The Hidden Path Chapter 1 (Of 21)

A wonderful tale of whimsy...in dedication to my dog of 16 years, Lacey, R.I.P. (and for my kitties, Nikki and Zoey, whom make an appearance at the end)...I have only to read this, and I can be with Lacey again.

THE HIDDEN PATH     (Chapter 1 of 21)

The two young girls ran together through the big field of buttercups; laughing, and making bubbles…It was Isabella’s tenth birthday, and she and her best friend Janey decided to break away from the rest of the party to enjoy the day for a while on their own.  The sun beat down hot upon them as they ran, on that warm June day. Stopping to catch their breath, to cool off a bit; still laughing. They sat down almost simultaneously; giggling, waving their wands in the strong breeze; watching as the bubbles grew larger, until they could grow no more; then they’d break off, and fly away in the warmth of the day, off into the pale blue summer sky.  They were sat nearest to the entrance of the forest, which both girls knew they did not have permission to enter; when sudden movement at the mouth of the entrance caught Janey’s eye. She glanced over, just in time to see Jimmy Barlow’s dog, Chip, come bounding out, quickly heading towards them. Janey was terrified of dogs! Immediately she stood; while at the same time announcing the dog’s presence to Isabella as she was running away, her curly blonde hair flying in the breeze; lifting her mid length skirt as high as it would go, her little legs moving as fast as they could possibly take her; back towards the birthday party crew.  Chip, nipping close at her heels the entire time; thinking it was all just a big game. And before Isabella could even say anything back to her, Janey was almost clear out of view.

 Isabella sighed, and leaned back on her palms; observing the scenery around her…

 It was so pretty here! She thought…Not just yet wanting to leave this place; (even though it was her special day, and she was sure her parents would be wondering where she was)… After a few minutes passed, she sighed again, brushing the earth from off her hands onto her blue jeans; she stood to get up, when she noticed something glittering to the left of her, in the wooded area.  Her eyes grew huge when she spotted the most beautiful silver butterfly she had ever seen!  But this was just no ordinary butterfly! Its wings glistened, and sparkled brightly in the afternoon sun like tiny clusters of diamonds! And before Isabella knew what she was doing, she was up and chasing after it. Clear into the forest, taking a turn she had never seen before, without thinking…In her eager pursuit…She chased that butterfly for what felt like forever; but it always seemed to ‘just’ evade her grasp… And by the time she realized what she had done; to her horror she also realized she was lost!   “Oh my” She said to herself out loud…”What am I going to do now?”  She stopped, and did a slow turn… looking all about her, in every direction. Tears glistening in her big blue eyes… She was so tired from the wild chase; she was sweating too.  She sat down on the cool earth of the forest floor in the shade of a big tree. Her back up against it; streams of sunlight casting down upon her head, catching on the reddish highlights of her dark brown hair.  She plastered herself against the tree for some time, frightened to death to even move. But then…“I really must find my way out of here”!!  She exclaimed suddenly, with desperation! She rose once more, commanding her feet to walk… Tears running steady down her cheeks…

 Up a short distance ahead, she noticed a flock of birds scrounging for food; she removed a small bag of potato chips from her shirt pocket which she had saved there from the party earlier; crushing them up.  She gave them to the birds… (Even in her fear, Isabella’s kindness was unscathed)… She continued to walk then…Not knowing at all where she was going... All she did know was that she was scared, ‘Very scared’. And there seemed to be no hope of finding her way home anytime soon.