Finding Family

“Come on Martha, please let us go look for them!” cried the two boys, John and Mark. They were begging their guardian to let them look for their parents who were on a plane that crashed into the Rocky Mountains.

“No,” Martha responded as usual. “It’s too dangerous for you to go alone, and I can’t go with you. You wouldn’t be able to find them anyway. The plane crashed 3 months ago, and even the wreck hasn’t been found. You wouldn’t even know where to look. I’m sorry, but I just can’t let you go out there. Now go to bed, and go to sleep. I have work to do.” Martha walked quickly out of the room, trying to conceal her tears for the boys. They’re too young to have their parents die, Martha thought to herself. They deserve better than this.

After Martha left the room, Mark and John crept out of bed, and towards their basement. They paused by their family pictures on the wall, and stared at them for a while. John, only 9 years old, quietly mumbled, “I miss them.” Mark, 3 years older, hugged his brother and whispered in his ear, “So do I. That’s why we’re leaving tonight, remember. We’re going to find them. I just know we are.”

The boys grabbed backpacks full of food, camping equipment, and a few extra pairs of clothes. The backpacks were hidden behind the furnace, where the Mark had put them 3 days earlier. Mark opened a window, and helped John climb out into their yard. Mark followed, and led John to the bikes hidden underneath some bushes. They rode to the edge of the small town they lived in, and abandoned their bikes.

“We haven’t been caught yet,” remarked John. “Do you really think that we’ll be able to do this?”

Mark glanced at his younger brother, and started to walk into the forest that surrounded the town. “Of course we will. We’ll find Mom and Dad, and they’ll be fine. Don’t worry, and hurry up! We don’t have all day!”

John ran to catch up to his brother. They walked for about 30 minutes before taking out their backpacking tents and settling down for the night next to a small pond. They fell asleep, both thinking of what they had to do the next day, and how exciting their adventure had started out.