Walter

HIDE AND SEEK

"Hi... what are you doing?"

Walter opened his eyes but had difficulty focusing. He followed the sound of the voice and looked at the yard beside the great oak. Sheltered under its great branches was a house, its curtains and windows were open. Inside he could see some large ferns and what looked like the top of a pale cactus lined along the window.

"What's your name?"

This time Walter saw what had spoken to him, it was the cactus looking thing. It had tilted slightly when it asked his name. Walter slowly made his was across the yard as his eyes adjusted back to the light. He could see that the cactus was really the top of a boy's head and he could barely see the boy's eyes above the window's sill.

"What are you doing?" the boy asked again.

"Resting a little from walking, I was letting the sun play on my face," replied Walter.

"It feels good, doesn't it?"

"Yes it does. Do you let the sun play on your face too?" asked Walter, suddenly curious about who this boy was.

"Sometimes I do, but not for very long. I'm not well enough to stay outside for long periods of time, so I stay inside mostly."

"That mustn't be any fun," replied Walter, but as soon as he said it he wished he could take it back as the little boy looked down and away from him. He must be very sad and lonely, being indoors all the time.

"It's alright, I'm used to it. Where are you going?"

"The school bus left without me today, so I'm walking to school now."

"I see... my name's Mortimer, but you can call me Morty. That's what my family does."

"Hi, Morty. My name's Walter."

"Hi, Walter. Can I ask you a question?"

"Sure, what is it?"

For an instant Morty stared down at his feet, not knowing how to ask this person to play with him. "Well... you see..."

He'd never been shy about asking whenever he needed help with something or wanted something he couldn't reach, he simply asked. He asked all the time, he just couldn't figure out why asking this boy to play with him was so hard. But he figured he should ask soon, otherwise the steady rolling of the tip of his shoe into the carpet would probably leave a mark, or at the very least a bald spot. "I... well... ummm... I know that you're late for school and all..."

As Morty looked up from behind the window, Walter saw the biggest set of puppy eyes on Morty and just looking into them made him feel sad.

"Walter, is there a chance you could stay and play with me for a little while?" he asked, finally mustering the words out. If pulling teeth was this hard, he hoped he'd never have to.

"I don't see why not," said Walter. "I'm already gonna be a little late. I'm sure staying here for a few minutes isn't going to make much difference."

At the sound of this, Morty's face lit up like a Christmas tree with a grin that seemed to stretch from ear to ear.

"That's great," said Morty. "If you like, I can meet you at the back of the house."

"Alright, I'll make my way there."

Walter watched as this boy with the big puppy eyes turned and disappeared within the foliage. What are a few minutes of my time, it looks like my staying will make Morty happy, he thought as he made his way to the backyard.

The yard itself was well kept with small bushes that dotted the landscape. Each one had been trimmed to the shape of a ball or a cone. It made him think of ice cream cones that had fallen over and lost their balls across the lawn. At the back of the yard in between some trees rested a hammock. To the side, a new looking swing set with a slide stood ready to take on all challengers.