Hidden Light

Chapter 1

The wind blew through the Autumn leaves as 15 year old Jennifer rode her bike down Mulberry ave. She turned a sharp corner and skillfully applied her brakes as a small gray cat crossed her path.

"Better watch out little guy, wouldn't want you to get hurt." She said, smiling. As soon as the cat made it safely off of the rode she continued on.

The wind blew through her long, black hair. Her big, blue eyes sparkled as she watched the horizon settle down behind the rolling hills that surrounded the small town of Boondocks, which she called home. She began to pedal harder as she approached a hill. She had never cleared the hill before, but she was sure that she had it now. Just as she reached the top a squirrel scurried across the rode. She harshly braked and her bike flipped over, causing her to land flat on her back. She slowly got up.

"Ow."

She picked up her bike. She felt a sharp pain in her foot. She removed her shoe and looked at a small acorn rested in the heel of the worn out Nike. Her navy blue shirt and jeans were stained with grass. She picked up her Yankees hat and set it on her head.

"I almost had it!" With a sigh she got back on her bike and pedaled the rest of the way to her friend Emily's house. As she rang the door bell she noticed that they already had their Halloween decorations up. Jennifer was spending two weeks at their house.

"It's three weeks until Halloween, why did they already get a pumpkin! It's going to rot!" Jennifer says, shaking her head in disapproval. She stood up straight when she saw a pleasant middle-aged woman open the door.

"Hello Mrs. Parker." Jennifer said respectfully, causing the lady to smile. "Please, call me Jesse." Jesse says, both of them laughing.The two had known each other for about a year, yet Jennifer refused to call her by her first name.

Jesse let her in and 15 year old Emily ran up to hug her. Jennifer stepped out of the way. "Another bike wreck." She explains. Just then a kind looking man entered the room. "Hello Mr. Parker. " Jennifer greets him. The man smiled and spoke with a warm and comforting voice. "It's Frank." He says, his smile clear in his voice. "Jennifer, you can call us by our first names, we insist." He says, moving to stand next to his wife. Jennifer finally gave in with a slight smile, speaking with laughter clear in her voice. "Ok Jesse." Jennifer spoke. The two parents clapped and hugged Jennifer. Emily joined in.

"Ok, ok, I'm dirty!" Jennifer wiggled out of their arms. "Well then I guess you should get clean." Frank says. Jennifer face palmed. "I forgot my change of clothes at home." She said, smiling sheepishly. Jesse picked up her car keys. "I'll go pick them up for you." Jennifer was about to protest when Jesse opened the front door and walked outside.

"You people are way to nice to me." Jennifer shakes her head as she speaks, sitting down on the cozy couch near the fire place. Emily sat down next to her. "Well, I say we aren't nice until we bake some brownies for me -err- you." Emily blushed at her mistake which she tried to cover up. They all laughed. "Nice try Emily." Frank grins at his daughter and sat down in the chair across from them.

"Halloween is coming soon." Frank rubbed the back of his head in thought. "Although I think we forgot something." Frank added, causing Emily laugh and say,"Yeah, you forgot the candy!"

Jennifer laughed with them and got up. "I think Jesse is back." Jennifer walked to the door and peered through the key hole. There was a boy about her age at the door. "Um, that's not Jesse."

Emily got up and looked through the hole. "Oh, that's just James, he is the newspaper boy for our street." Emily says, opening the door. James smiled. "Hey Em! Got some pretty exciting news papers for you!" He grins, handing her a copy of yesterdays news. Jennifer shadowed Emily reading the front. "Wow, old man Waders got himself arrested again!" Emily informs them and Jennifer laughed.