The light was soft as the sun departed for the day. “Hurry up, Peter, my mom said I had to be back before it gets dark!” Annabelle weaved her way in between the trees of the dense forest that surrounded their neighborhood. A boy smaller than her stumbled behind, clumsy and thin, wearing large rimmed glasses. “Wait for me!”

Annabelle stopped and face him, “I can’t be late again, I promised my mom.” He furrowed his brows together, “what did she say she’d do to you this time?” His large glasses slipped down his nose, and he reached to push them back up again. “I should never have told you about that…” “I’m glad you did. I’m your best friend. Best friends help each other.” She smiled at him, “I know. And don’t forget that, the next time Aaron gives you a hard time at school,” she reached over and ruffled his hair. He shook his head and smiled, “I won’t. But I’m not afraid of Aaron, not really. At least he’s not a drunk, like your mom.” Her smile faltered as she turned away, “she’s not a drunk, not really. She just drinks a little more than she should… sometimes.” He touched her arm and said, “I know.”

They stood in silence for a moment, and Peter said, “ok, I’m ready.” She smiled and grabbed his hand, “let’s go!”

Giggles echoed between the trees as they ran through the forest. Darkness blanketed the sky, preparing for nightfall. Crickets began their nightly song, as the air turned brisk. The scent of earth clung to the air, mixed with the scent of sweaty children.

Peter let Annabelle pull him, as his gaze filtering around in search of wildlife, his reason to be out here. Lights blinked ahead between the tops the trees, the street lights guiding their way home. Sweat slickness between their palms, Annabelle pulling hard as she was desperate to get home. It was already dark, which meant she was already late.

Annabelle’s foot found a root sticking out of the ground, and she was sent to the ground with Peter right behind her. They fell and fell, drifting throuh the air. They finally hit the ground, and were emerged in total darkness. Annabelle looked up, struggling to find the lamp light between the trees. “I can’t see anything! Can you?” Peter felt around the ground with his hands, “I can’t see anything… I lost my glasses!” He began to whimper, and Annabelle patted the ground until she found his hand, “it’s ok, I’m here. I’ll lead you home, ok?” “But that will make you later! I don’t want you to get into trouble!” “Shh, it’s ok, my mom will understand… I promise,” she whispered.

She pulled his hand as she lifted herself to her feet, steadying him behind her. She took off her belt and handed him one end, “here, hold onto this and we’ll stay together, ok?” Tear streamed down his cheeks, as he nodded his head. “Are you nodding your head, because I can’t see you.” “Yes,” he sniffled. Annabelle led the way, with steady steps in the dark. They walked for what felt like a mile. “This can’t be right! We were almost home, I saw the lights before! What happened?” She sighed, but continued on. A small light emanated ahead, “there it is! Let’s go!” She pulled Peter and focused on light, the light would take them home. The light grew in size, brighter and brighter. “Where is that light coming from? It’s much brighter than the street lights,” she mused. Peter breathed heavy, his steps smaller than Annabelle’s as he tried to keep up. The trees were now visible, the bright light eluminating everything around them. The trees were dark, bare and cold. She approached the light and stopped. Peter slammed into her back, “what, why did you stop?” “Look!” She pointed at the light. He stepped around her, and held his hand out, “it’s a bright light, but I can’t see anything without my glasses.” “Oh, right. Sorry. There is a small golden chest on the ground there. I think the gold is making the light? And it is covered in bright red letters. It says, ‘to those who are seeking, may I be found walking.” He tilted his head, “but… what does that mean?” “I don’t know. But it must be worth a fortune! We should take it home!” She picked up the chest, and the light disappeared. “Oh no, how will we make it home now?” She set it back on the ground, and the light emerged again. She reached down and opened the chest, and found a pocket watch. She cried, “Just a watch? How boring!” She threw it to the ground and stood back up. Peter kneeled down and picked up the watch. He held it right up to his face so that he could see it. “I like it. But the time isn’t right…” he twisted the nozzle to adjust the time, and they were both jolted backwards in their movements for the last hour. They came to a halt, back up in the forest surrounding their neighborhood, to the warmth of the sunlight still reaching through the trees. Their eyes both grew twice in size, and Peter declared, “it jumps time!!” They erupted in laughing and shrieking, for the magical gift they just found. “Now you won’t be late, Annabelle! It isn’t dark, we can get home and you won’t be in trouble!” He paused and then looked up to her, realization marking his features. “Here, take it! Now you’ll never be late again, and your mom won’t hurt you. You can just jump back in time!” Annabelle’s face softened, “thank you. You really are the best friend there is.”