Child Hideout

Giggling filled the summer air. Izzie and Pecola pulled Noiz into the woods.

“Where are we going again?” she asked. They and Meredith turned to her with smiles on their faces.

“Can’t tell you!” Pecola said.

“Why not?” the kitty girl asked.

“You’ll have to see,” Meredith said. “Come with us.” Noiz shrugged her shoulders.

“Alright,” she said. The kitty girl still had no idea where this was headed. The girls headed up to weak metal chain-link fence. Meredith climbed over first. Izzie followed behind. They helped Pecola over the fence as well.

“My dress is caught,” she muttered. Noiz untangled the light blue and white polka-dot skirt from the metal.

“Thank you,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” Noiz said. She herself climbed over the fence and joined the girls. The four of them stood just before the woods. The tallest looked around.

“Okay,” she said. “Why are we out here?” The younger girls turned to Noiz, grinning.

“We want to show you something,” Meredith said.

“Okay,” Noiz said. “What is it?” The girls broke down giggling.

“What?” she asked. Pecola took her by one hand and Izzie seized the other.

“Come along and you will see,” Meredith said. Noiz nervously chuckled.

“You aren’t going to kill me, are you?” she asked.

“No!” they said. The girls resumed their walk further into the woods. Noiz took in cracking under their feet. So much green surrounded them. The girls talked among themselves as they kept walking. Noiz tried to guess where this was headed. Lately, Izzie, Pecola, and Meredith snuck out on nice days like this. They wouldn’t come back until late in the evening. This morning, Noiz decided to ask the girls where they were going. So, here they were.

Meredith led the way further down the path covered in brush. She could feel her heart pounding against her chest.

“We’re almost there,” the intern said. She turned around to Noiz with a grin.

“Okay…” her boss said. Izzie pushed a branch out of her face. Meredith turned back to the wall of brush behind her and pushed it aside. A door made of wood revealed itself to the girls.

“Welcome!” Meredith said, holding out her arms. “This is our lovely hideout!” She opened the door. Noiz’s jaw dropped. The inside looked like a giant cabin. One couch sat off to the side. A vintage PacMan machine was against the back of the room. The light blue rug covered the ground. Posters of anime covered the walls. The little walls were high up.

“Well?” Meredith asked.

“Whoa!” Noiz said.

“Like it?” Izzie asked. “Meredith found it by accident last month.”

“Yeah,” the kitty girl said. The intern cleared her throat.

“I, Meredith, welcome you, Noizchild, into a secret hideout!” she said. “You can come in now.” Pecola and Izzie let go of Noiz and they all walked inside. The kitty smiled to herself. I think I am going to like it here.