The Leaves in the Forest

The Leaves in the Forest

Mikee could hear the leaves crunch under his feet. He was running as fast as he could, but didn't really get anywhere. Everything looked the same: the trees, broken limbs, animals scurrying away from him. Those leaves were crunching too loudly, but he couldn’t avoid stepping on them.

Why did I have to go after that butterfly? He thought as he ran. He had been running toward his mom's voice but couldn't hear her anymore.

Mikee had gone out with his mom for a walk. It had been two months since his parents’ divorce. He stayed nervous all the time. He really didn’t know what that meant, but he heard his mom and the woman he had to visit once a week say it a lot.

An only child and very sad since the separation, Mikee didn’t want to go to school or to play with the new neighbor's kids.

“Mom, Mom!” He knew his voice had to be louder than the leaves.

“Mom, please answer me!” He cried.

Maybe if I stop she will find me, he thought as he looked for a place to sit down. Just not anywhere on the leaves. Losing his glasses made matters worse. He was legally blind and could hardly see anyway. It was difficult not being able to see those leaves.

He found a small hole in a tree and he backed inside so he could look out. Just as he squeezed in he felt something on his back.

“Oh my God,” he whispered. “Is that a bug?”

Mikee was terrified of bugs. He had to move, but was stuck. He didn’t know which was worse: knowing what it was or not knowing. He needed out of that tree. He hooked his heels which were on the outside of the tree and pulled as hard as he could. Nothing happened.

“Mom where are you?” He whispered as his eyes burned with tears.

He was so scared and now stuck in a tree. At least the sun was shining. That meant his mom could see him. He thrust his hands outside of the tree. Surely now he could pull himself out. So he pulled with his arms and legs. “MMMM.” He pulled and pulled but still his butt wouldn’t budge. Getting in this tree was a bad idea.

Numb with fear, he couldn't feel his back anymore, let alone what was crawling on it. He was crying so hard his screams for his mom were now whispers.

“Mom, please find me. Please. I’m so scared. I promise I won’t hate our new house anymore and I will give my new school a chance. I won’t be bad anymore. Just please find me.” He was sobbing and his whole body was heaving. Why couldn't he get free?

Maybe it was his coat. His dad bought for him and he didn’t want to take it off. He would try to slither out of the coat. So pulling his elbows back he mustered up all his strength….and nothing. Now he was stuck in the coat. He was stuck in a coat while stuck in a tree. No one would believe this.

All that running and now straining to get out of the tree took its toll on him. He let his body relax, but not his mind. He couldn’t help but think the worst. Finally, he settled down and after a few minutes, began to drift off.

Mikee knew he was a special boy. He was different from the kids at school. He was smaller, weaker, and had “special classes for special kids.” That’s what his mom called it. He didn't really know what that meant.

Drip, drip, drip. He opened his eyes, saw the rain, and the sun was gone. No longer could he see the trees. He could hear the rain hitting the leaves. He put his arms and feet outside the tree again and pulled as hard as he could…Still nothing. Everything was wet now and should make it easier to squirm free.

So he worked on pulling his arms out of his sleeves again. This time it was a success. He struggled free of his coat. Arms outstretched, he pulled with all his might. All of a sudden face down on the leaves that he feared so much, Mikee was free. He looked back at the tree while swatting wet leaves from his body. He grabbed his coat and put it on with the hood over his head. The rain was pouring and he was getting cold.

He found his voice and cried, “Mom, please find me!”

This time he heard his name, “Mikee!” It was his mom. Her voice never sounded so good.

“It’s me, Mom. Find me!” He cried back.

“Okay baby, just keep talking and stand still!”

“Okay!” He hated standing on all those leaves but he stood in one spot and yelled for his mom. Over and over he called her name.

He couldn’t see so he felt around until he found a broken branch and he sat down on it. He couldn’t take those leaves anymore.

He saw a light. “There he is!” Called a man's voice.

“Oh my God, Mikee!” His mom was crying as hard as him. “Thank you God for keeping my baby safe.”

“Mom I was so scared.” He sobbed as she wrapped him in her arms.

“I know baby, I was too.” Being called baby was something else he didn’t care for, but that time it was okay.

One of the police officers brought a blanket to wrap him in. He was still wet but with his mom and that’s all he cared about. Except the leaves of course.

“Mom, will you carry me out so I don't have to be on the leaves anymore?

“Sure.” The she replied scooping him up.

He was never so happy.

Word Count
979