It was nothing, really.
April this year seemed to be passing far more slowly than in previous years.
Dressed in pajamas, Bernadette sat beside the piano with her chin propped on her hand, holding the Little Beautiful Merpeople and Snow White dolls as she gazed out at the colorful garden beneath the crimson moonlight and thought.
First, Dad had gone exploring at sea without taking her along.
Then Mom had suddenly found her governesses, and she had to take lessons every day.
If that were all, it would have been fine. With Mr. Sparrow around, occasionally going into the sea to look for Beautiful Merpeople or visiting Dad was actually quite fun.
But then he had suddenly disappeared too.
After the old gentleman from the Church left, Bernadette had immediately run over to 28 Emerald Street to play with Mr. Sparrow, only for the butler, Dubois, to tell her that Mr. Sparrow had gone out and had yet to return.
But he had clearly said it would only take three days!
Grown-ups really were always lying!
And so Bernadette waited and waited, and waited some more.
One day, two days... one week, two weeks, three weeks...
Yet Mr. Sparrow never came back.
Of course, she had tried reciting those three lines of the "incantation" during that time, but she received no response either.
She could not help starting to worry, wondering whether Mr. Sparrow had run into danger. After worrying about Mr. Sparrow, she began worrying about Dad, bearing troubles she should not have had to bear at her young age.
Sigh-
Raising her head and pressing her hands together, Bernadette gazed devoutly at the moon and pleaded softly, "God, please make sure Dad and Mr. Sparrow both come back safely as soon as possible!"
Knock, knock, knock.
Just