“Onnnne, two, threeeeees.”
The boys count together.
We giggle as we race through the trees,
we hide and think we’re oh so clever.
“This way.” “No over here!”
Whispers everywhere.

“Ready or not!”
from the neighboring yard comes the shout
I fly across the grass to avoid being caught
to my secret hiding spot, never found out,
down on the hill in the dark, hair unruly and tossed.
well now I guess my secret’s lost.

I seem the beam of a flashlight
focus on my face
“See you!” He exclaims with all his might
I leap up and dash away with grace
“Can’t catch me!” I taunt him.
He sprints after me with vigor and vim.

I avoid capture, barely.
I slide under a prickly shrub.
“Aww come on, where’d you go, play fairly.”
I grin to myself in the dirt, I’ll definitely need a tub.
The crickets chirp to the beat of my thudding heart.
The grape bubblegum I’m chewing unusually tart.

“Hey girls we give up, it’s time to go home.”
I grin slyly, we won, what else is new?
Back when we were friends, no job, no cellphone,
just cops and robbers on a Friday night, I miss it too.
I can still feel the cool grass and hear the laughter
who knew I’d reminisce this much after?
We may be distant, we may fight,
but we’ll never forget those games best played at twilight.