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It was mid-summer and the novelty of freedom had given way to sheer boredom. A couple of weeks ago, Phil and Johnny had blasted out of their six-grade classroom full of plans for the summer, but now, those plans seemed to have fallen through a crack only to be replaced by never-ending search for something interesting to do.

“Hey. What say we check out the dwarf village?” asked Johnny as he leaned back against the tall oak out in Miller’s pasture.

Phil felt uncomfortable about what Johnny had just suggested. “I don’t know, man. We shouldn’t be going out there. Shouldn’t be bothering those people,” he was trying his best not to sound too wimpy.

“Puss.”

It didn’t work.

There it was, the word no twelve year-old boy wanted to be called. Phil flinched inside.

Johnny sprang to his feet and stood between Phil and the sun. Phil looked up into Johnny’s eyes and knew there was no backing out of this plan.

“What’s the matter, Philly? Afraid of the little people?” Johnny mocked, his shadow completely covering Phil, making him feel small. Phil wasn’t exactly the biggest kid in the school, but Johnny was and Phil was damn glad to have him as his best friend.

Phil watched as his mammoth friend, at least mammoth to a twelve-year old, moved from one leg to another. Johnny did that when he got excited and Johnny’s excitement was usually contagious. Phil’s apprehension was becoming mixed with a slight arousal of interest. The dwarf village was something Phil hadn’t thought of for a long time. He didn’t like the idea of going out there, but he didn’t like the idea of sitting around under Miller’s Oak for another day either. At least this was something to do.

Calmly Phil said, “I’m not afraid of them. I just don’t want to go bothering people because we can’t find anything else to do.”

“Good ole Phil. Always mindful of others.”

“What’s wrong with that?”

Johnny stopped moving and shrugged his shoulders. “Ain’t nothing wrong with that. Just I’m bored and I want to go out to the dwarf village, and you’re coming with me, because you’re just as bored as I am. Right?”

Phil fingered the big oak leaf he had been playing with since they sat down under Miller’s Oak. He loved the way it felt in his fingers. He hesitated to say anything, knowing it would drive his friend crazy. Phil gently laid the leaf on the ground and looked at Johnny. Yep, he thought to himself, looks like I’m going to the dwarf village.

No words were needed. The two boys had been friends for too long. Johnny knew they were going, so he offered a hand up. Phil grabbed hold and pulled hard. Johnny went sailing to the green ground and when he sat up, he saw Phil running toward their bikes.

“Puss,” Phil yelled over his shoulder.

They were even, for now.

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