Peter and the Lost Girl

The Tagalong

"Tommy?" We all looked up into the window of the orphanage. "Tommy, is that you?"

I couldn't tell who was talking, but it was definitely one of the boys.

"John?" Tommy half yelled to the boy in the window, as to not wake the others that were still asleep.

"Yeah, it's me, but what are you doing!?" He yelled.

John, he was the newest boy. He'd only gotten there about a week ago and he'd been having a hard time sleeping each night.

In his time there, the only friend he had made was, of course, Tommy. He was the only one who knew anything about John, so they all let out a sigh of relief when Tommy smiled up at the poorly dressed child.

"It's okay. We're just..." Tommy turned around and looked at us with a queasy smile. I shrugged, not sure what he should tell John. Some of the others seemed to follow my example.

Tommy turned back to look at the window. "running an errand...for Miss. Truce."

Miss. Truce was the head lady at the home for boys, and was known for giving out the meanest, hardest, and grossest jobs any boy would have in his entire life!

"Miss. Truce?"

"Yeah, she wanted us to...uh"

"But I thought she wasn't here today." Said John, scaring us all half to death.

What now! He's onto us!

"John, can you keep a secret?" Tommy said playfully up to the boy.

John nodded slowly "I guess so."

"Well, we're running away." Tommy said the last two words slowly, as if saying it fast would have split the boy's brain in two.

"You're leaving?"

"I know John, but you can't tell-"

"I want to come with you!"

"What!?" We were all so confused at this point, I guess he didn't know what else to say.

"If you don't let me come... I'll wake everyone up!"

"What!?" Tommy was still so stunned that that was all he could say.

"Fine!" I yelled, surprising everyone including myself. "Get onto the roof, and Tommy will catch you when you jump down here."

John obeyed, smiling, as he jumped to the roof and then into Tommy's outstretched arms.

"Now let's go!" He said, snapping out of his confused state, as he turned and ran into the dark alleyway, and into their new lives.