"Where are they?! Where did all of my sheep go?!" She continued yelling in desperation.
What sheep is she talking about as I thought? We came here with no sheep around but her taking a rest under this tree.
"The two of you! Do you both know where did my sheep go?!" she pointed her finger towards us making the situation look like we're thieves. What are we gonna do with a sheep then? I may be a rude guy but I ain't a thief.
"You must be wrong pointing fingers at us kid. We don't even know what you're talking about. We came here and found you sleeping alone here." Samuel explained.
"It is impossible that ALL of my sheep was gone!"
"Hey, brat! Don't you dare yell at us! I can just slap that loud mouth of yours for accusing us of something we did not do. Don't you think that it is good yelling at us just like that?!" I angrily said. We all hate disrespectful children, aren't we? Well, my principle is as simple as, you can just politely express your opinion against or towards someone who's older than you but you do not have to yell at them.
"But where are they?!" She cried in frustration.
"We do not know! You disturbed me from my sleep because of your non-sense problem!" I yelled.
"That's enough. We'll help you find your sheep." Samuel said.
"I will be surely punished by my father later if I won't find and bring them back today." The kid said as she continued crying.
"They will come back for sure. There's no need to find them." I said as an assurance. She cried louder. Annoying.
"Okay fine! We'll help you to find them today."
Finally, she stopped crying in an instant. We went down the hill to find those sheep. I took a look at the plains and there was nothing. Same as Samuel and the kid, no sheep to be found. We then walked towards the river to take a rest. We've been looking for almost an hour and that took a lot of energy from my body. I was not gonna help at first but here I am.
We finally reached the river and our surprise that there were those sheep we're looking for. Sheep were rolling on the mud, drinking water, eating grasses, and everything you can imagine that a sheep would do.
"My sheep!" the little girl exclaimed in excitement.
She jumped out of happiness because she finally found her sheep. She ran and hugged them. They seemed to be playing with the kid tickling her and she laughs as if these sheep were dogs in their mind.
"They were just here all the time?! Next time, do not sleep and pay attention to them!" I said. I am upset. We've had an hour looking for them and yet they're here.
"I'm sorry mister. I am sorry for any trouble I may have caused and the impoliteness I have shown. I'm sorry and thank you."
"You're welcome. What is your name by the way?" Samuel asked.
"My name is Bo Beep." She replied.
Great! Bo beep is a little girl who lost her sheep because she fell asleep. These nursery rhymes are surely making me crazy. I should've asked her name in the first place and I would know where are these goddamn sheep.
"Hey! Thanking us isn't enough. You must pay for the help." I proudly said.
"I'm sorry but I don't have any coins with me. We're just poor and I only have my father in my life. Pasturing sheep is what we do for a living." She sadly said.
"What are you saying? We don't need any payment for the help!" Samuel whispered.
I pity her. I know what does pity means. Hearing her story of having just his father in her life and this is what they do for a living. This is not even a child should do. Not even a job. It made sense why she cried loudly when she found out that her sheep were missing. This is all that they do and it is hard to accept that you've been poor and you lost things for what you do for a living. I should've been nicer.
"Okay, there's no need for you to pay. Just go home and it's getting dark. Take them home now." I calmly said.
"You are explorers if I'm not mistaken?" She asked. I nodded as an answer.
"You can stay at our house tonight if you like." She added.
We don't even have a place to stay for tonight and it sounds like a deal. Instead of spending the night on the road.
"Now we're talking. I'll take that as your payment for the help." I said.
We went up the hill together with the kid and her sheep. She's good at sheep herding despite her age. She can do the job of a fully grown-up man. We walked for a couple of minutes until we saw their house finally.
"Papa! We have guests for tonight! They helped me find our sheep because I have slept under the tree." Bo beep said.
"Good evening." We greeted.
"Thank you so much for helping my daughter. Come in."
Their house was just simple and only a fire lamp lights the house.
"Have a seat. I'm so sorry for the trouble that my daughter may have caused. I was just trying to find another job that's why she did the pasturing our sheep for today. You may stay for tonight to take a rest." Bo Beep's father explained.
"There is no problem with that mister. Thank you for letting us spend the night at your house." Samuel said.
"I would like to ask something if I may, where is her mother? Why isn't she taking care of Bo beep?" Samuel added.
"She's deceased five years ago. She died while giving birth." Bo Beep's father replied.
It pinched me right on the feels. I thought all of the stories about nursery rhymes are happy but then it's not. In every happy child's story, there's one broken family.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay! I've moved on. Bo beep was a blessing for me. I'll do everything to give her a brighter future."
His story reflected mine. We're rich but my mom's gone. My dad's been there but for work and not for his son. I grew up distantly from my dad. He's always working and doesn't have time for me. But now I understand. He's doing it for me and I don't have anything to do but to understand my dad.
Bo Beep's father invited us for a dinner. As I would illustrate the environment is that we're exactly in a farmhouse and everything is wooden except their walls. Even though they're unfortunate, they have a lot of food to offer. They have chicken, vegetables, bread, and macaroni soup on the dinner table. As I would prefer to call it 'Fresh from the farm foods.
I ate a lot and I'm full. I ate a lot of vegetables because that's what I like the most. I went outside to have some fresh air while Samuel helped in cleaning.
The view up here is breathtaking. Bo beep's house is on top of the hill that's why you can see a wide range of views from here. The stars are bright and the city down there is full of light and beauty to the eyes with the fresh and cool wind making me feel dreamy.
"I'm sorry if our house makes you feel uncomfortable Sir Bryce." Bo beep said.
"Oh, you've been there for long?"
"I just came here. I saw you came outside so I followed you."
"You know what, you're such a good kid. Continue helping your father. Even if you feel like he has no time for you, you must understand that he's doing this for you."
"I will." She answered with a smile.
"Come here."
I cannot endure her cuteness so I carried her like a baby. We stayed for a long moment until Bryce joined the company.
"You seem to love children and this child likes you. She's asleep ." Samuel says.
Well, he's right. I do really like children.
"Come on let's go inside. Night's getting deeper." I said.
"Wait, I haven't spent a moment with you. Please stay a little longer." Samuel said.