The boy stepped back and almost fell in disbelief. This strange being that was emanating with light mere seconds ago was now raising to his feet in front of him. The boy was anxious, but unafraid. He tried to speak, and couldn't. The being was not alien at all as the boy suspected. he was very much a man. He wore all white robes and had jet black hair. As the man stepped closer, the boy realized that the man had red eyes! He had never known anyone to have red eyes before.
Again, instead of being afraid, the boy stepped forward and asked "Are you human?". The man cleared his throat and looked down at the boy. He gave the boy a puzzled look and hesitated."I am as human as you are, child." the man replied.
"Why are you in my barn?" asked the child.
"I've travelled a long way. Can I trouble you for some proper clothes?"
The boy nodded and ran from the barn. He darted up the stairs to the top floor and right to the attack access. He jumped up, pulled the string, and brought the ladder access down. He scampered up the ladder and shoved a couple of boxes aside. He grabbed a box labeled "Derek's clothes" and pulled it open. He grabbed a pair of paints, a shirt, and a jacket and headed straight back to the barn.
The man thanked the boy and got dressed. When the man asked the boy whose clothes they were, the boy became visibly upset. The boy slumped down on the bench outside of the barn. The man followed and sat down next to him.
"They're my dad's clothes. They....were...my dad's clothes. He died a few years ago. Mom packed all of his stuff and put them up in the attic. I'm not supposed to mess with them."
"I won't tell. I promise. I lost someone too. In fact, that's why I came so far. Say, do you think maybe you can help me find him?"
The boy brightened a little. He nodded and allowed himself to smile. The man stood and stretched his hand toward the boy. The boy grasped it firmly and stood alongside the man. They started off for the woods, leaving the barn behind.
