By the time we'd finished our conversation, we were walking along the busy
street that takes you to the park. And I had that feeling, the one that
humans get when we feel like we're being watched or followed.
Can we maybe walk a little faster? I asked Illarim nervously.
Why?
It's just because. Oh, just do it. Please, I said.
My feet began to walk faster and Illarim searched my thoughts to find out why I was so nervous. He seemed perplexed, but did trust human instincts to some extent and made my head turn to look behind me.
There's nobody in sight, he said.
Yeah. Okay, I said. I still couldn't shake that feeling of being watched, but I tried to ignore it and hoped it would go away.
As we neared the park, I saw Jason, Ian and a two of their friends playing soccer. Please? I asked Illarim. I felt myself slowly gaining control of my body again, as though my limbs had fallen asleep or something, and quickly ran over to where the boys were playing. Without a word, I deftly snatched the ball away from Jason's friend Michael, and headed toward the two cones that marked Ian's goal.
"Hey, wait a minute! That's not fair! Katie, get out of here! I was just about to slaughter Jason!" Ian yelled at me.
I turned my head back to look at him, and smiled an impish grin. I then proceeded to score a point for Jason's team. Jason, Michael and I exchanged high fives.
"I hate it when you do that," Ian said.
"I know," I responded. Then I ran away because Ian started to chase me. He's fast. I'm faster. "I'm going in," I called over my shoulder. "Homework!"
"Uh-uh. No way are you getting out of it that easy. You're gonna be punished for this. I put up with way too much, and you're not getting away this time!"
Right at that moment, I burst through the front door. "Mom!! Ian's trying to tackle me!" I shouted.
"Ian! Leave your sister alone. Katie, homework. Your father and I have told you before that if you are going to be in the Sharing, you have to keep up with your studies."
I looked back at Ian and made a teasing expression. "Sorry. I guess you'll just have to injure me later."
He sneered in response.
I went upstairs and Illarim took control again. Thank you, I said. Thank you so much. You have no idea what that meant to me.
Yes, he said slowly. Yes, I think I do.
Can we maybe walk a little faster? I asked Illarim nervously.
Why?
It's just because. Oh, just do it. Please, I said.
My feet began to walk faster and Illarim searched my thoughts to find out why I was so nervous. He seemed perplexed, but did trust human instincts to some extent and made my head turn to look behind me.
There's nobody in sight, he said.
Yeah. Okay, I said. I still couldn't shake that feeling of being watched, but I tried to ignore it and hoped it would go away.
As we neared the park, I saw Jason, Ian and a two of their friends playing soccer. Please? I asked Illarim. I felt myself slowly gaining control of my body again, as though my limbs had fallen asleep or something, and quickly ran over to where the boys were playing. Without a word, I deftly snatched the ball away from Jason's friend Michael, and headed toward the two cones that marked Ian's goal.
"Hey, wait a minute! That's not fair! Katie, get out of here! I was just about to slaughter Jason!" Ian yelled at me.
I turned my head back to look at him, and smiled an impish grin. I then proceeded to score a point for Jason's team. Jason, Michael and I exchanged high fives.
"I hate it when you do that," Ian said.
"I know," I responded. Then I ran away because Ian started to chase me. He's fast. I'm faster. "I'm going in," I called over my shoulder. "Homework!"
"Uh-uh. No way are you getting out of it that easy. You're gonna be punished for this. I put up with way too much, and you're not getting away this time!"
Right at that moment, I burst through the front door. "Mom!! Ian's trying to tackle me!" I shouted.
"Ian! Leave your sister alone. Katie, homework. Your father and I have told you before that if you are going to be in the Sharing, you have to keep up with your studies."
I looked back at Ian and made a teasing expression. "Sorry. I guess you'll just have to injure me later."
He sneered in response.
I went upstairs and Illarim took control again. Thank you, I said. Thank you so much. You have no idea what that meant to me.
Yes, he said slowly. Yes, I think I do.