Unseen Passage for Class 5 - Passage 02

Mia had always been plagued by an intense fear of snakes. The mere thought of encountering one would send shivers down her spine. She had even skipped the class field trip to the zoo, fearing that she might come face to face with a slithering creature. It didn't help when James, a classmate, brought his pet snake to math class, causing Mia to run out in tears. As the years went by, her fear only grew stronger. Lately, she had started avoiding the local park, where garden snakes would occasionally appear in the grass.

Jess, Mia's best friend since kindergarten, had a fascination with all things that crawled and slithered. However, she knew about Mia's snake phobia and had always been considerate. In the past, she found Mia's fear amusing, but now it worried her. She could see how Mia's irrational fears were taking a toll on her life. Jess had even taken down a large poster of a boa constrictor from her room because it bothered Mia so much.

One day, Mia visited Jess, excited about playing the new video game, Green Ghosts Gone Wild. But as she entered Jess' room, her excitement turned to fear. Her eyes landed on a massive glass tank, devoid of water, filled with logs, leaves, and stones. Suddenly, a scaly tail emerged from beneath the leaves, causing Mia to let out a shriek and retreat into the hallway. Confused and guilty, Jess asked Mia what was wrong, fully aware of her fear of snakes.

Mia, her eyes darting between Jess and the tank, nodded in acknowledgment. She felt betrayed by her friend's decision to bring a snake into the house, knowing how she felt. Jess, trying to calm Mia, assured her that the snake, named Tiger, was safely contained in the tank and couldn't escape. She understood Mia's fear but also knew how much Mia wanted to play the game. With a mixture of hesitation and determination, Mia agreed to try, on the condition of avoiding any proximity to Tiger.

As they cautiously entered the room together, Mia deliberately averted her gaze from the tank and focused on reaching Jess' computer. It wasn't an easy task for her, but she managed to make it without succumbing to fear. Despite her reluctance, Mia tried to hide her discomfort. Jess, sensing Mia's struggle, tried to lighten the mood by asking if it was as bad as she had imagined. Mia remained silent, not fully agreeing but appreciating Jess' effort.

The next day, Mia headed to Jess' house on her bike for another gaming session. Mixed feelings of enthusiasm and apprehension swirled within her as she approached the house. Jess greeted her excitedly, seemingly oblivious to Mia's fear. Mia couldn't help but feel that Jess had forgotten or didn't care about her feelings. Suppressing her annoyance, Mia followed Jess into the bedroom, stealing uneasy glances at Tiger's cage. She mustered her courage and focused on the game, wanting to escape the thought of the oversized worm.

They played the video game every day after school, and gradually, Mia's discomfort around the snake lessened. While the sight of Tiger still bothered her, it no longer churned her stomach with fear. On Friday, as they completed the final segment of the game, they celebrated their success. The girls laughed and relaxed, sipping lemonade.

Suddenly, Jess exclaimed that she had a surprise for Mia and asked her to close her eyes. With a mixture of anticipation and anxiety, Mia complied. When she opened her eyes, she was met with Tiger squirming in Jess' arms. Jess proudly showcased the calm and gentle nature of the snake. Although hesitant, Mia couldn't refuse Jess' enthusiasm.