Runaway

Keyona crouched in the gravel next to the fence, willing herself invisible lest any family members should wander nearby. This was much more serious than an established game of hide and seek, in her opinion. She wanted a break from all of them, for an indefinite period of time, although she hadn’t considered what she might do later, say, at dinnertime or when it got dark. It’s not that she was afraid of the dark; she spent hours outside and was well acquainted with the neighborhood.

She heard rustling sounds behind her, but she hesitated before turning to check for the source.

“Hey, it’s me,” her younger brother Rashan whispered. “Why are you out here?”

She sighed in exasperation, “Just go away and leave me alone, okay?” Keyona turned away from him, thinking that she needed to find a better destination immediately, if not sooner. She would have gone farther away initially, if she could have figured out where to go. Her temporary plan hadn’t taken into consideration anyone seeking her out.

“And don’t tell anyone where I am,” she called to Rashan’s retreating back.

Keyona took a deep breath then blew it out. Siblings were the primary cause of her departure in the first place. Mentally, she listed the reasons: six siblings were entirely too many, especially when they were all gathered together at the same time; the younger ones drove her crazy; and being the middle child left her feeling insignificant.

Hoisting her backpack, Keyona debated whether to go to her friend’s house, which was three blocks over. She slumped down again to think about it. Her friend had three brothers and one sister—not exactly an oasis of peace and quiet. Often, when visiting, she missed the relative peace of home. As she pondered, her older brother stepped into the alley and, without a word, squatted next to her, his back against the fence.