Prologue – Operation Hot Dog
It was a beautiful day in Storybrooke, Maine. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, the air was filled with delicious scents wafting from Granny's dinner, the kids were at school, Sherriff Graham was patrolling the streets in his squad car, and everything as it was the day before. Except for Henry Mills, the mayor's son.
Henry Mills was not at school. He was not at home sick. He was not with his mother, Regina Mills. And he was not with Dr. Archibald Hopper for a therapy session.
Henry Mills was not even within the town limits of Storybrooke. Not that anyone knew that. Henry was a crafty kid, with a clever brain between his ears. His mother thought he was at school. His teacher, Mary Margaret Blanchard, thought he was home sick. Henry Mills was in the clear. Well almost in the clear. One person did notice that Henry Mills was not where he was supposed to be that sunny morning in Maine. One of Henry's most trusted confidants, and best friends, eighteen-year-old Alice Leigh Jones.
The Storybrooke High senior, known to everyone as Aleigh, had a free period during Henry's lunch break. So she would join the squirt and keep him company. It had become their special tradition over the past few years. Mostly due to Henry's insistence as he got older that they would need to extra time to spend together as he no longer needed a babysitter. As such the adventures they had during Aleigh's free period, and Henry's lunch break, became known as Operation Hot Dog.
When Henry first told Aleigh the name one sunny afternoon as they sat under a tree, the teenager couldn't hold in her laughter.
"Henry that is a horrible name for a covert operation." She managed to get out through her boisterous laugh.
"But we had hotdogs the first day you came to visit me during lunch. And Jughead's dog is named Hot Dog! And your dog is an English Sheep Dog; just like Jughead's!" Henry replied in defiance with a hint of hurt in his voice.
As Aleigh's chuckles died down she replied, "I'm sorry squirt. Your reasoning is sound; but the name is a bit obvious if this is to be a covert Operation." She ruffled his hair as she continued, "Don't worry, there is still plenty of time for you to learn. The next operation will have an even better name. You just need practice."
Henry looked up at her with his wide eyes and asked, "You promise?"
"Promise," she smiled, "And from now on Mel and I will give you the chance to practice. You'll be coming up with the best code names in no time!"
"You mean I can be a part of your operations around town?" His voice got louder with excitement.
"Well not all of them squirt. You aren't old enough yet for some things. But you can join us on the smaller stuff. Everyone has to start small before they climb a beanstalk." She replied while wrapping an arm around the boy's shoulders.
"But you and Melody never climbed any beanstalk." Henry countered as he took another bite out of the sandwich his mom packed for lunch.
Aleigh shook her head with a smile on her face and sighed, "Well no Henry neither of us have ever climbed a beanstalk. But you get my point right?"
"Yeah, I get it." Henry smiled up at her, mustard smeared across his face, as the bell rang.
Today, however, when Aleigh made her way over to Storybrooke Elementary to join her young friend for lunch she was surprised to find that he wasn't sitting under the large oak tree next to the playground like usual. Something was definitely up. And Aleigh would bet her most valuable ring that it had to do with the book Henry had become obsessed with recently.
They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well for better or worse, Alice Leigh Jones is part of the village dedicated to the upbringing of one Henry Daniel Mills.