The teddy bear by Zhang Xiaojun's leg was dressed differently from the one on the windowsill earlier. This little bear, wearing a bow tie, clung to Zhang Xiaojun's pant leg. It had just tugged at his trousers with its fingerless hand.
Zhang Xiaojun didn't think anything of the odd gesture or the eerie bear. He simply accepted everything that had happened and bent down to pick it up.
His unthinking actions left me no way to stop him. The bear had also chosen its position cleverly, putting Zhang Xiaojun between us so I couldn't grab it right away.
But Zhang Xiaojun had already picked it up, and it was now close enough for me to reach.
To my surprise, Zhang Xiaojun acted without thinking again.
Calling, "Daddy! Daddy!" he hugged the bear and ran toward the master bedroom.
I hurried after him. I couldn't just grab Zhang Xiaojun, so I could only watch as he carried the bear and flung himself into his father's arms.
A boy his age was no lightweight, and with the force of his impact, the man—who had only just woken up—was hit hard.
He grunted, pain furrowing his brow.
"Daddy! Look! The bear's back!" Zhang Xiaojun said, oblivious, holding the bear up in front of the man and pressing it against his face.
The man pushed the bear away in annoyance and sat up to turn on the bedside lamp. "Zhang Xiaojun, why are you making such a fuss in the middle of the night? Why aren't you asleep?"
Once the light was on, the man saw the bear in Zhang Xiaojun's hands.
"Why did you dig out those bears?" The man grew even angrier.
Zhang Xiaojun quickly shook his head. "No, it came back on its own!"
"What came back? Were you dreaming? Go