Aaron and the bug lit way

The evening was just beginning. In fact it was still, blue world. Or, just after sunset. Aaron had been outside for most of the day. He was soaking up every last bit of summer he could. School is starting soon, and then he will only have time for studying. He is going into the sixth grade this year and hears it will be tough.

Furthermore, he had been in the woods most of the afternoon. His mom lived in the neighborhood next to the woods, which were more of a wilderness. However, Aaron was careful not to stray too far from his neighborhood. A few years ago a pair of hikers had gotten lost, in the wilderness. It took three days to find them. They were dehydrated, and very confused.

Aaron and the bug lit way

He likes it here because of the lightning bugs. They are delightful and many. It’s as though this part of the woods is their home. As the evening draws on, he listens for his mom to call for him, and watches the ever growing cloud of lightning bugs. Tonight there are so many he can hardly believe it. They flicker brightly, and float soundlessly, like tiny silent helicopters. Their numbers are uncountable now. Furthermore, it’s as if Aaron is in a swarm of random, little pulses of iridescent light.

He turns and gazes all around. The effect of so many pulsing and flashing lights, is bedazzling. After a moment he blinks, a little surprised. Was he imagining it, or were all the pulses of light happening at the same time now? As he watches, in amazement, all the lightning bugs are lighting up at the same time! Furthermore, they have shifted from a swarm to something he would recognize anywhere. A rather large, and brightly flashing arrow. It is pointing deeper into the woods.

Moreover, it is moving away from Aaron. The bright pulses of light seem to be beckoning him to follow. And he does, as the arrow continues flashing and pulsing in that lightning bug way. However, it slows as the dense underbrush makes it difficult for Aaron to navigate. This goes on for a little while. Long enough for Aaron to escape all the underbrush, and come to a clearing in the woods.

Unusual hope

As he steps into the clearing, he sees an odd sight. There is a little boy sitting cross legged in the darkness of the clearing. The large lightning bug arrow lights the clearing like a large pulsing broadway sign, and the small boy sees Aaron. He immediately whoops in joy, and jumps up to meet Aaron. He hugs Aaron while exclaiming himself, “Hi! My name is Henley, I’m not from around here. I think I’m lost. Are you here to get me back?”

Aaron is stunned. He can tell the small child is a bit younger than him, and scared. So he decides he will try to help somehow. He is certain he can lead them back to his mom’s house. Except he seems to have forgotten which way he came in. He looks around the clearing. And his eyes are drawn to the lightning bug arrow again. It is pointing away from him and Henley. Glowing and floating serenely in the midst of the clearing. Additionally, just like before, it was pulsing and wavering. Clearly beckoning them to follow. He takes Henley’s hand, and leads them after the firefly phantom.

Forty five minutes later they emerge from the woods. On their journey following the enchanting lightning bug light show, Aaron had learned a lot from his new young friend. Henley had been lost since yesterday. He was visiting relatives and wandered too far off on his own. Next thing he knew he didn’t know where he was. He had spent the night lost, and feeling very scared. If not for the swarms of lightning bugs glowing around him and leading him to the clearing he would still be wandering.

Quiet night

Aaron and Henley are a block away from his mom’s house now. Furthermore, there is a large group of emergency vehicles and flashing lights three doors down from Aaron’s mom’s house. Henley speaks up excitedly, “Hey that’s my Grandma’s house! I knew she would be looking for me!” He releases Aaron’s hand and runs to his grandmother’s yard. There are immediate cries of exclamation. Shouts of, “He’s here! He’s home!”

Aaron looks back from where they came out of the woods. The trees and path are filled with scattered pulses of iridescent light. It pulses and glows and flickers simultaneously once more, before dissipating slowly, into the darkness of the night.