Table of Contents

Title Page

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Hide and Seek

by Amanda Flieder

www.amandaflieder.ca

Copyright © 2021 Amanda Flieder

Cover by Amanda Flieder

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying, and recording or otherwise – without the prior written permission of the author, except for brief passages quoted by a reviewer in a newspaper or magazine. To perform any of the above is an infringement of copyright law.

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.

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.

.

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.

2

Dinnah’s my best friend in the whole world, baby Stacy. When she was my size, we’d sit in the closet when she was sad and I’d sing to her until she was happy again. Shh-shh-shh, don’t cry. She’ll be here in just a moment and she can warm you right up. See? She’s got a puffy, warm coat on and a little holder inside just for you. See? Here she is. I told you she’d be here and keep you warm.

Dinnah? I know I said I wanted to play on the swings, but I can see your breath and I saw baby Stacy’s, too, when we first came out before you zipped her into your coat so I think it’s too cold for you and baby Stacy to play outside. And it’s very dark and very late for a baby to play out here…

You still want to play outside just not here? Okay… I guess. Oh, wait, does this mean we can all go over to see Jenn’s cow, now? I’ve really missed Jenn’s cow, with its big pretty eyes and the brown swirly fur in the middle of its forehead.

A race? Of course!

I’m going to beat you!

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Come on, just a little further!

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You can make it!

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I win! You got bigger but I’m the fastest. What’s wrong? Is it those lights way over there that are moving really fast. What can move that fast? What’s a car?

Dinnah? Dinnah, wait! I don’t think Jenn’s cow likes anyone in its field, Dinnah. Remember, Jenn said we can’t go in the field without her. You want to play hide and seek out here? But… really? Um, okay. I guess, but... just let me go through a shadow to ask Jenn’s cow if it’s okay. You’re really sure you want to? Okay.

Hello? Jenn’s cow? I’m very sorry to wake you. I’m Alice.

How do you do? It’s lovely to meet you also, Brunus. I’m very sorry for intruding so late at night, but is it all right if my best friend, Dinnah, and her daughter, baby Stacy, and I play in your field? We were playing night-time hide and seek at Dinnah’s house, but the It person is mean so we decided to play on the swings instead. Except it’s too cold outside to play on the swings, so we had a race to your field instead. Dinnah thinks your field has some very good shadows for us to play night-time hide and seek, although I don’t know why she wants to keep playing with that mean It person.

Hehehe, no. She’s not my size. She’s so big now that she made her own baby, baby Stacy. Oh, Brunus, baby Stacy has the most beautiful baby smile! I just know she’s going to be my best friend once she’s my size.

Well, yes, I suppose the mean It person is a bad person. Well, because they hit Dinnah’s friend right in his head and made him fall over and sleep in the hallway. She said she saw them hit him. Well, then she snuck into the closet and that’s what brought me back to her to sit with her. Oh, yes! Dinnah’s been my best friend since she was even littler than me and she never forgot me ever, not even once. I’ve moved with her three times, and she always puts blankets in the closet for me everywhere she lives so I can fold up but we’re still always together.

No, of course not! I’d never scare her. I help her smile again. That’s what I do for my friends. Yes, of course I’ve had a lot of friends. Dinnah is special, though. Well, because she remembers me. Lots of my friends got bigger and then forgot me, but not Dinnah. I had another friend like Dinnah once, his name was Isaac and he got so old that he had seven grandchildren and he still remembered me and I would sing to him every time he was sad or sick because he said it helped him feel better.

The mean It person? I don’t know. Yes, they were opening all the cupboards and drawers in baby Stacy’s room when I folded her up with me in a blanket to hide. Dinnah asked me to sneak baby Stacy outside and away from the mean It person, but we had to hide until I could walk us through a shadow to the swings outside.

Yes, I am very good at hide and seek, thank you. It helps a lot that anyone who wouldn’t be a good friend for me can’t see or hear me. Why, yes, you see and hear me very well. I agree. I also think you’d be a lovely friend for me, Brunus, if that’s what you’d like.

Oh, yes, I’d love for you to play with us! I’ll go tell Dinnah that you want to and that we’re allowed to play in your field. Thank you, Brunus! May I hug you? Thank you so much. I’ll see you out there. I’m going to go through a shadow back to Dinnah and baby Stacy. Yes, it is much quicker than walking. Yes, of course I can open this for you. Oh, I can see your breath. Do you need a jacket, too? Okay.

Um, yes, right. We’re playing just… over there! See? Can you see those lights moving quickly? Dinnah says they belong to a car. You know what that is? No, I’ve no idea, but…

A machine that can move by itself? Huh. Okay, well, thank you. And I’ll just go now and tell Dinnah you’re coming to play with us. The mean It person? No, I think if you say you don’t want them to play with us in your field that they won’t. You’re very soft but you’re also very big, so I think they’ll listen to you. And right here is where you think should be our safe place to count from? Okay. I’ll bring Dinnah and baby Stacy here. Thank you! We’ll see you soon!

Bum, bum, da-dum-dum.

Hi, Dinnah! Jenn’s cow isn’t a… What’s wrong? Why are you…?

Oh. It’s you. You’re not a very nice It person to play with. I’m speaking to you! Hmm, if you can’t hear me then that means you can’t see me, either. That confirms it. You are not someone I want to be friends with.

Dinnah? Is this a car? My chest feels like there are a lot of shadows inside it. I wonder if… huh. Now it stopped purring and shaking and I only pulled on a couple of things. What if I put these together? Ahh! That’s too loud! Too loud! I’m sorry, Dinnah! I’m trying to stop it!

Phew. I know that was music but it was much too loud. I’m not going to put those together again. Cars are very strange and they smell bad. I wonder what this does? Hahaha! Oh goodness it can wave! Dinnah, look! It can wave! Swink, swunk, swink, swunk…

This mean It person and their friend look scared about being out here in the dark now. Is it okay for me to scare them so they don’t want to play with us? Okay. I bet if I do this, then… haha! No more lights.

Don’t cry, Dinnah. My eyes are special, remember? Even on cloudy nights like tonight, I can still see just fine. Come on, let’s go through this shadow to a little further away. I know you don’t like walking through shadows with me so we won’t go really far. Did you know that Jenn’s cow isn’t a cow at all? He’s a he, and he said he wants to play hide and seek with us. His name is Brunus and his stall is going to be our safe place to count and go out hiding from. He doesn’t want to play with the mean It person, either so he’s coming over to tell them that they’re not allowed in his field.

Ohh, look, the moon is pretty tonight when it peeks out. It’s been such a long time since I saw the moon. Hello, Mister Moon! Dinnah, look, the pearls on my skirt are so shiny in moonlight. Why are you looking at me like that? Or are you looking behind me… Oh. It’s you again.

Goodness, my manners. I forgot, everyone can see me when the moon can. I stood up and gave away our hiding place. I suppose… how do you do, mean It person? Wait, you look very startled. Ha-ha! That’s right! Dinnah said I’m allowed to frighten you. Well, in that case, guess what I can do? I can do tricks with shadows.

Now I’m over here!

Now I’m here!

Look over here, now!

I can even walk into your shadow. Boo!

Ha-ha! Oh gracious, your face! You fell right down. And you deserved it because you don’t. Play. Nice. It’s very bad to hit.

Who is that yelling so much?

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.

.

Hello.

Ha-ha! Goodness gracious you fell right out. Oh! How rude. My mother taught me it’s not polite for a lady to slam a door. That was very rude. I think if I do this… you should know my mother says I’m a very smart young lady because I learn things very quickly. There. Now you’re locked outside.

Dinnah, are you all right? Come on through the shadows with me. It’ll be a longer time inside the shadow but we’ll go all the way to the barn, okay? Okay. Brunus said you and I are allowed to play in his field, and that he wants to play with us, but he doesn’t want anyone mean playing. He’ll be here soon to tell these mean players to go away.

Oh, you’re shivering. I think it’s too cold out here for you and baby Stacy. The barn must be warmer because I didn’t see Brunus’ breath at all until I opened his door. Come on, let’s go to the safe place starting point to wait for Brunus to come back.

And you two should get out of Brunus’ field because he said he won’t be friends with anyone mean.

Come on, Dinnah. Here’s a good shadow to go that far to the barn.

See? It’s much warmer in here. I’ll close Brunus’ door so the cold doesn’t make it bad in here for you. I can hear humming and popping. There must be a little heater in here. We can open the door again when Brunus comes back.

It’s okay, you don’t have to cry. Do you want me to sing to you? Oh.

You do want me to? Wait, but after… well, yes, I guess I can go check on your friend first. That would make you happier than a song? You’re sure? Well, it’s just that my songs always make you happy and… okay. But I’ll come right back.

Hello? Can you see me? Can you hear me, too? Oh good. You don’t have to be frightened. I’m Alice. I am Alice and I like to play, so we’ll be friends all night and day. I like making rhymes, don’t you? Who are you talking to on the telephone? No, I can’t. Phones don’t work for me.

You’re Dinnah’s friend, right? Of course I can tell you where Dinnah and baby Stacy are. No-no, you shouldn’t stand up when your eyes look like that. My second oldest brother got kicked by a horse on accident one time and his eyes looked like yours and our mom said he shouldn’t stand up. He tried to and he fell right over again.

Of course I can see your eyes. My eyes are special.

Well… I promised Brunus we’d play with him while I was asking if it was okay for us to be in his field. Yes, in the field. We’re going to play hide and seek, though, once Brunus gets back from telling the mean It person and their not nice friend that they are not allowed to play with us. Dinnah and baby Stacy and I are waiting in the barn for Brunus and I to come back so we can all play together.

No, I didn’t. Dinnah asked me to check on you. I came through a shadow. It’s one of my tricks.

I’ll go tell her an ambulance is coming here now. And police? Okay. Yes, I can tell her that for you, too. You seem like a very good friend if you’re this worried about her even though you seem very hurt. Really? She’s my best friend, too! We’ve been best friends since she was a little smaller than me. Yes, I am the one in the closet. We can all be best friends together now! Yes, I’ll go tell her. Bye for now.

Dinnah? Your friend is awake, but his eyes look like my second oldest brother’s after that time he was kicked in the head by a horse on accident. Your friend said to tell you that if you’re safe then just stay here. Of course I told him where we are. He could see me and hear me, yes. Well, he said you’re his very best friend so I want to be friends with him, too. Not telling him where you are when he asked would be like lying. My mom says polite girls don’t lie, you know that. Oh, and he says that an ambulance is coming to your house for him right away. He was talking on the telephone with them. He said the police would be along, as well.

What’s that yelling? You think it’s Brunus? Oh yes! He must have found the mean people. Don’t worry, I’ll bet he’s telling them to go away. You think he’s scaring them away? I guess he could seem frightening, because he’s so big, but he was very polite. No, I’m not scared of him at all. He was very soft when I hugged him.

Do you want a hug? Yes, of course I’ll stay right here. Do you want me to sing a song for you now? Okay. Tell me your favorite and that’s the one I’ll sing. Hmm… I know three lullabies, so how about the one my mom sang to me? I also think baby Stacy will like it, too.