"Mom!, Dad!!, Grandma!!!" I shouted as I saw them. They were looking at me as if they finally found a lost treasure. Their facial expressions was a mix of Happiness, Anger, Confusion and all.
"Is that your daughter you are looking for??" the female cop who was with them asked my Dad. "Yes she is, Thank you so much ma'am." He said with a shaky voice.
I sometimes wonder if my Dad was supposed to be born a female, He is easily moved to tears unlike my mom, I kinda inherit that a bit from him, When things gets too tough I am always crying but not unnecessarily.
When the Cop lady left, They all walked through the gate towards us, the mixed emotions never leaving their faces. The both of us approached them too. It was as if they had seen an alien when they saw Mr Steve approaching them. And I really hope he has prepared something to say to the doom and gloom in front of us.
My mom was the first to get over herself or rather reacted. "Akira!. Since when had sneaking out of the house become a job for you?And as if that was not enough you even brought a stranger to our home?!" My Mom yelled at me in a way I haven't even been yelled at my whole life.
Ok, This is it. I am so in big trouble and I couldn't help but take a sneak peek at Mr Steve to see if he's got anything to help me out of this situation.
Luckily for me, He intervened quickly than I thought as Soon as he saw the SOS like signal I was emitting from my eyes.
"Umm... Ma'am the whole situation right now is not the way you see it to be, So I think the best option is for you guys to listen to our explanation and find out what really happened." He said to my Mom.
But with the look Mrs Houston gave him, No one needed to tell the both of us that Mr Steve the stranger made a wrong move.
"And am I supposed to know you sir?" My Mom questioned in a malicious tone she'd rarely use.
"WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?! AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH MY DAUGHTER?!" She barked at him. Right now I am so sure Mr Steve is short for words at my mom's assault. I mean, Anyone would be! We all dreaded seeing Mom being like this including Dad too.
But surprisingly, Mr Steve looked calm and composed, He didn't even looked like someone who had been screamed at in the face just now.
"I get you are upset that your daughter left home or rather sneaked out without you noticing, To be honest I would be too if it were my kid, But would you believe me if I told you it wasn't totally what you think and that she didn't sneaked out on purpose?" He asked gazing at my mom.
And to be honest, I momentarily forgot about what's going to happen to me and focused on Mr Steve anticipating what he's going to say about my situation.
"So what are you trying to say?, That you snucked her out yourself or what?" My mom replied, Annoyance still shown on her face.
"Why don't you calm down and let us explain?" he said calmly and I wondered where he's getting at. "Why don't we just listen to what he has to say Sarah." My dad finally spoke. "Ok go on , We are all ears." My mom finally agreed to listen.
We all went silent as Mr Steve started to explain how I got into this situation. "Uh..I just moved here last night my house is down the street, And am a veterinarian, I take care of different pet animals. Today three of my dogs got loose from their leashes while I was in the kitchen cooking and they were long gone before I could find out, So I began looking for them but I wasn't really familiar with this neighborhood and didn't really know where to look. So I keep on roaming back and forth the street but I couldn't find them. I was standing over there." He said pointing at the opposite side of our house.
"I was thinking of how I was going to report the situation of the missing dogs to the police when I saw Aki by the window of her bedroom and I decided to ask her if she has seen any of the dogs roaming about. She said she hasn't seen any but then I was surprised when she volunteered to help me look for them. I told her she shouldn't bother but she insisted, Before I knew it she jumped over the window and came over to me. So we both went on a dog hunt together.
I Am so sorry it took us long to get back And believe me, I am not a bad person.
I had to escort her back home because she says you guys would be worried." He concluded his narration and studied our reaction.
Oh. My. Gosh, Am so lost for words, He's really good at this, I almost believed all what he said myself, Anyone would! And speaking of anyone I really hope my parents buys this as they were still processing all what they've just heard.
But how did Mr Steve knew that was my bedroom? I silently thought. He really is a fabricator.
I quickly took a glance at Mr Steve to get an assurance, And he gave me a wink when I did, I smiled inwardly and look at my parents. I studied Andrew, he's no longer crying and infact looks very happy he's finally seen me, I was happy to see him too.
"So.." my Mom began, And truth be told, I held my breath and waited for the judgment, Am pretty sure Mr Steve did too.
I glanced at my Dad and grandma but funny enough they too were focused on what my mom is going to say afterwards, I think they both less concern about where I went as far as I came back home safely to them.
"What is your name mister?" My Mom questioned and I immediately got a bad feeling about her tone.
"Edward, Edward Steve ma'am." He replied.
"So Edward... Since you just moved here what's your comment on our neighborhood?" she continues to ask.
"it has been pretty good I must say, Though it's rough and loud but I still like it." He said.
"Ok Edward, I hope you enjoy your stay in this new neighbourhood and also make sure to keep your pets in check. Make sure they are properly secured so that an incident like this won't occur again Ok." She said putting emphasis on the last sentence.
"I promise you Ma'am none of the sort will ever happen again." he said and looked at me as if I was the one he's referring to.
"Infact I don't think they'll ever step foot outside again except if I were to walk them around the neighborhood by myself." he added with total assurance and confidence which I understand because he has got nothing to do with dogs in the first place.
"Good, I guess it is settled then, Thanks Edward for at least escorting her back home, You can leave now." My Mom told him smiling but something in me tells me it wasn't a genuine one, We are not wealthy but that doesn't hold my Mom back, she doesn't tolerate any nonsense from anybody. I could still feel it in me..I was still in trouble, But not much.
"Okay then." he said smiling back at them. "Aki thanks for today, I am most appreciative." he said facing me with a smile. And with that he left answering a call from his phone immediately he stepped out of the gate.