Arustling sound woke Anna up early the next morning.
Tammy was tying her pigtails in front of the mirror when Anna opened her eyes.
âGet up. Mommy!â After she had tied her hair, she shook Anna, who was pretending to sleep.
âItâs only 6:30! Itâs the weekend, for Godâs sake! | can at least sleep until noon, right?â Anna looked at her phone to see what time it was, then felt sad. She buried her head beneath the covers, making her voice muffled.
Tammy dragged Anna to the bedâs edge before casually tossing her some clothes from the closet. It was the day they had agreed to go to the mall.
Tammy had asked Anna to be with her as she went shopping for a birthday present. But after they went to a few stores, Anna began to suspect that Tammy didnât need her to be there at all.
âI think this is a nice bag! Grandaunt Selina will love it,â Anna tried the bag on, displaying it like a model.
Tammy rolled her eyes and said, âMommy, youâre picking out a present for yourself, arenât you? Grandma Selina is almost sixty, and she doesnât like gold lace.â
Anna silently put back that bag and followed Tammy, who had already turned around and entered another store.
âWhat do you think of this silk scarf? This will look great on Selina See, itâs also her favorite color.â 452 Who Arey Check-in Reward TAMM You have a sign-in reward waiting to be claimed! @
aiding the strap of he The salesperson squatted down enthusiastically, handed Tammy the silk scarf, and said, âThis silk scarf is a popular item in our shop, and many customers want to buy it. This is the final one in stock. Donât miss it if you like itâ
Tammy said as she shook her head, âWell, forget it. She said she doesnât like hot-sellers. She like unique things.â Tammy then took a determined step toward the next store.
About an hour later, Anna felt pain in her ankle after they finished touring the last store on the mallâs second floor. She sat on the sofa in the lounge area on the second floor and begged, âMommy is feeling a little tired, baby. Should we...â
Look, Mommy!â Tammy cut Anna off.
Baffled, Anna asked in the direction Tammy was pointing, âWhat?â
âLook at that bakery! My friend Jessica told me that her father owns this store and that we can all eat there for free.â Tammyâs eyes shone brightly, and she appeared extremely excited. Then, she dragged Anna into the store.
There were several people in line at the storeâs entrance. Tammy pushed Anna forward and told her to look at the counter. Anna had no choice but to read the menu to her on tiptoe.
âFive bucks,â The cashier reached out to the child in front of Anna.
The little boy started to eat the cake but didnât take his wallet.
Seeing that, the cashier said anxiously, âKid! You want to eat for free, donât you? Where are your parents? Let them pay for you!â
The boy was about to turn around and run away, but the cashier â452 Who Arey Check-in Reward You have a sign-in reward waiting to be claimed! @ Ee stopped h before he â The cashier was so enraged that he grabbed the boyâs collar and yelled, âWhat a rude kid! Youâre not leaving here without paying!â
Tammy stepped out from behind Anna as she was about to say something. âHe might be Jessicaâs friend,â she said, tugging on the cashierâs apron âWhat?â
âIâm a friend of Jessicaâs, too. She said we could have dessert for free at your store.â
The cashier asked angrily, âYou want free food too, donât you?â
Tammy nodded. But she wondered why Jessica didnât mean what she said. âJessica said it was okay,â she said firmly.
Anna stopped the drama just in time before the cashier grabbed Tammy by the collar as well. She took out her wallet and pointed to the struggling little boy, âLet him go, please. Iâll pay for him.â
After receiving the money, the cashier let go of his hand. The little boy then immediately escaped.
Tammy appeared preoccupied while eating her tiramisu. Anna assumed she was upset because Jessica had tricked her. Just as Anna was thinking of how to comfort her, she heard her say, âIâve seen that little boy before.â
âWhat?â
âHe was the one who scratched Isabella the last time I went to the orphanage with Grandaunt Selina. Iâm not sure what his name was, maybe Gary or Larry.â
Tammy still felt scared when she thought about that experience. She 452 Who Are You, Little Boy? stopped him just in time. The terrified child kicked him several times before he could say anything.
The cashier was so enraged that he grabbed the boyâs collar and yelled, âWhat a rude kid! Youâre not leaving here without paying!â
Tammy stepped out from behind Anna as she was about to say something. âHe might be Jessicaâs friend,â she said, tugging on the cashierâs apron âWhat?â
âIâm a friend of Jessicaâs, too. She said we could have dessert for free at your store.â
The cashier asked angrily, âYou want free food too, donât you?â
Tammy nodded. But she wondered why Jessica didnât mean what she said. âJessica said it was okay,â she said firmly.
Anna stopped the drama just in time before the cashier grabbed Tammy by the collar as well. She took out her wallet and pointed to the struggling little boy, âLet him go, please. Iâll pay for him.â
After receiving the money, the cashier let go of his hand. The little boy then immediately escaped.
Tammy appeared preoccupied while eating her tiramisu. Anna assumed she was upset because Jessica had tricked her. Just as Anna was thinking of how to comfort her, she heard her say, âIâve seen that little boy before.â
âWhat?â
âHe was the one who scratched Isabella the last time | went to the orphanage with Grandaunt Selina. Iâm not sure what his name was, maybe Gary or Larry.â
Tammy still felt scared when she thought about that experience. She 452 Who Are You, Little Boy? didnât like this grumpy little boy.
âIn that case, he should stay in the orphanage. You might be mistaken,â Anna said.
Tammy remembered the little boy because of his distinctive orange curly hair. She said, âPerhaps he was adopted by a good person! Mommy, youâre such a fool.â
Anna immediately said, âTammy! Thatâs the second time youâve said something like that about me today!â
âLetâs go upstairs. Mommy. | already know what Iâm going to get Grandma Selina.â Tammy took Annaâs hand and led her to the third floor While she was still yelling.
In the shop, Tammy leaned over the glass counter, hesitated for a moment, and chose an emerald bracelet for Selina. She pointed to a beautiful bracelet and said to a clerk, âThat one, please!â
Anna was taken aback by the price tag and asked, âTammy, where did you get all that money?â
âMatthew paid me and Isabella a hundred thousand dollars for a bag last month.â
Anna nodded her head. They went to the underground garage after buying the bracelet.
Aiter getting inside her car, Anna started the engine. She was about to drive out of the underground garage when she noticed a small boy lying across the passage.
âSomeone is lying there, Mommy!â Tammy got out of the car ahead of Anna and ran to the little boy, who was already unconscious.
âMommy, itâs Gary!â She exclaimed after checking his face.
Anna checked the little boyâs condition. He struggled to breathe, and 452 Who Are You, Little Boy?
his face was horribly pale. Realizing his life was in danger, Anna carried him to the car and drove him to the hospital.
As soon as they reached the hospital, the doctors and nurses took the frail boy. After the operation was over, a doctor told Anna, who was waiting outside, about the boyâs condition, âHe is not poisoned; heâs just allergic to chocolate. Weâve just cleared any chocolate residue from his stomach. But thereâs something else that shocked us.â
âWhat exactly is it?â
He hesitated for a while, looking a bit worried, âIn his stomach, there was a pile of plastic, cloth scraps, and other strange objects in addition to chocolate. Fortunately, you brought him here. If these things had accumulated in his stomach for a long time, the consequences would have been severe.â
âAnd how is he now?â Anna frowned, looking at the child beside her with pale lips.
âHeâs not in danger, but heâs still not feeling well. In a moment, the nurse will administer an infusion. He must still stay here for at least three days.â
Anna nodded and took a seat next to Garyâs bed.
âSo, Gary may not be adopted. He snuck out.â Tammy thought for a moment and said.
Anna asked sadly, âAre you saying he snuck out because he was abused?â
âMommy, what are you thinking?â Tammy patted Anna on the side of the head, saying, âGrandaunt Selina said that orphanages now are all great nowadays, and no one will abuse children. Besides, Flower Orphanage is currently competing for the title of best orphanage in the country. They rely on their reputation for compassion and patience.â 452 Who Are You, Little Boy?
Anna gradually became less angry. âTammy, how do you know this?â she asked incredulously of her daughter.
âGrandaunt Selina told me that. Mommy, you should read the news more often, too.â
âDo you mean Gary snuck out of the orphanage? He didnât have any food, so he had to eat all of these plastic and fabric scraps?â
â| believe so.â Tammy nodded.
âWeâll have to send him back.â
Anna then began looking for the Flower orphanageâs phone number on her phone. Despite her suspicions about Owenâs intentions, she would never take advantage of this child. Then she dialed the number she found on the website right away At that moment, the nurse asked, âWho is Gary? Iâm going to give him an infusion now.