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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQpbDxdSDn
"I'm looking for a notebook," I answered. "It's my best friend's birthday."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ibe20VLn1
"Oh, it's Ferdinand's birthday today?" her eyes widened. "But I thought his birthday had passed."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdsOXPCMhy
"Not Ferdinand," I laughed. "It's Naomi's birthday today."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObm9betfqV
Mrs Rai's eyebrows twitched. "Oh, which one?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZsjoRUF9i
"The one from Japan," I explained. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT3max47CP
"Oh that one," she exclaimed. "Well, I find her family a bit cold, especially when I talked to them."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJV0RhqKts
"Well, they just moved here," I defended. "They'll get used to it." 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx08zLZxy1F
"Of course. So what kind of notebook does Naomi like?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVA1y9FMCIg
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA1SjC6gxy
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSikFoSBUPQ
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tzvcn0KVa
"So how much is this, Mrs Rai? I asked. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwxGCmOURT
"It's two dollars," she said. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5UPOXL5XH
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?" 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4epjmoqSD
She shook her head. "Sorry, Bugsy," she sighed. "Paper is also being rationed right now."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4rfupb2gi
"But why?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJ3Qibb8j3
"Government wants to save money, Bugsy," Mrs Rai told me. "It's the same thing with food and coffee and even petrol."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBr2fImIJkX
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?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwtqYAu9Nv
"Yes," I replied. "I got her a notebook."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tNWpOrHlh
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqr14vdX5AF
"But there's nothing to wrap the gift, auntie," I complained. "Mrs Rai said the paper's being rationed."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQHsWEu54c
"Then you use an old newspaper," suggested Aunt Inara. "Here, we have dozens of them."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzxSMniIF5
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsARa3Crxf4
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJBtu2PtkH
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdIMmKxXuI
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumSRlVBUUM
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2To9AXZlpG
"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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCqhbNaKNu
I shook my head. "We're just friends, nothing else more than that." 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrgzl0av8r
"We'll see in the next ten years."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXXDv1GAqQ
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQe4Q750Jg
"Kore wa anata no tomodachi no hitorideshou is?" Mr Watanabe asked. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhnd2Yu2xdL
"Yes, father, " Naomi replied. "That's my friend."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJUWQdATqF
"I'll be in the kitchen," he reminded his daughter. Ferdinand bowed and shook hands with Naomi. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEr7D8ufHQ
"I'm so glad you can make it," Naomi cheered as she gave a hug to Ferdinand. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPAL0DIP8X
"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." 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEBcWJQugt
"Happy birthday, Naomi."
"Thanks, Ferdinand," she jumped in joy. I stood up and showed her my gift, wrapped in a recycled newspaper. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn5JWQCFYO
"Open mine, Naomi," I flashed my gift to her. She unwrapped the recycled newspaper and her jaws dropped. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtk0ahX19d9
"Bugsy," she gasped. "Where did you get this?" 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJeP9qmRHo
"From the bookstore," I grinned. "I know what you always wanted."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2bAYbzlJv
"I don't know what to say." 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBAWD9Z5xT
"I believe the word you're looking for is thank you."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6k1Ri7bJS
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." 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXPniV20Ec
"It's what friends do, Naomi," I put my arms around her. "To have each other's back no matter what."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgYKeDJjBk
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kIdW5og0l
"Oh, didn't notice that when I walked in."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3V8G5bVoV
Then, Mr and Mrs Watanabe entered the living room, holding a carrot cake, with fourteen candles all over the cake.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQcbc09py0
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to you,
Happy birthday to Naomi,
Happy birthday to you.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqAx9c4yNq
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1SlFihfBY
"Hey Naomi," he spoke, "You should ask your parents later whether we could take a leisurely stroll on the dirt road."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HvFbLT2BL
Naomi's eyes widened. "What for?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBojI04EUKH
"It's our tradition," I stated. "Whenever a teenager celebrates his or her birthday, they walk down the dirt road."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSpLCr0CmJ
"Where to?" 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXxU81rWu1
"Wherever it takes them," Lisa commented. "Everyone's experience was different. Last year, the dirt road took me to a grassy meadow."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERwUWp694B
"And mine took me to Montago Bay," Ferdinand joined in. "It was a scary experience."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLLyt1JfPJ
"Am I walking alone?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFoubdl84C
I shook my head. "No, we're doing this together."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMSTMfvdv5
Naomi left the room and headed towards the kitchen. "Well," Lisa stretched herself. "I'm going to the loo."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNEdeUiBRp
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNxeJT0ezO
"But you did, Bugsy," he pestered as he lay his head on my lap. "You're kinda rough today."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5f0JuwKXJ
"Don't make me kill you," I struggled to hide my laughter. "I can make it look accidental."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQsRKUu1Ta
"And how are you going to do that, exactly?" he continued poking my waist. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyuzxOceSLO
"I could make you have a heart attack." 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTp84Yr6Hw
Naomi and Lisa entered and dropped their flashlights on the floor as they say us. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulbSlfb1OH
"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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKHgeRfeNj
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gmmRajPSZ
Ferdinand stripped off his hot pink jacket and cloaked me with it to keep me warm, making Lisa giggle softly. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rX60n0mci
"What's so funny?" I glared. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkTlISfhSY
"I thought you and Ferdinand are just friends," tormented Lisa. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIAqlvhBmQ
"Friends keep each other warm," Ferdinand defended himself and gave me a huge high five. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXuhP4mdX6
"I'm cold too," Naomi complained. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2acbbII0a
"Well damn Naomi, I don't control the weather," Lisa retorted. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2R0vK2Ulv
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNbaEtRsCf
"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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhquRveUVS
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSD7lgH46I
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrOqarLQRv
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKznZYKcyT
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIz8vAb2hr
As we crept inside, Ferdinand sat on a chair, only to collapse on the floor. "This definitely need repairs."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX02SSdiQX
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi66tSGUEJ
"Who's Naomi?" she asked, with a little boy's tone. "I'm Malcolm."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJvvXkdDfPB
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6JbVrCRIo
"What do you want?" I felt a tremor in my hands. "Are you going to kill us?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRYBpPeJYr
Malcolm shook his head. "No, miss," he dismissed. "I'm very lonely and I haven't spoken to anyone for years."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2cORuinDV
"How long you've been here, Malcolm?" I wondered, rubbing my palms together. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7U9BvlD0P
"I've lost count, miss."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IKj8vQyvL
"Call me Bugsy," I introduced myself. "Like the cartoon character, Bugs Bunny."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06Ot00VkhA
"What's up, doc?" he quoted. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO8elvbOYy
I snorted. "I see you watched that cartoon as well."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn3nZV0l67
"I always watched it with my mom and dad, until I died."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7t0mHAdUh
I put my hands on Naomi's arms and gazed. "How did you die?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaYCHg0ELv
A rope dropped from the ceiling, leaving me tongue-tied. "Who hanged you?" 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK6iDxF8lB
"The ones in white robes."
Naomi choked on her breath as she looked around, dazed. She got up from her seat, rubbing her forehead. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWATx6FQIzp
"Bugsy," she rubbed her eyes, speaking in her normal voice. "What happened?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd5DTQLxXb
I put her arms around my shoulder and lightly kicked Ferdinand's leg, causing him to wake up. "Where are we?"525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fqOOE6uit
"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.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTo7zhRaBW
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lT8k1Tf2M
"Talk rudely, or that negro die," he threatened. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpO6B252rc
"It's my birthday," Naomi pointed out. "And it's a tradition for every teenager to walking with their friends down the dirt road."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL28zE1fz1v
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."525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJd0O8gY0Dr
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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcTpMPW93kv
"What's the KKK?" Naomi asked. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqkKTByj1N
"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. 525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLk8jYojkk
"I'm fine," I reassured him.525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡplPB4EPrh2
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?525Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz0LhKFQvd
and then Add to home screen.