Chapter 26: Little Girl.

The trees gently swayed in the breeze, spinning the world around and around...

Whoops of triumph echoed down the path as a boy jumped down from the first branch of the highest forest giant.

"Told you I'd make it." He bragged. "I'm not scared."
He couldn't have been older than eight.
Two older teens slapped him on the back.

"You go boy." One said. "Welcome to the family."

"Yeah." The other added. "You're one of us now."

The youngest smiled proudly as his chest swelled. He opened his mouth to say something and paused. His eyes narrowed as he tapped the boys on the arms.

"Look what's been watching." He said and pointed to a clump of bushes.

The tallest frowned and looked in the direction. His eyes narrowed.

"I thought we explained to it that it's not allowed here." He said.

His friend laughed slightly. "Obviously we didn't hit hard enough." He said softly. "Joanie-Ellen, you come on out here girl."

The little girl realized that she was caught and slowly stood up. She didn't approach the boys though, her whole body tense and ready to run away at the first signs of trouble. The boys looked at each other and shook their heads in unison.

"You really are dumb aren't you?" The eldest said with a shake of his head. "Come on here you dumb baby. Don't worry, we're not going to hurt you."
His friend snickered. "Yet." He whispered under his breath.

The little girl sniffed and rubbed her nose before she stuck her thumb in her mouth. She glanced up the road and slowly approached the boys.

One went to intercept her, placed his hands on her shoulders and steered her closer.

"Joanie-Ellen what are you doing here?" His friend asked in a singsong voice. "Didn't we tell you to stop following us?"

The little girl shook her head and looked at the floor. "Can... can I play here to?" She asked in a timid voice. "Please... I... won't say anything..."
The small boy laughed. "You never do baby." He said. "Now, beat it they said you're not allowed." He obviously forgot that just the week before he had been the one chased away with those same words.

The little girl looked up at the older boys. "Please." She whispered again. "Please, can I?"

The one behind her made to cuff her over the head but his older friend stopped him. There was a mischievous gleam in his eyes as he went down on one knee to meet the little girl's eyes.

"You know that you can only play with us if you're apart of the family Joanie." He said patiently. "And, you don't want to be..."
The little girl shook her head stubbornly. "I want to." She said. "I want..."

"Ah." The boy held up his hand. "But, you don't want to climb the tree."

Her dark eyes widened as she shrunk back. "It's tall." She said. "It's too big."

The kids shook their heads simultaneously. "Dev here's small as well and he did it." The gleam sparkled. "You're just a coward Joanie. A sniveling little..."
The little girl's dark eyes flared up.

"Am not!" She said vehemently. "Am not a coward!"

The youngest boy started picking up a chant. "Joanie's just a coward, Joanie's a little baby coward!"

The little girl's eyes began to sparkle. "Am not!" She denied again, stronger this time. "Am not, am not, am not!"
The oldest boy shared a wicked look with his friend. "Then prove us wrong." He said and stepped back. With out warning the other one lifted the little girl up so that she could be within reach of the first branch. "Up you go!"

The little girl squeaked and quickly grabbed a hold. She hoisted herself up and stared down at the boys uncertain.

"You get a leaf from the top and we'll play with you forever!" The eldest said with a smirk. "Or, are you going to prove you're a coward?"
The little girl sniffed and shook her head stubbornly. When she looked up though she shivered and hesitated.
"Sniffling little coward!" The youngest sang in the background. "You're not gonna make it!"

The little girl sniffed angrily and reached out for the next branch. "Am not." She said determined. "Am not am not..."

The world spun around her ever still...

"Sniffling little coward, sniffling little coward."

Her arms were frozen in place, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"Sniffling little..."

"Dev stop it!" The woman's voice traveled up the branches. "Joanie-Ellen you come down here right now!"

The little girl cried harder as she pressed her body against the branches as tight as she could.

"I can't!" She cried. "I can't!"

"She's been there all afternoon." Another voice traveled up. "We told her not to climb the tree but she wouldn't listen."
The little girl buried her face in the bark. "I didn't!" She cried. "They made me! They picked me into the tree! I didn't!"

"You little lair!" The eldest boy called up. "See Ma'am, she's doing it again. I told you."

An exasperated sigh echoed in the dark. "Joanie, if you don't come down now I will give you the hiding of your life girl." The woman said, annoyance clear in her tone. "If you can get up then you can get down."

The little girl sobbed harder. "I can't." She whispered this time. "It's too high, I can't."
There was another sigh. "Max, you'll have to go and get her. Dev, run up to the house and get a torch. Don't fall now."
She could hear him coming for her. Pretty soon she felt the hot breath in her neck and a strong arm enclosing around her middle.

"You're going to get it now Joanie-Ellen." A voice whispered in the little girl's ear. "She's very mad. You're in so much trouble. Coward..."
The little girl sobbed, and held on tighter.

"Am not. I am not..."


The world spun faster...

"I am not that little girl. I am not that little girl."

And stopped.

An: My biggest apologies, I had planned for this to be a longer chapter but I lost some of my notes and couldn't type it over the weekend! (The curse of an insane, dysfunctional mind.)

To Sil, Don't worry about the review girl, I had enjoyed it immensely, and if you remember correctly, I played right along with you hon.

We're nearing the end folks!!!

Hope you are all save and well.
Alys.