In friendship, what matters is not how many friends we have, but how well we understand each other as friends. True friends are hard to get. One true friend in life is lucky enough. We know a friend is a true one not by how much time we spend with them but by how much we can open our heart to them. Mark stopped washing his hands and looked up at the person who was staring at him.
Daniel was surprised. Fluster flitted across his eyes. He pulled the mask off and revealed his face. "You can recognize me even if I am wearing a mask. Good for you, little guy," he said with an awkward smile.
"Hee hee," Mark giggled. "Uncle Daniel, why are you in my school?" When Mark realized that Daniel was wearing a uniform, he pointed and asked, "And why are you in a uniform? Do you work here now?"
Daniel shook his head. He looked around warily. When he was sure that no one was around, he said, "Shh! I'm here for a program."
"Huh?"
Daniel nodded, "We have five groups of people on this program. The task is to take a kid to an appointed place within a limited time."
"Really?" Mark's eyes brightened. He seemed interested. Kids are curious after all. "Uncle Daniel, have you found the kid yet?" he asked.
Daniel shook his head again, just much more dejected this time. "Not yet." He twisted his mouth in frustration. As he was looking at Mark, his eyes lit up like he just had an idea. He asked excitedly, "Mark, can I take you instead?"
Mark nodded, looking excited too. But then something occurred to him. "Oh, I am sorry Uncle Daniel. I am afraid I can't go with you. We have to take a nap at half past twelve," he said.
Daniel squatted down and said, "It's okay. It takes only five minutes to get to the camera crew. All you need to do is show up. I can bring you back right away after that."
Mark thought about it with his head tilted. Seeing the expectation on Daniel's face, he chewed his lip and said with a nod, "Okay then."
A touch of coldness flitted across Daniel's eyes. He checked the entrance of the bathroom and said to Mark, "Let's go from the window. It will be faster." Mark looked towards the window. As if he was scared that Mark would change his mind, Daniel added quickly, "Then we can get there earlier and I can bring you back earlier too."
Mark agreed.
At this moment, there was nobody else in the bathroom except them. Daniel slid the window open and jumped over. He stood outside the window and put out his hand, saying, "Mark, come on. I got you."
Mark drew closer to the window. Daniel picked him up, closed the window, and ran northwest of the kindergarten with Mark in his arms.
Mark put his arms around Daniel's neck. He stayed in his arms quietly, thinking Daniel was running because he was trying to save time and get him back to the school earlier.
Daniel kept running. The school was farther and farther from them. He looked back every now and then. He was relieved a little when he saw that no one was chasing them. He looked back once again, swallowed hard, and continued running. He didn't slow down until they arrived at a rundown two-floor building. He checked one more time behind them and headed to the backyard of the building.
Some people were already waiting for him when he made the turn. His body stiffened in shock, his face drained. After a few seconds, he started to withdraw in fear. Sensing something was happening, Mark turned his head and saw six men standing there and...
"Mrs. Ling? " Mark's eyes lit up the moment he saw Shirley. He wanted to go to her, but Daniel held him tight. "Uncle Daniel, put me down."
Only Daniel wouldn't. He stared at the people in front of them and said, "Mark, those are bad people."
"..." Mark was speechless and confused.
Shirley rolled her eyes angrily and said, "Only you're the bad person here. No, your whole family is. Oh, right, except for Little Molly." With a twist of her mouth, she went on, "Daniel, release Mark. Maybe I can ask Richie to go easy on you."
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