Parallel Park - Chionh Zhe Wen (Chapter 1)

Boy strutted across the sandy pavement by the highway like a giant, obviously fearless of the vehicles that are bulleting just inches away from him. But a child like him should not be in such danger. An adventure of sorts will be too dangerous for him. Nonetheless, Boy was bored and strange to the neighborhood, the forest behind it, and everything else around him. He shuddered at the cold sight of the back forest, and fell asleep looking at the stout houses lining up beside one another in the neighborhood. But who is to blame a child for disliking the work of adults?

Boy sat down by the bushes, hoping to spot a bug or two. Maybe he could then have them as friends. They sure pose excellent candidates. That was what he had in mind, though he was not in luck. But luck sure is unpredictable, just like the break of dawn, or the mind of a child.

Boy heard a bark. A crystal clear bark. It was almost as if the bark wanted to be heard by someone. Boy turned his back, and moved in close to the noise or melody, of which he could not decide. He shuffled a few bushes to pass through between two gargantuan trees. Seriously, the trees were really like two giants, guarding the passage behind them.

Boy slipped in, then into darkness, then howling darkness, then eerie darkness, before stepping out into shades of light from three adjacent lampposts. Boy heaved a sigh of relief, like the one he took after taking his first and last roller coaster ride.

A cut ran across the back of his left shoulder. Red oozed out, smearing on Boy's white colored shirt, as the lonely sky above started to turn a ghastly coat of grey color.

Boy soon discovered it and began to sob a little. Worse still, his head was spinning like a carousel. Then the flowers and lights around him started spinning too. But not like rainbows. Boy staggered to a bench he spotted and struggled with his hands supporting his equilibrium. Wilting on the bench, he fell out of reach, and out of time...

"Little man, it's been a while, but I'm sure glad you're back."

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