at him. His eyes opened wide with fear. “H-H-H-HUMAN!” The room instantly went quiet and they all looked his way.

For a split second Benjamin saw hundreds of eyes on him before the room erupted in chaos. Feathers and fur flew as every creature yelled and scrambled for a hiding place. Some disappeared into the darkness behind the throne while some ran to the closest wall possible. The animals scrunched their bodies as close to the wall as they could. Noses, snouts, muzzles, and beaks were cramped in the edge between wall and floor.

Benjamin stood alone in the center of the room, not knowing what to do. “Hello?” He ventured a couple of steps forward. All the animals were shaking.

A beaver’s tail rat-a-tatted against the floor. “We’re doomed. It’s over!”

Benjamin knew he’d ruined something special. “Look, I’m leaving now. Sorry…to interrupt. Just keep…uh….doing what you were doing.” He took a step backward.

A white-and-black rat-terrier peeked out from behind his paw. “He can understand us!” He saw the sparkling tag on Pugsly’s collar. “It’s his! Why is he wearing it?”