"Jonah, you sure about this...what we are doing? What if we get caught?"

"Dude, relax. No one, but us kids comes by this place."

That place happened to be an abandoned field, overgrown with grass, about a mile outside of town. The boy said that the land had been cleared for some big commercial development project...a shopping center or something...that eventually fell through because of funding. And now it was the perfect spot for horsing around. If you were brave enough to ignore all the private property signs posted about and sneak over the fencing, then an adventurer's playground awaited you on the other side.

"Sure hope you're right," replied Puck, as he climbed the fence to join his new friend.

"Don't worry. You're gonna have a blast. Can I ask you something, though?"

"Sure."

"What's up with the juggling? Do you really want to do that in real life? Seems kinda out there."

"You wouldn't understand, nobody does..."

***

(Four Years Earlier)

Puck, Buddy, and Charlie ducked between a row of the pews in the large sanctuary, hoping to go undetected from their pursuers in a game of cops and robbers. Since this area was off-limits at anytime, except during worship, it made for the perfect hiding place. Should Reverend Giles catch wind of their child's play, they'd each be in a heap of trouble, and trouble was not what any of the three boys needed.

Puck had just gotten off punishment for swiping oranges from the kitchen to practice his juggling. Buddy and Charles had both gotten three weeks of cleanup duty for sneaking off the premises to the girl's orphanage five blocks away. Together, they were a handful, always into something. It was little wonder why they hadn't found adoptive families. The fact remained, though, that besides their misbehaving, something one might expect from boys their ages, prospective parents were always looking for younger children.

Buddy signaled his partners-in-crime to remain low and follow him to the next row of pews, but the sudden creak of the doors held them in their tracks. Someone had entered the sanctuary. The sound of the voices indicated that it was the reverend and someone else. The boys remained low and quiet, listening to the exchange.

"I don't know what to do about those boys," said the reverend to the other person.

"They are good boys, Peter." The voice belonged to a man. "A bit troubled, but good boys."

"Frank, I'm trying really hard to place all these children with good families. It's difficult to do that when they make it so hard. They are constantly getting into trouble. Did you hear about Charlie and Buddy?"

"Yes, I'm afraid I'd heard about the incident. We'll have to be sure nothing of the kind happens again."

"It was a completely embarrassing episode. I don't want people to think we encourage that sort of behavior."

"Yes, Peter, I understand, but they are at that age. They are curious about girls. Perhaps we should have some sort of chaperoned event where the two orphanages come together."

"Do you mean like a dance?" the reverend replied.

"Aww, yes, a dance. I think that would be splendid."

"Let me think about it, Frank. Just let me think about it."

"Very well, but you still seem troubled, my friend."

"Yes, it's young Puck. I'm particularly fond of him. I've sort of taken him under my wing. His was such a tragic story, both parents killed in a car accident when the child was just a baby. He'd been shuffled around most of his life until he was sent here a few years ago. The boy has these big ideas, Frank."

"What kind of ideas?"

"Ideas about joining the circus as a juggler, of all things. Now he's stealing fruit from the kitchen."

The other man burst into laughter.

"You think that's funny?"

"I'm sorry, Peter. You just caught me off guard for a minute. You were saying?"

"Frank, I just don't know how to look the boy in the eyes and tell him that it's foolish to want such things?"

"But is it really all that foolish to want that for himself?"

"I think so. And I can't just dash his hopes when it is all to which he clings? It's easier with the other two boys. They have no ambition, no drive. They want only to make bad choices. Puck seems to want more, but what he wants is foolish."

"Peter, they are twelve. What kid at that age isn't foolish or considers consequences? We must be patient with them. You must be patient with them. It is our duty to be examples for these children, to shape them. Remember that."

"I suppose you're right, Frank. Thanks for the talk. I do grow weary."

"Keep the faith, my friend. Our service to God is sometimes very challenging, but the reward is very great."

The two men exited the sanctuary. Their conversation had ended. Both Charlie and Buddy acted as if they'd heard nothing and continued their horse playing, skulking in and out of the row of pews. Puck, on the other hand, seemed dismayed. He couldn't shake the Reverend's words from his head. How could his dream be foolish, unobtainable? Soon his dismay turned into disregard, with him forming a few ill thoughts about the Reverend. Puck sat there thinking that as a clergyman, Reverend Giles probably didn't know or do much of anything that did not have to do with scripture or the orphanage. This kept the boy preoccupied only until his disregard turned to anger.

Puck suddenly stood up from hiding between the pews. "I'm done playing," he said.

"What about the game?" asked Charlie.

"I don't feel like playing anymore."

"But it was just getting good," Buddy whined.

"Why don't you two just grow up? Don't you care about anything?"

"I care about winning this game," Charlie answered.

"That's not funny," said Puck. "Stay here and play your stupid game. I have to go practice."

"You mean that dumb juggling stuff?"

"It's not dumb!" snapped Puck. "And one day I'm gonna leave this place and I'm gonna join the circus. You'll see."

Utterly disgusted with both his pals and by the conversation between the two men, Puck stormed out of the sanctuary and headed to his room. He wanted nothing to do with anyone at the moment so much so that when another boy spoke to him in the hall, Puck charged right past him without saying a word back.

The thud of the slamming door alarmed several of the boys on Puck's floor and caused many of them to peek out of their rooms to see about the commotion. Puck laid across his bed, stared up at the ceiling, and replayed the conversation. He was more determined than ever to leave this place someday, even if it meant running away. As far as he was concerned, there was nothing for him here. He'd simply bide his time until the right moment then go out into the world to follow his dream. A smile suddenly came over Puck's face. The thought of proving his naysayers wrong amused him. What might the good Reverend feel about him then? Would he think the boy so foolish once the dream became a reality?

***

Jonah had just landed his silver and black Wingspan Glider while an unamused Puck looked on.

"We've been at this for almost an hour. I'm kinda bored. Let's head back. George is probably expecting me soon."

"Not just yet. See out there?" Jonah pointed toward the wooded area beyond the Clearing.

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Let's go. I want to show you something."

Puck shuck his head in disapproval. "I don't know."

"Come on. It's just 4:30. We'll head back in an hour. You coming?"

Reluctantly, Puck gave in.

The two boys trekked a good two hundred yards before they reached the mouth of the forest. Countless evergreens stretched themselves skyward and blocked out the sun. The aroma of fresh pine was strong. Jonah was first to enter. He'd ventured into this evergreen maze a few times before by himself, so he was comfortable maneuvering through it.

"Follow me. There's something I want to show you." Puck followed suit.

As the two made their way further in, Jonah noticed that one of his laces had come untied. "Just keep going straight ahead," he instructed Puck. "I'll catch up in a second."

Puck had gotten only a few feet when a loud snap suddenly rang through the trees. Ear-shattering screeches ripped from his vocal chords as he crumbled to the ground—doubled over in pain. Jonah rushed to his friend's aid and attempted unsuccessfully to pry the thing open.

Thinking quickly, he reached into his pant pocket for his phone as Puck grimaced and winced in agony. "Dad! Dad, you gotta come quick! Puck's hurt! He's hurt!"

"Son, I need to you slow down and tell me everything."

"We're in the forest just beyond the Clearing. Puck's got his foot caught in a trap."

"Son, I'm on my way. Just stay with the boy and try to stay calm until we get there."

Now...the wait.