“Sorry to call you in at this inconvenient time.” Samantha Teith walked with a sense of haste Gloria never saw from her before: “And, with everything going on, Kevin’s father and I are going to stay with the kids more often, so… I wish to tell you that we probably won’t be calling you as much. But others would - I mean we have recommended you to some other parents, and they may call you as well…”
“Um, what happened?” Gloria asked, though a little disappointed at the loss of future income, she was more concerned about the worried looks on Samantha’s face: “What - you look so worried. What’s troubling you?”
“It’s - it’s uh - local safety issues. Some crimes involving - ” Samantha seemed to be having trouble saying what was on her mind: “You know, involving children. Teenagers, sometimes. We have a few gone missing, none of them was found.”
“I’m so sorry.” Gloria couldn’t help but recall what Kevin told her last time: “I actually don’t remember seeing it on the news. Can you tell me what happened?”
“We - even we don’t know what happened - or what is happening.” Samantha Teith shook her head and huffed: “None of the people living in this neighborhood knows. That’s why we have to go to two different meetings tonight and - talk about organizing the local transplants and trying to pressure the local police departments to be more transparent. If not for these meetings, we’d be staying with Kevin all night…”
“Good, I think you are doing the right thing.” Gloria nodded then sighed: “How’s the local police department responding? I don’t really see a lot of police cars around here.”
“They’re undercover now. And if there’s anything they promise they can be on scene within three minutes.” Samantha sighed as she opened her door for them. But then she paused after unlocking the door: “And, just between you and me, I think we should be safe for now. The kids in the ‘Server Areas’, they are more at risk than any kid here. I mean, here we at least can organize people to watch over them and chaperone them on their way to school. But for them? I heard they have to rely on the older kids…”
“And not to mention the richie rich folks can just let drivers go to their expensive schools where they can afford 24/7 surveillance and armed security guards.” Gloria shrugged and chuckled: “Oh well.”
“Yeah, and from what I’ve heard, even some of those rich kids have stopped going to schools. They have home tutors, so they don’t have to worry about that too much.” Samantha sighed again and opened the door.
“Hey dear, hey Gloria.” Brian Teith the father was ready to run out and head to his car: “Hopefully the meeting won’t take too long. I’ve heard there are around fifty people coming.”
“Only fifty?” Samantha frowned.
“Yeah, can’t really expect everyone to be present when most of them are still working. Even if this is an emergency meeting.” Brian Teith shrugged: “Alright, I’m off. See you soon dear. And Gloria, thank you so much for coming. I’ve double checked all of the windows and doors, they should all be closed. Don’t forget to lock them up after you open them.”
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“I remember. And I won’t open anything unless absolutely necessary.” Gloria nodded.
“Okay, thanks.” Brian Teith kissed his wife goodbye then started running to the car on the driveway.
“I should be going soon.” Samantha said as she took the light brown handbag on the kitchen counter, opened it up to check the documents inside for one last time: “Text us if you need anything, we’ll be at the meetings but we will check our phones regularly. And - uh…” She leaned in and whispered to Gloria: “Do you know how to use pepper sprays and retractable batons? I think I might have asked you this before…”
“Well - ” Gloria was surprised, but then was not: “I actually know them quite well. Spent some time in a rough neighborhood. And yes, you told me about the pepper sprays.”
“Good, good.” Samantha zipped her handbag up and whispered again: “You know the main bedroom? We have more pepper spray and batons in the bedside table drawer. Even - even a knife, don’t let Kevin find it. There is also a can of pepper spray in the kitchen, hidden behind the bag of salt, you can check their locations and be familiar with where they are - you know, just in case…”
“Alright! It’s okay! We’re gonna be okay!” Gloria put her hands on Samantha’s shoulders: “I cooked in your kitchen before, remember? You have some really nice bone choppers and chef’s knives. We’ll be okay!”
“Alright, alright.” Samantha took a deep breath, then took a look at Kevin, who was still on the living room couch, quietly watching TV: “Kevin! Behave tonight! Your father and I will be back soon.”
“Bye Mom! Drive safe!” Kevin waved at his mother, eyes still fixed on the TV screen.
“Drive safe, and I’ll turn my phone volume up and keep it charged. So you can find me anytime.” Before Samantha left, Gloria assured her.
“Oh yeah, one more thing.” Samantha almost reached the driveway before she doubled back and said to Gloria through the gap of the door: “I left a note on the dining room table - we have the contact information from our neighborhood emergency contact team members there. If anything, call them as well.”
“Noted. Noted. Do not worry. I’ll take good care of everything.” Gloria nodded again with a smile.
“Okay, Gloria, can we talk? ” After Gloria’s sending Samantha off, Kevin immediately turned off the TV and changed his posture on the sofa - sitting straight with a stern and serious look on his face and his arms crossed as if he was trying to act like an adult: “I think we have a serious problem.”
“Wow, okay, geez.” Gloria couldn’t help but grin: “Okay, Mr. Kevin Teith, what do you want to talk about, sir?”
“It’s not a laughing matter, okay!?” Kevin shook his head, then pulled out his phone and showed Gloria a web page.
“A total of five children are missing in a week. PCPD’s shameful inaction.” Gloria read the headline out loud: “Looks like it’s not news but a forum post? Why are you reading this?”
“I’ve got to stay in touch, you know. One of the guys missing was in the same grade as me! He’s living just down the street!” Kevin frowned and swiped on the screen to pull to a lower part of the article: “He was taken from his home, when his parents were out one night!”
“Okay. But your parents made extra sure that your house is safe.” Gloria sat by Kevin’s side.
“This guy’s parents could have done the same.” Kevin scoffed.
“What about your friends? Are your friends okay? I remember you telling about your friends seeing ghost and hearing - ”
“Yeah, they’re fine. Thank goodness. But things are bad, and people are looking in the right direction! They’re not going to find anything!”
“But what is the right direction? What have you heard from - you know, your friends and those websites?” Gloria let out a long sigh, then asked.
“Can you do me a favor?” Kevin did not answer, but simply retrieved his phone, slightly nervous.
“What?”
“Can you buy some salt, some sage, some talisman paper and have them delivered to my school as a gift? Choose for in-person delivery.” Kevin looked into Gloria’s eyes: “I know the prices, I can pay you with my allowance. Just - order everything and have them sent to a small store near my school.”