Capítulo 21: CHAPTER XX
After waiting for a while and no news from Josh, Aidan decides to skip classes for the rest of periods after lunch. He grabs his bike and walks down the Mountain Side to calm his mind. For a few moments, he wanders off course. Finally, he decides he would look at the settlement on the Central Side. In the afternoons, the Central Side housing complex is much livelier. Several small children play in their front yard, while their mothers watch, chatting with other residents.
Aidan pedals his bike slowly, trying not to look suspicious from looking around the area. Fortunately, the main road that runs through the housing complex penetrates the outer lane of the city. So, it looks like Aidan is cutting the road to the outer city lane. He is thinking of continuing to the outskirts of the city and turning towards The Cook when a familiar figure appears from the courtyard of one of the houses.
Aidan tries to turn the bike, avoiding the figure. However, he is too late.
"Mr. Reid?" asks Miss Silver in surprise. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you still be at school?"
"Er..." Aidan thinks quickly for an excuse that wouldn't make Miss Silver asking more. “There is an emergency, a friend, my mother's friend, seems to be sick and Umm… needs help. So, I was asked to see her condition."
"Oh, where's the house? Let me help." Miss Silver speaks, pointing to a car parked nearby.
Aidan scratches the back of his head embarrassedly. It seems, he gave a wrong excuse for being there. "Umm, no, there's no need. My mother is already there. She… uh, the two of us are enough, I guess.”
Miss Silver looks at him, slightly suspicious, but says nothing to refute Aidan's words. "Very well then, Mr. Reid. I better go."
"Er, Miss Silver," calls Aidan. He, himself, is surprised why he calls Miss Silver when she was about to leave him. "Do you live here?"
“No, I live just outside of Mountain Side town. I am looking for a house to rent, one that is closer to the school. All right, bye, Mr. Reid."
Aidan waves at Miss Silver and he stays there until Miss Silver's car disappears. Aidan turns to the courtyard where Miss Silver previously entered. He stares at the courtyard and the front of the house. There is no sign that the house is rented. At that time, the door of the house opens and a small child comes out, followed by her mother.
"Hey, Hannah, don't run, you'll fall!" exclaims her mother while trying to catch up with her daughter who is already running toward the road.
The little girl stops, not because of her mother's scream, but because Aidan is perched on his bicycle and blocking the exit. The girl looks at Aidan in surprise then turns and runs towards her mother.
The mother looks at Aidan curiously. "Is there anything I can help?" she asks as she walks closer.
Hannah hides behind her mother's calf while stealing glances at Aidan.
“Er, is your house for rent? My mother is looking for a more comfortable house for the two of us to live in,” replies Aidan, lying.
Hannah's mother shakes her head softly. “Sorry, our house is not for rent. Maybe you can look elsewhere."
“Yes, I just think your house seems very comfortable. So, I thought, maybe this is my lucky day. Can you tell me which houses in this area are for rent?"
Hannah's mother thinks for a moment. "To my knowledge, none."
“It's a shame, even though the environment here is nice. Earlier, I met an acquaintance who just walked out of your house. She said she was looking for a rented house around here. So, I thought….”
"Your acquaintance? Oh, you mean Miss Silver? No, she's a day care worker near the Mountain Side Mall. Sometimes, we leave Hannah there. She was just visiting."
"Oh." Aidan did not know that Miss Silver is also a day care worker. Why did she reason that she was looking for a rented house in the housing complex? Was she embarrassed to admit that she has an odd job?
"It seems, I misheard the conversation earlier. Okay, bye." Aidan returns to pedaling his bicycle, thinking about his meeting with Miss Silver.
Presentes
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recebido Status de energia semanal
-- Ranking de
Poder 
-- Pedra de
Poder