Seeing

10- Good Times

62 days. That's how long it had been since Pip left home with Uncle Dan and Bonnie.
He wrote in his journal, squinting as the bright summer sun reflected mercilessly off his white notebook paper.

This grassy hill was beautiful, it was so peaceful observing the town below from a distance.
It wasn't very far away, he could still hear the busy sounds of humans going about their day.
But, up here was just far enough that no one could see him. People rarely looked up from what they were doing, or away from who they were talking to, away to some place far away and not immediately important to their own little life.
Why would they?

From here, Pip could close his eyes and check in on anyone or anything he wanted.
At least, seeing Bon showing off for some other kids in the town was easy. And finding Calista with a young couple asking about their wedding, or Dan photographing a rather average flower, these things were like finding a boulder in the mountains.

Checking in on his mother and stepfather, now that was different.
He could find his home on a map. It was very far away.

They had crossed nearly the whole country in the past few months. They had already started to head back now, since over half the vacation had passed already and they needed to be home in less than a month.
But his home was still a bit too far away. When Pip tried to think of them, it was a bit blurry, as if he needed glassed to see that far away. Of course glasses wouldn't help with this type of sight tho.
He thought maybe one day with more practice he could see that far. Who knew?

The days passed as they always did, and the group left that town too. They were revisiting a few places they had been before now.
It was still summer and not much had changed, of course, except a few people the kids had helped before recognized them and would thank them again.
It was nice.

Months had passed. Weeks more trickled by. Unstoppable, like sand through an hourglass.

They came back to the beginning, the place where it all started.
The familiar salty air and exotic spices danced around their noses.
The cliffside market was less busy now, as the festival time was over. About half of the shops were still open, and you could actually see through the crowd in some places now.
It had only been a couple months, but it felt as nostalgic as if it'd been years and they were finally back at the home of an old friend.

Speaking of old friends! Bon and Pip insisted on going to visit J.

The two children headed into the cozy cafe, a bell chiming quality as they walked through the front door.
Bon practically bounced up to the counter, as she did when she was excited (which was almost always, Pip had remarked to himself).

"Hey-o! Where's J? Can I get a RazzleBerry Puff and sweet tea, and" she turned her head to her more timid brother, "you want anything?"

Pip shook his head to signal that he didn't.
Seconds after she finished ordering, a delicious looking blueberry muffin made Pip regret his choice.

The round, dark haired man behind the counter smiled and he got Bonnie's order ready.
"I haven't seen J since this morning. She must be off with some friends I assume, probably in the forest beyond town."
He handed Bon a napkin containing a soft, fluffy looking pastry, and set the cup of tea on the counter.

"Thanks! Hmm, maybe we'll go look for her. What d'you say bro, up for a little adventure?" Bon grinned as she took a bite out of her sweet snack.

"Sure" Pip replied simply.
He closed his eyes and tried to picture their tomboy pal.
It'd been a while since they'd seen each other, and honestly he wondered if she'd even remember them...
She was laughing with two friends among some trees. It looked like they were sitting on some sort of old stone wall.
One of her friends wore all black with silver, and a lot of eyeshadow... The other was short, wore dark baggy clothes but had a gentle smile.