Wilhelm came home pale and immediately caught his mother, Ingers attention. She was watching TV, while Nathaniel, Wilhelm little brother sat at small table in the living room corner and coloured in an exercise book. A tune hummed by Nathaniel as his crayon danced across the page to set his drawings alive.
The only noise that reached the air in the house was the clicking-off sound of the television. This sudden silence sent Wilhelm's heart racing fast in his chest. "What is wrong with you, Wilhelm?" Inger asked with a much-concerned tone. "You look like you have just seen a ghost." Her eyes lit with a mix of worry and curiosity. "It is nothing," Wilhelm replied in a very low tone, almost inaudible. "I just have lots that I think about."
"Tell me about it," Inger said in a soft, hushed voice. "Anything that bothers you, you may talk to me." Wilhelm heaved a sigh and immediately began the whole story of how he and his companions found those abandoned cages with the lion and tiger cubs.
The details he repeated shook, his voice slightly, as he described the scene to them there in the forest; fear and urgency laced his voice.
Inger's eyes widened in surprise and worry. "Oh dear, that's awful," she said, laying a hand on Wilhelm's shoulder."Are you and your friends okay?" Inger's voice was thick with concern. Wilhelm nodded but was still pale in his face."We are okay, but it was really scary. We had no idea about what we were going to find, then, when we followed those sounds."
It was a dark forest, full of the unknown lurking behind each shaded nook, and most corners kept secrets. It smelled of damp earth and decaying leaves.
"Oh, Wilhelm," Inger said in a worried voice."I'm so glad you're safe."Then Inger clutched her son close."I am very proud of you for knowing what to do and for calling the authorities. You and your friends are heroes for saving those poor cubs."She said to him, holding him close and speaking in a soft tone, reassuring. It was the heat of her hug that soothed the fears in Wilhelm.
Nathaniel stopped colouring and looked up from his colouring book, clearly perplexed about what was happening. "What's happening?" he asked."Did you find a lost puppy?" Such an innocent question made a small smile pass along Wilhelm's lips.
Wilhelm now explained to his little brother, and now he did look so very stunned. Nathaniel's eyes began to widen while he listened to the story, his pencil falling silent.
Inger looked at Wilhelm. "You think this news on the TV is talking about you and your friends, right?" she asked. Wilhelm nodded, "Yes it has to be. The police said there were no other reports of anything like this occurring in the area." Even though he was still in a bit of shock of everything that happened today, he knew the news would spread quickly. "I can't believe we are going to be on TV!"
he exclaimed, his voice ringing with excitement. Inger clutched her son in her arms again. "Well, now you will be a famous one," she exclaimed, smiling. "Perhaps you can even be on the news!" Her eyes shone with excitement mixed with pride.
Wilhelm laughed weakly; he was still a bit in shock from the experience."I don't know about that, Mom. I'm just glad those cubs are safe now." He couldn't imagine the attention to come with being on the news, but he was glad they'd helped the animals.
They sat as a family and talked about all that had happened, how lucky they were since Wilhelm and his friends found the cubs before it was too late. They knew word of their heroic actions would spread fast, but at least they were glad they did right. Each one carried some weight since all that they went through happened, and this was a bonding weight forged from bravery and compassion.