Huh?
The man froze. He saw the book lying open on the bed.
It was a travelogue.
The open page showed a photograph of the local scenery.
He remembered that this was where he had stopped reading.
But this photograph...
The man thought of the dream he'd just had.
"Dad."
A girl walked in. "Mom, aren't you coming to eat?"
"Coming right away."
The woman turned and smiled at the girl, then looked back at the man. "Did you find it, honey?"
"What went missing?"
"If it's nothing important, why not look for it after dinner?"
"Oh, Dad, what are you looking for?"
The girl walked over to the bed too.
"I found it. It was this book."
The man closed the book and waved it at the mother and daughter.
"Oh, it's a book."
The woman didn't suspect a thing. She smiled warmly. "Good thing you found it."
"Come on."
The woman helped the man slowly toward the dining room. "I made your favorite braised pig's trotters today."
"And kung pao chicken and fish-fragrant shredded pork."
The girl hurried ahead and opened the door. "It smells amazing."
The man smiled. "Your mom's cooking is the best."
He pushed aside his doubts and didn't mention the little guy.
He figured the little guy had probably gone home.
Just as it had suddenly appeared in front of him, he had no idea how it had gotten into his room. He also had no idea how this astonishingly perceptive little guy had left.
But it was so clever. It must have made it home safely by now, right?
Perhaps because he'd had such a lovely dream and was in a good mood, the man had a better appetite than usual.
The woman's lips stayed curved in a smile.