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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjNKxLFTW7
"I'm looking for a notebook," I answered. "It's my best friend's birthday."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2ZfqPaDE4
"Oh, it's Ferdinand's birthday today?" her eyes widened. "But I thought his birthday had passed."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorhgumT2qQ
"Not Ferdinand," I laughed. "It's Naomi's birthday today."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7CizZaCPB
Mrs Rai's eyebrows twitched. "Oh, which one?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVmzzfMorP
"The one from Japan," I explained. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCw27VPmiEF
"Oh that one," she exclaimed. "Well, I find her family a bit cold, especially when I talked to them."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRaLmrraS9A
"Well, they just moved here," I defended. "They'll get used to it." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8D6VZtHfJw
"Of course. So what kind of notebook does Naomi like?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD0mizLNzmm
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9KHAHW9C1
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMzcXoulsS
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaiC1coUll
"So how much is this, Mrs Rai? I asked. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdRQHR0dwt
"It's two dollars," she said. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIM4QpEGXsX
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?" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlycToeVNS
She shook her head. "Sorry, Bugsy," she sighed. "Paper is also being rationed right now."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGClZD6XZlk
"But why?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6LArvlIW4
"Government wants to save money, Bugsy," Mrs Rai told me. "It's the same thing with food and coffee and even petrol."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vy4djdef2
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?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVyCKx5Jj5
"Yes," I replied. "I got her a notebook."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZyPhQduzK
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQtw8gmI40
"But there's nothing to wrap the gift, auntie," I complained. "Mrs Rai said the paper's being rationed."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2qVeLfeyG
"Then you use an old newspaper," suggested Aunt Inara. "Here, we have dozens of them."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSUiIg1pyL
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPusITjhfh9
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkHSOCTQ2w
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mKb1wMvOc
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUtfJIg2Qr
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKuKzmDS3x
"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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPZReSLuVZ
I shook my head. "We're just friends, nothing else more than that." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4VrMfD0Ea
"We'll see in the next ten years."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDMmPxiW7R
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XIozzvRyH
"Kore wa anata no tomodachi no hitorideshou is?" Mr Watanabe asked. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMnLaPkFfi
"Yes, father, " Naomi replied. "That's my friend."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPAw5Z5Y4r
"I'll be in the kitchen," he reminded his daughter. Ferdinand bowed and shook hands with Naomi. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4twpqClADz
"I'm so glad you can make it," Naomi cheered as she gave a hug to Ferdinand. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoi0XZBizP3
"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." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnjR4YccxO
"Happy birthday, Naomi."
"Thanks, Ferdinand," she jumped in joy. I stood up and showed her my gift, wrapped in a recycled newspaper. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMIi8GodzD
"Open mine, Naomi," I flashed my gift to her. She unwrapped the recycled newspaper and her jaws dropped. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYNOaFgQhz
"Bugsy," she gasped. "Where did you get this?" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0HkGMZYrH
"From the bookstore," I grinned. "I know what you always wanted."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi85OK0FEOo
"I don't know what to say." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGWEKwMRUO
"I believe the word you're looking for is thank you."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveZatnAf0H
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." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt2SZ9iu7V
"It's what friends do, Naomi," I put my arms around her. "To have each other's back no matter what."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG8nuSGWkC
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu8v1Y7cABW
"Oh, didn't notice that when I walked in."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEZWCIQwOs
Then, Mr and Mrs Watanabe entered the living room, holding a carrot cake, with fourteen candles all over the cake.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPW8zubJmw6
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Naomi,
Happy birthday to you.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9kDSG0zuU
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhbT6t6SeL
"Hey Naomi," he spoke, "You should ask your parents later whether we could take a leisurely stroll on the dirt road."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6NGhacgNC
Naomi's eyes widened. "What for?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmUv1WnO2u
"It's our tradition," I stated. "Whenever a teenager celebrates his or her birthday, they walk down the dirt road."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAqjUMeX7E
"Where to?" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwi8Xe25Jh
"Wherever it takes them," Lisa commented. "Everyone's experience was different. Last year, the dirt road took me to a grassy meadow."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fBaULH6vG
"And mine took me to Montago Bay," Ferdinand joined in. "It was a scary experience."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplIo3y2uWX
"Am I walking alone?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRryzDkpPU
I shook my head. "No, we're doing this together."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgt4qLr3Tz
Naomi left the room and headed towards the kitchen. "Well," Lisa stretched herself. "I'm going to the loo."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8xar4Jkqs
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWZmX7L9RG
"But you did, Bugsy," he pestered as he lay his head on my lap. "You're kinda rough today."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0zCv6iuRV
"Don't make me kill you," I struggled to hide my laughter. "I can make it look accidental."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbYsRM4l4W
"And how are you going to do that, exactly?" he continued poking my waist. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8iuCnTXiq
"I could make you have a heart attack." 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDalKHmxO3p
Naomi and Lisa entered and dropped their flashlights on the floor as they say us. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ngx5wWgou
"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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyQ6Try7ai
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2oVYgY7F4
Ferdinand stripped off his hot pink jacket and cloaked me with it to keep me warm, making Lisa giggle softly. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsN98yCS1Go
"What's so funny?" I glared. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI32h2i1tTv
"I thought you and Ferdinand are just friends," tormented Lisa. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9c8yxZha4
"Friends keep each other warm," Ferdinand defended himself and gave me a huge high five. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIjuDXoehA
"I'm cold too," Naomi complained. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7aM7u5sJK
"Well damn Naomi, I don't control the weather," Lisa retorted. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdlmZkPjCK
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtq7EuIDnfY
"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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75ytpwkhNd
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCsWTTZGCC
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4HSuqGrWIF
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0PjRX9iJs
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjKO6qC1Il
As we crept inside, Ferdinand sat on a chair, only to collapse on the floor. "This definitely need repairs."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTS0HJ3TcoV
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUhTXbWWt4
"Who's Naomi?" she asked, with a little boy's tone. "I'm Malcolm."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiG8InnrE2
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYRaNnXQxL
"What do you want?" I felt a tremor in my hands. "Are you going to kill us?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP07LPwtA1Q
Malcolm shook his head. "No, miss," he dismissed. "I'm very lonely and I haven't spoken to anyone for years."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNpPyGaMtW
"How long you've been here, Malcolm?" I wondered, rubbing my palms together. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMSX9a6ioH
"I've lost count, miss."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIJFQnVS4m
"Call me Bugsy," I introduced myself. "Like the cartoon character, Bugs Bunny."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDXiwJC97T
"What's up, doc?" he quoted. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRTgqKdoaP
I snorted. "I see you watched that cartoon as well."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNymuBI69E
"I always watched it with my mom and dad, until I died."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zTtKwuwuc
I put my hands on Naomi's arms and gazed. "How did you die?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8i9anTDL1L
A rope dropped from the ceiling, leaving me tongue-tied. "Who hanged you?" 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFEAjBMfBr
"The ones in white robes."
Naomi choked on her breath as she looked around, dazed. She got up from her seat, rubbing her forehead. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkqYh0vif6
"Bugsy," she rubbed her eyes, speaking in her normal voice. "What happened?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoAelBGdNY
I put her arms around my shoulder and lightly kicked Ferdinand's leg, causing him to wake up. "Where are we?"627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWltLHeUlRy
"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.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ6hg2aKMb
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bL2bsrtYw
"Talk rudely, or that negro die," he threatened. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgRgANsPFm
"It's my birthday," Naomi pointed out. "And it's a tradition for every teenager to walking with their friends down the dirt road."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpxhxpx7Qf
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."627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVud4E0QR3q
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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCWZNlbKrN
"What's the KKK?" Naomi asked. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkRTwxDWB2
"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. 627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnQkYJanSa
"I'm fine," I reassured him.627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02hdiU6QE2
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?627Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5YWmg7Jtr
