The following story is about a young boy who has an unusual protector and guardian, his own shadow.

‘Mummy can I go outside and play with Pumpkin?’

‘It is really hot outside Caleb, just play inside and when it cools down you can outside okay?’

But mummy Pumpkin needs to go potty, plus I have been a good boy all day haven’t I?

32 year old Miranda Gaiman smiles at her sweet blond haired son who’s idea of ‘being a good boy’ is completely different to her own.

WOOF WOOF Pumpkin the family’s Irish setter pup lets Miranda know that he really needs to go outside.

Pumpkin immediately ran outside when Miranda opened the sliding down with Caleb hot on his heels ‘Not so fast mister, go grab your hat and I meant what I said ten minutes and back inside.’

It has been a scorcher in Sydney Australia this summer with the temperature hitting over 38 degrees most days so Miranda has a good reason to be watchful over her only child.

But this year the sunshine will put an unwanted spotlight on the Gaiman family.

A former international model who’s face graced the covers of Vogue and Cosmopolitan because of her tall slim figure and natural beauty and she also walked the catwalks of New York, Paris London and of course Sydney.

But now she is a house wife married to her childhood sweetheart Bruce Gaiman who also has a successful career as a lawyer specializing in international law.

Together the happy couple own a two story home just a short walk from Botany Bay where Caleb is a nipper at Kogarah Surf Club.

‘Five more minutes Caleb than come back inside and have a cool drink and when daddy comes home from work we might go down to the beach for a swim.’

Caleb who is a spitting image of his mother smiles back ‘Okay mummy can Pumpkin come to?’

‘Yes Pumpkin can come and don’t forget to bring the soccer ball back inside with you because you know what happened last week when you left it outside.’

Feeling his face turn bright red Caleb looks over to the neighbours house where the bane of his life a spotty faced, fat turd of an individual named Jeremy Poole lives.

Jeremy is two years older than Caleb so the bully uses his bulk to intimidate all of the kids at school and on his street but soon Jeremy will get down to size.

Miranda smiles when she hears Caleb and his dog playing happily but it is time that her son came inside to cool off so she walks over to the door but see stops short not quite believing what she is seeing.

Outside her son and a black shimmering figure are kicking the soccer ball back and forth while Pumpkin barks waiting for his turn.

AAAARRRRGGGGHHH the FUCKKKKKK Caleb almost jumped out of his skin on hearing the banshee scream and when he heard his mummy say the f word Caleb knew that he was in deep doo doo.

Caleb’s shadow returned to heel quick smart and in the end the soccer ball was once again left outside.

‘Well young man what do you have to say for yourself?’

Even though he knows that he was busted playing ball with his shadow Caleb decides to play dumb ‘What do you mean mummy?’

‘Don’t you dare give me your sweet innocent smile Caleb, now tell who you were playing with before I call the police.’

‘Why it was just Pumpkin mummy.’

‘Caleb I saw a black figure out there, now tell me who it was or there will be no ice cream or cake for the next three months.’

‘But mummy how am I supposed to grow up big and strong if I don’t eat any cake and ice cream?’

Picking up her phone Miranda pretends to call the police ‘Hello, yes my son was outside playing with a stranger and he want tell me…’

‘Hang up mummy please, it wasn’t a stranger it was my shadow.’

‘Your shadow Caleb? I wasn’t born yesterday now tell me the truth.’

On cue the shadow moves over and sits on a couch opposite Caleb.

‘See mummy it is just my shadow, everybody has one you know.’

For once in her life Miranda Gaiman is completely speechless.

‘Caleb when daddy gets home I will have to tell him what I saw today okay?’

‘I don’t understand what the big deal is about me and my shadow playing outside.’

‘Well honey your shadow has a special ability that nobody else has so you need to keep it a secret and promise me Caleb that you won’t tell anybody about your shadow okay?’

‘Okay mummy but Pumpkin knows but he can keep a secret.’

Seeing that her son has had enough for one day Miranda hugs him close ‘Everything is good Caleb now go watch some cartoons and I will bring you a drink and a blueberry muffin.’

Three hours later Bruce Gaiman walks inside swinging his briefcase but he immediately knows that something is wrong because normally Caleb would rush to greet him with a thousand questions but today his eyes are glues to the TV screen pretending that everything is fine and dandy.

‘Alright Caleb what have you done this time, tell me now or I will eat all of the food in the house leaving you nothing but Brussel sprouts and Broccoli.’

After a few seconds Caleb blurts out ‘I haven’t done anything daddy but my shadow has been a very naughty boy.’

‘Yes he has hasn’t he’ Miranda says as she welcomes her husband home ‘Why don’t you tell daddy who or maybe I should say what played ball with you this morning.’

Bruce has heard enough ‘Alright will somebody tell me what in the hell happened today because right now I feel like I walked into the middle of a loony tunes cartoon.’

‘Well Bruce you might won’t to sit down because what I am about to tell you will scare the living crap out of you.’

I don’t need to sit down Miranda just tell me.’

Knowing that his master might be in some trouble Pumpkin the terrier runs to the backdoor barking his head off.

Soon he is joined by Caleb who immediately notices his soccer ball has been pierced by an arrow ‘Shadow or no shadow I will make you pay Jeremy Poole, just you wait and see.’

Caleb has had enough of the bully next door who thinks that he can destroy someone else’s property without any consequences. ‘Think again a hole.’

Opening the door to go fetch his ball Caleb is almost bowled over when his shadow races out into the yard, snaps the arrow in half then throws the broken projectile back over the fence from whence it came.

‘Holy fricking hell’ Bruce gasps ‘Did anybody else see what I just saw?’

Bruce goes to say more but before he can his eyes roll back and he crumples to the floor in a dead faint.

‘I told you to take a seat Bruce but you never listen, Caleb why don’t you and Pumpkin go into your room for a while and take your shadow with you and I will take care of daddy.’

A few minutes later Miranda walks into Calebs room carrying a tray holding a pepperoni pizza and a can of Pepsi ‘Just me Caleb, your father is still in shock so he is laying down for a while.’

‘Caleb you aren’t in any trouble but can you tell me when this thing with your shadow first started?’

After taking a bite of pizza Caleb replies ‘I can’t remember exactly but a few weeks ago at school my toy car fell down a drain and when I went to grab it I couldn’t quite reach but than my shadow came to the rescue.’

‘None of the other kids said anything so I am pretty sure that nobody saw me.’

‘That’s good Caleb but you have to promise me that in the future you will control your shadow.’

Caleb wants to please his mummy but he knows that his shadow sometimes takes like it has a mind of its own or something.

‘I will try mummy but sometimes things are beyond my control.’

‘You are a good boy Caleb, try to stay focused and don’t let your shadow lead you astray.’

Miranda is worried for her boy maybe he will need to be placed in isolation somewhere for his own protection until Bruce and herself can come up with a solution that doesn’t involve the authorities who would most likely treat her son like a circus freak.

Later that while Caleb is dreaming about dinosaurs ruling the earth once again his shadow slides out of bed and guided by a night light that his boy uses to keep bad people away grabs a pack of itching powder from the dresser then the shadow floats out of the half opened window destination next door.

Jeremy Poole is laying on his back snoring like a chainsaw when the shadow enters his room.

First it opens an underwear drawer and empties half of the itching powder inside then it removes two shoelaces from the bullies school shoes and uses them to tie both of Jeremy’s hands to the bed posts.

Still not satisfied the shadow pulls back the covers and empties the rest of the itching powder all over the sheets before making a quiet exit.

Audrey Poole gets up early every day to prepare breakfast and pack Jeremy’s lunch in his school bag.

The president of the local neighbourhood watch Audrey couldn’t care less about people’s safety or the wellbeing of others all Audrey craves is the chance to stick her nose into other people’s business and make their lives a misery.

Just like her son Audrey is overweight and she uses her bulk to intimidate her neighbours but believe it or not deep down Audrey is a kind soul who just wants a little love in her life but at the moment she is going about it the wrong way.

AAAAARRRRGGGGGG The scream from upstairs startles Audrey, she runs up to her son’s room to find him tied to his bed yelling hysterically ‘What’s wrong Jeremy who tied you to your bed and what is that white powder all over your room?’

‘Please Jeremy don’t tell that you are taking drugs?’

‘Yes mother I have up here all night snorting cocaine with a bunch of hookers and they tied to the bed before we all had nasty sex.’

Audreys mouth forms a silent O and she covers her mouth in horror ‘Get real mum it is itching powder, someone must have broken in, but first can you untie me because I need to scratch real bad.’

Jeremy scratches furiously all over body irritating his skin and drawing blood in places ‘Quick Jeremy go jump in the shower the water might take the itch away.’

Next door Caleb has woken up in a bad mood because one it is another school day and two he will have to wait for the school bus at the same bus stop as Jeremy the prick next door. ‘Hopefully he has shit the bed and is stuck to his sheets for the rest of his life.’

Downstairs Caleb is greeted by his mother ‘good morning sweetie, me and your father spoke last night and we think that it would be best if you stayed home from school for a week or so until we have solved the shadow situation.’

Inside Caleb is jumping for joy but he puts on a somber face ‘If you think that is for the best than I will stay home.’

Thirty minutes later Caleb peers through the front blinds when he hears Jeremy’s front door slam shut and then lard arse appears and he doesn’t look happy, his school pants are half pulled down and his hands are inside scratching like crazy.

When the school bus appears Jeremy’s pants fall down to his ankles and all of the kids on the bus point and laugh at the quivering boy who has made school days hell for most of them.

Completely humiliated Jeremy turns around and trudges back home.

Caleb is laughing so loud Miranda walks into the room to see what is so funny ‘Why are you looking out the window and what was making you laugh?

‘Oh nothing mummy I was just waving at my friends on the school bus.’

‘Come and eat your breakfast at the kitchen table Caleb so we can discuss your shadow problem as a family.’

‘My shadow isn’t a problem mummy all of the other kids at school have a shadow following them around all day.’

‘Yes they have Caleb and I don’t mean to sound dramatic but you might be the only person on earth who has a shadow that seems to have a mind of its own and the ability to move around at will.’

Just as Caleb settles in at the kitchen table there is a loud knock on the front door.

‘Jesus who could it be this hour? It better noy be one of those religious freaks.’

Opening the door Miranda is confronted by Audrey Poole and her crazy son Jeremy ‘Just what I need’ Miranda mutters under her breath.

‘What can I do for you this fine morning Audrey? A brain transplant perhaps?

‘Sorry to bother you Miranda but broke in last night and tied Jeremy to his bed and covered him in itching powder.’

‘Oh my God Audrey have you called the police?

‘No not yet, but as you can see Jeremy can’t stop scratching which has caused him great distress.’

Jeremy is indeed hopping from foot to foot as his hands delve inside his pants seeking some relief but Miranda has little time for the bully ‘Oh and by the way young man you owe me $120 for the six soccer balls that you destroyed with your bow and arrow.’

‘You won’t get one cent out of me’ Jeremy sneers ‘your wimpy son can pay for them and he will pay big time for coming over to my place last night spreading itching powder all over my room.’

‘Don’t be so rude Jeremy’ scolds Audrey ‘Your room is fifteen feet off the ground plus all of the doors and windows were locked so don’t blame anyone without proof, I know that you are a bit itchy at the moment son so mummy will go to the chemist and buy a bottle of Calamine lotion and your problem will go away.’

‘Well if Caleb didn’t break in who did? asks Jeremy.

Good question Jeremy Miranda ponders, she knows that her son didn’t go anywhere last night but she has a good idea who did.

As she watches Audrey and her son walk back home Miranda finds herself feeling sorry for them both she hopes that one day they will find peace and happiness.

After being cooped up inside all day Caleb is going stir crazy plus his constant whining is beginning to drive his parents up the wall. ‘Alright enough okay’ Bruce says ‘I know that it is a pain in the butt not being able to go outside but what if someone sees your shadow running around and calls the cops? They would take you away and ask questions later.’

‘But I tell you what, go check the letterbox but straight back inside alright.’

Caleb happily puts on his shoes then calls out to Pumpkin ‘Here boy lets go out front.’

Next door Jeremy Poole is sitting on a chair near the front door hoping for a chance to confront the wimpy kid next door, he probably keeps a diary for Gods sake.

Slathered from head to toe in Calamine lotion Jeremy is still seething even though he no longer has an urge to scratch. ‘Come on Caleb, I am going kick your arse all way down the street.’

Just then Caleb appears causing Jeremy to spring into action ‘Well well if it isn’t Caleb Gaiman himself, ready to pick your teeth out of the grass.’

‘Holy crap’ Caleb wails, caught like a deer in the headlights Caleb doesn’t know what to do.

While Caleb and Jeremey are having a staring contest an old white Hilux van rounds the corner heading their way.

Inside a pair of local criminals named Dennis Miller and Scott Pritchard are arguing about which house would be an easy target.

The pair have been in prison a few times which has earned them the nicknames of Harry and Marv after the two bumbling thieves in the ‘Home Alone’ movie.

Marv is at the wheel not concentrating on the road, all he wants is a quick job so he and Harry can go down to the pub for a few beers.

Caleb only just manages to escape Jeremy clutches who is blocking his way back to the safety of home so Caleb takes off across the street so fast as he can.

Once across he looks over to see Jeremey about to run after him , then out of the corner of his eye Caleb sees a white van bearing down on Jeremey fast ‘JEREMEY NO GET BACK.’

Noticing the look of terror on Caleb’s face Jeremey finally notices the van and stops dead and the middle road.

Caleb’s shadow knowing that it is Jeremey’s only chance of survival flies across the road like a bullet knocking Jeremey to safety.

Caleb runs over to comfort Jeremey ‘You saved my life Caleb, I don’t know how you did but I would be dead if not for you.’

‘It was my shadow Jeremey, but you have to promise not to tell a soul, okay mate.’

Jeremey is in a lot of pain but he manages to nod his head before losing consciousness.

Bruce and Miranda quickly followed by Audrey Poole soon converge on the scene ‘Jeremey’ Audrey screams as she falls to her knees beside her son ‘Come on son wake up for mummy.’

Caleb hugs his parents ensuring them that he is unharmed ‘Jeremey is fine Mrs Poole but I think he might have a few broken ribs.’

Lifting up her son’s shirt Audrey gasps at the sight of a huge red purple bruise on Jeremey’s left side ‘Christ it looks like Jeremey has been hit by a cannonball ‘Bruce mutters as he grabs the teen’s wrist checking for a pulse ‘Don’t worry Jeremey an ambulance is its way.’

Did you see what I saw Marv?

‘I didn’t see anything Harry what did I miss?’

‘Jesus Marv pay attention, that little wimpy kid has a power and that power will make us more money than we could ever spend.’

‘Now sit tight while I go grab the golden goose.’

Marv has no idea what his partner in crime is talking about but he stays put.

Caleb walks towards the van hoping that he can thank the driver for his driving skills.

As he gets close the passenger emerges opening a sliding door beckoning him forward ‘Hey kid you did good today, do you want a snickers bar I have some back here somewhere.’

Caleb suddenly remembers his parents warning him about stranger danger so he steps back but suddenly a huge sack is pulled over his head before he is bundled into the back of the van.

When the ambulance arrives Miranda realizes that she hasn’t seen Caleb in a while so she scans the area whispering her son’s name.

But young Caleb Gaiman is gone.

THE END.

Part Two is coming soon.

I hope that you enjoyed reading my story and if you did please leave a like or a comment and if you have the means please make a donation so I can become a fulltime writer. Thank You.