Hide and seek at Saguaro National Forest, our last stop for the junior-senior summer trip. Hot as hell; hydration packs required. We wear huge boots to protect from snakes and scorpions. I find a saguaro with shoulder-height limbs. I face it, strike the same pose, and wait. One by one, voices admit defeat.
The sun sets, and twilight casts its shadows. No one calls “Olly olly oxen free.” Standing silent in the gloom, I wonder if they’ve forgotten me, or sacrificed me to a forest of people never meant to be found.
My stomach growls. A spine pokes through my shirt.
Nice little tale… I enjoyed the read and the ‘open to interpretation’ ending… kudos…
A little creepy at the end there. Makes me worry for the protagonist and whether anyone came back.
Wow. Ok had to Google a couple of things due to cultural differences, but didn’t lessen the impact when I finally understood!