When You Were Young

"Promise you won't forget us," Prudence said.

"I could never forget you," Samantha said. She pulled off the metal necklace, the half-heart whose other half lay underneath the rubble of the fountain cave. "I always wanted to give this to my best friend." She draped the necklace over Prudence's neck and then they hugged again.

"Wherever you end up, make sure you give Mr. Pryde your address so we can write you," Wendell said. "California isn't so far away."

She kissed him on the forehead, his face turning red as it had when he was a boy. "I will," she said. "I'll write you every day."

She received the congratulations and well wishes of everyone in Eternity, including Helena. "You're not so bad as far as savages go," Helena said. Samantha knew this was the closest to a compliment she would get. She embraced Helena and then climbed onto the boat next to the Primrose. Rebecca followed her up, waving shyly to everyone.

"I'll be back to visit," Samantha said. "This isn't goodbye forever."

"We'll be waiting," Wendell said.

"Take care of yourself, and Joseph," Prudence said.

The boys pushed the boat into the water and soon Samantha and Rebecca were being carried away by the wind. They waved from the back of the boat until the children of Eternity were reduced to specks on the horizon and then disappeared.