"Jim! Wait up, stop running!" chimed a high pitched childish female voice.
She ran as she wore a simple white babydoll dress with two spaghetti straps and a shawl covering her shoulders and a ribbon in her neatly curled hair, her figure chubby, still having her baby fat.
One could tell not only from the way she dressed that she came from a high status family, but also the way she was so easily out of breath, and her manner of acting.
With her she carried a basket covered with a neat checkered print cloth filled to the brim with food.
Jim stopped suddenly from the voice, and he turned around, his eyes wide in surprise.
"Maddy! What are you doing here?"
"My family is visiting town for something. Why? Are you not happy to see me? I went through all this hard work chasing you down carrying such a heavy basket with me."
"No! I'm just surprised! Why? What's in that basket? Nevermind that, Luca's at home right now, he'll be excited to see you."
As you can tell as you read, this was not their first encounter, but we'll get back to that later.
The two headed to the small shack in which Luca and Jim lived.
"Luca, I have a surprise for you, close your eyes!"
Jim covered Luca's eyes to prevent him from sneaking a peek.
"What is it? Can I see it now? Is it a new toy? Food? Cmon, tell me Jim, tell me!"
"Nope, it's something much better." chimed Madeline. Luca moved Jim' hands away from his eyes.
"Maddy! Is it really you? We haven't seen you in so long!"
"Yes it is, in the flesh! Guess what I brought?"
"Awh, more guessing? I bet it's something for me and Jim!"
"Close enough~ It's food and toys! For a picnic." Madeline said as she uncovered her goods
"Did you bring enough for us to feast and play like kings?"
"I certainly did and more! I got you a new toy from my friend Ciel! He said he had too many toys and gave me two of these teddy bears. So here's one for you Luca!"
"Did you forget about me?" Jim asked pouting his face as Luca cheered and hugged his new toy in the background.
"Mmm... yes, yes I did." she put on her best innocent face.
"Whaaaaaat?"
"Don't worry! I'll share mines with you your highness!"
"I'm kidding! I got this for Jim! A toy car~" she pulled out a green small automobile.
"Maddy! You can't tease me like that! It's forbidden."
"Ooo~ yes your highness~" she replied as she curtsied and giggled mockingly.
"Okay, now that you guys have played like kings let's go eat like kings and queen!" Madeline cheered
Both boys made sounds of disappointment wanting to play with Madeline a little longer. They knew once they finished eating, Madeline would go back home, and would disappear for another long wait for the two.
"It's okay you guys! I made this food myself, with a little help from our cook! It's delicious, believe me. I'll always come back to feed you guys some of my cooking!"
The three ate leisurely until they were stuffed and they caught up with each other what had happened in the short-to them long- time they had been away from each other.
"Hey guys, I have to go get a picture taken before we leave this time! Okay? Let's go!"
"We're not dressed for a picture! We're filthy!" Jim said
"Well, you have clothes on don't you? Good enough!" she said pulling their hands as they ran to the photographer shop in town.
The three got their picture taken and Madeline gave Jim and Luca the more silly one, while she kept the one of them smiling.
"Wanna walk back to where my parents are?"
"Okay."
The walk there was quiet, no words were passed aside from Madeline's attempts at conversation an animated reply from Lucas or a short reply from Jim
"Jim.. Cheer up! I'm gonna come back! It's not like I'm going to be dead in a few days, send me off while you smile, don't send me off with your frowns!"
Jim' smile turned up a bit but she still noticed the sadness in his eyes.
Maddy frowned and got a determined look in her eyes. She took her purple ribbon from her hair and grabbed Jim' hand.
"What're you-?"
"There, now you have something of mine, so I will come back for you. Even if we get separated, I'll find you, I swear it on my favorite ribbon. Okay your highness?"
She knelt down and kissed his hand
The confusion in Jim' eyes widened and changed to surprise then to content.
"We'll be waiting, Madeline."
"Well, I'll go off my separate ways, you guys go inside before it get's dark!"
She gave both boys a kiss on the forehead, and ran off.
Her slightly chubby figure retreating in the distance.
That was the last night the three of them would be united.