CHAPTER 8: THE WATSONS' INVITATION

It was a very late evening when the city glared its colorful street lights. There were couple walking together while others were sitting on a bench near a wishing well. Most of the couple in the city wished on this mysterious well asking for a luck on love. As Kiesha stopped by, she saw an old sweet couple who were standing in front of the wishing well as the old woman leaned on his husband’s right shoulder.
“Oh, how sweet they are.”, she said.
“Is really loving someone can make your heart flutter?”, she whispered.
The old couple laughed at each other as if they were talking a lot of things. They eventually noticed Kiesha and came closer towards her. Kiesha was then surprised.
“Oh, hi..”, she greeted slowly.
“Hey kid. What’s your name?”, asked the old woman.
“My name is Kiesha. Nice meeting you.”, replied Kiesha.
“Actually, we noticed you were staring at us. What’s the matter?”, asked the old man.
“Ahm.. Sorry. I am just wondering how you two still have the love affection for each other.”, she replied.
“Oh, we were classmates since high school. We already in love that time. I remember we met in a library. Right sweet heart?”, said the old woman.
“Right.”, replied her husband.
“Really?”, asked Kiesha.
Kiesha then thought of Justin.
“What? What am I thinking about. Stop it idiot.”, she said to herself.
“What’s the matter dear?”, asked the old woman.
“Oh, nothing. I just remembered something.”, replied Kiesha.
“Is that something or someone? By the way, I bet you have your love life too.”, asked the old woman.
“Oh so far. I don’t have one. Haha since I am focusing in school.”, Kiesha replied.
“Well, that’s great of you dear. I hope all teenage girls are like you.”, replied the old woman.
“Wait, I think we have to go now honey. It will surely rain. Look, the clouds are getting darker.”, said the old man.
“Oh right.”, replied the old woman.
“Don’t you have an umbrella with you?”, asked Kiesha.
“Of course, we have. How about you?”, asked the old woman.
“I don’t have but it’s okay. I’ll like rain. I’ll just ride on my bicycle.”, replied Kiesha.
“Oh good for you. Bye for now Kiesha. Good luck on your studies.”, said the old woman.
“And of course, your love life. You can actually wish here on the wishing well because we were here almost every year until we get married and had five children.”, said the old man.
“Really, so is this wishing well true?”, asked Kiesha.
“Yes, of course.”, replied the old woman.
“We hope you can meet him someday sweetie.”, added the old woman.
Kiesha only smiled and bid goodbye to the old couple. Meanwhile, while she was attempting to pedal his bicycle, the heavy rain suddenly pours and she immediately rushed to go home.
The old couple noticed her.
“Oh my, the girl got wet. I looked pity on her.”, said the old woman.
Kiesha was heading back towards her home. She couldn’t take any longer the heavy rain so she dropped by a store and took herself some rest while she shed herself by the store’s roof. After thirty minutes, she continuously get along until she saw Justin in the street holding an umbrella. She pretended she did not see him but guess what Cupid do. They were still be able to meet each other.
“Oh is that Kiesha?”, whispered Justin to himself.
“Hey! Kiesha wait!”, he shouted.
Kiesha then suddenly halted. She almost bumped into a dog on the street. The heavy rain continuously pouring.
“Oh did he just call me?”, said Kiesha to herself.
She stopped and as she turned her back, she saw Justin running towards her. Her heart beats fast as if she don’t understand her mixed emotions.
“Hey Kiesha! Where are you going? You don’t have an umbrella with you. You might get sick of that.”, said Justin.
“Oh Justin. What are you doing here?”, asked Kiesha.
“I will be the one who should ask you. What are you doing here?”, replied Justin.
“Are you getting mad at me?”, asked Kiesha.
“What? Of course not. I am just concerned about you.”, he replied.
“Oh anyways, thank you for your concern Justin, but I have to go. Have a great evening.”, she replied.
“Wait. Here take my umbrella.”, said Justin.
“Thank you but I was already wet. I just did a shed near the store.”, replied Kiesha.
“Next time, you should bring an umbrella with you.”, replied Justin with a bit of concern.
“By the way, where are you heading to?”, asked Justin.
“Ahm.. I came from the police station to find my parents and my sister. When I came home, I haven’t seen them there. I suspect they were missing.”, she replied.
“What? Haha.”, laughed Justin.
“Seriously? Did you just laugh at my situation right now?”, asked Kiesha.
“No, no. I’m sorry. I mean is that the only reason behind Kiesha?”, he replied.
“What do you mean?”, she replied.
“Maybe they were just invited anywhere or maybe they were just going somewhere?”, he replied.
“I don’t know. They did not tell me about anything.”, she said.
“How about you? Where are you heading to?”, she asked.
“Why are you asking?”, he replied.
“Oh stop being so arrogant Justin. I asked because you asked me too. What’s the matter?”, she replied.
“I want to go to the National Bookstore to buy a novel.”, he replied.
“Haha. Seriously?”, she asked.
“What’s the matter? You also want novels right?”, he asked.
“How about the novel that we both love? Remember? In the library, we had a great taste of that book, “Pride and Prejudice. And guess what? I’m done reading it. I bet you did not even finish the five chapters haha.”, he said.
“Whatever.”, she replied.
“Ok fine. I’ll go ahead now. Bye.”, replied Kiesha as she go along the roadside.
“Hey, wait. Is that it?”, he said to himself as he looked Kiesha being wet from the rain.
Justin enters the bookstore. He looked behind and he did not see Kiesha again.
“I hope she’s okay and can find her parents soon.”, he whispered.
He then went inside and pushed the glass doors. He enters the store. He looked into the book corner. As he went through, he saw Matilda’s mother, Mrs. Juliet looking also for books.
“Aunt Juliet?”, he asked.
“Oh Justin! How have you been dear?”, she asked.
“I’m fine Aunt Juliet. We are longing for Matilda’s come back. When will she come back in school?”, he asked.
“Oh, you mean Matilda is not with you? I don’t know what to do with Matilda Justin. After she was embarrassed by everyone, she did not return home until this time. Me and Henry were hurried. We tried to go to the Police Station but until this time, we haven’t received any news from them.”, she replied worriedly.
“I am worried about my daughter.”, she added.
“Me as well Aunt Juliet. But she’s not in our house. We haven’t seen each other already. But honestly, we have small arguments and fights as well. I want to say sorry to her but I haven’t seen her anymore. I am just hoping she will be back at school. And there are also things that we need to talk to as a couple.”, he replied.
“Justin, I’ll go ahead darling. I need to go to the supermarket to buy foods. Will you still wanted to stay here? You can come with me.”, she said.
“Oh thank you for the invite Aunt Juliet but I need to search a novel. I really love reading novels aside from playing basketball.”, he replied.
“I hope Matilda is same as you Justin. We are really longing for our girl.”, she said.
Justin nodded and bid goodbye to Mrs. Juliet.
“Bye aunt Juliet. But I think it’s been weeks already since Matilda is missing. What if she got sick or being kidnapped?”, he asked suddenly.
“Oh God. I hope nothing’s wrong with Matilda. Maybe I need to contact Henry to go to another police station every area in the city. I am more worried about what you’re saying right now Justin.”, she said.
“Sorry about that aunt Juliet but it’s just only my thought. I am hoping Matilda is okay right now.”, he said.
Juliet waved her hand and went immediately rushing the glass door. She did not even able to buy a book she wants because she felt nervous about what did Justin told her. She then contacted and called her husband to pick her up from the supermarket.
“Hello dear? Where are you? Can you please pick me up after I headed to the supermarket?”, she said.
“Hi dear, yes of course. Just text me okay? I am still at the office now.”, Henry replied.
“Alright I’ll text you later bye, I love you.”, she replied.
“I love you too.”, replied Henry.
Juliet headed her way to the supermarket while Justin was still in the bookstore. The heavy rain started to stop while Kiesha was almost reaching her home.
Henry was about to leave his office. He then rushed to pick up his wife. The road is slippery so he drove in a mediocre way. He then saw a family who walked down the road while the rain is still pouring down. He turned back and he saw the Jones Family behind. He opened his car’s window and call Edmund’s name.
“Hey! Edmund, Elizabeth!”, he shouted.
“Mr. Henry?”, replied Edmund.
“Come on. The heavy rain won’t stop. It’s better to join a ride with me.”, replied Henry.
“But our clothes are totally wet Mr. Henry, we are ashamed, your car might be damaged or…”, replied Elizabeth.
“Oh, it’s okay Mrs. Elizabeth. Come on in. Please.”, replied Henry.
“Alright Mr. Henry.”, replied Edmund.
The family went into the car and Henry drove continuously.
“Okay, just a little favor. Ahm please don’t call me Mr. or Sir. Just call me Henry.”, he said.
“Fine Henry.”, said Edmund.
“Who’s with you?”, asked Henry.
“This is our eldest daughter Alexa. Alexa this is Henry my boss at the construction site in which I am currently working now.
“Oh, hello Mr. Henry nice meeting you. Good evening. I bet you’re the father of Matilda? I hope she’s kind like you.”, she said.
Elizabeth placed his hands on Alexa’s lap and pinched her.
“Oww.”, whispered Alexa.
“Watch your words.”, whispered to Alexa’s ears.
“By the way, where did you come from? It’s already very late in the evening.”, asked Henry.
“Actually we came from the police station.”, replied Edmund.
“What? Why?”, asked Henry.
“Our eldest son was missing again. We are very worried about him.”, replied Edmund.
“The last time I remembered was he and Kiesha went outside but Kiesha was accidentally hit her knee on a rock which caused her leg to bleed. Because of that, John his brother promised to buy her medicine but he did not returned home. He was lost 3 days already.”, explained Elizabeth.
“Really? It’s horrible. By the way how is Kiesha now?”, replied Henry.
“Well, we are also worried because we left the house today. I’m sure Kiesha was already at home and wondered where we are right now.”, replied Alexa.
“You know, I am deeply sorry for what Matilda did to Kiesha. I bet she will realize her mistakes someday and apologize for she was sinned.”, replied Henry.
“We already accept her forgiveness Henry.”, replied the Jones.
“Did she apologize to you already and to Kiesha?”, asked Henry.
“Not yet but we know Matilda has also a kind heart.”, replied Edmund.
“Yes me and Juliet know that our daughter was spoiled but she has also that kind soul of hers.”, replied Henry.
“By the way Henry, just drop us by near the city wall and it’s a meter away from our house. We used to walk in this hour already. I think you and Juliet might have a busy schedule for your business or do you have any thing to work on this evening. We might annoyed both of you this hour.”, said Elizabeth.
“Oh, no no. Ahm actually I’m gonna pick up my wife she’s at the supermarket. I’m gonna call her. For a while.”, replied Henry.
“Hello dear? Where are you. We’re here.”, said Henry on the phone.
“Oh, thanks goodness! Have you found her?”, replied Juliet.
“No. not yet. I’m sorry I mean I let Henry and his family joined a ride with me this evening because I found them on the streets walking while the heavy rains continuously pouring.”, replied Henry.
“Really dear.. Alright. I have seen the car already.”, replied Juliet.
“Okay bye. See you.”, replied Henry.
“She’s coming.”, he added.
As soon Juliet arrives, she saw the Jones. Juliet let herself in, in the car and Henry started to roar his car engine.
“Oh hey, good evening. How are you Henry and Elizabeth? And who’s with you?”, asked Juliet.
“Good evening Ma’am Juliet. This is our eldest daughter, Alexa.”, replied Edmund.
“Hello, good evening Ma’am.”, replied Alexa.
“Why are you just walking on the street? Where is Kiesha?”, asked Juliet.
“The problem is we are already out from the house since this morning. Maybe Kiesha arrived home already from school. She already knows how to cook so we bet she ate her dinner already. We just came from the police station to every area in the city to just search for our missing eldest son. He was been missing 3 days already.”, replied Elizabeth.
“Oh really? Do you have an eldest son?”, replied Juliet.
“Yes Ma’am.”, replied Edmund.
“Actually, we are still worried about Matilda until this time.”, said Juliet.
“Our daughter was not yet at home for almost a week already.”, added Juliet.
“What? Why?”, asked Elizabeth surprisingly.
“It’s because she was really embarrassed of what happened. We as her parents were also embarrassed as well.”, replied Henry.
“But we know that Matilda has this great soul.”, replied Edmund.
“Actually dear, I saw Justin his boyfriend. I thought he was with her but still, as Justin said earlier because I met him at the bookstore, he told me he hasn’t seen our daughter for several days too.”, replied Juliet.
“Gosh.. This kid. By the way, I think we should go and grab some food at the restaurant we’re heading to. I know Henry, Elizabeth and Alexa are very hungry at this time. You too dear.”, said Henry.
“Well yes. I think we should off for a while at the fastfood. Please join us.”, said Juliet.
“Alright. Thank you for the invitation Mr. Henry and Ms. Juliet. We are very thankful for this we can’t easily refused the blessing. Thank you very much!” said Edmund.
The Watsons took the Jones family into a wonderful restaurant and treated them to dinner.