Morning Shadows

Denant pulled his blue hoodie tighter as he walked through Cyndorna Town's cobblestone streets. The colorful houses leaned toward each other like old friends sharing secrets, their painted shutters catching the morning light.

"Hey, small fry!" Marcus called from behind him. "Wait up!"

Denant kept walking. Marcus was three grades older and twice as wide, with a voice that carried across the market square. His friends Jake and Tommy flanked him like bodyguards.

"I'm talking to you!" Marcus grabbed Denant's backpack, jerking him backward.

Denant turned around slowly, his hazel eyes meeting Marcus's glare. "What do you want?"

"Your lunch money. Again."

The other kids formed a circle, some watching with nervous excitement, others looking away. Mrs. Chen from the flower shop pretended not to see from her doorway.

Denant reached into his pocket and pulled out two crumpled bills. "Here."

Marcus snatched the money. "That's what I thought. See you tomorrow, hero."

As the bullies walked away laughing, Denant adjusted his red sneakers and continued toward school. His stomach rumbled, but he didn't feel angry. Something about today felt different, like the air itself was holding its breath.

The Weekend Plan

Denant sat in math class, his stomach still empty from giving away his lunch money. Mrs. Rodriguez wrote equations on the whiteboard while he stared out the window at the mountains beyond Cyndorna Town.

"Denant!" she called. "Are you paying attention?"

"Yes, ma'am," he said, turning back to his notebook.

After school, he walked home slowly, kicking pebbles along the cobblestone path. His parents' car sat in the driveway, which was unusual for a Thursday afternoon.

"There you are!" his mom called from the kitchen. She had dark curly hair like his and wore her favorite yellow apron. "Pack your hiking boots. We're going camping this weekend."

"Camping?" Denant dropped his backpack by the door.

His dad looked up from folding a sleeping bag. "Mount Crystalpeak. Three days in the wilderness. It'll be good for us to get away from screens and spend time together."

Denant's heart jumped. He loved hiking, but Mount Crystalpeak was steep and rocky. "When do we leave?"

"Tomorrow after school," his mom said, handing him a granola bar. "Better eat something. You look hungry."

Denant bit into the bar, already imagining the mountain trails ahead.