It was the last day of school. Josh was so happy that the year was over so many things to study and a crazy amount of homework. When he had started school as a little kid it was such a weird feeling suddenly you had to go to school, why did you need to go to school? You got snacks and nap time which were the best in his opinion. But then it goes away in first grade. And you don’t know anyone when you start but you make friends.

Kindergarten came and went and he had made one great friend that year, Bobby. Bobby was a shy kid and was smaller than most of the other kids. He had dark hair almost black and curly in comparison so Josh’s blondish straight hair both boys a little on the pale side. Josh was outgoing with natural magnetism Bobby not so much. They got along great.

The following year came and went and yes they both missed nap and snack time, oh well not much they could do about that. They were being introduced to new subjects' math, reading, and writing. The subjects were so boring to Josh but they both improved Bobby more so than Josh, out of the two Bobby was the brains of the outfit.

They met Pepe and Manuel in second grade they were cousins and spoke both English and Spanish which was something new to the other two boys. They had moved from Texas to their small town due to the parents' work. Pepe was a small and wiry boy, his cousin taller and stocky both a brown hue with brown hair and eyes. Manuel slightly darker than his cousin still had a slight Spanish accent. The difference between the four boys was so noticeable Josh and Erin very white and the cousins very brown.

According to the cousins where they came from there was a lot of Spanish spoken. This was extremely strange to the other two which had never heard Spanish before. They knew other cultures existed of course and other languages but in town everyone spoke English and well everyone was white.

The four were inseparable from that point forward they would hang out after school during recess and on weekends. In class they were separated the teacher seeing that it was a bad idea to keep them together. On average the two cousins were around the same learning level as Josh if they did not have Bobby they probably would have flunked the school year.

Third grade came and went with no new friends to be added to the group but that was alright they had other kids they knew but not as close as the four friends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fourth grade started and halfway through the year Erin came into the picture. He had transferred from another elementary in town. Erin came in one morning and the teacher Ms. Waller had him introduce himself.

Erin had fiery red hair a face full of freckles wore glasses and was very shy. He was not very tall just average in height. But in fourth grade who thought about height one summer would come and the next school year one kid was taller than the other.

He looked around intimidated by all the new faces “Hi I’m Erin and I just transferred here.” He was too embarrassed to say more than that.

“What do we say class?”

“Welcome to Class 2B Erin” All the kids responded in unison.

Erin was given a seat next to Pepe he sat and class started. During recess the four friends decided to introduce themselves. Erin was by himself and Josh the de facto leader of the group went up to him.

“Hi I’m Josh.” Sticking out his hand to welcome the new arrival.

Erin looks down at the proffered hand then up at the other boy but did not reach out to shake it “Um, I’m Erin.” Erin knew kids like Josh in his previous school they were the cool kids and Erin was just not a cool kid. Why was Josh introducing himself?

“Alright Erin this is Bobby, Pepe, and Manuel” he pointed at his friends as he said their names the taller boy reaching over grabbing Erin’s hand and shaking it “Alright so now we are friends. If you want to hang out with us during recess and after school that would be great.”

And with that simple introduction and with Josh saying they were friends their group now counted five. Erin was not sure what to make of this but he was not going to let the opportunity pass in his previous school he did not really have any friends. The no friend’s thing was mostly because of him like Bobby he was somewhat shy and he could not bring himself to go talk to other kids unless he had to for class. He was glad Josh had declared them friends and not even given him a choice.

The rest of the year was spent with them together doing everything they could together. Erin loved it and so did the other four. Even though Erin was shy like Bobby he got over that quickly with support from his new friends. While Erin and Bobby were still the more reserved of the group they were out there doing whatever the others were doing. Pepe and Manuel were regular daredevils they would egg each other on all the time to do crazier things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Fifth grade started and the five friends were closer than ever. The school year flew by, before they knew it they were on their last week, then the last day. And then it was just over, they had graduated. Erin and the whole group were amazed that the year had come and gone so fast.

The last two summer had been the best in Erin’s life his new friends, he loved that he could say friends made it better. He may have been shy when he met the other four rascals but now he was outgoing maybe not as much as the cousins but still. One could not be part of this group and not be so.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Summer came and went and a new school year started but different than before now they had to go to different classes for all their materials. Some of the classes they had together some they had apart but being a smaller school they saw each other throughout the day. When they were not together in a class, they missed each other.

They got together after school as always, they did their homework with Bobby and Erin being the brains and tutoring the other three. After they just hung out and did what kids their age do sports, video games, going to the arcade, watching TV shows, camping, swimming, and fishing. Though fishing was not Pepe’s and Manuel’s favorite things to do they were still right there with their friends.

The cousins were into soccer so the others started playing it as well Josh was naturally talented a fact that Pepe hated because he was good at soccer and had been playing for years. Even though Josh was good at soccer he was great at baseball and his friends joined him even though they were mediocre at best.

Sixth grade was an adjustment for all of them getting used to doing things in a different way. The year passes in a flash the brains got straight A’s while the other three were happy with their B’s and C’s. Seventh grade started and went again with similar results with the grades, Pepe even surprised everyone by getting one A in the Science class he was taking.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Their eight-grade year at the middle school went fast as well. The only difference being that Bobby with the help of his friends asked the girl he had a crush on out. He was so afraid to do it and embarrassed as well. It was a Thursday and they had been walking home when it happened.

The girl in question Amber was with her two best friends Bethany and Sue and had stopped to get an ice cream cone the group had seen the girls, “There she is Bobby this is it mi amigo. It’s now or never.” She was alone at the entrance, no sign of her friends that Bobby could see. The group had stopped next to her, “Hey Amber how you doing? Bobby wanted to ask you something.”

His friend ever the daredevil pushed Bobby forward he for his part was ready to run “Hi Amber um you see. There is this movie coming out tomorrow and I was wondering if you would like to go see it with me?” His face was red and a trickle of sweat was running down his back and was expecting a no from the girl.

Amber’s friends came out before she said anything her friends yacking away stopped as they saw the boys “Bobby I love to.” She took out a pink pen and wrote down her number on his hand and a little heart “Call me,” the three girls left Beth and Sue saying bye to Josh with dreamy eyes. They could hear them talking to Amber about the upcoming date and a ‘well at least he is not as bad as the others.’

“Amigo you’re like a regular Casanova. Miralo who would have thought.” Pepe smacking his friend on the arm and giving him a thumbs up.

The next day he was going on his date and was both terrified and nervous but the date went great. He and Amber liked a lot of similar stuff to his surprise. From then on she would hang with them and at times her friends would come with her though her friends only did it because of Josh they did not like the other three boys. Some months passed and Bobby and Amber made it official when he asked her to become his girlfriend.

The year came to an end they graduated middle school and were ready to start their summer. Bobby’s girlfriend was leaving that weekend after graduation to visit relatives in Ottawa for half the summer. Since they would not see each other for a while they went out while the other four made plans for the summer break.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Alright so here is the plan!” Josh took the lead “We will have a slew of sleepovers, lots of video game time, we are going camping and no complaining about the bugs Manuel. And fishing yes Pepe fishing no complaining.”

They discussed when and where stuff would happen that week. Sleepover at Pepe’s, videogames at Josh’s, Camping would happen at Erin’s and fishing the following day near Erin’s house.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At Pepe’s his mom Mrs. Garcia made chicken and cheese enchiladas. Not the stuff that comes out of a box at the grocery store but real enchiladas the recipe passed down from his great-great grandmother. “Si mijo you know Abuela loved making these and she passed this secret to your Mama. I hope you boys enjoy them.”

“Thank you Mama. The queso y pollo are to die for.” Pepe’s mom only made these on special occasions and had only made them for the boys on one other occasion. Being this far north they could not get the ingredients easily.

Pepe’s dad arriving after work smiled as he smelled what his wife had cooked, “Mi Amor you made enchiladas! Hola boys I hope you appreciate the enchiladas. What I would give for a good Mexican restaurant in town.” After eating at Pepe’s and Manuel's houses the boys had the same wish, Mexican food was the best.

“Que? My cooking is not good enough for you Francisco?” Pepe’s dad came over placating his wife giving her a short kiss before going to clean up.

“Pepe go get your brother off his computer and tell him to get his tracero in here.” As she continued cooking adding the cheese and chicken to them, the boys felt their mouths watering at the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen.

Pepe returned and a few minutes later his brother, an older version of him came out. The face was the only thing similar both taking after their dad. Frank Jr. taller than Pepe was a Junior in High School he had colored his hair green, the sides of his head shaved and the middle pointing up about four to five inches in a mohawk, some piercings, tight black pants, black boots, and a black t-shirt with a punk band logo on it. His actual name was Francisco Jr., but he had told everyone to call him Frank, he had adopted the Punk Rock look the previous year.

“Freaks.” This was how he acknowledged the boys before totally ignoring them.

Mrs. Garcia looked at her oldest son and shook her head, “Francisco Jr. you do not talk to your brother and his friend like that.”

“Mama, it’s Frank, Frank. How many times do I have to remind everyone about that?”

“Si Francisco don’t talk to us like that.” Pepe egging his older brother on.

Pepe’s dad came back all cleaned up, “Bueno everyone is here. Mijo be nice to your brother.” No one was sure which one he was referring to but likely both.

They sat down for dinner; the boys eager to eat Mrs. Garcia’s wonderful enchiladas and Mexican rice. Thanking her for the food they dug in enjoying the home cooked meal.

The sleepover was great and Mrs. Garcia breakfast the next morning was even better in one word the best thing Josh had ever had. The lady could cook, if only his mom could cook like that. They headed over to Josh’s house where Video Games would be the plan of the day and into the night.

“Alright before it gets any later if you guys want to call your parents and stay over, we can keep going. I am too much into this game to stop.” The game in question had a character that could use magic, swords, shields, armor, and every weapon that was in the game. Overall, the character was overpowered, and they were all enjoying it taking turns playing it.

They called and their parents and got ok. Pizza and Hot Wings were ordered that night for them; it was not Mrs. Garcia’s superb cooking, but it was fine. Josh’s mom was a lawyer and her skills while great in the court room did not extend to her cooking.

The next day it was camping at Erin’s house. They were dropped off with the camping gear they brought two tents, their fishing gear, five sleeping bags, drinks, and snacks. The evening came and they setup for their camping. Erin’s older brother had come by and helped setup; Erin’s parents checking in on them sometime during the night.

“Scary story time?” Manuel pointing the light at his face, “Pepe La Llorona like your papa use to tell it. That is very scary.”

“Si Manuel that one is espantosa.” And so, Pepe began to tell the story, “This happened a long, long time ago, back in Guadalajara where my great Abuela was born." He went into the story. A gruesome tale filled with betrayal and murder, and to top it off with haunting at the end.

Everyone was on the edge the entire time, feeling goose bumps on their arms and the back of their necks as Pepe began to wail. They jumped at this. “And that is the story of La Llorona as told by my Papa.”

Yes kind of a weird spot for a spoiler but I had a suggestion to put in the actual story of La Llorona, I did but it is in the Post Chapter section. Seemed a little excessive since it ends up almost being a short story itself.

“Um, I don’t want to ever hear that story again, it is going to give me nightmares, and we are supposed to go fishing tomorrow, at the river?” Bobby was scared as were his friends.

“That is the light version muchachos, you should hear the gruesome one my Tio tells. That one will really scare you.” Manuel even though he was putting on a tough act was also scared.

The story was followed up by Erin and then Bobby, Manuel, and finally by Josh, theirs were more lighthearted, the one Josh told even had comedy in it. By the time the last story was told the fire had died down and it was late, they settled into sleep for the night.

A fog started to roll in a few minutes after the last of the friends fell asleep something that was both unnatural and new. If you were to get an eye view from above it may of looked like fog but was actually a symbol of some sort. The symbol was white in appearance hence why it would be mistake for a fog. This had never happened at this time of year, or at least not that people knew about. The symbol came and minutes later went which was something strange. Why had this symbol appeared and why did it leave so soon?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The robe figure nothing of his face showing but his chin sat and thought. Alone in a forest, the leaves on the trees now brownish some still clung desperately to the branches, the grass browning from the summer heat. The calling had come, and he had no choice but to answer. He looked up at the heavens, it was a clear night, the moon looking like a giant medallion in the sky. Millions of stars could be seen the figure loved looking at them in wonder but tonight was not for star gazing. He examined his surroundings his thoughts turning inward it was a beautiful world, the trees, the animals, the people, the fantastical creatures that existed in this magical place. The nights events would alter his world he sighed wondering what those changes might be.

The calling had come before exactly twenty-two years ago his master the one that answered, he had felt it then too but it was a minor annoyance. What happened after he did not want to recall; the results changing his world. Tonight his actions like that of his master were for the safety of their world, and the calling like an itch you can’t scratch continued.

Their world would face another change, he hoped that by answering the change would be for the better. He hated what was to come, but had no choice in the mater, and those he called would have no choice either. His master now gone for five years his great work complete thought it would not happen again. They had both been wrong. He needed to find and teach a new apprentice for the next cycle, possibly passing on this curse. Was it really a curse though?

He started the summons, it was a summons over time and space , it would reach into another world and rip people away from it. He investigated the heavens once again, perhaps this world was among those stars, he did not know. He drew the symbols with his staff upon the ground, an outer circle, inner circle, lines crisscrossing between the two, and the symbols for the summons. He cried as he did this, cried for his master, cried for himself, cried for his world, and he cried for the innocents that would come. They would come in ones and twos, and in larger groups. They had no choice they would come.

But he would try and help as much as he could, for he was not evil, he was just a servant of this world like many others before him. The summoning circle now complete upon the ground, he struck his staff, once, twice, then thrice and chanted the word for the spell. The symbols responded and began to glow, the circle of summoning began to grow all its parts expanding. The spell grew and grew and rose into the sky; covering a large area of the forest. He looked up and saw the floating images in colors of a thousand hues, it was a beautiful evil construct and he hated it.

In these images he saw a young man sleeping, a young woman, a brother and sister, and five boys around a campfire. Then images of others all too young for what was coming all too young to be ripped from their world. Tears ran down his cheek, the spell was cast, and the dice had been rolled. The spell was complete, and he exhausted from the work. It would stay up for days and it would continue the summons of these innocents. It was done and no one could do a thing about it, not anymore.

He summoned another door opened it stepping through. This was his workshop, it had a simple desk, a chair, his writing implements, an unrolled scroll that he had been writing in earlier a bookshelf with books and scrolls he called out to one of his assistants, “Regi where are you!?”

The floating orb came into his workshop, “Master. Is it done?”

“Yes, and we will help as much as possible. Tomorrow Regi, they start arriving tomorrow.”

“I’m sorry Master that you had to do this.”