The Land Never Lost

Chapter 3

Peter lifted the window in his room. The orphanage was pretty relaxed in terms of security. The sister would check that all the kids were in bed by 8:00 pm. After that, if you were quiet and tricky enough you could basically get away with anything. Peter was the trickiest twelve year old this place had ever seen. It did not help that he had lived here longer than any orphan, so he naturally knew everything there was to know about the place. He had more knowledge of the orphanage than he had of himself. All Peter knew was that he was left on the front steps as a baby. No records. No past. None of that mattered to Peter. As far as he was concerned, this meant he had a clean slate to be whatever he wanted to be.

Peter wasn't a bad kid. He was adventurous. Sometimes, that adventure led to trouble. Most times. All of the times it led Peter into trouble. What else could the orphan do? It wasn't like there was any rush to grow up.

As he went to jump out of the window, his best friend walked into the room. James Rogers came to the orphanage at three years old. His parents were explorers who had gone missing on an expedition. After they were declared dead, James was supposed to live with his maternal grandmother. However, the grief of losing her daughter had taken too much of a toll on her elderly mind and James found himself on the steps of the orphanage as well. James was awkwardly tall for a twelve year old. His thin frame seemed more extreme due to how long his limbs were. He had black combed hair and brown eyes so dark they were basically the same color. A wispy mustache had begun to form on his teenage face.

The two boys aesthetically could not have been more opposite. Peter was a short boy. His build was naturally athletic. The blonde scruff on his head had most definitely never felt a comb. His blue eyes were startling to behold. There was one thing, however, that both boys shared. The sense of imagination between the two of them was strong enough to create a world of its own.

"Are we good to go, vice captain?" Peter asked, still perched on the window sill.

"Yes captain! The sister is in her room and the boys will keep shut as long as we bring them back some treasure." James replied.

The two boys shared a chuckle as they leapt out of the window onto a tree. They hurried down the trunk and ran down the road laughing excitingly. Their destination on this night was the local bakery. Some nights it was the general store. Some nights it was the library. The adults had treasure and the boys felt it was only fair to plunder occasionally. They never kept anything for themselves, but the younger orphans shouldn't have to grow up having nothing. Peter and James being the oldest ones already had to grow up that way.

When they reached the street corner where the bakery was, Peter stopped behind a car. "James, are you ready for the sweetest treasure of the month?" Peter asked, flashing a huge smile. James chuckled and responded sarcastically, "Funny Captain! I see what you did there. 'Sweetest treasure'. But, did you notice the lights are still on?". Peter looked shocked. The bakery closed at six o'clock and it only took thirty minutes to close up shop. The leftover treats should be on a cart right behind the back door.

"Well what do you think?" Peter asked.

"I think you are the captain. So, you should have a back up plan." James replied.

"Yes. Exactly! My back up plan is delegating, which all good leaders do." Peter had his winning smile plastered across his face. James couldn't help but giggle. "Okay, well if I check the front while you grab the treats it shouldn't be a problem. I can always pass for an older kid just looking for something to eat. I'm gonna try and buy you five minutes. Make it happen captain.".

As Peter walked up to the back door he prayed it was left open. When he reached for the handle he heard the front open and the owner mutter something.

"Shop is closed." the baker said without looking up."