The freedom to fly was a fleeting gift, which had to be guarded. So, as with all precious things, eventually it was stolen away, by the most unlikely thief.

Alec’s shadow found him one sunny June day. This was normal, back then people got their shadows when they reached the age of twenty or so. Some childrens’ shadows found them much younger, however. Shadows could find naughty children quite easily, and their loss of flight was well deserved. Unfortunately, sad children were also easier to find, which meant if they lost a parent or friend they might get bound to the ground as well. Some glorious children avoided their shadows for years and years. Some made it their whole life soaring around the world, free from shadows.

When Alec was very young he climbed weepy willow trees, played tag with dragonflies, whispered secrets to his friends on dark nights so that the moon spirit wouldn’t hear them, had burping contests with frogs, and picked wild asparagus with his mother. But Alec had turned twenty, about one hundred and seventy-three days ago, and now he was very different. He barely ever climbed weepy willow trees, and now he swatted at dragonflies. He only whispered secrets to girls. He only very rarely had burping contests with frogs, and only occasionally did he pick wild asparagus with his mother. He had grown, and while Alec was returning home along the river one day, his shadow found him.

Alec wiped sweat from his forehead and wished he had brought his hat to the park. He had the sudden urge to fly over the water, skim the surface and let the water splash up in his face. Then he saw Cynthia walking down the path towards him. Alec did not want to look silly, so he kept walking. As they got closer, Alec had an idea. There was a log floating near shore, and he picked it up and threw it high into the air. Alec started doing twirls, cartwheels, and all sorts of other acrobatics over the water. Just as the log was about to fall on Alec, he flew up, dragging the log into the air with him. He then flew back down, rocketing the log into the river, making a huge splash. As the water settled down, Alec saw Cynthia clapping. Alec flew back down and then did cartwheels