Chapter 4

"Honey, did you read the headlines in the newspaper this morning?" asked Miranda to her husband.

They were sitting together in front of the fire to enjoy some relaxing time. Two cups of tea and a plate of pastries accompany their conversation.

"You know I always read the morning papers," replied Harold as he drank his tea.

"Well, then you should know, earlier this year Briston City was hit by a crisis. The starvation epidemic is happening everywhere, and it is said it will last until the end of the year."

"Yes, I know, what's wrong with that?"

"What's wrong with that?" Miranda asked as she widened her eyelids, “Crisis is not a trivial thing, Harold! Anyone can be affected, even kings. We could starve to death!"

"Calm down, Miranda, our food is abundant, and we don't eat too much anyway."

“We don't eat too much, but your kids are. They are so greedy, they eat like pigs!"

Miranda jerked shut his mouth while Harold almost choked on the tea he was sipping, the man turned to Miranda with knitted brows.

"My children are not like that!"

The wife pinned her earlock while blinking quickly as if she had never said anything. "What do you know? I'm the one with them all day long, I know what their nature is!"

"I can guarantee they are good children. I always taught them everything, and one of them was manners lessons. You must be kidding."

"Is it true? What about the intonation of Phillip's voice when he spoke to me earlier? Does that include children who are taught manners?"

Harold was silent, his forehead made a lot of wrinkles, he was quite surprised by what happened earlier, and the man could have sworn that this was the first time Phillip was screaming that loud to an older person.

Usually, Phillip and Lillian act politely, both of them always uphold manners, because he and Elli always taught them this. And as for the food problem, it looks like the bodies of the two children don't show that they "eat like pigs" at all.

“Before that, I want to know what made Lilly's cheeks turn blue. Phillip said you slapped him, I hope that's not true."

Miranda covered her mouth with wide eyes as if she had just been accused of chopping off the head of a kitten. “You know I would never do something like that! She played the slingshot to pick up fruit from the tree. I don't even know how the rubber catapult slapped her on the cheek. "

"As I remember Lilly was never playing a slingshot ..."

“Whatever! You changed the subject when we were having a much more serious problem! ”

Not wanting to increase the matter, Harold did not argue back. Especially, seeing Miranda looking away with her arms crossed, and he was too tired to satisfy anyone. The man smiled as calmly as possible.

"Okay, forget it, and for the crisis, Phillip and Lillian are obedient kids, I'll talk to them so they don't have to eat too much. They must understand, you don't need to worry,” replied Harold, still trying to sound casual.

"Oh sure, you talk to them, don't be surprised while you ramble on, your kids put as much food in their mouths as possible!" Miranda still crossed her arms over her chest — sulking.

"Then what do you want me to do? Abandoned them into the forest?" Harold asked with swaying intentions.

"Exactly," replied Miranda lightly, which made the man stare back in confusion.

"What are you saying?"

"Listen, Harold, if this crisis persists, we will starve to death while your children eat up all our food!" The woman continued.

"Are you crazy! I will not abandon my children!"

"Do you prefer them over me?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Tell you what, Harold. Do you love me or your children?"

“What a stupid question, Miranda. I love you, I love my children, all of you are precious to me."

"If you still want to be with me, you have to throw them away!"

"Why do you want this so badly?"

"I'm just thinking about our future, Darling," said Miranda who suddenly acted soft by massaging her husband's shoulder. "Come on, only until the crisis over, and when things get better, we'll get your kids back."

“A forest is a dangerous place, they can get hurt in there. I never even let them into the garden at night. "

"Why are you so confused? Tomer Forest is the closest to our house and has many kinds of wild plants that are not poisonous, they can live there temporarily. "

“I won't leave my children there, I don't even allow footing there! You know Tomer Forest is filled with the myths of the Falsies?"

"The existence of the Falsies is just a myth, Darling. After all, you've trained Phillip to hunt well, he's a strong and brave boy, he can survive in the woods and look after his sister." Miranda urged, “Come on, they won't be in the forest for a long time anyway. We'll get them back soon."

The man rubbed his reddish hair in a huff. This was an easy choice, he just had to say 'no' because it was so obvious that this was the silliest idea he had ever heard in his life. That one word seemed stuck in his throat, his chest tightened even at the thought of that one word. Not having time to answer, Miranda massaged her husband's head.

Running her fingers through his reddish hair until they touch his scalp, relaxing his muscles, then lifting them so they stare at each other. A moment later, the woman gave a soft and deep kiss. It was long enough for Harold to forget whatever they were talking about earlier. Now the focus was only on the cold sensation Miranda spread, it was so cold that the man understood what it was like to be a snowman. Once the kiss finished, her eyes were blank as a doll.

"Do as I say. Trust me, this is the best solution you have."

Without thinking much further, Harold rose steadily from the chair and began to prepare everything he needed to spend a night in the forest. Such as tents, wood pickers, various hunting equipment, and food. Miranda helped her husband with a smile that nobody could understand.

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