ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ ɪs ᴀ ᴄʀᴇᴇᴘʏ ᴊᴀᴘᴀɴᴇsᴇ ᴜʀʙᴀɴ ʟᴇɢᴇɴᴅ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀɪᴏᴜs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴏɴʟʏ ʏᴏᴜɴɢ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ sᴇᴇᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ. ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ ʜᴇᴀʀ ᴋɪᴅs ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏʙᴏᴅʏ sᴇᴇᴍs ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ɪs.

ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡɴ sᴛᴏʀʏ ᴏғ ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ ɪs ᴛʜɪs ᴏɴᴇ :

ɪ ᴀᴍ ᴀ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴇᴄᴇɴᴛʟʏ ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀ ᴊᴏʙ ɪɴ ᴀ ɴᴜʀsᴇʀʏ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ɪɴ ᴊᴀᴘᴀɴ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ʙᴜᴅᴅʜɪsᴛ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇsɪᴅᴇ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴀɴᴅ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʙᴏᴛʜ ʙᴜɪʟᴅɪɴɢs ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀɴ ᴏʟᴅ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇʏᴀʀᴅ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ɪs ᴀ ʟᴀʀɢᴇ ᴍᴇᴛᴀʟ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ sʜᴀʀᴘ sᴘɪᴋᴇs ᴀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇʏᴀʀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴘʀᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ғʀᴏᴍ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ɪɴsɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʟᴏsᴛ ᴏʀ ᴄᴀᴜsɪɴɢ ᴍɪsᴄʜɪᴇғ.

ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ᴅᴀʏs, ɪ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴠᴇʀʏ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs ɪɴsᴇᴄᴛs ᴀɴᴅ ʟɪᴢᴀʀᴅs ɪᴍᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘɪᴋᴇs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɪ ᴡᴏɴᴅᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴅᴏ sᴜᴄʜ ᴀ ᴛʜɪɴɢ. ᴀʟᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴏssɪʙʟᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴋ ᴏғ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴍɪsᴄʜɪᴇᴠᴏᴜs ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴜʀsᴇʀʏ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ, ɪᴛ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴀʟsᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴅᴏɴᴇ ʙʏ sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴇʟsᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴜʀsᴇʀʏ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴅᴅʜɪsᴛ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ sʜᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ sᴀᴍᴇ ᴇɴᴛʀᴀɴᴄᴇ, sᴏ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴀʟʟ ᴅᴀʏ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟsᴏ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʀʏ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ sᴛᴜᴅᴇɴᴛs ᴡʜᴏ ᴏғᴛᴇɴ ᴘʟᴀʏᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇʏᴀʀᴅ, sᴏ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴅɪғғɪᴄᴜʟᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀs ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ɪᴛ.

ʜᴏᴡᴇᴠᴇʀ, ᴏɴᴇ ᴅᴀʏ, ᴀ ᴍᴏʟᴇ ᴡᴀs ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴍᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴘʀɪɴᴄɪᴘᴀʟ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴍᴍᴇᴅɪᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀᴇᴅ ɪᴛ ᴀᴡᴀʏ, ᴘᴜᴛᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟ's ᴄᴏʀᴘsᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴜsᴛʙɪɴ. ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ᴅᴀʏs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴀ ᴄᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ɪᴍᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴡᴏʀsᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴡᴏʀsᴇ.

ᴛʜᴇ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴘʀɪɴᴄɪᴘᴀʟ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴅᴏɴᴇ. ʜᴇ ʜᴇʟᴅ ᴀ ᴍᴇᴇᴛɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀs ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴠɪᴛᴇᴅ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴘʀɪᴇsᴛs ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴅᴅɪsʜ ᴛᴇᴍᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴀᴛᴛᴇɴᴅ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ. "ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ᴛʜɪs?" ʜᴇ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ, "ᴡʜᴀᴛ sʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ɪ ᴅᴏ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ɪᴛ?".

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴅɪsᴄᴜssɪᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏʙᴏᴅʏ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴀɴʏ sᴏʟᴜᴛɪᴏɴs. ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴀʟᴍᴏsᴛ ᴀɴ ʜᴏᴜʀ , ᴡᴇ sᴛɪʟʟ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀs ᴅᴏɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴏʀ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ɪᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴɪɴɢ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.

ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ᴅᴀʏs ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ, ᴀ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴍᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴏᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀɴʏ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴛ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴜʀsᴇʀʏ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ. ᴡᴇ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴀ ᴄᴀɢᴇ ɪɴ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴀssʀᴏᴏᴍs ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴀʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ғᴇᴇᴅ ɪᴛ. ɪ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ɪᴛ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴡᴏʀᴋ.

ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ sᴘᴏᴋᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴜᴅᴅɪsᴛ ᴘʀɪᴇsᴛs, ʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴄʟᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴡᴇᴇᴅs ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴀᴠᴇʏᴀʀᴅ ᴇᴀʀʟɪᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴀᴅ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅɴ'ᴛ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ. ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴜʟᴘʀɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ɪᴍᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ɪ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ.

ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴍʏ ᴄʟᴀss ʜᴀᴅ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴇᴀʀʟʏ ғᴏʀ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ, sᴏ ɪ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ʜɪᴍ ᴀsɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ɪғ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ sᴇᴇɴ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ sᴀɪᴅ ᴏɴʟʏ ᴏɴᴇ ᴡᴏʀᴅ "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ"

"ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ?" ɪ ʀᴇᴘᴇᴀᴛᴇᴅ, "ᴡʜᴀᴛ ɪs ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ?" ɪ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴏʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ'ᴛ ᴇxᴘᴀɪɴ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇ ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ, ʜᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴋᴇᴘᴛ sʜᴀᴋɪɴɢ ʜɪs ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ʀᴇᴘᴇᴀᴛɪɴɢ "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ...ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ...ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ...".

ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴏɴ, ɪ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ". ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʟᴀss ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴇxᴘᴀɪɴ ᴡʜᴏ ᴏʀ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ ᴡᴀs, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴠᴇʀʏ ғʀᴜsᴛʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ.

ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟsᴏ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ᴇʟsᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ ᴍᴇ ᴀs ᴡᴇɪʀᴅ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴋɴᴇᴡ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴇᴛ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴋɪʟʟᴇᴅ ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴜᴘsᴇᴛ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ɪᴛ. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀs ɪғ ᴛʜᴀʏ ᴀʟʟ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀᴄᴄᴇᴘᴛᴇᴅ ɪᴛ, ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ ғᴇᴇʟɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍɪɢʜᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛɪɴɢ ɪᴛ ᴛᴏ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴ.

ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʏ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ's ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛs ᴄᴀᴍᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴘɪᴄᴋ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴜᴘ, ɪ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛs ɪғ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʜᴀᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ʜᴇᴀʀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ" ʙᴜᴛ ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴɪɴɢ ɪᴛ. ɪ ᴅᴇᴛᴇʀᴍɪɴᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀsɴ'ᴛ ᴀ ᴄʜᴀʀᴀᴄᴛᴇʀ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴀ ᴛᴠ sʜᴏᴡ ᴏʀ ᴀ ʙᴏᴏᴋ ᴇɪᴛʜᴇʀ, ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ᴄᴏᴍᴘʟᴇᴛᴇ ᴍʏsᴛᴇʀʏ.

ᴀs ɪ ᴡᴀs ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ʀᴇᴀᴅʏ ᴛᴏ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ, ᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀs sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴍᴇ. "ɪ'ᴍ sᴜʀᴇ ɪ sᴀᴡ ᴀ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴏɴ ɪᴛ" sʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ. sʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴀ ғᴇᴡ ʏᴇᴀʀs ᴀɢᴏ sʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ sᴇᴇɴ ᴀ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴅʀᴀᴡɴ ʙʏ ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀ ᴄʟᴀss, ᴀ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴏʏ, ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ᴡᴀs sᴜʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ᴡʀɪᴛᴛᴇɴ ʙᴇʟᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘɪᴄᴛᴜʀᴇ ᴡᴀs "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ".

"ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʟɪᴛᴛʟᴇ ʙᴏʏ?" ɪ ᴀsᴋᴇᴅ. "ʜᴇ ʟᴇғᴛ" sʜᴇ ʀᴇᴘʟɪᴇᴅ, "ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄɪʀᴄᴜᴍsᴛᴀɴᴄᴇs ᴏғ ʜɪs ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ǫᴜɪᴛᴇ sᴛʀᴀɴɢᴇ...". sʜᴇ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ᴀʙsᴇɴᴛ ғʀᴏᴍ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ғᴏʀ ᴀ ᴡᴇᴇᴋ. ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴏɴᴇ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ, ʜɪs ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛs ᴛᴜʀɴᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏʟʟᴇᴄᴛ ʜɪs sᴄʜᴏᴏʟʙᴏᴏᴋs. ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ɪɴ ᴀ ʜᴜʀʀʏ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀʟᴋ. ᴀʟʟ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴀʏ ᴡᴀs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴏɴ ʜᴀᴅ ʙᴇᴇɴ ɪɴ ᴀɴ ᴀᴄᴄɪᴅᴇɴᴛ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴍᴏᴠɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴄɪᴛʏ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʀᴇғᴜsᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴇʟᴀʙᴏʀᴀᴛᴇ ғᴜʀᴛʜᴇʀ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀ ɢᴀᴠᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴏᴋs ᴀɴᴅ, ᴀs ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ʟᴇᴀᴠɪɴɢ, sʜᴇ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ sᴏɴ ᴡᴀs sɪᴛᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴀᴄᴋ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄᴀʀ.

"ʜᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴡᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴇʏᴇ-ᴘᴀᴛᴄʜᴇs" sʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ, "ɴᴏᴛ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴏɴᴇ ᴇʏᴇ-ᴘᴀᴛᴄʜ ʙᴜᴛ ᴛᴡᴏ...ᴏᴠᴇʀ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs". ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀʟʟ sʜᴇ ᴄᴏᴜʟᴅ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ, sʜᴇ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ ᴡʜᴀᴛ ʜᴀᴘᴘᴇɴᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ʜɪs ᴘᴀʀᴇɴᴛs ᴅʀᴏᴠᴇ ᴏғғ ᴀɴᴅ sʜᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ sᴀᴡ ʜɪᴍ ᴀɢᴀɪɴ.

ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇxᴛ ᴍᴏʀɴɪɴɢ, ᴡʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴀʀʀɪᴠᴇᴅ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴄʜᴏᴏʟ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʀɪɴᴄɪᴘᴀʟ ᴛᴏʟᴅ ᴍᴇ ʜᴇ ʜᴀᴅ ғᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀ ᴄʜɪᴄᴋᴇɴ ɪᴍᴘᴀʟᴇᴅ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ, ɪ sʜᴏᴏᴋ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ɪɴ ᴅɪsʙᴇʟɪᴇғ, ɪᴛ sᴇᴇᴍᴇᴅ ᴀs ɪғ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ɢᴏɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ. ʟᴀᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴅᴀʏ, ᴅᴜʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴜɴᴄʜ ʙʀᴇᴀᴋ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʏᴀʀᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴍʏ ᴛᴜʀɴ ᴛᴏ sᴜᴘᴇʀᴠɪsᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ɪ ɴᴏᴛɪᴄᴇᴅ ᴏɴᴇ ʙᴏʏ ᴡʜᴏ ᴡᴀs ᴄʟᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴᴛʟʏ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʜɪs ᴛʀᴀᴄᴋs ᴀɴᴅ ʟᴏᴏᴋᴇᴅ ᴜᴘ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ sᴋʏ, "ɪᴛ's ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ" ʜᴇ sᴀɪᴅ. ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴇssᴀɢᴇ ᴡᴀs ᴘᴀssᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀʏɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜɪʟᴅ, ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ɢᴀᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴄʜɪɴᴇsᴇ ᴡʜɪsᴘᴇʀs "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ"..."ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ"..."ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ"

ᴀs ɪ ᴡᴀᴛᴄʜᴇᴅ ɪɴ ᴅɪsʙᴇʟɪᴇғ, ᴏɴᴇ ʙʏ ᴏɴᴇ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ʜᴀɴᴅs. sᴏᴍᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡᴇʀᴇ sᴛᴀɴᴅɪɴɢ ᴀɴᴅ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀs ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴄʀᴏᴜᴄʜɪɴɢ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴʟᴇss. ɪᴛ ᴡᴀs ᴀ ʙʀɪɢʜᴛ, sᴜɴɴʏ ᴀғᴛᴇɴᴏᴏɴ, ʙᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜɴᴇᴀsʏ sɪʟᴇɴᴄᴇ sᴇɴᴛ ᴀ ᴄʜɪʟʟ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴍʏ sᴘɪɴᴇ. ɪ ᴋɴᴇʟᴛ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ɪɴ ғʀᴏɴᴛ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ɴᴇᴀʀᴇsᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴇ ᴀɴᴅ sᴀɪᴅ "ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ sᴇᴇ ᴀɴʏᴛʜɪɴɢ, ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ?".

ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ᴅɪᴅɴ'ᴛ ᴀɴsᴡᴇʀ ᴍᴇ, sᴏ ɪ ᴘᴜʟʟᴇᴅ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴀᴡᴀʏ ғʀᴏᴍ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs. "ɪ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ", ɪ sᴀɪᴅ sᴛᴇʀɴʟʏ, "ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ?". "ɪ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴋɴᴏᴡ" ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ᴍᴜᴛᴛᴇʀᴇᴅ ᴀs ʜᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀ ʜɪs ᴇʏᴇs ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ɪ ɢʀᴀʙʙᴇᴅ ʜɪs ᴡʀɪsᴛs ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ , "ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ !", ɪ ᴅᴇᴍᴀɴᴅᴇᴅ, "ᴡʜᴏ ɪs ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ?". ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ sᴛᴜᴄᴋ ᴏᴜᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ɪɴᴅᴇʀ ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ᴏɴ ʙᴏᴛʜ ᴏғ ʜɪs ʜᴀɴᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ʀᴀɪsᴇᴅ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴜᴘ ɪɴ ғʀᴏɴᴅ ᴏғ ᴍʏ ғᴀᴄᴇ. ᴛʜᴇɴ, ᴀʟʟ ᴏғ ᴀ sᴜᴅᴅᴇɴ, ʜᴇ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴊᴀʙ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɪɴᴛᴏ ᴍʏ ᴇʏᴇs. ɪᴛ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ᴍᴇ ʙʏ sᴜʀᴘʀɪsᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ʟᴜᴄᴋɪʟʏ ɪ ᴡᴀs ᴀʙʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴏᴠᴇ ᴍʏ ʜᴇᴀᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ sɪᴅᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴏᴅɢᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀᴛᴛᴀᴄᴋ.

ʙᴇғᴏʀᴇ ɪ ʜᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛᴏ ʀᴇᴀᴄᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏʏ ʙʀᴏᴋᴇ ғʀᴇᴇ ғʀᴏᴍ ᴍʏ ɢʀᴀsᴘ ᴀɴᴅ sᴛᴀʀᴛᴇᴅ ᴊᴀʙʙɪɴɢ ʜɪs ғɪɴɢᴇʀs ɪɴᴛᴏ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇs. ɪ ᴡʀᴇsᴛʟᴇᴅ ʜɪᴍ ᴛᴏ ᴛʜᴇ ɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅᴇsᴘᴇʀᴀᴛᴇʟʏ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ sᴛᴏᴘ ʜɪᴍ ᴘᴏᴋɪɴɢ ʜɪs ᴏᴡɴ ᴇʏᴇs ᴏᴜᴛ. "sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴍᴇ !" ɪ sᴄʀᴇᴀᴍᴇᴅ.

ᴀғᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴀɴɪᴍᴀʟs sᴛᴏᴘᴘᴇᴅ ᴀᴘᴘᴇᴀʀɪɴɢ ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ sᴘɪᴋᴇs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɪʀᴏɴ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ. ɴᴏɴᴇ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴍᴇɴᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ". ɴᴏᴡ ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇɴ ɪ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅ sᴇᴇ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴄᴏᴠᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴇʏᴇs ᴡʜᴇɴ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴡᴇʀᴇ ᴏᴜᴛsɪᴅᴇ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ᴘʟᴀʏɢʀᴏᴜɴᴅ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴛʀɪᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇ ɪᴛ.

ᴏᴄᴄᴀsɪᴏɴᴀʟʟʏ, ɪ sᴛɪʟʟ ғɪɴᴅ sᴍᴀʟʟ ʟɪᴢᴀʀᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ɪsᴇᴄᴛs ᴏɴ ᴛʜᴇ ɪʀᴏɴ ғᴇɴᴄᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪ ᴄʜᴏᴏsᴇ ᴛᴏ ɪɢɴᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴀs ᴡᴇʟʟ. ɪ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ǫᴜᴇsᴛɪᴏɴᴇᴅ ᴀɴʏ ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜɪʟᴅʀᴇɴ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ "ʜɪsᴀʀᴜᴋɪ" ᴀɢᴀɪɴ. ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ sᴏᴍᴇ ᴛʜɪɴɢs ʏᴏᴜ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ ᴡᴀɴᴛ ᴛᴏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ...