CHAPTER 40

Bertha’s nightmare.

Right then, a light enveloped Bertha and Ray paused

“Your mother is here,” he said.

“I know that,” Emerald answered.

“No, I mean, your actual mother, not a memory,”

His words made her pause. Emerald walked over to her mother’s face and looked at the confused look on her face.

“Mom!” She called several times. Her words seemed to get to Bertha. Her eyes started to clear up, but she suddenly heard a name.

“Jack, your friend really fell into the hole,” they said and a round of laughter went around.

Bertha looked up and saw the man.

“Who is he?” Emerald asked, but no one could give an answer.

Bertha climbed out of the hole and hurried over to Jack's side. She was not sure what the joke was and could not bring herself to laugh with them.

“What is happening, Jack?” she asked, “What kind of tradition is this?”

“The tradition is to try to jump someone, but people usually jump over the hole or something. No one really falls inside,” Jack answered and Bertha's face went re