The Hidden

Chapter 1

   I ran through the field, the sharp grass whipping at my bare ankles. The sun beaming on my face, making me sweat harder as I run. Finally I made it to the white, cheap painted fence. I step on the wood, swing my leg over the other side, and hopped down. I follow the path to my house, dodging tree branches and dips in the road. I always loved taking this path home from school. School. The place where all kids dread the most.
   My favorite part about school is coming home to see Darla. Darla was my beautiful auburn colored horse with a shiny black mane. She always comes running to the fence when she sees me walking home. I slowly move my hand near her face. Darla lowers her head for me to pet her. Her hair was like a soft throw blanket. I whispered to her, "I'll be right back." I turned up the hill and headed towards the house. "I won't be long!" I yell back to her.
   It was a small little house with a tiny shed next to it where my papa works on repairing things, or builds something new. I walked up the creaky porch and opened the screen door. At that moment I knew it was officially summer, and school was over for now. Inside the house was mama making fresh apples with caramel. "How was your last day of school?" Mama asked.
   "Do we have any carrots?" I asked dodging the question.
   "You know if you keep feeding that horse carrots it might turn orange." She replied laughingly as she tossed an apple skin into the garbage.
   "So is that a no?"
   "In the bottom drawer of the fridge." She pointed to the fridge, then continued to slice.
   "Thanks!" I take a carrot and walk out the screen door.
   "Don't take too long you need to pick up your sister from the bus." She yelled as I left.
   "Okay!" I yelled back, hoping she could hear me. When I made it to Darla's fence she came running with joy.
   "Look Darla I brought a carrot." I quickly reach my hand to her, and she snatched it out of my hand. I dazed watching her chew the carrot. The air was warm with slight wind. I focused on the crunching sound she made when she chewed the carrot. It reminded me of the apples. Oh no I forgot about Amylin. Amylin is my little sister. I climbed the fence and ran to the road. I found Amylin sitting on a bench with who she calls just her "friend", Max. They were giggling about something little kids giggle about. Max had his arm wrapped around her shoulders.
   "Amylin, it's time to go home." She jumped and turned to see me.
   "Okay." She looked back at Max, "I have to go home."
   "Okay bye!" He frowned. She jumped up and walked towards me. Amylin was still smiling to my surprise. We start walking home.
   "I had the best day today." Amylin tells me.
   "That's great! Mom has apples with caramel waiting at home."
   "Mmm" we laugh together. My little sister and I get along well. We walk through the front door and straight into the dining room.
   "Here are my children!" Mama smiles. "My soon to be forth grader." She says hugging Amylin. "And my soon to be ninth grader." Mama smiles at me.