Hide and seek: Part 1

    Hello! This is a weird little story, which makes it perfect for Halloween weekend. I'll post up Part 2 on Sunday as this isn't the story that I want to start on November 5.
    Happy Halloween!

Photo by Luca, www.unsplash.com

Part 1

        ​Hi, Dinnah. It’s very late to play, isn’t it? You’re crying. Did you have a bad dream? Here, tuck into my blanket. I’ll always share my blanket any time with you.
        In the closet it is safe and all the toys each have a place.
        It’s like a little rhyme, you know? I still like rhyming. Do you still like rhyming? Do you remember this one from when we first met: I am Alice and I like to play, so we’ll be friends all night and day?

        What? Yes, I can… I can be quiet now and whisper really small. Are you really playing hide and seek this late at night? You can shake your head a little for either yes or no, remember? My special eyes can see in the dark. Hide and seek at night can be scary. I can whisper-sing a song only you can hear if you want? It’ll be like when you were my size.
        There’s no crying, we can run,
            once all the footstep sounds are done.
        You and I hide in this space
            Until we’ll run and get to ‘safe’.
        Together you and I will play
            hide and seek til end of day,
        hiding where we can’t be seen
            away from everyone who’s keen.
        Was that song good? I agree one hundred and five percent! Oops, I’ll whisper now don’t worry. Is it okay if I hug you a little bit?
        Are you crying a little bit? It’ll be all right, Dinnah. I’ll help you hide so you can win, I promise. Can’t you hear? The footsteps are going away because nobody can see us back here. It’s just like hide and seek when you were my size and we’d play with the kids from next door. Remember when you were growing bigger and thought I’d forget you and go away? Or that time you thought I got left behind when your parents moved you away? I didn’t forget and I came with you, though, and we were both so, so happy every time we were still together and best friends.
        Of course I’m here now. You’re still my best friend.
        Uh-oh. I hear steps again. It’s okay! Let’s fold up into the blanket. Just like when you were my size. Remember when you were my size and I’d fold us up like this? Nobody ever found us then.
        Ssshhhh…
        I won’t let anyone find you.
        Ssshhhh… quiet, Dinnah.
        I promise I won’t let anyone find you.
        .
        .
        .
        See? Even when the closet door opened, you were folded up in the blanket with me and the It person never knew we were here. What are you…? Oh, you want to write a message on my hand? Okay! I love that game!
        B,
        A,
        D.
        P,
        E,
        O,
        P,
        L,
        E.
        Bad People. The It person is a mean person? I don’t like mean people.
        S,
        T,
        A,
        C,
        Y.
        M,
        Y.
        D,
        A,
        U,
        G,
        H,
        T,
        E,
        R.
        Stacy. My. Daughter. Did I get it right? Wow. You got so big you made a baby?
        O,
        T,
        H,
        E,
        R.
        B,
        E,
        D,
        R,
        O…
        Other bedroom. I guessed it before you even finished so I win. Can she be my friend, too? We can all sneak to the safe spot and win hide and seek together! But, if the It person is mean can we play together on the swings outside, instead? Good.
        I don’t hear footsteps anymore. Let me just peek… it’s okay to peek, I won’t make any sound because the It person left the closet door open. Someone is sleeping on the floor in the hallway? He’s not very good at hiding. The It person probably walked right past him so they’re not very good at finding people, either. I bet if we go now we can get to the safe place and win.
        He’s not hiding? The It person hit him! That’s so mean! That’s not playing fair at all. We should go to the safe place and win and not play anymore. Or we can hide until they give up.
        C,
        R,
        I,
        B.
        Crib. Is that the safe place? Because cribs are not good hiding places. I mean… wait, aww Stacy’s still a baby and she’s in a crib? So you want the three of us to go to the safe place and win and stop playing? But the mean It person will find you if you… oh! You want me to get Stacy and meet you at the safe place? Does that mean I’m allowed to pick her up? Really? Okay! But… you’re still my best friend. I’m not going to replace you with Stacy when she grows up to my size, I promise. I’ll go through the shadows and then we can meet you at the swings. Okay? Okay.
        No crib here.
        None here.
        Crib! Hi, little baby Stacy. Goodness, those footsteps sound a lot closer to your door, don’t they? But you’re such a good baby you didn’t even wake up. I’m Alice. Dinnah is your mom and she’s my best friend and she said I’m allowed to pick you up.
        Ugh. Sleeping babies are heavy. It’s okay, though. I think you’re beautiful even if you weigh a ton and your arms and legs are sort of floppy. I haven’t picked up a baby since my littlest brother was born.
        Uh-oh. Don’t wake up crying, baby Stacy. I do know how to hold babies, I promise. I learned with my baby brother. I think the It person is right at your bedroom door so it’s not a good time to cry.
        Oh there’s your blanket! Let’s cover up like this and I’ll hold you tight like this and we’ll fold up into the wrinkle shadows just like this. See? That mean It person Dinnah doesn’t like can’t see us and won’t hear you because you’re such a good, quiet baby. Don’t worry that they’re walking around us, I’m really, really good at hide and seek. And I can whisper-sing so quiet that only you and I can hear, too. Do you want to hear how quiet I can be? Okay…? I guess blinking means yes.
        I am Alice and I like to play,
            so we’ll be friends all night and day.
        I don’t eat and I don’t sleep
            and I have special eyes that peep
        into the dark or brightest light
            each sunny day and blackest night.
        My skirts are soft, my hair has curls,
            I’ll be friends with boys and girls
        Who say they’d like to be friends, too.
            We’ll be friends, if that’s what you want to do.
        Aww, you have the prettiest baby smile in the whole world. I love you! I just know we’re going to be best friends when you grow up big enough to talk to me and play with me. And those footsteps for the mean It person are going away again. Come on, we’ll walk through a shadow together to go out and play on the swings with Dinnah.
        Uh-oh. It must be cold out here because I can see your breath. Here, snuggle up a little more into your blanket so you stay warm until – oh! There she is! Climbing out the window right now to sneak over here so we can all play together without anyone mean.