Price of Fame

The sun glistened on Harumi Lake. Its warmth reached down on Alfie and his mother paddling around the lilies. The goldfish passing by seemed friendly with the frogs bouncing on the leaves. Catherine twirled around. Giddiness with being so close to nature made her feel like a child again. Showing off in her bikini, she ventured deeper into the lake and began to swim.

"Come on, Alfie!" she called. "It's nice down here."

Alfie sat down by the bank. Fingers interlaced as one hand splashed after another. "Must keep hands clean." Nobody liked dirty people and cleanliness was divinity for him. Shivering, his nails started clawing into his skin. Taking his hands out, startled the fish close by.

He screamed at the soil trapped in his fingernails. Catherine swam to him. "Alfie? What's wrong sweetie?"

"Why do you hate me so much?" Tears streamed down his eyes.

"Alfie...what makes you think I hate you?"

"A lot of things."