A night in the old well (200 words)

Tomorrow I turn 17, so tonight I have to sleep at the bottom of the old well, such is the tradition for boys in our village. Tomorrow I will wake up a man.

They say you have to be careful what you think when you're in the well, that your ideas come to life, even your dreams. If you think about a peach yoghurt, you will find the yoghurt in your hand, plus a spoon to eat it with.

You can imagine other things too, the sort of thing every 16 year old boy thinks about, you know, women. Not real women, not anybody you actually know, just fantasy women; you can imagine the perfect woman, spend the whole night with her, get sweaty and sticky at the bottom of the well and wake up a man.

Of course, nothing you imagine can leave the well with you, it's powers don't extend that far, so no point dreaming of gold or riches. The experience is 100% real, but it's only real for you, and for one night only.

My advice is simply to enjoy the opportunity, savour the flesh and the fantasy. And, whatever you do, don't think about tigers.