my little runaway

A backpack was surreptitiously retrieved from a high shelf in the closet. A chair and a few fallen items were evidence that he had reached it himself. In the kitchen he quietly went to the refrigerator and found a piece of cheese. It wouldn't have mattered if he had done it loudly - no one was paying too close of attention. The jelly and bread were still out from his sister's lunch so he squeezed the bottle and spread it out and put his sandwich in a bag. If he stood on his tiptoes he could reach the bag of pretzels - might as well pack some of those, you never know how long it's going to be. Mom was in the kitchen now. She kissed his head and admired out loud how big her babies were getting - that they could make themselves a little snack. She didn't notice the backpack lying in the floor; or if she did, she ignored it - stuff on the floor is par for the course here. She left the room and he continued with the task at hand - finding ziplock bags to hold his rations.

Everything was just so wrong: His brother was making him frustrated. His sisters didn't want to play with him. Nothing was going the way he wanted it to be. It was hopeless. He had to get away. Maybe he should go to his Granny's house. She might not be there, but he could wait on the front step until she got home. He could even take his bike instead of walking. At least then it wouldn't take quite so long. He took another deep breath and frowned a little deeper. He found a waterbottle on a shelf and filled it with ice and water. Maybe he should go to his friends' house. It would probably take just as long to get there and he always had fun playing with them. He slipped the water bottle into the side pocket of his backpack and put the straps on his shoulders as Mom walked back into the kitchen.

Half jokingly she asked him, "You're not running away, are you?" He cast his eyes down and nodded and started for the door. She looked at him in disbelief and asked him how she would ever manage if he wasn't around. He tried to stubbornly move past her but she had knelt down now and instead he gave in. He wrapped his arms around her neck and wept. His sad sobs continued and the tears that soaked her shirt began to wash his frustration away. When his crying was done, he sat contentedly in her lap and simply let her hold him. Each moment that passed filled him with a little more peace. They talked about it - his plans, what had made him so upset, and how much she loved him. They held each other a little longer before he finally knew what he had to do. He got up with a slight smile on his face and decided a snack-picnic was probably a better idea anyhow. He went out the front door - this time promising that he wouldn't leave after all.