When Tom Imura was born into the world, his family had no idea the man he would become, or the legend he would become
"Dad, can I go outside?" called, an 8 year old boy from the front door.
"Sure son, but be back before the street lights come on!"
"Okay!" With that, the 8 year old boy ran outside and strait toward his friend Jessie's house.
Knocking on the door rapidly, Tom Imura waited for Jessie Riley to come outside and play.
"Hey Jessie! Are you in?" In the community Tom lived in, you didn't need phones to contact each other; you were just so close you didn't need to use a phone to talk. People of all ages would run up and down the streets calling to their friends and feeling perfectly safe, not that all places were like that of course.
A young women by the name of Maria Riley opened the door,
"Well hello there Tom, Jessie's just coming, would you like to come in for a snack?" You see, everyone in town loved, loved, loved Miss Maria Riley. She had eyes that seemed to glow even during a horrible storm in the dead of night. Her smile made everyone want to smile and be happy when they saw it, and her laugh could always brighten a room.
"Yes I would, Miss Maria, thank you!" Tom took of his shoes before going inside.
"You are such a polite boy Tom." Miss Maria was always saying that to Tom, and it made his skinny cheeks bright red every time.
"Th- thank you Miss Maria." Tom sat at the kitchen table and waited for Jessie. Miss Maria placed a small plate filled with cookies out of the oven and a glass of cool milk in front of Tom.
"There you Tom, enjoy." Tom didn't say anything but nodded his thanks while stuffing the first cookie into his mouth. Tom had a very big sweet tooth, and Miss Maria's cookies were the best.
"Hey, Tom!" Jessie called as she walked into the room and stole a cookie off of Tom's plate.
Jessie and Miss Riley were here in this small community of Denil, just south of Minot, since the very beginning. Tom and his father only got there about 2 years ago. Being the neighborly people they were, they helped out when the Imuras first moved in to their home. Jessie accidentally dropped one of Tom's toy swords on the ground while carrying a box of them inside. Tom at first was furious but when he saw Jessie's eyes fill with tears he cooled down and told her it was no big deal. They had been friends ever since.
"Wanna go play by the lake today?" Tom asked.
"Mommy, can I?" Jessie looked at up at her mom.
"Sure sweetie as long as your careful and don't fall in."
"I won't, I promise." Jessie yelled from the door as she and Tom were running out. When the door closed behind the two children, Miss Maria chuckled.