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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIxrbV9XsO
"I'm looking for a notebook," I answered. "It's my best friend's birthday."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOna8wndVRI
"Oh, it's Ferdinand's birthday today?" her eyes widened. "But I thought his birthday had passed."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp68jIjxkL
"Not Ferdinand," I laughed. "It's Naomi's birthday today."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirpSXf2cry
Mrs Rai's eyebrows twitched. "Oh, which one?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRDEzWUUlO
"The one from Japan," I explained. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpTg4szkXp
"Oh that one," she exclaimed. "Well, I find her family a bit cold, especially when I talked to them."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwRb7sVduE
"Well, they just moved here," I defended. "They'll get used to it." 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWI9j6R9Eh
"Of course. So what kind of notebook does Naomi like?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsrkBi6MAK
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2MJJ3U3ga
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JiariEM1d
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSQe6uhDEY
"So how much is this, Mrs Rai? I asked. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQgSMa7cii
"It's two dollars," she said. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgLfCOXHY3
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?" 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7yaoKtU8PH
She shook her head. "Sorry, Bugsy," she sighed. "Paper is also being rationed right now."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGQfwLMmsF
"But why?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAjaVhlh594
"Government wants to save money, Bugsy," Mrs Rai told me. "It's the same thing with food and coffee and even petrol."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UlYjVb6my
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?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42JIR1K0el
"Yes," I replied. "I got her a notebook."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QPtgJjnt0
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwzYZPxZDK
"But there's nothing to wrap the gift, auntie," I complained. "Mrs Rai said the paper's being rationed."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln3PFu0fuZ
"Then you use an old newspaper," suggested Aunt Inara. "Here, we have dozens of them."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIZGwQt6IO
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgpf9bx3Kf
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxAvujgD3Rh
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Q2koiUbWr
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzolmlu3iyK
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VGJauxZVl
"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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAcEpdJcrt
I shook my head. "We're just friends, nothing else more than that." 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1mxYcrrNH
"We'll see in the next ten years."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTd6UzBS9gp
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwitRqHZBS
"Kore wa anata no tomodachi no hitorideshou is?" Mr Watanabe asked. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VZBm3aisZ
"Yes, father, " Naomi replied. "That's my friend."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Il4nMKbRe
"I'll be in the kitchen," he reminded his daughter. Ferdinand bowed and shook hands with Naomi. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhwXml4clp
"I'm so glad you can make it," Naomi cheered as she gave a hug to Ferdinand. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhWLPlK7oh
"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." 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V4i71QIRx
"Happy birthday, Naomi."
"Thanks, Ferdinand," she jumped in joy. I stood up and showed her my gift, wrapped in a recycled newspaper. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Znv0mxo8A
"Open mine, Naomi," I flashed my gift to her. She unwrapped the recycled newspaper and her jaws dropped. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKQ8OvG4m8
"Bugsy," she gasped. "Where did you get this?" 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLvqcZRfWL
"From the bookstore," I grinned. "I know what you always wanted."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsrQFPTbUg
"I don't know what to say." 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfTrJAJ9hv
"I believe the word you're looking for is thank you."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhLJCHBXeY
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." 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI7YuB8vHC
"It's what friends do, Naomi," I put my arms around her. "To have each other's back no matter what."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK16ULdBZVd
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESeLnVkUxy
"Oh, didn't notice that when I walked in."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy15h7g4pdY
Then, Mr and Mrs Watanabe entered the living room, holding a carrot cake, with fourteen candles all over the cake.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbdGR5uiDv
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Naomi,
Happy birthday to you.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZelSnirkoS
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0MBIva8yy
"Hey Naomi," he spoke, "You should ask your parents later whether we could take a leisurely stroll on the dirt road."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIw9UN0mBw
Naomi's eyes widened. "What for?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpc4t3gAOoq
"It's our tradition," I stated. "Whenever a teenager celebrates his or her birthday, they walk down the dirt road."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGYrt4qzBy
"Where to?" 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3colGt6UN
"Wherever it takes them," Lisa commented. "Everyone's experience was different. Last year, the dirt road took me to a grassy meadow."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0TS0GFTyP
"And mine took me to Montago Bay," Ferdinand joined in. "It was a scary experience."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHId0sJZTua
"Am I walking alone?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2GMxMXzLmt
I shook my head. "No, we're doing this together."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbV0jgE0Lo
Naomi left the room and headed towards the kitchen. "Well," Lisa stretched herself. "I'm going to the loo."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1FWqzZ7U8
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnXs7TcLs7
"But you did, Bugsy," he pestered as he lay his head on my lap. "You're kinda rough today."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLRr01RuOG
"Don't make me kill you," I struggled to hide my laughter. "I can make it look accidental."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77jJkqVyN6
"And how are you going to do that, exactly?" he continued poking my waist. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4M71Reco5
"I could make you have a heart attack." 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ZuoyLM4B
Naomi and Lisa entered and dropped their flashlights on the floor as they say us. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojxQp1ngP0
"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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sdvMF4aGq
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡceENTObwXp
Ferdinand stripped off his hot pink jacket and cloaked me with it to keep me warm, making Lisa giggle softly. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETQr3PyNlX
"What's so funny?" I glared. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdiQmr9XHVY
"I thought you and Ferdinand are just friends," tormented Lisa. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7bKwz5Sky
"Friends keep each other warm," Ferdinand defended himself and gave me a huge high five. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwRjq9gIoQ
"I'm cold too," Naomi complained. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJWlBqAjnv
"Well damn Naomi, I don't control the weather," Lisa retorted. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgh2zjF2alc
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJwd9IKtgi
"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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhkoee0UcP
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oBdKeIEdG
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObOiEqRQDr
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbVIyWMq7Y
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC4hsTmZtD
As we crept inside, Ferdinand sat on a chair, only to collapse on the floor. "This definitely need repairs."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiahjEbPYQF
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqecUoauZXu
"Who's Naomi?" she asked, with a little boy's tone. "I'm Malcolm."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYFdiv7uF7
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSoGv77yi1
"What do you want?" I felt a tremor in my hands. "Are you going to kill us?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXD1zG9bCBm
Malcolm shook his head. "No, miss," he dismissed. "I'm very lonely and I haven't spoken to anyone for years."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpfeQvUDar
"How long you've been here, Malcolm?" I wondered, rubbing my palms together. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv789wTdWjm
"I've lost count, miss."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzfRah1A4pi
"Call me Bugsy," I introduced myself. "Like the cartoon character, Bugs Bunny."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeT55PsXbvG
"What's up, doc?" he quoted. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVY3AgnJqH
I snorted. "I see you watched that cartoon as well."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fEMzWX8NI
"I always watched it with my mom and dad, until I died."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oCUUUq4dU
I put my hands on Naomi's arms and gazed. "How did you die?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ieJp7q7Cg
A rope dropped from the ceiling, leaving me tongue-tied. "Who hanged you?" 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMB4CPz3jL
"The ones in white robes."
Naomi choked on her breath as she looked around, dazed. She got up from her seat, rubbing her forehead. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5354hWUniK
"Bugsy," she rubbed her eyes, speaking in her normal voice. "What happened?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRH7LrWbKA
I put her arms around my shoulder and lightly kicked Ferdinand's leg, causing him to wake up. "Where are we?"643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJWnvgQQVb
"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.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GTttSLkck
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlRLqHTCh6
"Talk rudely, or that negro die," he threatened. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwLa2gK4Jj
"It's my birthday," Naomi pointed out. "And it's a tradition for every teenager to walking with their friends down the dirt road."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtY9kbo2Jtk
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."643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4f2Xa6sYx
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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxAFmvArTa
"What's the KKK?" Naomi asked. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmzabAUCXB
"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. 643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV949qkysV
"I'm fine," I reassured him.643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI2WqzGjzg
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?643Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy1VLUDvS2
