What the Old Man Found Tasty

Twelve-year-old Keith strays close to the dry stone well his father warned him about, and something down there says his name.

“Keith!”

Keith was twelve years old when the old man in the well first said his name.

It happened on a warm night in late summer, when the fields around the family farm glowed silver beneath a full moon. Keith had stayed outside long after his father told him to come in. He was throwing stones at fence posts, pretending each one was an outlaw trying to cross onto their land.

The farm was small and old. Its wooden fences leaned in places, the barn roof sagged in the middle, and the earth always seemed to smell of dust—even after rain.

Beyond the barn stood an abandoned stone well.

Two weather-beaten beams rose above it, supporting an iron pulley and a rope with a wooden bucket attached. The rope was rough and stained, and the bucket had not carried water in years.

Keith’s father said the well had gone dry before Keith was born.

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Quick answers about What the Old Man Found Tasty

What is What the Old Man Found Tasty about?

Twelve-year-old Keith strays close to the dry stone well his father warned him about, and something down there says his name.

Is What the Old Man Found Tasty free to read?

Yes. Every story on RapidTale is free to read in the browser, with no sign-up and nothing to install.

How long does it take to read?

This story runs 1 chapter — most readers finish in one sitting, and you can stop and return to any chapter using the contents list.

Who wrote it?

Nimra Khan — original fiction published on RapidTale.