GAME OF TRUST

MISSING

“Alvat! Alvat..!! Alvat...!!!” Someone called out from a small farmhouse, "Clifford!! where have these boys gone so early today again” repeated the voice. It was the voice of a woman calling whose name was Kyle. She was making dishes in the kitchen with a young girl of about twelve years of age, it was her daughter Victoria.

Outside of the house on the farm was an old man tending to his animals on the farm, it was the husband of the woman inside the house his name was Merry. 

In a few seconds came Victoria from the inside walking up to Merry where he was busy with his work and said.

“Dad, have you seen Alvat and Clifford today.” 

“No... Why do you ask?” Replied Merry.

“It’s mom, she’s been calling them but none answered, so she asked me to come to see if they’re out here with you."

 “Maybe they’ve gone into the woods again, she knows how these boys behave" he answered, as he paused for a while and then continued. “..but there is nothing to worry about cause they’ll be back even before we realize that they are gone. It’s usual, even you should have gotten used to them by now.”

 “I know... It’s just that mom keeps worrying too much about them and wants to know where they are at every moment including when they’re leaving and when they’ll be coming back.”

“Victoria...!! What is keeping you, I need some hands in here,” shouted Kyle from the inside.

“I’m coming mom, just a second” turning back to her father she said. “I think I’ll have to go now.” 

“Ok... please go help your mother I guess she needs you now more than I do” as she turns to return to the house, Merry said, “please when you are done there don't forget to get water for the animals." 

“Ok, dad I’ll try not to forget.” 

“Victoria....!!!” shouted her mother again, but this time she was at the door “what is keeping you so long?” 

 “I’m here now, mother,” she replied.

 “Go finish up what you were doing in the kitchen.” 

As Victoria went into the house, Kyle walked up to Merry where he was still attending to the animals and stood behind watching him carry on with his work for about fifteen minutes without him noticing her presence before he could turn and see her, shocked he asked: “how long have you been standing here?” 

“About fifteen minutes or so... did I scare you?” 

“Of course you scared the hell out of me.”

 “Sorry if I did, it’s just that I was wondering if you knew where your sons are or if they told you where they were going," said Kyle in a low voice trying to calm her husband down from the shock she had put him through.

“No... I don't know where they are, nor did they tell me before going out, but I suspect that they have gone into the woods as usual and will always return like every other time.” Was the reply of Merry with great confidence. 

“I know...” Replied Kyle as she paused for a while and then continued “you know I have told them times without number to let us know before going on with their business .”

“But you know them very well and that the last time they told you, you stopped them and the outcome is still fresh in their memories, so you of all people need not to complain.”

“I thought we'd been over with this....”

“But about them, do you think they have completely forgotten about it,” said Merry as he cut his wife short even before she could finish her statement.

“But I talked it over with the children, and they said they have forgiven me, “said Kyle.

“You should know kids better than I do, they might have forgiven you but have not forgotten about it” replied Merry in a very convincing manner while he stopped and took hold of the hands of Kyle he continued “let me tell you something, forgiving someone is far different from forgetting something. It takes time to forget but can take a twinkle of an eye to forgive.”

“I know but it’s already been a while since this happened. I believe it’s enough time for any child to forget about such an incident.”

“Do you still think of Alvat and Clifford to be more of a child? They’re advancing into adulthood for God's sake and can store things up in their memories even much longer than either of us could imagine.”

“Okay if you say so “ answered Kyle in a calm and relaxed voice, “so you suggest we stay relaxed and wait for their return like older times “Kyle concluded.

“Yes that is what we are to do my dear,” answered Merry.

As they finished their conversation Kyle returned into the house back to the kitchen where Victoria was already summarizing her work. “let me finish up with this.” said Kyle 

“it’s alright, I can manage “ was the reply Victoria gave in a suggestive manner.

“don’t worry  I’ll finish this up, while you go and get your father that water I overheard him say you should get for the animals.” 

“Okay mother” she replied as she washed her hands and was about to leave.

“Please, when you are done you can come have your food and don't forget to tell your father that his food is ready too.”

After some minutes, Victoria is seen with a bucket of water going towards the ranch to give it to the animals just as her father had earlier told her. At this moment Merry was preparing his net to go fishing with Clifford and Alvat as soon as they returned when Victoria remembered what her mother had asked her to tell her father, so she stopped, dropped the bucket of water on the ground and walked up to Merry as she said.

“Father..., mother has asked me to inform you that your food has been served.”

“Okay my dear, thanks very much.” He replied in a sweet tone, as Victoria was about to go back he asked “have you eaten your meal?”

“No, but I’ll have mine immediately I’m done giving the animals a drink” she replied as she picked up the bucket of water and continued towards the ranch. While Merry stood up and moved into the house to have his meal.

After some minutes Victoria entered the house and went towards the dining room to have her breakfast which was already on the dining table. While Mr Merry and his wife were busy chatting after they had just finished their food. Some moments later when Victoria was almost done with her meals Merry said with so much curiosity “Don’t you think they have been gone for far too long than normal Kyle..”

“I too am beginning to wonder about them just that I do not want to be the one to bring up the issue about them.” Was the reply of Kyle to the words of her husband.

“Please dear Victoria are you done eating?” asked Merry as he turned to Victoria who just finished her meals.

“Yes, I’m done.” She answered. 

“Go over to the house of Mr Nicolas and find out if your brothers are there. Don’t forget to ask about Fili if they are not there.”

“Okay, father.” She replied as she hurriedly left the house. 

“Must it be that they have forgotten that we planned on going fishing today?” Said Merry as he was now lost in thoughts. Standing up he walked up and down the house feeling very restless.

“Don’t worry my dear, no need to panic, let's just wait for Victoria to return. I hope they’ll be there at Nicolas' place playing with their friend Fili.” Said Kyle with confidence while trying to calm him down but deep down in her heart she too was even more worried than her husband.

“I know... I know.... just that this one is unlike the both of them, if they were to stay long or even go there they would have told me knowing also that we are to go  fishing.”

“It's okay, just have your seat and wait everything will be just fine. “ Kyle spoke, leading him to a seat as they both sat down and waited for the return of Victoria whom they had sent to inquire about Alvat and Clifford.

As Victoria returned from the house of Nicolas, she ran into Prince Tory who was caught by her beauty but when he tried talking to her, she paid no attention to him because she was in a haste to give her parents a response. 

Victoria returned without her brothers panting heavily as she said “They’re ... They’re ... They’re not there, even Fili has been missing since morning and his parents thought he was here also. Sir Nicolas had just started getting ready to embark on a search for them.”

Immediately, entered Tory who asked. "How can I be of help?"

"And who are you?" Merry asked in return.

"I am Tory and I want to help. I don't know who you are looking for but for the love which I feel for her I offer my help to search for whosoever she seeks."

"How long have you known her for you to have such love?" He asked again.

"I have known her only the past few minutes." Tory replied.

"Can we save all these introductions till when we have found Clifford and Alvat. If he offers to help then let him help and you have to know him better after their return." Said Kyle.

"Okay son let's proceed with the search." Merry said as he picked up some of his hunting equipment and they both joined Nicolas to carry on with the search.