Chapter 3 - Meet August

Jane saw that  the boy was shivering. She felt her heart was pounding very hard. Sweat was running down her head. She was in a policeman’s grasp!

The policeman was very tall and strong. He had a flushed face and sharp eyes. He looked fierce. There was another policeman behind him. He was also very tall but he was very thin.

Will we be killed by him? Jane thought, no, he won’t eat us. But what should I do? 

“Take them to the place!” said the strong policeman.

What place? Where is it? Jane was frightened and nervous. But the red-haired boy still looked emotionless. 

The thin policeman grabbed the boy, and the strong one was still grabbing Jane. They pulled them into a small room. The room was very bright. On the outside of the room, there were a few large words saying:

POLICE OFFICE

Jane’s heart was pounding so fast. She tried not to be panicked, but she couldn’t. 

“WHAT’S YOUR NAME?” the strong policeman asked the red-haired boy.

“Leo,” murmured the boy,“I am Leo Parker.” His voice became quieter and quieter, but his face was still emotionless but it was even more pale. 

“WHAT?”

“LEO PARKER!” said Leo calmly, but you could even feel his fear in his eyes. This was the first time Jane saw his expression on his face. 

“WHERE ARE YOUR PARENTS?” shouted the policeman angrily. 

“Th – they are sleeping – ” said Leo quietly.

“WHERE DO YOU LIVE?” asked the policeman.

Leo kept silent for a moment and then recited his family address fluently. Jane, meanwhile, was trying to remember about her family address, but she couldn’t. She didn’t know her parents’ phone number, too. 

“Well, Leo Parker, oh,” murmured the strong policeman. “TAKE HIM BACK HOME!” he shouted to the thin policeman. 

“OK,”said the thin policeman, smiling. He looked friendlier than the strong policeman. 

“Hmm,” said the strong policeman. He stepped forward and stared at Jane from her head to her toe. 

“What’s your name, eh?” He asked.

“Jane Carter,” said Jane. 

“Where are your parents?” asked the policeman again.

“They uh –” Jane didn’t know how to say.

“Sleeping, aren’t they?”

“Y – yes – ” Jane bowed her head. 

“WHERE DO YOU LIVE? WHERE?” 

“I – I don’t know – ” Jane’s voice suddenly disappeared. 

“DON’T KNOW? YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW YOUR HOUSE ADDRESS? ARE YOU JOKING? YOU DON’T KNOW?”

The policeman seemed to be really angry.

“W – well, I could get to my home by myself,” lied Jane.

“WHY DIDN’T YOU SAY EARLIER? GO!” 

Jane took a deep breath and went out of the room. She went straight and suddenly stopped. She saw a familiar figure under a light – it was August!

Jane ran towards him. Suddenly, she crashed into somebody – Leo! He was still playing the needle. 

“Hi, why are you here?” Jane asked.

“I was lying. I didn’t know my home address but I made one up! ” said Leo. His voice became quieter and quieter and disappeared finally. 

“What’s your name?” he asked.

“Jane Carter,” answered Jane, “I’m six years old. How about you, Leo?”

“I’m seven,” muttered Leo.

“Cool. I have a bold idea, I want to meet August and make friends with him!”

“What? That’s childish, but I’d like to go.”

Jane suddenly felt excited. She grabbed Leo’s hand, and then, they stepped towards the carriage together.