Tag

She peered from behind the tall pine. He was there peering from behind the other tall pines; he thought she could not see him. She could see the blue of his eyes twinkling in mischief and so she ran to him. He saw her approach and it frightened him. It frightened him so badly that he tripped and fell to the earth in a loud Haaarrrrummmffff of scattering crimson and brown leaves. She too was not light on her feet and so she started to stumble just before the pine; the one he was hiding behind moments earlier.

She fell at his side and it knocked the breath out of her. After her initial shock, she turned to see what he was doing. He lay there with his hand over his face. He did not move.

With a curious little hand, she reached and pried his hand from his face.

"why are you hiding there? Are you frightened?" She spoke and then started to giggle.

She knew he was not frightened but she just found the whole thing so cute. She lurched toward him and kissed his cheek before he could protest. Then she was  up in a flash.

"You're it!"

she ran into the forest in a volley of giggling guffaws.