I stepped inside the bookstore and was greeted by the owner, Mrs Rai. With jet black hair and copper skin, her honey-brown eyes shone in the autumn sun as she gleamed at me. "Can I help you with anything, Bugsy?" she asked. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8Goqq3lku
"I'm looking for a notebook," I answered. "It's my best friend's birthday."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws0TG7Grqt
"Oh, it's Ferdinand's birthday today?" her eyes widened. "But I thought his birthday had passed."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxguUFMjZKy
"Not Ferdinand," I laughed. "It's Naomi's birthday today."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FyFu6VMvi
Mrs Rai's eyebrows twitched. "Oh, which one?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrujMdgPoA0
"The one from Japan," I explained. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBBnJaKzFU
"Oh that one," she exclaimed. "Well, I find her family a bit cold, especially when I talked to them."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAUPsg0OJuH
"Well, they just moved here," I defended. "They'll get used to it." 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJWbYV6LRV
"Of course. So what kind of notebook does Naomi like?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z7qaKIdDj
I stroked my chin and looked up at the ceiling. "Well, she likes the colour pink and sparkly stuff," I described. "She tends to be girlish."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5tMWuJJK4
Mrs Rai headed towards the storeroom and searched through heaps of supplies while I stood in front of the counter, eyeing the books, neatly arranged on the shelves. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEmzUkupzV
"I found it," Mrs Rai exclaimed as she showed me a notebook from the storeroom. The cover of the notebook was lavender-coloured sprinkled with a dash of glitter and a shiny, white unicorn can be seen in the middle, jumping over a rainbow. This was the perfect gift for Naomi. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ5cOpdi9L
"So how much is this, Mrs Rai? I asked. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6f3kgHKAgz
"It's two dollars," she said. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLNtSws897
I slipped two one-dollar bills on the counter and thanked Mrs Rai as she handed the notebook to me.
"Can I have a paper bag, Mrs Rai?" 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQl2MjmZDQ
She shook her head. "Sorry, Bugsy," she sighed. "Paper is also being rationed right now."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46eXPxooyZ
"But why?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXPXnkMvw07
"Government wants to save money, Bugsy," Mrs Rai told me. "It's the same thing with food and coffee and even petrol."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ022OVydGhc
I nodded and thanked Mrs Rai as I left the bookstore and strolled along the pavements, with shop lots going about their business, except with less crowd. I entered the Little Owl Coffeehouse and the bell chimed, alerting Aunt Inara at the counter. "Hey Bugsy," she greeted. "Did you get anything for Naomi?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNMJGa24vj
"Yes," I replied. "I got her a notebook."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CnzQDkX99
I showed her the notebook I just bought, and she examined every detail of it. "You've got the right choice for her," Aunt Inara commented. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GkSYpKAgQ
"But there's nothing to wrap the gift, auntie," I complained. "Mrs Rai said the paper's being rationed."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkbZFMjbQk
"Then you use an old newspaper," suggested Aunt Inara. "Here, we have dozens of them."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWTwLnG5UV
She led me downstairs towards the basement and switched on the light bulb, revealing bundles of newspaper lying around. I sneezed loudly as I took out a sheet of old newspaper from the bundle. I sneezed again and again. "Oh dear," Aunt Inara expressed her worries. "Let's get you out of here before you have the flu."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNy03B1pG9h
We rushed out of the basement and locked the basement door in front of us. "Go boil some water from the kettle. I don't want you getting sick on your friend's birthday."
I stared in the mirror as I brushed my golden locks. I put a few drops of foundations on my face and rubbed it all over for absorption. I lightly brushed a peach eyeshadow around my monolid eyes when my stepmother, Chaeyeong entered. "Do you need help with makeup, Bugsy?" she asked.
I shook my head. "It's alright, Chae," I replied. "I'm just going with something lighter."
"Alright," Chaeyeong smiled. "I'll be in my room if you need anything."
As she left, I twirled around in my ice blue mesh dress, with small flowers embroidered on the sleeves, which belonged to my late mother. With Naomi's gift in my hands, I went outside my living room and opened the shoe cabinet, slipping on my Doc Martens boots. I headed downstairs and opened the front door, waving to Aunt Inara and Grandma. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4TXIOr4ZB
"Be back by 10.30 sharp," Grandma advised. I nodded and closed the door behind me and walked on the empty road.
The sunlight that shone on my chestnut eyes faded as the velvety night skies revealed itself from the shadow within. I passed by the same shops, only to notice that the owners were cleaning up, signalling that it was time to call it a day. I passed by the sandy grasslands, with the cool autumn wind blowing on the grasses, making it dance graciously.
As I stopped in front of a mint greenhouse, I gave a knock. Waiting for someone to answer, I observed the surrounding of the house, with the mailbox freshly painted with reddish-orange colour, reminding me of the current season. The front door opened, revealing a woman with bobbed hair, clad in a floral shirt and chiffon skirt. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnv9NDNT074
"Ah, you must be Bugsy," she bowed. "I'm Vivian Watanabe, Naomi's mother."
I gave a 45 degrees bow and introduced myself. Naomi's mother invited me inside the house and asked me to take my shoes off, leaving me with socks on my feet. She led me to the living room, where Naomi and Lisa were sitting with each other on the sofa, talking to each other. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXp7O4HQR73
"Naomi," her mother called out. "Your friend, Bugsy is here."
Naomi got up and gave me a bear hug, to my surprise. "Bugsy," she cheered. "It's so good to see you here."
"You too, Naomi," my lips curved into a smile. "Thank you for inviting me here."
Mrs Watanabe shuffled to the kitchen with her house slippers as I sat next to Naomi on the velvet sofa. "So what were you and Lisa talking about?" I attempted to join their conversation. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROnNDS0Bkx
"We were talking about that time in the cornfield," Lisa answered. "That must be terrifying for the three of you."
"Oh yeah," I quivered. "Those scarecrows gave me nightmares."
"I agree," Lisa sipped on her glass of water. "If I was there, I would've died of fright."
"I was lucky Ferdinand carried me," I wiped my forehead. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have been here, telling you all of this."
"Speak of the angel, are you two together?"
"Yeah, we're best friends since first grade."
"I meant whether you and Ferdinand are dating each other, silly."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvMxe0bEXo
I shook my head. "We're just friends, nothing else more than that." 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMSRTxowKK
"We'll see in the next ten years."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35JhtkxVgl
A man with sleek hair entered, with Ferdinand by his side. His hot pink blazer stood up, along with his frilled shirt and tight pants. From my knowledge, those belonged to his father. His mother must have loan it to him, since he was fighting a war. "Sorry for being late," he bowed. "It took me hours to look good."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PEAtZgGq8
"Kore wa anata no tomodachi no hitorideshou is?" Mr Watanabe asked. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNo4RbqFEJd
"Yes, father, " Naomi replied. "That's my friend."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOG10Xnb3Z
"I'll be in the kitchen," he reminded his daughter. Ferdinand bowed and shook hands with Naomi. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1z8w2cSUu0
"I'm so glad you can make it," Naomi cheered as she gave a hug to Ferdinand. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4OutIjVNQ2
"I've got you something," Ferdinand handed her a small box.
Naomi lifted the lid and took out a pair of hooked earrings from the box. "Ferdinand, you shouldn't have." 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNdcmD8Ie6
"Happy birthday, Naomi."
"Thanks, Ferdinand," she jumped in joy. I stood up and showed her my gift, wrapped in a recycled newspaper. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJC9GqrRt1o
"Open mine, Naomi," I flashed my gift to her. She unwrapped the recycled newspaper and her jaws dropped. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdah3ZDiBZ
"Bugsy," she gasped. "Where did you get this?" 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNddRJxErK
"From the bookstore," I grinned. "I know what you always wanted."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNG2WvrL7X
"I don't know what to say." 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtizqLsNXoc
"I believe the word you're looking for is thank you."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8qxoqHyoS
She stared at me and embraced her arms around me. "Thank you so much, Bugsy," her voice raised. "I honestly don't deserve you guys." 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINzzqpqgD3
"It's what friends do, Naomi," I put my arms around her. "To have each other's back no matter what."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1ANzz3VeV
Ferdinand glanced at Lisa, who was lying on the sofa. "What did you get for Naomi, Lisa?" Ferdinand was curious. Lisa pointed to a Teddy bear that she bought, which was on the table beside him. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7daU6e7x9
"Oh, didn't notice that when I walked in."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvqVQ9KS4m
Then, Mr and Mrs Watanabe entered the living room, holding a carrot cake, with fourteen candles all over the cake.644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVIHj4LzEH
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Naomi,
Happy birthday to you.644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlizyrhsSlb
A huge thunderous applause filled the room as Naomi blew the small flames on the candle. With a cake knife, Mr Watanabe sliced the square-shaped cake into eight pieces and invited all of us to feast. We chomped on our cake and gulped down a fresh glass of water when Ferdinand placed his fork on his saucer and wiped his mouth with a plain cloth next to him. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNFOUtZh1t
"Hey Naomi," he spoke, "You should ask your parents later whether we could take a leisurely stroll on the dirt road."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdephRfj1e
Naomi's eyes widened. "What for?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89ksMCpOVt
"It's our tradition," I stated. "Whenever a teenager celebrates his or her birthday, they walk down the dirt road."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKKFBhhdri
"Where to?" 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2rZcwPyhe
"Wherever it takes them," Lisa commented. "Everyone's experience was different. Last year, the dirt road took me to a grassy meadow."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2XUf5gMN8
"And mine took me to Montago Bay," Ferdinand joined in. "It was a scary experience."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvvfNIwCx0
"Am I walking alone?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO1O1ADeuA7
I shook my head. "No, we're doing this together."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PB4Z2UW5q
Naomi left the room and headed towards the kitchen. "Well," Lisa stretched herself. "I'm going to the loo."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6T71BvmXU8
As she left, I felt a small poke on my waist. I turned to my right and saw Ferdinand, with his dimples sticking out on his smooth, porcelain skin. I hit him playfully on his forearms, causing him to whoop loudly. "Don't be dramatic," I rolled my eyes. "I barely even touch you."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gTLlKJmcA
"But you did, Bugsy," he pestered as he lay his head on my lap. "You're kinda rough today."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzCj3syFj0
"Don't make me kill you," I struggled to hide my laughter. "I can make it look accidental."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSR3Mtd2Hk
"And how are you going to do that, exactly?" he continued poking my waist. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5nDgatY04
"I could make you have a heart attack." 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQX3wjRYlW6
Naomi and Lisa entered and dropped their flashlights on the floor as they say us. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi7PrUg2rV
"Oh my gosh," Lisa seemed stunned. "Am I interrupting your little date?"
Ferdinand got up from my lap and dusted his trousers. "Of course not, Lisa," he avoided eye contact. "We're just playing around like what best friends do."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkMxC2pOxZ
"Exactly," I pointed out as I held one of the flashlights. "Now let's go. We don't have time to waste."
All four of us exited Naomi's rustic house through the front door quietly and ambled on the muddy road, without looking at each other. The waning crescent shone luminously above us as I was awed by the galaxy of stars above us. The chilly night breeze shivered me as I wrapped myself with both my arms. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDil2bwjlXD
Ferdinand stripped off his hot pink jacket and cloaked me with it to keep me warm, making Lisa giggle softly. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6F2JeIXOUz
"What's so funny?" I glared. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI8uAAUta2
"I thought you and Ferdinand are just friends," tormented Lisa. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIA6va1rQx
"Friends keep each other warm," Ferdinand defended himself and gave me a huge high five. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJql33mTKfi
"I'm cold too," Naomi complained. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiXtvsXWYD
"Well damn Naomi, I don't control the weather," Lisa retorted. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dB3WW5Yuj
He snickered as he gave me a light punch on my shoulder. "I think Lisa and Naomi made a great couple," he whispered in my ear. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXSmDjSOw4
"Well, they seem to act like an old married couple," I noted. "After all, they seem to make snarky remarks against each other. The loud, howling noise filled the night as yellowish lights bounced around the grassy meadow, making me shiver. "Naomi, if you're wondering what you're hearing, they're just coyotes. Nothing else, just listen to it and don't see it for yourself."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxw86559an
No answer. I touched her shoulders, and she noticed me before she gazed at a wooden house from a distance. "We should check out the house," she said, in a monotone voice, much to my suspicion. This isn't like Naomi at all. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHA7HoSJfOu
She shuffled straight towards the house, prompting us to follow her lead. As we followed her, Lisa held her chest and tried to catch her breath. "Wait up, Naomi."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hzP6f3LAr
A few minutes later, she stopped dead on her track. "We should look what's inside," Naomi murmured as she entered the abandoned cabin, with broken windows and overgrown lawn. Ferdinand and I nodded our heads and decided to pursue her, despite my gut feeling saying otherwise. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvONRaQcOMb
"I'm staying outside," Lisa declared, crouching on the ground. "There's no way I'm going in this ghost house."
"Then keep watch while Ferdinand and I searched the house," I gave her an instruction. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1n2bNZ7dOh
As we crept inside, Ferdinand sat on a chair, only to collapse on the floor. "This definitely need repairs."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcYyr1zIMM
When we reached the first floor, a light was switched on in a room. Holding each other's hands, we went inside the room, only to find Naomi on a rocking chair, stroking a stuffed tiger's head. "Naomi," I gulped. "Looks like the dirt road led us here."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVkB7QOIRdG
"Who's Naomi?" she asked, with a little boy's tone. "I'm Malcolm."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuigNSJAw5
Ferdinand fainted on the floor, making me kneel and pump his chest. "Sorry if I scared you," Malcolm whimpered, who was possessing Naomi's body. "I only needed your friend's body to talk to you."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4umTrV2bd
"What do you want?" I felt a tremor in my hands. "Are you going to kill us?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl9v7tMSsGG
Malcolm shook his head. "No, miss," he dismissed. "I'm very lonely and I haven't spoken to anyone for years."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6X8Et4BIy
"How long you've been here, Malcolm?" I wondered, rubbing my palms together. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRbB8pKL7C
"I've lost count, miss."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TLgrYFL93
"Call me Bugsy," I introduced myself. "Like the cartoon character, Bugs Bunny."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrq6BLo5FqA
"What's up, doc?" he quoted. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCs2AbEk5F
I snorted. "I see you watched that cartoon as well."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47nGu8zxNk
"I always watched it with my mom and dad, until I died."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQQSIKrGLE
I put my hands on Naomi's arms and gazed. "How did you die?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgifEg5Vzmq
A rope dropped from the ceiling, leaving me tongue-tied. "Who hanged you?" 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTOyVTFvhi
"The ones in white robes."
Naomi choked on her breath as she looked around, dazed. She got up from her seat, rubbing her forehead. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6OmqGnXMW
"Bugsy," she rubbed her eyes, speaking in her normal voice. "What happened?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0XWmdq6PZ
I put her arms around my shoulder and lightly kicked Ferdinand's leg, causing him to wake up. "Where are we?"644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0QwnGtIiA
"Let's go home," I muttered, as I escorted them out of the house, only to bump into a man, clad in white robes from top to bottom, glaring at me. "Who are you, and why are you here?" he demanded.644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbQBrjM8QL
I peeked behind him and saw another man, who was pointing a shotgun at Lisa's head. "What are you doing to my friends?" I put my hands on both hips. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6NmDnzuDB
"Talk rudely, or that negro die," he threatened. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynvDb8HyQU
"It's my birthday," Naomi pointed out. "And it's a tradition for every teenager to walking with their friends down the dirt road."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlUzhAPo7i
The man sighed and moved away from the exit, letting us pass through. He ordered his friend to let go of Lisa and stepped aside. "Don't you dare come back here ever again," the white-robed man warned. "Or you chinks and your negro friend will die."644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvdMPqavcT
We nodded and marched away from the abandoned cabin without looking back. "Those guys remind me of the KKK my granddaddy used to talk about," Lisa broke her silence. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWHGp4Sens
"What's the KKK?" Naomi asked. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuibsL5xpXD
"A group that terrorized black people like me. They live in America, so you won't find them here."
"Oh, that's a scary group."
Ferdinand walked beside me, noticing my grip tightened around my arms. "You're alright, Bugsy?" he asked, brushing his hands with mine. 644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsObP3QZSD
"I'm fine," I reassured him.644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBHqUVCK9U
But my mind tells me differently as I pondered what happened minutes ago. Who were the men in white robes, and why did they kill Malcolm?644Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡId6frddiG3
