Her fingers tips scrunched into a claw like shape. Her nails dug into the brown bark. Body pressed against the rough cylinder surface, she began her climb. Her dress scraped along, collecting dirt, leaves and any unfortunate ant that crossed her path. Her feet followed after, securing her hold. The higher the better. The tree, she thought, was perfect to camouflage with. Her hair matched the golden autumn leaves that has yet to fall, her clothing once clean, now marred with remnants of earth matched the bark. She picked a branch that was sturdy enough to hold her and sat quietly as she could.

“Abigail? Abigail where are you?” As voice shouted from below. She clamped her mouth shut and held her breath. “Abigail Winston, Abigail Winston, Abigail Winston, where-are-you?” The voice asked again with annoyance. She sneaked a peak down and saw a glimpse of familiar tan hat moving around the tree.

She climbed up a bit higher once he was gone. Slowly this time, she reached up towards another level of branches. “Abigail!” Now the voice was accompanied by others. “I see you!” This caused her to freeze and look down. No one was looking up at her. She shook her head, silently scolding herself for falling for that bluff.

She had spent about 15 minutes watching them hunt for her. She was getting bored. She had long since stretched herself on the limp her head resting on her folded arms looking down. She let out a rather loud yawn causing those below to freeze in there places. “You hear that?” One said to the other. The other nodded, glancing up. “Must be a bird or something.”

“Birds don’t make that kind of noise.”

“Alright Abigail, you can come down now.”

Jack took off his tan hat and looked up the tree.

Abigail giggled and began her decent. Once she landed, she turned to Jack, and his friends with a big smile and said, “I told ya I was the best at hide and seek.” The boys groaned in unison. “Hey you may be a good hider but I betcha not a good seeker,” said John wrapping his arm around Jack’s shoulder. “Yeah the others chimed in, joining John. Abigail looked at the boys who seemed to build a defense against her. Abigail’s smiled grew and without saying a jeering word, turned around and started counting. “10…9….8….7….6….5….4…3…2…1. Ready or not here I come”