You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

That’s weird. I’ve been gone for so long, but they haven’t called me yet. Usually, they would be scrambling around to look for me already. Aren’t Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse worried about me at all?

With that thought, Jasper checked his phone, which resembled a watch.

Uh-oh. The battery died.

“Gavin, your food’s ready!” Edwin called out when he noticed Jasper as he was about to bring the food over to Gavin’s room.

“Okay!” Jasper responded as he ran to take his seat at the dining table.

Seeing that the table was full of delicious-looking dishes, he quickly grabbed a fork and happily dug in.

“Gavin, pace yourself. Please chew your food more slowly!” Edwin urged as the way Jasper ate shocked him. What’s going on? Usually, he would chew more slowly before swallowing.

“Mm-hmm!” The boy was beaming with delight as he ate. Oh my gosh! These are heavenly! Jesse would definitely love this!

Suddenly, Jasper slowed down as he felt guilty. Did Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse eat yet?

“Mr. Whitley, these are really good!”

“Hehe! I was afraid that you’d get tired of eating the same thing every day! Have some more if you like it!” Edwin suggested as he put more food on his plate.

Jasper caught sight of Benjamin walking toward them and started to eat quietly.

“Mr. Graham!” Edwin quickly prepared cutlery for Benjamin while the latter took his seat to eat with Jasper.

His brows furrowed deeply when he saw Jasper swallowing the food without chewing.

“Chew for thirty times before swallowing!”

“B-But I’m hungry!” Jasper exclaimed in surprise. Thirty times? That’s too tiring!

“Don’t eat too quickly! No matter how hungry you are, you must chew your food thirty times before you swallow!” Did he not eat well while I was away?

Graham, Gavin’s been taking his meals properly in the past few days! Maybe he’s eating so quickly today

looking at Benjamin and Edwin. Jasper paced his chewing. What’s up with

didn’t chew at least thirty times. This is the

door. Once that was done, Jasper continued to search the room as he looked for clues or ways to

Luckily they didn’t call Gavin. I’ll definitely be exposed if they do. No, I must find a way to call Gavin to see

was nowhere to be found. In that instant, he heard someone knocking on the door. Jasper beamed when he knew

Mr. Whitley?” he asked as he opened the

this for you! Let me know any time if you want to eat it in the

the cotton candy merrily and took a bite. Yay! I get

Whitley, can I borrow your phone for a little while?” he asked out of the blue when Edwin was

you go!” Edwin reached for his phone in his pocket and passed it to Jasper without

for you!” Jasper tilted the phone to an angle where

the same thing before, Edwin smiled and waited

Jasper found Gavin’s number after scrolling for a while. After that, he quickly memorized Gavin’s number and changed the font

cotton candy is delicious!” Jasper exclaimed with a huge grin

before you sleep!”

Good night, Mr.

looked in the direction of Gavin’s room before he went

in to charge his phone. He took a few more bites of the cotton candy and finished it as he waited for his device to be fully charged. After that, he went to brush his teeth and took a bath. Once he was out, the indicator showed that it was fully

Mommy,

 Are you Gavin?

for his phone when he heard the familiar sound of an incoming

He contacted

a reply from Gavin. Gavin texted: Yeah. That’s me. Are you at my

brows. Huh? How does

did you know that?

Daddy hasn’t found

of relief. So he really is with Mommy! That was quick. It sure didn’t

 Are

so? We look exactly the