A person fell backward and sat down on the ground.
Tiny splashes of water flew up.
"Anna!"
Child's Mom screamed.
The man immediately rushed toward the child.
Child's Mom hurried after him.
"Anna!"
The man reached out and helped the child up.
He crouched down in front of her.
"What happened?"
"Did you see a shadow?"
Child's Mom patted the child's bottom.
A patch of her pants was wet.
The mushroom-haired little girl nodded.
Her face was full of terror.
Her lips trembled.
She could barely make a sound.
"Don't be afraid."
The man gently patted the child's back.
Child's Mom took her hand.
"Why is your hand so cold?"
Child's Mom was surprised.
"It's okay now."
The man put an arm around the child's shoulders.
"Mom and Dad are both here."
"There's nothing to be afraid of."
"No one can hurt Anna."
"Mom and Dad will protect you."
"That's right."
Child's Mom clasped the child's hands in both of hers.
She helped warm them.
"Mom and Dad are both here."
"Does Anna not trust Mom and Dad?"
As the man and Child's Mom kept soothing her, the mushroom-haired little girl's trembling gradually subsided.
The man frowned.
His voice was gentle. "Why were you so much more frightened this time?"
She was more scared than the two times he had seen her before.
"Did Anna see a shadow?"
The mushroom-haired little girl nodded.
Her expression was frantic.
Her eyes trembled.
Her terror was plain to see.
The mushroom-haired little girl opened her mouth. "...Snake..."
Thinking of the snake that had flicked its tongue at her just moments ago...
The mushroom-haired little girl tensed all over.
She immediately clutched her father's clothes.
Her other hand, held by her mother, curled