4

After long cycling, Robert reached his grandfather's house. He walked towards the door which he found to be still locked and the window -as it is now visible- was still shut. The house seemed empty with no sign of occupation;

- "Where would he be?" he wondered since he is usually sitting on the threshold admiring the moonlight.

- "If he is not there, then he must be inside his house" interpreted Robert.

He looked up at the window for the light to be cast on his angelic face making his beautiful features rise up to meet his beautiful heart. A protruding forehead of a round face where his eyes were the biggest feature since his nose was too small as well as his mouth. It is all well-shaped in a supreme devotion. All were designed to find and never lose. To track a clue or a hint which will clarify his state of confusion. He deepened his gaze since that is his tool for finding what he is looking for. And he came to notice on the window a drawing of something that was shaped as;

-" a star!".

However how surprising it is that;

-"the fifth angle of the star is missing".

Robert saw only four angles drawn on the glass of the window. He noticed that a line came down from the fifth angle and drew what seemed to be a tree trunk. But;

-"What should this mean?" and "where is grandpa?".

The drawing was too clear to be seen -although it was too far -, but the message conveyed was too blurry, and his grandfather's local was still unclear.

At that moment he decided to break the window's glass and go inside the house. So, he climbed the almond tree again and called repeatedly. His words were echoing the empty rooms of the crack house since no sign was seen and no answer was heard. Kidnapped, dead, only God knows since only God has witnessed the horrific incident. He went up the stairs and down numerous times to check inside and outside of the rooms. Unfortunately, not a scent or a trace of him was spotted. With heavy steps, he approached the kitchen to see that his grandfather still has not prepared the apple pies.

True that the activity Mr. Declan enjoyed the most was preparing fresh apple pies for the other serfs. Its aroma awakened even the dead from their graves to testify that the scent of heaven is enchained and still remained free. So, it is to be tasted but never really enjoyed. Such moments of delicacy were soared by the knowing which became close to a certitude that the morning is far from reach. Despite how freshly made these apple pies are, the rays of the sun will not rise again for its golden crust to actually shine. Robert stood in the kitchen tracing the steps of his grandfather, but not a trace of him was found anywhere around the corners of his eyes.

Robert's thoughts were too unorganized that it loosened finding a convenient answer to numerous emerging questions. He leaned on one of the dining table's chairs, to ease the heaviness of his head and wished moments like these would not last long. Even if it meant plunging into total oblivion, so be it, it is. He was about to give it all up and admit to his lost breath that it was all lost. But, amidst that silence, his ears were quick to capture a strange, familiar voice coming from outside the street. He approached the window to see;

- "Somebody trying to steal my bicycle,"

He ran to the door and screamed at the person

- "hay, that is my bic…"

But the person was already three streets away to hear him. Robert was so affectioned by that bicycle, or rather the memories aligned with it. It was a gift from his father whom he loved very dearly. It is the only object to remind him of his father and to feel his presence with him whenever he went. How much he felt frustrated by the sight of that person on his bicycle. Totally reckless in thoughts as well as in behavior, Robert run so fast that he skipped three streets in less than two minutes. How unfortunate it is that the person who stole the bicycle was running down fourth street. Robert gazed profoundly to see him running away without his bicycle. He looked around and noticed that the person threw it in the middle of the driveway and run faster than the wind.

Little did Robert care about the why as much as he cared about the how;

- "how to get my bicycle back?"

It is a very difficult mission to be accomplished since the driveway was too crowded. Robert looked ahead to see oxen-pulled carts coming from all directions as well as wagons. Not thinking or rather not wanting to think, he ran towards his bicycle ignoring the booming, the screaming, and the insults of the wagoner. After what seemed to be a deathly chase, he was able to reach out and get his bicycle. But, he could not turn back because the driveway was becoming more crowded and the possibility of getting run over is very accurate.

-"not many solutions are left" so to proceeded, towards the forest.