11 Child custody

Penny went under the shrub to rescue a kitten, but

this wasn't a kitten.

What welcomed her was a petite young boy. He looked a little gaunt and pale, but his eyes were brooding as if he were the grim reaper himself.

"What are you?"

"What are you?"

They asked in unison, but Penny was most taken aback because his low-pitched voice didn't match his sickly appearance. He frowned while her brows rose. Before she could say anything, she heard a soft 'meow' from somewhere. Averting her eyes, she caught a small and frail kitten coming from his other side. "Oh." Her lips formed an o-shape. "There's the kitten."

A big smile appeared on her face as she looked up at the boy. "I thought you were."

Did he look like a kitten to her?

The boy looked at the girl's round face and noticed

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11 Child custody

that her nose looked pink. He bit his tongue, knowing whatever he was about to say was rude.

"It looks hungry and... oh, it has a company?" Curiosity was seen in her eyes as she stared at the cute rain frog.

Seeing this, the boy looked at the cat and froze.

"A rain frog?" she mumbled. "I didn't know there's some in here."

Penny glanced at the boy, only to furrow her brows upon seeing the horrified look on his face. Earlier, this guy had already looked sickly, but now it seemed he was about to go into the light!

"Kitty, are you okay?" she asked, watching him twist his neck like a rusting robot. The moment they were face to face, Penny panicked. "Are you dying?!"

"He help."

"Help?" Penny was about to summon her superhuman strength and carry him, but then, noticed the frog coming closer to him. His face stiffened even more, and he was holding his breath until his neck turned

taut.

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11 CHAT tedy

to move freely because of the shrub she was stuck in. "If you don't mind, excuse

on it to reach for the rain frog. She grabbed it without fear, making the

you so scared of it? It's safe!" she reassured, a little

once, and she was

little creatures like this back

there were more things

little creatures. Even so, she

and she felt sorry

at him encouragingly, smiling wide until her eyes were squinting.

Great aunt?

sigh of relief, flinching wherever she waved the frog in

shouldn't be in this place if you're scared

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almost scolding him. "But I know it's

situation was the opposite. It was more like the cat was rescuing him.

throat, trying to pull. herself out of the shrub. As she

she added, "I have to go...

take

and looked

take it home," he said,

I think it won't survive

all alone."

as her eyes fell

and small, its hairs still thin and dirty. It reminded her of herself, abandoned by

such a young age.

as she smiled.

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"Huh?"

she negotiated. "Giving her to me means you are not capable of raising it. Don't bother me in the

like they were talking about child custody? Or rather, why did she sound

in this?

capable of raising it. He didn't even know if he would reach adulthood. "Fine," he said, but was curious. "Can I visit

here every Thursday, same

the little guy

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