Going back for love

5

The sun’s extreme warmth makes it feel like it’s shining a hundred miles away instead of ninety three million miles. That’s what Oliver’s little mind keeps thinking as he hobbles on the long quiet road, invaded by a heat wave. His face is burnt red and he keeps wiping beads of sweat from his forehead, trying to form a comfortable feeling with each motion. It didn’t really help, as his dry throat was screaming for something cold to soothe every part of his sore body. He kept thinking about his mom’s homemade ice tea that went well with a chicken pie. He tried not to whimper when he thought about his mom’s loving embrace and how she would make everything okay. Where she is, he didn’t know how he ended upon a long dirt road, alone, he also didn’t know but for a nine year old boy, he tried to stay strong. He just needed to rest for a bit, so he pulled himself in an awkward sitting position, trying to hide the sun from his face. His sore muscles ooze with relaxation and with only a few minutes to spare, a deep slumber takes control over his body.

“Oi.” A deficient voice makes Oliver jerks upright. He violently rubs on his eyes, to get rid of his hazy vision, to see a boy, about his age, staring at him with stern eyes.

“Who are you?” Oliver croaks, pulling himself up, and stumbling behind.

“Sebastian.” the boy says, sticking out his hand and ruffling his brown curly hair with the other.

Oliver gulps, eyeing Sebastian’s dirty hand, but hesitantly taking it, noticing his hands are dirty as well.

“What’s your name?” Sebastian asks.

“Oliver.” He mumbles, shyly kicking some loose sand from the ground.

Both the boys hear a barking sound and look at a pudgy boy, walking on his hands and knees.

“Cut it out, Porky.” Sebastian calls, irritation lacing his voice.

Oliver looks at Porky, feeling bad, knowing that he, himself, also sometimes pretends to be a dog, but he sure didn’t have the energy to play now.

Porky strides towards them and gives Oliver a big toothy grin. He gives Oliver a friendly bump on his shoulder and Oliver tries his best to smile back through all the pain.

Sebastian and Porky murmur some words as if they are grown men talking business, making Oliver feel uncomfortable.

“What brings you out here all alone, boy.” Porky asks in a fake cowboy accent.

Oliver lifts his shoulders, trying hard not to cry.

“Well, what is your name?” Porky continues to ask questions.

“His name is Oliver.” Sebastion answers for him,looking chuff that he knew it before Porky did.

“Oh,” Porky looks down and wipes his hand on his mud stained T-shirt, ”I’m Lewis, but everyone calls me Porky.” He rubs on his fat stomach, indicating why people call him Porky.

“Some people call me Boney.” Oliver says making Porky and Sebastian snicker.

They start walking, looking frequently behind, making sure Oliver was following them.

“So where’s your family.” Sebastian asks, trying to make Oliver talk.

“I don’t know.”

“How old are you?”

“Nine.” Oliver says, noticing them entering a gap between tall trees. He inhales deeply, feeling somewhat relieved to be in a shadier and cooler space. He looks around, knowing about stories his mom read him, about how dangerous woods can be. He swallows, every now and then stepping on a thorn from through the moss.

“How old are you guys?” Oliver asks, developing more confidence the more he spends time with them.

“I’m twelve.” Sebastians says with a smirk on his face.

“Ten.” Porky says, rolling his eyes, probably wanting to be the oldest.

“Yuck.” Oliver shudders as he walks into a thick spider web. He pats his body hard, trying to get every silky piece off of him.

“They won’t do anything,” Porky says looking at the disgusted Oliver, “we’re kids.”

Oliver notices a sad expression playing on Sebastian's face, as if he has been through a lot even at his young age.

Birds chirp happily high in the trees and Oliver wishes he was one, so that he can easily fly back home but he also didn’t want to, feeling intrigued by these two boys. He kept on wondering where they’re going as he started to hear the faint noises of happy voices.

He felt excitement brewing in his stomach, feeling as if he’s on an adventure.

“Everybody.” Porky calls and three more kids appear, standing in a row in front of them.

Oliver’s eyes widen as he sees his surroundings.

“Wow.” he whispers, turning around in awe. It feels like he entered a real life movie.

A big space with no groups of trees makes it look like the wood has its own room. The ground is covered with greenier moss patches of red mushrooms. The sun shines through some branches of trees making the air look crystalized. At the far end is a weakly built wooden house, looking like it’s breaking apart. Colorful hammocks are tied in between trees , each one with thick blankets covering it.

“Who’s that?” A squeaky voice asks, bringing Oliver out of his dreamy state.

“This is Oliver.” Porky says in a defensive way, folding his arms over his chest acting as if he won Oliver’s friendship and it’s a big deal.

“I’m Issablle.” A petite girl with two red pigtails jumps in front of Oliver. Her porcelain skin is smeared with dirt.

“Nobody cares.” Another kid says, looking exactly like Issabella