One month writing challenge!

Super Duper Amazing Hideout! (Day 7)

Tears rolled down the young boy's face as he sat in the corner of his room, the test crumpled up next to him. He only got a 90%. He had shown his parents, expecting him to be proud, it was on material the class hadn't learned yet and he had the highest grade out of everyone. Normally they'd only really be happy if he aced it but this was different and he was still the best. They took one look at it and brushed him off.

The boy had tried to explain that he still got an A, no one else got higher than him, he was still the best. But they didn't care, they even said he shouldn't be able to watch TV. "It's distracting him, his brothers and sisters never thought a 90% was good enough. There's only one place he could've gotten that from," his mother had said to his father. But he wasn't watching TV, he was studying, he tried his best. He did the best. But that's never good enough.

The boy didn't want to be in his house anymore. He wanted to go outside and play with the kid his age. If studying all day wasn't good enough, nothing was. Before he knew it, he found himself climbing through his window. His parents never bothered to go to his room and his siblings were always doing more important things. No one would miss him.

His bare feet touched the grass and he felt a mix of excitement and fear swirl within him. This was the first time he's intentionally gone against his parents. The grass felt cool between his toes and the sun's rays warmed the air perfectly. He didn't want anyone to see him and he immediately ran out into the small forest behind his house, laughing the entire way.

"Wait! Watch your step!" Someone yelled, but the boy didn't react in time and he tripped on a root, tumbling down the hill. He rolled to the bottom, causing his clothes to be covered in dirt, though it barely hurt. The person who called out to him ran over to him dropping something as he did. "Are you okay? I tripped over the stick when I first came here and scraped my knee! I have bandages inside, I'll go get them now."

"Wait! I'm okay, I just got my clothes dirty, don't worry! Don't go home." The boy said standing up with a smile on his face. The other person turned back towards him, it was another boy his age. The boy's hair was messy, bandages all over and wore overalls covered in dirt, just like him.

"I wasn't going home, I have a hideout, wanna see it? Oh my name is Asher, follow me!" He said and before the boy could even react Asher pulled him by the arm and deeper into the forest. The boy knew he shouldn't be out for too long, he shouldn't have left his house at all, but he never even hesitated. Of course he wanted to see the hideout!

Eventually the Asher stopped and caught his breath. He turned around waving his hands in the air with a giant grin on his face. "Welcome to my super duper amazing hideout!," He dropped his voice to a whisper and leaned close to the boy, "I made it myself, and you're the only other person who knows of it now, so keep it a secret." The boy looked at the hideout and gasped, it was super duper amazing! It was a giant hill with a big hole in it like some grotto. Inside were small lanterns and games and snacks and everything.

"How did you do this? It's so cool!" The boy asked.

"Well I didn't actually make the hole, I don't know how but it was already here when I found it. There's also other rooms too, but I've never seen anyone here whenever I'm here. I put up the lanterns and the games and I come here whenever I'm bored." Asher said, smiling bashfully and rubbing the back of his neck. He walked inside but when he did a giant clump of dirt fell on his head. His eyes widened and his brows furrowed in annoyance, "Dang it! I forgot to get the sticks! Sorry but I don't think we can play here yet. The roof keeps falling so I wanted to get branches to support it but when I saw you I dropped them." He said sulking.

"Hey, I can help you get more sticks! Then after that we can play together. Maybe we should try to find some rocks and vines so it stays up." The boy said and Asher looked at him with pure admiration in his eyes.

"You're so smart! Let's go!" Asher said, dragging the boy with him, laughing the entire way.

(811 words)