AR Short Stories

Chapter 6
Hide and Shrink

Chapter Description: A teenager takes his little brother to the park to play. (Male AR)

Wally was an 18 year old, who was enjoying his day off from his job, so his parents asked him to look after his 6 year old brother Tim, who missed class due to a dentist appointment in the morning. Wally accepted eagerly and took care of the boy. During the afternoon, Wally decided to take Tim to the park, but he feared there wouldn't be many kids since it was Tuesday. In the playground area of the park, there weren't any kids in sight, and Tim was visibly upset.

“Wally, there are no kids!” Tim cried to his brother. “I know, Tim. You know what?” Wally kneeled down. "I'll play with you, and you choose." Tim showed the biggest smile he could and that warmed Wally's heart. “Okay, then let’s play hide and seek, I’ll count first!” Tim demanded.

In the same instant, the boy turned his back and started counting. Wally ran and frantically started to look for a good hiding spot, but it was hard for someone his size.

While looking for a spot, he accidentally bumped into a woman, around 60 years old. “Oh, I'm so sorry.” Wally said. “Don’t worry. But what are you doing? You look quite in a rush kid." She asked worried. “Oh, I'm playing hide and seek with my little brother, but it's hard to find anything for me” He chuckles and pointed to himself. The woman giggled. "How sweet! Well, there's a bench with a grid right there, maybe you can hide there for a bit." She pointed at the direction of the place. “Thank you, miss! Have a great afternoon!” Wally ran to the bench and the woman chuckled and waved at him. When Wally sat and curled himself in the bench, he felt the breeze and shadows, but noticed something was off. Was the bench supposed to be so big? He wondered in his mind, not hearing some steps in the grass. "FOUND YOU!" Tim shouted, an Wally jumped out of the bench. Wally fell on the floor as Tim was dying laughing. “Timmy, how do you ever found me?” Wally asked with a high pitched voice, making Wally touch his throat. “Because I'm the hide-and-seek master, lil bro!” As Tim gloated, Wally was confused after Tim called him little bro. He didn't notice he was now a 4 year old. Then, he heard a familiar voice. "Wally, are you okay?" It was the lady from before, that came to aid him. "I'm okay, don't worry about it, Timmy was just being a dummy." He said and tim answered by showing his tongue. The lady helped him back on his feet. "Thanks, miss sitter!" He chirped. "You're welcome." She said as she grabbed both boys a bottle of water, while also putting her magic wand back in her purse.