A Game of Hide and Seek: They Are Just Children

There were many fun places to hide on Grandpa's farm back then, and thus, hide and seek seemed to be a never-ending game for the children, their parents and their grandparents.

"Children are curious by nature," their exasperated mother would explain to her frustrated mother-in-law, who found the children repeatedly, in places where they should not be playing or hiding. "They are just having fun!"

"You will have to keep a closer eye on them, as those are not safe places for them to play," the children's grandmother would respond angrily. "After all, they are your children and your responsibility."

"I know," their mother would argue back, "But, I work all day. They are with you and you are responsible for them then. If anything happens to them . . ."

"You will have to teach them better."

"They are just children playing a game of hide and seek."

"Letting children hide in the granary, the garage, the milk house, or the sauna is not a good thing. Remember that I cannot chase after them all day, every day. I have my own work to do. I am not as young as I used to be either." The children's grandmother grumbled on, and their mother really did understand. It was a lot of work taking care of children on a busy farm.

"What am I supposed to do with four little ones and another on the way?" she asked, on the verge of tears.

"You will have to find some way to work at home."

"I am working on that." Working at home was not everything it was chalked-up to be either, because there were always constant demands from the children and continual interruptions, especially with a new baby in the house again.

The other grandmother, invited to move in to help with the children, meant one more mouth to feed and constant rivalry between the two grandmothers, as they competed for the children's affection. Neighborhood baby sitters were an option, but they had to be paid. The neighbors could not assist a lot, even though everyone tried to help each other with their children.

"Let's play hide and seek," suggested Thompson, the oldest boy, one morning. He tagged his younger brother, Bert, and said, "You are it," as he quickly headed out the door.

"No, I am not!" replied Bert, who continued to play with his wagon. No one heard what he said, including Thompson. 

"Where is Thompson?" his mother asked Bert, when he did not show up for lunch, a little while later.

"I don't know," the younger brother replied. "I think he is outside somewhere."

No one had any idea where Thompson was and thus, a search for him began immediately. Both his parents and grandparents were in a state of panic when they could not find them, but they knew that Thompson was a reasonably well behaved, smart child, who was not likely to get into trouble.

"I don't have time for this kind of nonsense!" the child's grandfather said, angrily. "Where is Thompson?" he asked the children.

Finally, Bert spoke up and said something about him wanting to play hide and seek. "But, I did not want to play," he explained tearfully.

The neighbors and their children were alerted, immediately. None of them had seen any sign of Thompson either. Everyone began searching for him in earnest.

Several hours later, Thompson casually strolled into the house, yawning and covered with bits of hay.

"I won because you did not find me," he said, laughingly, pointing his finger at Bert.

"You cannot win if I don't play with you," replied Bert.

"You are all right!" said his mother, hugging Thompson tight. "Thank God!"

"Do you know that everyone is out there looking for you? Where were you hiding?" his grandfather asked him, sternly.

"I climbed up the ladder and hid in the hay loft. I must have fallen asleep in the hay," Thompson replied, innocently. "Am I ever hungry."

The search was called off immediately and the entire family, as well as the neighbors, gathered around the kitchen table to give thanks.

"Thank you, everyone!" said Thompson's mother, as she and the two grandmothers served dinner.

"Children's games can have a happy ending!" said one of the grandmothers.

"Yes, they can," replied the other one.

"This could have turned into a disastrous situation," explained their grandfather. "What if Thompson had fallen into the pond? We are going to have to set up a buddy system for the children. Someone has to know where they are, all of the time."

The adults all agreed that this was an excellent idea, and soon every family in the community had set up a buddy system for their children, too.