Holes

Stanley Yelnats was the only passenger on the bus, not counting the driver or the guard. The guard sat next to the driver with his seat turned around facing Stanley.

He unearthed several shovelfuls of dirt in this manner, before it occurred to him that he was dumping his dirt within the perimeter of his hole. He laid his shovel flat on the ground and marked where the edges of his hole would be. Five feet was awfully wide.

He crawled along the gully in the direction that seemed the muddiest.

his body slowly unbent.

unscrew the lid

red letters were peeled and faded

revving of the engine

Stanley had to shield his eyes with his hand.

He felt a jolt of astonishment

A rattlesnake lay coiled beneath his foot. Its tail was pointed upward, rattling.