The game

            It was a game, in a way, like the biggest game of hide-and-seek. Broots liked games. Computer games, mostly, but for him this was a computer game. His favorite part was when Miss Parker brought him some complex puzzle Jarod had created electronically. That was fun.

            He also loved puzzling out the mysterious gifts Jarod sent. There was always a fascinating meaning behind them. It was like playing Myst, only better. More real.

            Sometimes he wondered why. Why did Jarod play the game instead of disappearing? Maybe in some strange way he just needed to know they cared. Broots cared.