Pictures: Wallet, A box of chocolate, A car
The mall was bustling with life. Busy shoppers were milling around for the
best bargains. Prices were slashed
ridiculously low for Christmas was around the corner. “Boy, follow me closely
while I shop,” Janice instructed her five-year-old, Jenson, sternly. “Remember, never talk to strangers,” she continued
as her eyes scanned the shelves for items on promotion.
As usual, Jenson followed closely behind, pushing and shoving
as he tagged along nearby. He would not
want to lose his mother in a crowd of giants. Unknown to him, a stranger was watching him
quietly. His malicious eyes slitted as
he wondered when he should strike. The
box of chocolate in his hand always worked. Jenson was browsing as he waited for his mom to make some purchase at the
frozen meat section. She was having an
animated conversation with her favourite butcher.
It was the perfect time to strike. The tall and slender man with gold-rimmed
glasses approached Jenson. “Hey there,
would you like to have some chocolate,” he asked in his saccharine voice.
“I’ve just had my teeth fixed and cannot eat them,” he spoke
with a disappointing frown, his metallic braces sparkling in the light.
Jenson’s eyes widened in delight at the unexpected offer. Chocolate was his favourite! He could eat them all day. Unable to resist the temptation, his chubby
hand took the first one. It was an
almond-flavoured one. Yum! Next was the green tea flavour... Before
long, he realized that he had finished the whole box. His face immediately sulked when there was
nothing left.
The stranger smiled.
“Would you like more?” he asked.
Jenson nodded his head furiously, throwing his mother’s
ingrained warning out of his mind. “Come,
follow me. My car is full of chocolate
candies. It is almost like a candy shop,”
he chuckled and stretched out his strong muscular hand.
Without hesitation, Jenson clasped his palm tightly and they
made way for the exit.
Meanwhile, Janice was at the cashier. She had half-forgotten about his little boy
and started scanning the sea of faces for her darling boy. He was nowhere in sight! Her face turned ghastly pale and trepidation
rose within her. Where could Jenson be?
Fortunately, she caught a glimpse of Jenson’s yellow batman
T-shirt. A stranger was leading him to a
parked car just in front of the supermarket.
“Hey, stop right there!” she yelled at the top of her lungs.
The whole world froze in a fleeting second. Two security guards put two and two together and
rushed to the rescue. It was a child
abductor in action! One guard threw
himself before the car and the other wrestled the tall stranger to the ground. It was a fierce tussle as the poor boy stared
in bewilderment. What was going on?
Meanwhile, more security guards rushed to the scene and they
managed to subdue the wicked man. The
police were immediately summoned.
Janice stared at his son.
She was livid. What a foolish boy
she had! Jenson knew he was in serious
trouble. He had never seen his mother so
furious before. She was like a volcano
that had just erupted. Her whole face
was red like a tomato. Jenson dragged
himself towards his mother. He was ready
for an earful. Instead, Janice knelt
before him and embraced him, her eyes gushing with tears.
“Mummy, I am sorry I made you cry! He was just trying to give me more chocolate. I
promise never to follow strangers again,” his little voice spoke. Waves of relief flooded Janice. She was so thankful to have her son back.