Runaway Farmboy

My name is Thomas Woodworth. Or as everyone in my family seems to love to call me, ‘Tom Thumb’. As I was no bigger than my mother’s thumb when I was born. And I have barely grown in the fifteen years since then. I am the youngest brother of three. My other brothers’ names are Charles and Alexander. Unlike myself, they’re normal height for their ages. Seventeen and sixteen. Perfectly ‘normal’ children that aren’t abnormally sized. My mother and father both love to rub in for no good reason in my opinion.

They have horrifying memories of me as an infant that they keep playing as ‘hilarious’. Several animals around our farm have tried to eat me. The family cow named ‘Daisy’, a random raven, and my brother’s fish ‘George’. All the things that nearly ate me in the first few years of life they find hilarious. My parents tell each story every family Christmas like it’s the most hilarious thing in the world. They’ve told it to each one of my brothers’ girlfriends. And to the one girl that I had a huge crush on when I was fourteen. Thanks to that, she never wanted to see me again. It was one of the worst experiences of my life.

No matter what I do to make them stop, they wouldn’t.

Today I decided to just leave home. My parents aren’t going to notice their ‘freak’ son not being around anymore. And even if they call the cops to tell them that I’m missing, I can easily hide. After all I’m only around four inches tall. Despite the stupid nickname. Taking a deep breath as I ran down the path that leads out of the farm. All I had was in a tiny doll backpack that my mom gave me for school. It wasn’t a lot of stuff. Just some of my clothes and a good deal of money that I snagged from Alexander’s room. It was hard to pack both things, but I managed it to the best of my ability. It doesn’t take long for me to get out of the farm and down the highway. Walking down the highway was difficult thanks to my height. But I kept to the side and in the grass that was there.

Honestly, I hadn’t thought of what I was going to do when I got here. But I was just desperate to get the Hell out. Away from parents that won’t stop saying that I’m a giant freak in comparison to my older brothers. Giving me doll clothes that aren’t even well made. Nor are they ever fixed when I need them to be. As they didn’t see me worthy enough to do that. My mom and dad didn’t even give me my own bedroom. All I had was the stupidest doll house. Taking a bath in a stupid sink that was difficult to run by myself. As I’m walking along the highway I kept an eye on the sky. Afraid that I might end up getting attacked by a bird. Like my mom drilled into my head that I would be if I ever strayed from her when I was outside.

Though I haven’t seen any evidence of any birds that would attack me.

Maybe that was something that mom made up to scare me into staying with her. In hindsight that really makes more sense. Hell, I’m not even sure if the raven attack happened. Since I don’t remember it at all. And that would be something that would be deeply traumatic if it had happened to me. I would have remembered it at some point, right? Wouldn’t I also have some form of scarring from the bird’s claws? I keep trying to think that I would have some form of claws on my skin. Yet, I never have found any hint of a scar on my body. So, the idea of my mom lying to me to keep me in check seems more than likely.

After an hour of walking, I wasn’t that far away from home. If I had to guess how far I walked it would be less than a mile. And as much as I wanted to think that I wouldn’t be easily caught, I needed a ride into town. Unfortunately, my height is a curse and a blessing at the same time. A blessing as my family wouldn’t be able to find me that easily. But it’s a curse thanks to the fact that catching a ride is much more difficult. Looking around at the cars that passed me by, I sighed. There was no way that I could get anyone to get me a ride. If only I had my own car to drive in. A toy one that I could use the remote to drive down the highway. Well. The side of the highway at the very least. Looking around, I spotted a large blue car on the side of the road. Hearing a dog barking off to the right of me. There was a large golden retriever on a harness. Their owner was a young woman with bright red hair. She was wearing a light green t-shirt and jeans. I could tell that she wasn’t able to see me from where she was.

I know that I’m a tiny teenager but, still.

The door to her car was wide open. It looked like she had the dog in the backseat of this large ‘land yacht’ as my mom would put it. I could hide on the way back until we got into town and then leave for wherever I wanted to go. Sure, it was kind of not cool, but I needed a ride into town. And I was so tired from this walk away from home. Also, there was the chance of being attacked by an animal while I was out there. So, despite how not cool it was I made a mad dash for the young woman’s car. Got inside and hid on the way back under a large blanket. Taking a few deep breaths as I laid there. Grateful that the young woman and her dog were here at all. While I got my breathing under control, I heard her get back in the car along with the dog. The young woman stated,”Just one more hour, Prince and we’ll be home.”

“I don't know about you but I can’t wait to go to sleep in our own bed.”,she told him. I nearly fell over as she pulled away from the side of the road. It was a little while before she started driving down the highway. During the whole trip into town, the young woman wouldn’t stop singing with her dog. It was kind of nice. She didn’t have a great voice, but I still enjoyed listening to her enjoying herself as she drove home. A little while later the car stopped, and I heard the driver-side door open. She informed,”Now, Prince. Momma’s gotta go potty and get some snacks for us. But it’ll be just a few minutes, okay?

I hear the dog give a soft bark at this remark. It was kind of adorable listening to them ‘talk’ to each other like this. Even though I doubted the dog understood what she was saying at all. And I just relaxed under the blanket. Unfortunately for me this peace didn’t last long as I heard some sniffing coming from behind me. Raising an eyebrow, I carefully move the blanket off myself to come face to face with…Prince. Who stared at me with big brown eyes for a long moment. All that we did was stare at each other for that whole time. Unable to think of anything to say as I stared up at the giant golden retriever. Softly, I stated,”Umm…good boy?”

That seemed to be all that Prince needed to hear before he started barking at me. Snarling as he snapped at me. It was hard to hold back a scream and well…I failed. Screaming loudly as the dog got closer to me as I tried to run away from him. It was a sort of short chase before I heard that young woman from earlier shouting Prince’s name. Before he was pulled back by the collar, and the young woman was trying to calm him down. She asked,”Baby, what are you barking at? Did a spider get in here again?”

With that, she turned her head to see what her dog was barking at. Spotting me immediately. I froze as she stared at me with wide eyes. Holding up my hands, I calmly instruct,”Now, please let me explain. You don’t gotta be afraid of me…I promise.”

“…who the Hell are you?”,she demanded. Her tone sounded disturbed as she stared at me. Prince was still growling as he glared down at me. Taking a deep breath, I smiled at her politely. I answered,”My name is Thomas Woodworth. And I’m just trying to get into town to escape my family. I’m sorry I hitched a ride, but I had to…I…I can pay you if you’d like Miss…?”

“Arthuretta Thorne.”,she stated. Arthuretta stared down at me for the longest moment. The look of fear was no longer on her face as she calmed down Prince. Keeping him from trying to lunge at me once more. Taking a deep breath, she leaned over the seat and held a hand down to me. In a gentle voice, Athuretta answered,”You don’t need to pay me, Thomas. But I don’t think randomly hitching a ride with a stranger is smart.”

“But I’ll take you into town so long as you don’t do anything more stupid, okay?”,she questioned. Nodding my head, I put my hand on hers. She gave me a small smile as she gently scooped me up and pulled me closer. Calmly, she informed,”I needed you to get on my hand, not shake it.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“It’s fine, Thomas. I promise that I’ll keep you away from Prince. Now do you want some food? I got some jerky we can share.”, she offered. Nodding, I smiled as she put me in the passenger-side seat of her car. Listening to her buckle Prince down to the best of her ability. I stated,”Yeah, thanks.”

“And thanks for not trying to make me go home.”,I continued. Arthuretta got back into the driver-side seat. Buckling up as she got the jerky over to me. Driving out of the parking lot of the gas station as she answered,”No prob, kiddo. Now do you have a place in mind just yet?”

“Well, I was planning on going to Motel Six until I can find a job and go from there.”,I explained. Getting my backpack out from behind me and setting down on my lap. She glances down at me for a second with a slight frown. Shaking her head, Arthuretta insisted,”No, they don’t let minors rent motel rooms. And I’m pretty sure you’re like thirteen.”

“Sixteen.”, I corrected. When I looked up at her, she gave a small grimace. As if me telling her my actual age was worse. Shaking her head, she gave a soft sigh. Then she stated,”That’s worse, kiddo. You’re so coming with me.”

“And I am not taking ‘no’ for an answer, okay?”,she persisted. Glancing down at me with a determined look on her face. At first, I was going to protest letting her take me to her home. But I got the feeling it would get me nowhere. So, I nodded my head as I muttered,”Yes, ma’am.”

Arthuretta nodded at this as we drove into town. And I had the weird feeling that this was going to be the start of a beautifully weird friendship.