A Call That Changed Her Entire Life

"I'm sorry. I'm afraid of the dark." Beryl struggled to get up and was full of apologies as she continued, "Dylan, did I hurt you anywhere?"

"No, no, it's okay," he answered quickly. He pushed himself to his feet, flushed with embarrassment. He noticed that she did not seem to register anything wrong with the situation. Beryl did not appear at all disturbed by the unseemly moment. It was as if nothing had happened.

Though still young, Dylan knew clearly what "inappropriate for children" meant, so naturally he knew what a first kiss was and what it meant to people as well.

He felt a great sense of disappointment upon seeing that she did not find anything wrong with the kiss. However, he considered it lucky that his mother knew nothing about the kiss. Otherwise, he would surely receive a severe beating...

"Beryl, let's keep this a secret. What happened just now didn't happen, okay? Do not let anyone else know about it, especially my mother, okay?"

"Secret? What secret are you talking about?" she asked.

"I meant that...just now... I kissed you... No, wait! You kissed me... No! Ehmm..." Still flustered he had managed to even confuse himself. Finally, he blurted it out, "I meant the secret was that we kissed by accident just now!"

"Oh, like this, right?" she said innocently. Blinking her big eyes, she stood up on tippy toes and kissed him quite deliberately on the cheek, to show that she knew what he was referring to.

He stared at her in disbelief. His face flushed like a ripe tomato, " You...kissed me, again!"! !

"Is there something wrong with that?" She seemed confused too and tried her best to explain, "Mommy once told me that only people in an intimate relationship can kiss each other..."

"No, you are a girl. You can not kiss others so casually like this." Struggling to remain calm he fought to keep a straight face like a grown-up, as he continued sternly, "Have you ever kissed any other boys, except me?"

She shook her head slowly, "No."

The sudden happiness he felt was confusing, yet it also filled him with pleasure. 'She kissed only one boy, and that's me!' he thought, inexplicably happy.

"Anyway, you can't kiss others so casually in the future," he cautioned.

outsider or a stranger to

her watery eyes searching his face. Tears seemed

made Dylan panic, and he hurriedly wiped her face with his sleeve explaining, "Of course not. You are not

crying, just like a bonny, full of

not want her to cry. He wanted her to be happy always, and such was the power she had over

Moving in closer to her, he kissed her cheek, "Don't cry

stopped crying

her tears with his pudgy fingers he soothed, "Of course. So promise me that you will not kiss others or let

what about you?"

the exception, the only one allowed to

her head she said, "Okay, I got

for her from now on. Other boys would not

secret. Let's pinky-swear on it,"

...

Misty

of the whole village. The bride they bought for their son at such a high price was stolen away by a bare-handed foreigner! What was more, there was nothing they could do about it, but accept it

furious-her husband was still lying in bed seriously injured, and his son was

could do nothing but curse Jacob and Emily in her mind!

that Jacob was such a good fighter. Besides, Mr. Barefoot was the best and the only doctor in the whole village! She couldn't afford to offend either

not Jacob or Emily, but

did not want to see

he cherished them tremendously, and he saved them carefully, despite the toys made of grass and leaves having turned from

not expected that her son would become so infatuated with Emily. "She must be a evil witch and has stolen your soul! If I knew it earlier, I would definitely have asked your

is not!" Finally, he responded to her ravings and seriously refuted her accusations,

I should never have found you a beautiful wife! Beauty will only bring trouble for