Disclaimer: I've bribed them with money, but they won't give me Finding Neverland! (I'm kidding, of course) Therefore, I don't own it…YET!
Hide and Seek
Jack awoke the next morning to find that all of his brothers were awake; their beds were made and had gone, most likely, down to breakfast. He grumbled, got out of bed, went into the bathroom to wash his face, and then got dressed. He hoped that today was going to be fun. A day at the park, perhaps? Playing pirates? Indians? Anything would suit him, really. He just didn't want to work.
When he went downstairs and seated himself at the dining room table, he could tell that something was very awkward. Uncle Jim was oddly happy, saying a cheerful "Good morning!" and grinning as wide as he could. The other boys were just sullen looking.
"What's the matter with you lads? Say good morning to your brother!" Uncle Jim kept both of his hands under the table.
Groggy "'Morning"s came from the three boys. Jack frowned.
"Yes, good morning to you as well. What's got you lot down?" Jack looked around at the shaking heads of his brothers. 'Oh, please don't tell me Uncle Jim is making us to housework. Anything but that! …But wait…Why would Uncle Jim make us clean the house if he's got two maids, and would never do such a thing to us? Oh, heavens, don't say Grandmother is visiting!' Sarah walked in with a plate for Jack, which consisted of two eggs, two slices of bacon, and a slice of toast with butter on it. The eggs and bacon were made into a smiley face. Jack thanked Sarah, who smiled at him.
George, Peter, and Michael looked at one another. Then they looked at James, who nodded. The boys smiled. "Happy birthday, Jack!" The five of them yelled. Jack jumped, dropping his bacon onto his lap. How could he have forgotten? That's why he got to sleep in! It was his birthday! He smiled. Twelve years old, at last. Even though he had been calling himself twelve for the past few days, now it was the truth. James brought up what he was holding from his lap and slid it across the table. Jack caught it before it hit his plate. 'Socks? I don't need any more socks, I've got plenty. There's got to be a catch.' Jack gave his foster-father a fake smile. "Thanks." he said.
"Oh, don't give me that, Jack. You don't think I'd actually give you a pair of socks on your birthday, do you? Go on, look inside of them."
Jack's cheeks turned violet, and he looked inside the socks. Money! He took it out and counted it. "Gee, thanks Uncle Jim!" It was plenty more than he expected.
"You're welcome, lad. Now, hurry up and eat, because your brothers are itching to get outside and enjoy the weather. It's lovely out, and I think we'd all like a bit of time at the park, yes?" The boys nodded. "See there? Park it is. Go brush your teeth, the three of you." They got up and ran up the stairs to the bathroom. "Sarah and Emma wish you a happy birthday, as well. Alright, eat up. I'm going to go wash up. And those are good socks, don't be disappointed. They'll last you a long time." He smiled and excused himself from the table, leaving Jack alone to eat his breakfast, and recount his money. Just for the fun of it.
OOOOO
The four, or rather, five boys were walking down the street on their way to the park, along with their large companion, Porthos. They were joking and laughing about the morning's event. "You should have seen your face! I thought you were going to fall out of your chair!" cried George. Peter managed a smile at this thought. Jack's face was pretty funny at the sudden outburst from his brothers.
"How could you have forgotten your birthday, Jack? I always remember my birthday! It's the best day of the year!" Michael said. He simply could not understand how one's birthday could slip his or her mind. It must be better than even Christmas, because you're a year older. But then again, a year older also means a year closer to growing up. None of the boys wanted to do that. Even Peter didn't want to grow up. Unless, of course, he was infuriated with something. Then, if he were an adult, he would be able to get away from the problem. He could take his car and drive somewhere where no one would find him. Since, though, he could not do this just yet, he improvised by locking himself in the boys' bedroom, or climbing up a tree. Uncle Jim had given him the idea to climb up a tree, because oftentimes Peter would find the man, or boy, writing up in the towering structure. He guessed it was easier, but was never really sure.
"You even got to sleep in! We'd been awake for hours before you. Lucky dog!" George said. Porthos made a huff at that moment, as though he had understand what George had said. The children laughed. They had reached the park by now, and all of them took in the sight. Children laughing, parents smiling, the sun shining bright. The plants were growing, flowers budding, trees getting their new leaves. There was still even some morning dew left on the grass. The grass that hadn't yet been disturbed by walking feet, rolling children, or running dogs, that is. James smiled. Exactly what he liked to see. Happy children, adults acting like children, and inviting weather.
"Go on, boys. I've got a bit of writing I want to get done. Then all of us can play a game together, yes?" the playwright made his way over to his infamous bench which no one else had yet claimed, along with Porthos. There was no need to put Porthos on a leash, because the dog knew better. Every now and then the scratching of James's pen would bore Porthos, so he would chase a squirrel, or say a small hello to a passing dog. But James knew he wouldn't do any real harm, and would always come back.
Meanwhile, the boys had already begun playing a game of hide and seek. Michael was the seeker, as he always was at the beginning of this certain game. Peter didn't feel much like playing, but Jack pleaded him. "It isn't any fun without you!" He would say. So, Peter agreed to participate in the first few rounds. Then, he would be off to think, write, or just watch everyone else in the park.
George was hiding behind a tree, nestled between the roots that stuck out of the ground. He was crouching down close to it, so he wouldn't be seen, and so he wouldn't soil his clothes. He watched as a little girl picked flowers nearby, and ran over to a small boy, who looked to be around her age, handing him the flowers. The boy made a face, but took the flowers to be kind. The small girl smiled happily and kissed his cheek, then ran off. George heard Porthos's bark from somewhere to the right of him. He knew it was Porthos because of the deep echo, and because he'd heard it a few times before. But when had it been? George was trying to think of the times when that particular utterance had rung through his ears, when something caught his eye. He looked down at a silvery-blue orb that was glowing, and floating close to a hole that the roots had formed with the earth. All of his thoughts ceased to exist inside his mind. Everything around him dissolved. He wasn't in the park, and he wasn't hiding from his six year-old brother. It was just he and the orb. Nothing more. He thought maybe he was seeing things, like he had been with the woman jumping into the lake. By now he had concluded that there's no possible way for a mermaid to live in a lake, and his mind was simply playing tricks on him. Then it was foggy. Now, well, now it's clear as a summer day, and he was less then two feet away from the orb, and he knew it was there. George reached a hand out to touch it. If he could touch it, and feel it, it must be real. No exceptions. But what could it be? He was only a few inches away when –
CRASH! An echoing stab of thunder erupted from the sky. The heavens above him lit up, and within seconds, the orb disappeared inside the hole, lingering at first, but then descending further down. George was stunned, and let his arm fall. He was so close to it. He could feel the heat radiating from it. And the weather ruined everything. If only it could have held on for a few more seconds…
Rain pounded down onto the ground around him. It missed George, however, because he had the protection of the branches above him. A few drops got him, of course, but it was far better than what everyone else was getting. He knew, however, that he had to meet his brothers around James's bench. James, who had quickly snapped his journal shut to save the pages from getting soaked, stood up, put his journal over his head, the rain angrily trying to get at his oiled hair. James looked around, trying to see through the unexpected storm. CRASH! Another boom of thunder, and another flash of lightning. He saw through the thick rain three small figures running toward him. Michael, Peter, and Jack all huddled around their Uncle Jim, awaiting the return of their eldest brother.
George bent down so his head was right down next to the hole. It was too dark to see into, and it must be very deep, because the light wasn't illuminating a thing. "I'll be back for you… Wait and see. I'll find out if you're real or not. You don't have to be afraid of me, if you are." He whispered into the hole. If whatever it was could hear him, he wanted it to know that he was curious, and he wasn't going to hurt it. He waited a moment, listening for a reply, and when he received nothing, stood up, and bolted toward his brothers.
"George! Finally! Come on, lads, let's get home! Lord, I can't believe this weather." James shouted over another crack of thunder. Fourteen legs bounded off toward home, eager to get out of the rain.
OOOOO
Monday
'This cannot be happening. It simply cannot! Mermaids, no way. Fairies, well…yes, they're real, but they don't live in parks, do they? I always thought that they were going to dwell in…in a forest, or by the sea, but never in a park. Perhaps I've gone mad…Oh, George, that's excellent. Boost your self-esteem while you're at it.' George sat in his classroom, staring down at the parchment and ink pen which held the first sentence of his short story he was supposed to be writing. He couldn't focus, though. His mind was set on the weekend's events.
'Four boys sat by a lake, waiting for their lines to be bitten by a fish…This is absurd…How did I see her? It had to have been the fog. But it was so clear! I remember her exactly. Long, wavy reddish brown hair, long, slender arms, bright green scales on her fins…or tail…or whatever you call it. Four boys…Concentrate, George. This isn't difficult. Four boys sat by a lake, waiting for their lines to be bitten by a fish. One boy went mad and saw a mermaid, and the other three thought he was a nut case. They told their Uncle Ji - …Joseph…and the fourth boy was banned from school, and lived in the lake for his life. A pond. A lake-pond. What is it? It's too big for a pond, but too small for a lake. A pake. A lond? Oh, this is creative. You're acting so childish, George. Focus!'
George had not written down the thoughts that came into his mind, of course. He reread the sentence over and over, until the teacher dismissed them, announcing to the class that their stories would be an overnight assignment, and they would present them to the class first thing tomorrow. He groaned. Stuffing the parchment into his bag, he shoved his cap on his head, which had managed to go quite lopsided. It moved. By itself. George paused, and heard someone giggle behind him. A girl's giggle.
'Of course it didn't move by itself. God, George.' He turned around to find Erin, one of the girls in his class. He smiled.
"You should thank me. Had you walked about the school grounds like that, you'd have gotten a fair few snide remarks." She raised her eyebrows, turned her shoulder, and stalked off. George scratched the back of his neck. 'Girls. What do they know? They're the ones that wear heavy dresses all year long. It's a wonder they don't sweat.' He slung his bag over his shoulder and headed out the door. The other three boys were already waiting for him by the oak tree. They decided it's much easier to meet at one place every day than having to search for each other all the time. George looked down the path they had walked down exactly three days ago.
"George, come on!" Jack said, looking up at the sky. "It looks like it's going to rain again, look at how dark the clouds are!"
"You three go on. I'll catch up later. There's something I have to see." So, the three boys headed off home without the eldest brother, calling back to him when they were nearly out of sight. But George paid no attention to them. He could sense something. He pushed a low hanging branch out of his way, and started off down the path.
A/N: I didn't really like the beginning of this chapter at all…it was just sort of a random little thing that popped into my head…but I figured socks kick arse, and Jack rocks HARD (do not take that pervertidly) so why not. But I really like the park scene…a lot… AND HAH! I'm leaving you in suspense! Hehehehe…thanks to all who reviewed Chapter 1….Now you get to review Chapter 2! Aw, you guys rock! hugshugshugs
