storiesHH3658
The sun peeked through the trees as Tatum Byers twirled in the backyard, her curly hair bouncing with every spin. Even at 10 years old, she already had her mother's courage and her father's curiosity. Nancy and Jonathan watched from the porch, exchanging quiet smiles. Life in Hawkins had always been unpredictable, but today, for the first time in a long while, it felt almost normal.
Around the yard, her cousins and aunts played too. Mike, her 18-year-old uncle, was teaching her a new game, while Holly, 13, laughed as she chased a mischievous dog. Eleven, Jonathan's 18-year-old friend, sat on the swing set, keeping an eye on everyone, and Will, also 18, was tinkering with some strange gadget he'd found in the garage. Tatum's world was loud, chaotic, and full of love-a perfect place for a kid growing up in Hawkins.