We got lost on the first night. In the dark maze of roads and coves. We weaved our way through this new, unknown labyrinth. Not knowing which way to turn. During the day this would have been an easy task. But at night, we were blind to the invisible pathway leading to our new home in this maze of a neighborhood. But it was my new neighborhood.
In my yard, pretending to be a knight in bright, shining armor, I played. This seemingly large wonderland filled my needs for entertainment. I was only seven. What else did I really need. Running around attacking my imaginary adversaries, I was the champion. Before I needed, or wanted, much else, that yard was my playing field. My arena. My jungle. My barren wasteland. My imagination bending it to my will. The trees turned into evil creatures threating my castle. But, I bravely fought back with all my seven-year-old might. Defending my stronghold.
There are so many roads. Or, so it seemed to my young, twelve-year-old mind as the world opened up to me. I was no longer restricted to my small kingdom in the yard. I could travel to distant lands. I was the shoeless wanderer. I was also the great hider. I spent many late nights playing hide and go seek at Brandon’s house. I like hide and go seek still to this day. Being able to show off my skills for sneaking then seeing my opportunity and sprinting to the base. I wish I could sit that still and be so patient now. The base was always Brandon’s mailbox; illuminated by the street light. The seeker was always lurking in the nearby darkness waiting to snatch up the unsuspecting victim. Some games lasted for hours when we got older and better at the game.
I got older and things changed. I spent a lot more of those nights alone. Those winter nights spent alone skateboarding around my dark, seemingly abandoned neighborhood were my favorite part of the year. Being alone in the quiet gave me time to think and breath. I would usually stay out until my fingers and legs were numb and my face burning red. Eventually my best friend started joining me on my adventures. She was always a good ways behind me because I liked to skate fast feel the wind burning my face. We would usually skate to the park by the lake in my neighborhood. It was kind of scary at night. There were not a lot of lights near the park so we were worried that a group of zombies would emerge from the brush and eat us. We were prepared for our impending doom though.
I strolled into the house around one a.m. I had fallen asleep at my friend Hailey’s house. The roads seemed darker, but strangely enough, I did see some cars driving. I always figured that these suburban roads were empty by midnight.
“Glad to see you actually made it home last night,” said my dad in a mock angry tone.
“Yeah, I fell asleep at Hailey’s. Sorry. You and mom were asleep when I got home so I just got Hannah and went to bed.”
He gave me his usual look where he raises his chin and squints his eyes and then gave me his usual, “Mmmhmmm. Just try not to stay out so late. It’s time to get ready for church.”
So I got up and started to get ready.
