My Mr. Manny

Prologue

Hide and Seek

My heart raced, and my breaths came in short pants while I stood against Mrs. Lawson’s house. I did not want to be found, so I pressed my small hands flat against my chest to hold back the fear and excitement.

While I calmed myself against the gray, vinyl siding, I paid attention to my surroundings. The scent of lilac and jasmine was overpowering in the heavy, hot air. There was no breeze from the nearby ocean, thus no relief from the heat wave.

Over the sounds of my neighbor’s blaring television, I heard my cousin, Lori, scream at the top of her lungs. She’d been caught. The laughter that followed was too close for comfort. Alex was “it,” and I’d have to stand my ground until he moved further away.

When I didn’t hear anything else, I looked around the corner of the house to see if anyone was near me. My heart beat in my chest, and the fear of Alex sneaking up on me had me on edge. The coast was clear. I bolted, ducking under apple trees and jumping over jasmine bushes through the back yards of all my neighbors.

The houses in the neighborhood were tall, and the yards were massive, lending us little coverage. I hopped over a low chain-link gate that separated one yard from the next. Very few of the properties had fences, and those that did had only low barriers that were small enough for us to jump.

It was dusk and almost time for us to go in for the night. The streetlights weren’t on yet, so I assumed we had a few more minutes. When I reached the last house to my goal, I peeked my head out from the side of Mrs. Andriotti’s house to scan the street. I had to get across to the other side and touch the light post in front of my house without getting caught. A few kids were there already, but Alex was nowhere to be seen. I hoped he was searching for me somewhere else and not hiding near the post. First looking left then right, I booked it as fast as I could. Everyone started screaming, but I touched the post just before someone grabbed me. Even though I knew who it was, I jumped.

“I’m safe!” I screamed.

“You’re so lucky. I almost had you,” Alex complained with a pout.

Gasping, I tried to catch my breath, but my laughter made it difficult. “Ha ha! I made it. I

guess you’re gonna have to try harder to get me next time,” I teased.

“Mia, it’s time to come in,” my mother yelled.

The smile on my face faded in an instant, and I waved to everyone before I turned around

and went inside.