The Boy Got His Lesson

Lukas walked doubtfully. He didn't remember the way to the bakery. Meanwhile, the sky was getting dark. He was lucky because earlier, the road was crowded. He could scream if something looked suspicious to him.

Exhausted, Lukas reached into his pocket, finding that he only had a dollar bill in there. "How lucky. I am hungry and thirsty, but only have a dollar in my pocket. Why is the bakery so far away? It is just ten minutes from the office, no? … by car, silly!" he grumbled to himself. He was annoyed because he wished he had arrived at the bakery and could eat and drink freely there. He felt so sorry for skipping breakfast and not eating lunch at school properly.

Lukas looked around. He then approached the sandwich booth which was fifty meters away from him, located in front of the mini market.

"What will I get for this one dollar, sir?" asked Lukas while handing the seller his money.

The seller looked at Luke and said, "Go to your parents and ask for another six dollars. I'll give you a packet of delicious hot dogs and a chocolate milkshake."

Luke gave up. Finally, he chose to enter the mini market and get disappointed because his money could not buy whatever he wanted.

"Sad. I am the son of a billionaire who has never been given pocket money," Lukas grumbled quietly. All the money that he needed was always given to his butler.

Shortly thereafter, a man wearing a black jacket and bucket hat approached Lukas. "Do you want something, kid?" asked the man with a smile.

Lukas smiled broadly. He almost opened his mouth, mentioning that he wanted this and that to quench his thirst and hunger. However, he immediately remembered his grandfather's warning against being tempted by random offers from strangers.

"No!" answered Lukas. He then swiftly turned around, away from the man. However, strangely, the man chased after him and called out to him again.

"Kid, I know you are hungry and thirsty. Come on, uncle will buy you whatever you want and take you home," the man exclaimed. Lukas was getting scared. All of that was exactly what his grandfather had said. Men who are too nice are very suspicious. 'Especially if he keeps chasing when you have avoided.'

In a hurry, Lukas immediately left the mini market and ran away as fast as possible from the man in the black hat. He bumped into an old lady in the middle of a hot dog line near the convenience store and nearly knocked her over.

"Sorry, ma'am!" Lukas said as he ran again. He ignored the scolding of the curly-haired old woman who pointed her finger at him.

Meanwhile, the man in the black hat missed Lukas for a moment as the kid ran into the crowd and disappeared. He then looked for the little boy in the crowd.

"Madam, have you seen a five-year-old boy with blond hair and green eyes who—"

"Who are you?" asked the old woman. "Are you the father?"

"Ah—yes!"

"Do you know, that your kid almost made me fall? Don't you teach manners to him?" grumbled the old lady while pulling the man's clothes.

However, the man got angry and squeezed the old lady's hand, making her scream loudly. Her screaming made everybody around them look at her, wondering what is happening to her.

"Stop nagging, old fart! Just tell me where did he run?" The man snapped, rolling his eyes and letting the old lady know immediately that she was in danger if she didn't say something quickly.

Fortunately, the old lady quickly realized that the man was not the boy's father or relative. He was a bad guy chasing the boy. She then gave up, pointing her finger to the left, showing that the boy had run east. Though, she saw that Lukas was running west.

The man nodded in satisfaction and then released the old lady's wrist. "That's great! Thank you, madam!"

In his head, the man thought that the old lady was very lucky. If only the old woman had not revealed Luke's whereabouts, surely he would not have hesitated to kill her without anyone realizing it. The ferocious man then dashed away from the crowd, looking for his prey who was running away without knowing which way he was going.

Meanwhile, in a place that was now getting quiet, Lukas started to feel scared. Supposedly, he had an adult accompany him. If only he didn't pretend to be cool, surely he wouldn't end up in a quiet, scary place like now.

There was no one around the place. If he screamed, no one would hear him. Luke's chest pounded, trying to calm himself down. However, who could rest in such a terrible situation? Forget about Luke, even adults find it difficult to react calmly.

Lukas closed his eyes, trying to remember his grandfather's advice to always be in a crowd and seek help from people on the street. The boy then decided to turn back, walking quickly to return to the shopping center.

However, unbeknownst to him, two bad guys were watching him quietly, considering whether or not the lost-looking little boy would be of any use to them.

"The boy is the son of a rich man, right?" asked a thin, sunburnt-skinned man to his chubby friend. He scratched his curly hair and smiled, showing yellow teeth.

"I guess you're right. Will he be of any use if we kidnap him?" the fat, bald man asked his partner.

"I guess so," said the thin one with a chuckle. "Father, help me! They'll kill me if you don't send a million dollars." He imitated a child's voice, imagining how Lukas would react if they caught him.

The two thugs then looked at each other and chuckled again as they imagined how much money they would receive later. With alacrity, they then chased after Lukas who was only ten meters ahead of them.

"Hey, little man! Are you lost?"