Jack awoke to five little grubby faces peering at her. There were three boys and two girls.
"Look Susie. She's Awake!" The littlest one, a small boy with black hair and big blue eyes exclaimed. He looked toward the oldest girl, Susie.
"Hey, if you're awake answer our questions." Stated another one of the boys. This one had wheat colored hair and brown eyes. He looked very similar to the girl. Not Susie, but the one hiding behind her skirt.
"Who are you? Why did you pass out in the middle of the road? How.." he started.
"Give her some time to answer, Tim. lets start with, who are you?" Interrupted a boy.
He had been silently observing until now. He looked younger than Susie and the leader of the bunch. He had black hair and eyes the same color.
She was left stunned. All Jack could think at the moment was hadn't she just died. Why were these little brats here? Is this heaven? Sure doesn't look like it. Is this hell?
Just then she was yanked out of her thoughts by the older boy, the leader, glaring at her.
Oh yeah Jack thought I have to answer questions.
"My name's Jack."
"Ok Jack, what we're you doing passed out on the street?" Said leader boy.
"Wait a minute" said Jack. "Can I get your guy's names first?"
"Fine. My name's Sam I'm the second oldest, that's Susan the oldest and our mother hen, behind her is Cora she's twins with Tim here" he responded pointing to the talkative little boy. "There is another person in our group but they're at work. His name is James. I'll introduce him later. Now, answer my questions."
"Okay, I don't know how I got here or why I'm here." That wasn't a lie Jack had no idea why she wasn't dead. " All I know is that I was walking home from work and then I tripped"
And that this didn't seem to be her world. Their clothes looked like medieval peasant garb.
"Where is your home?"
"I don't know."
Far from here.
"Where is your work?"
"I don't know."
Also far from here.
"Hey, Isn't Jack a boys name" Tim interrupted.
"Yes. Maybe. What makes a name a boy's or girl's name?" Jack deflected. It was a common tactic she had learned from dealing with middle school bullies. Answering questions with more questions.
"Did your parents really name you Jack" asked Susan. God these people really liked that topic.
"No, They named me Valentina Jaquelín Cortez. I just go by Jack because I think it sounds cool."
"I think Valentina jaque-whatnot sounds better though" said Cora peeking out from behind Susan's skirt. Every one else in the room nodded in agreement.
Jack sighed she'd already had this conversation a thousand times. "You guys are nothing but a bunch of kids. Your opinion doesn't matter."
"Says the kid" retorts Tim.
"I'm not a kid" said Jack.
"Yes you are."
"Am not."
"Are too."
"Am. Not."
"Are. Too."
"AM NOT!" Jack said raising her hands in frustration
Sam grabbed Jack's hands and held them up to her face
"You are a child, Jack. You look about ten." My hands were small and soft like a child's. I guess I not only didn't die but I turned into a child and I was stuck in another world for the forseeable future.