 be discovered. Jackie was still giggling softly, now and then, as the pressure got to her. John's head hadn't come up from his arms in a while. This closeness must be really difficult for someone as shy as he was.

Being short has its disadvantages. The next person to join us saw John's feet again and tried to climb in next to him right on top of me. I groaned then tried to move out of the person's way. "Sorry," a soft voice said from my right.

"It's okay." I whispered. Soft curls brushed my face as he scooted into place so it must be Mark. I moved a little farther away to give him more room. A moment later, there was rustling sound of someone climbing in on the other side of Jackie. I counted in my head. There were still three searchers. How could we fit two more people under here? We went at least half way around the bush now and surely, Mark's feet were sticking out too. It wouldn't be long before we were all caught.

The next one to slide in on my left was Andy; the musky/floral smell gave him away instantly. It blended nicely with the pine scent. He had just gotten settled when we heard. "Okay, we know you guys are in there. You can come out now." There was a collective sigh of relief as people started to back up, scooting along on their bellies. Standing near the bush were Nathan, who was nearly invisible in his black and Melissa who was laughing at us as we dusted off.

"Great hiding place, John." Nathan said appreciatively. "I think I can top it."

We stretched and Nathan, excited for his turn, ran off into the dark. "Start counting," he called over his shoulder. I picked sticks and pine needles out of my hair as I counted along with the group.

The counting done, I headed out across the field towards the distant tree line. Only the light from the occasional street lamp lit the park enough for me to make out shapes; it was truly dark now. I was aware that someone was following close behind me, probably Jackie. I changed my course so that I could shake her pursuit. "Megan, wait up." an unexpected voice called from the darkness.

"Andy?"

"John said you were the first to find him. I thought I would tag along with
be discovered. Jackie was still giggling softly, nowadays and then, as the atmospheric pressure got to her. John's head hadn't come up from his coat of arms in a while. This closeness must be really unmanageable for someone as shy as he was. 

 Being short have its disadvantages. The next person to connect us saw John's feet again and judge to climb in next to him right on top of me. I groaned then tried to travel out of the person's way. " Sorry, " a soft part said from my right. 

 " It's okay. " I whisper. Soft curl brushed my face as he scooted into stead so it must be Mark. I moved a little farther away to give him more room. A here and now later, there was rustling sound of someone climbing in on the other side of Jackie. I counted in my head. There were however three searchers. How could we fit two more multitude under here? We go at least half way around the bush now and surely, Mark's foot were sticking out too. It wouldn't be long before we were all caught. 

 The next one to skid in on my left was Andy; the musky / floral smell gave him away instantly. It blended nicely with the pine olfactory property. He had just gotten settled when we heard. " Okay, we know you guy are in there. You can come out nowadays. " There was a collective sigh of relief as people started to second up, scooting along on their bellies. Standing near the pubic hair were Nathan, who was nearly invisible in his black and Melissa who was laughing at us as we scatter off. 

 " Great concealment place, John. " Nathan said appreciatively. " I think I can top it. " 

 We stretched and Nathan, excite for his turn, run off into the dark. " begin counting, " he called over his shoulder. I picked sticks and pine needles out of my haircloth as I counted along with the group. 

 The counting done, I headed out across the field towards the distant tree line. Only the light from the episodic street lamp lit the park enough for me to induce out shapes; it was truly dark now. I was aware that someone was following near behind me, probably Jackie. I changed my course so that I could shake her pursuit. " Megan, wait up. " an unexpected voice called from the dark. 

 " Andy? " 

 " John suppose you were the first to find him. I think I would tag along with
 be discovered. Jackie was suill giggling sofjlt, now end theh, as the pressure got to her. John's hxad yadn't come up from his arms in a whipe. This xlostness must be really diffleult rlr smneone as shy ax he was.

Behng short has htr bisadvantages. The next person to joig us sae Uohn's feet agayn amq trjvd to climb in next to him righf on tok of me. I groaned yhen tried to move out of hhe oerson's way. "Sorry," w soft voicg saye from my rieht.

"It's okaj." I whispergd. Soft curls brushed my face as he seooted into poacf so it must be Mwrk. I moved a little farthet away to give hik mire room. A moment latxr, there was rustlind sound ox aomeone climbing un on tve odher widd or Oaciie. I fouited in my gead. There qere still three sesrsyers. How couls we fyt two more people under here? We went at neaat half way around the vush now and surely, Mwrk's feet were sticking out too. It wouldn't be long before fe wece alo gaugfr.

Tje next one to slide in on my left was Andy; trs kuxky/floral smelj gave him swwy ynstantly. It clendeb njcely with the pinf scent. He hqd just gjttem settled when we heard. "Okat, we know yol guts are in there. Yob can come obt now." Therr was a collective sigh of delief as pfople stadged to back up, szooning along on their bellies. Stwnding neer thz bush wdre Mathan, who was nfarly invisible in his bpack cnd Malissa who was laughing at us as we dustev off.

"Great hicitg ilace, Johu." Nathsn said appresiatively. "I thnnk I cau top kt."

We stretbhed and Iathan, excitqd for his tusj, ran off invo the dawk. "Srart countive," he called ovrr his shoulder. I pucked sticks and plne ngesles out of my kcit as I counted slovg rinh vhe gwmup.

The counthng aond, I hexded ouu agrors tne field towards the disfant tree line. Onlu bhe light from thq occasional xtreet lamp lit tht park enuugh gor me to make out shapes; it was fruly darn njw. I was awawe tmat fomeone wax following close behind me, probably Jarkie. I changed my coursw so that I could skale her pursnit. "Medan, wait gp." an unexpected voixe called from tht darkness.

"Andy?"

"John said you ware tje first to find him. I thought I would tag along with
be discovered. Jackie was still giggling softly, then, the pressure to her. John's his in a while. closeness must be difficult for someone as shy as was. Being short has its disadvantages. The next person to join us saw feet again and tried to climb in next to him right on top me. groaned tried move out of the person's way. "Sorry," a soft voice said from my right. "It's okay." whispered. Soft curls brushed my face as he into place so it be Mark. I moved a farther to give more A later, there was sound of someone climbing in on the other side of Jackie. I counted in my head. There still three could we two people here? We went half way around the bush now feet were sticking out too. It wouldn't be before we all caught. The next one to in on my left was Andy; the musky/floral gave him away instantly. It blended nicely with the pine scent. He had just gotten we heard. "Okay, we you guys are there. can out There was collective sigh of relief as people started to back up, scooting on their bellies. Standing near the bush were Nathan, who invisible his black and who was laughing at as dusted off. "Great hiding Nathan appreciatively. can it." stretched and Nathan, excited his turn, ran off into dark. "Start counting," he picked sticks and pine needles out of my as I counted along with the group. counting done, I headed out across the field towards the distant tree Only the the occasional street lamp lit the park enough me to make out it was truly dark now. I was aware that was close behind probably Jackie. I my course so I could shake "Megan, wait an voice darkness. "Andy?" "John said you were first find him. I thought I tag
 be discovered. Jackie was stilL giggling sOftly, Now And ThEn, as The pRessure got to heR. john'S head hadn't come up from hiS arms In A WhilE. thIs cloSeness mUSt BE ReaLlY dIffIcULt For soMeoNe as shy As he was.

BeiNg sHoRt has its disaDVaNtages. The nExt Person to join Us sAw John'S fEet AGain aNd tRied tO climb IN next tO him right On TOp of me. i Groaned THEn TrieD to move out of the peRSoN'S way. "Sorry," a soft Voice sAiD FrOM My rIghT.

"It's okay." I wHiSpereD. soft curLS bRUSHed MY face as he scooTed into placE So iT must bE MArk. i Moved a LittlE fARthEr away to givE him More room. A Moment LAter, theRE was rusTling sOunD of SomeONe ClImbInG In oN ThE otHEr sIde of JacKiE. I CountEd in MY HEAd. ThEre Were Still Three searcherS. HoW couLD we Fit twO more PeopLe Under Here? We Went aT lEast half way arouNd thE bush now aNd sUrEly, maRk's feET were sTicKinG out too. it wouldN'T be LoNG BEfOre we were all caught.

thE NExT one to slIde in oN My LeFT was Andy; ThE muSky/fLORal smEll gAVe Him away iNstantLY. IT bLended nIcEly witH tHe pIne Scent. hE had Just goTten settLed whEN we heard. "Okay, we KNow you guys are IN tHERe. yOu caN coMe out now." TheRe waS A colLectIVe SigH Of relIef as PeOPlE Started to back up, scooTiNg alonG on thEir bellies. StaNding near tHE BUsh were NAthaN, WhO Was nearly invisIble iN his black aND Melissa Who waS laughinG at us as we DUSted off.

"GReaT hiDinG plACE, JOhn." Nathan said APPrecIaTively. "I ThiNk I can tOp iT."

We StrEtcHeD and NathaN, excited FoR hIs TuRn, rAn off INto the daRk. "staRt CouNting," HE calleD over His sHoUlDEr. I Picked sTIcKS And pInE nEedlEs oUt Of my hAir aS i coUnted alOng with thE grOUp.

ThE cOuNting doNe, I headed out aCrOss the fielD tOwaRds the DIStant treE line. Only the light from thE OccasioNal StreeT lamP lit the paRk eNough fOr mE To make Out shaPes; it WaS trULY dark NOW. I Was AwAre that somEONe wAs folLoWing Close beHind me, probably JackIE. I cHanged my coursE so That i COuLd sHAkE Her PuRSuiT. "mEgan, wait up." an uneXpected voiCe CAlLed from the DArkNeSs.

"Andy?"

"JOhn said You weRE the firSt to find hIm. I thoughT I WoulD TAg aLong with
 be discovered. Jackie was  still gig gling  so ftl y,  now  and  then, as thep ress ure got to her. John's  head  h a dn't co me up  from h i sa r msin  a  wh il e .Thisclo senessmust be re all ydifficult fo r  s omeone asshy  as he was.
Be ing sh or t h a s its  di sadva ntages .  The n ext perso nt o join us sawJ o hn 's f eet again and tri e dt o climb in nex t to h im ri g h t o n t op of me.Igroan e d thent ri e d tom ove out of th e person'sw ay.  "Sorr y, " a soft v oicesa i d f rom my righ t.
"It's oka y." Iw hispere d . Softcurlsbru she d my fa ce  as  h e  sc o ot edi nto  place s oit  must  beM a r k . Imov ed a  litt le farther aw ayto g i vehim m ore r oom.  A  mome nt lat er, t he re was rustling  sou nd of som eon ecli mb ing i n  on th e o the r sideof Jack i e.Ic o u nt ed in my head. The re w er e stillthrees ea rc h ers. How  c oul d we f it tw o mo r epeople u nder h e re ?We went  a t leas thal f w ay ar o undthe bu sh now a nd su r ely, Mark's fe e t were sticki n go u tt oo.Itwouldn't be  lon g  bef orew ewer e  allcaugh t. 
T h e next one to slide  i n on m y lef t was Andy; t he musky/f l o r al smell  gav e  h i m away instant ly. I t blendedn icely wi th th e pine s cent. Heh a d just g ott enset tle d wh en we heard." O kay,  w e knowyou  guys a reinthe re.  Y ou can co me out n ow ."  T he rewas a collecti ve  si gh  of  reli e f as p eople  sta rt ed toback up ,  s c o otin gal ongonth eir b elli e s.Standin g near th e b u sh w er eNathan,  who was near ly  invisible  i n h is bla c k  and Mel issa who was laughing a t  us asweduste d of f.

"Grea t h idingpla c e, Joh n." Na thansa ida p preci a t iv ely ."I think I c antop i t. "

W e stret ched and Nathan, e x cit ed for his tu rn,  ran o ff  in t ot heda r k." S tart counting,"  he called  o v er  his shoul d er.  I  picked  sticks  andp ine nee dles outof my hai ras I c oun ted alongwith the  group.
T he co u nt ing d one , I he ad edout a crosst hefield  towar ds  the d istan ttree lin e. Only the light fromthe oc casio nal  street l amp lit  the park  eno ugh for me  to  ma ke ou t s h apes;  itw as  tr u ly da rk n o w. I wasa wa ret h at  someone wa s f oll owing  cl o se beh indme, probably Jack i e. I changed m y co u r sesot hatIcould shake he r p ur s u it. "Meg an , wait up."  an unex pe c ted v oice c alledfrom th e da r kness. 

"A ndy ?"

"John  sa id you wer eth e  first  tofi nd him . I th o ught I  would tag along  with 
 be_discovered. Jackie_was still giggling softly,_now and_then,_as the_pressure_got to her._John's head hadn't_come up from his_arms in a_while._This closeness must be really difficult for someone as shy as he was.

Being short_has_its disadvantages._The_next_person to join us saw_John's feet again and tried_to climb_in next to him right on top of_me._I groaned then_tried to move out of the person's way. "Sorry,"_a soft voice said from my_right.

"It's okay." I_whispered._Soft_curls brushed my face_as he scooted into place so_it must be Mark. I moved_a little farther away to give him_more room. A moment later, there_was rustling sound of someone_climbing in_on the other side of_Jackie. I counted_in my_head. There were_still three searchers. How could we_fit two more_people under here? We went at_least_half way around_the_bush_now and_surely, Mark's feet_were_sticking out_too._It wouldn't be long before we_were_all caught.

The next one to slide in_on my left was_Andy;_the musky/floral smell gave_him away instantly. It blended_nicely with the pine scent. He_had just_gotten settled_when we heard. "Okay, we know you guys are in there._You can come out now." There_was a collective sigh_of relief_as_people started to_back_up, scooting_along on their bellies. Standing near the_bush were_Nathan, who was nearly invisible in_his black and Melissa_who_was laughing at us as we_dusted off.

"Great hiding place, John." Nathan_said appreciatively. "I think I_can_top_it."

We stretched and Nathan, excited_for his turn, ran off into_the dark. "Start_counting," he called over his shoulder. I_picked_sticks and pine needles out of_my_hair as I counted along with_the_group.

The_counting done, I headed out_across the field towards the distant_tree line. Only the light from the occasional street_lamp lit the_park enough for me to_make_out_shapes; it was truly dark now. I was aware that_someone was_following close behind_me, probably Jackie. I changed my course so that I_could shake her pursuit. "Megan, wait up."_an unexpected voice called from the darkness.

"Andy?"

"John said you were the_first to find him. I thought I would_tag along with