Following a rainstorm, the air smells like eucalyptus leaves splattered with mud.
Amy Rivers groggily opened her eyes and was instantly astonished to see that she had overslept. The black cat that had jumped into her bed and walked on her woke her up.
It was alright to be tardy a few times yearly, but unfortunately, this was the first school day after the summer break. Amy Rivers hastily responded when she heard her mother calling her from downstairs. At that moment, the cat crossed over her tummy again before deftly leaping off it. She cleaned her face and changed her clothes hurriedly before grabbing her backpack and heading out the door.
"Why? Didn't your alarm go off?" There's no time to waste, so hurry and eat something. I prepared pork sausage and potatoes in the frying pan. It turned out very tasty."
At this point, Amy Rivers had already made her way to the front door of the building. There was no time to think about breakfast before she had to go.
"Because I didn't have any morning study to do before the opening ceremony, I didn't realize that the time had passed. "Mom, where is Jeffy?" she yelled.
A baby Pomeranian trailed closely after Amy. When she stopped to change her shoes, the dog dutifully sat down on the ground to observe her.
"Your Jeffy has already left. Isn't today supposed to be the opening ceremony? It seems like he's reporting for duty today. Do kids in their final year of high school who are in their third year still have to do that?" Arnita Rivers placed the bottle she was washing earlier at its original position, turned around as she dried her hands, and said, "The opening ceremony for the junior high school department should be combined with the high school department.........."
As soon as Amy Rivers turned around and opened the door, the Pomeranian began to feverishly claw at her leg to stop her from leaving.
"Mimi!," Arnita Rivers yelled after her hastily as she followed her. "You can't deny yourself breakfast like that!"
Amy Rivers bent down to pet the dog and then quickly kissed it before running off, saying, "I'll purchase some goodies. "Bye, Mom~."
"Don't just go ahead and consume whatever!"
As soon as Amy Rivers left home, she hopped on her bicycle and headed for the breakfast stand outside the village. The older woman who usually sells cakes at that location was not present today. Amy Rivers had previously overheard her complaining about her back discomfort, so she knew she was probably taking a break for a few days. On the other hand, the aroma of the omelette shop next door was so strong that it could be detected from quite a distance away.
“Mimi, how much longer before school time?" Come and enjoy some omelette." The owner of the restaurant serving omelettes decorated a customer's serving with ketchup, the glaring red lines morphing into a little smiley face.
"Uncle Scott, I'm afraid I'm going to be late. I'll have it first thing in the morning tomorrow!" After parking her bicycle, Amy Rivers dashed inside the nearby convenience shop. She had little time to decide, so she hurriedly picked up bread, paid for it, and sprinted out of the store.
It poured continuously during the night before. She had never been able to get a good night's sleep in this city since the rain was never exceptionally soft and always accompanied by loud lightning and thunder. She recalled that it was also raining heavily the night she was locked in the warehouse. She had shouted all day long, but no one could hear her until Jeffery Howard returned; as a result, she experienced psychological distance from her parents. The terrible event was followed by another week of rainy weather. She was so terrified that she burst into tears as soon as the thunder started to rumble. She immediately ran into Jeffery Howard's room and climbed into his bed -obviously, that was where she passed the week.
Since then, she started to depend on this brother, who was not related to her by any other means, but she did so automatically. She had even spent yesternight bundled in his arms, though she doesn’t recollect how she ended up in her room this morning.
Edward Howard, Jeffery Howard's father, and Vincent Rivers, Amy Rivers' father, were lifelong friends and had spent their childhoods together.
Unfortuitously, Mr. Howard passed away at a very early age. Before his move to the United Kingdom, Edward Howard was essentially considered an unofficial member of the Rivers family since he constantly ate and lived with them. Anna may not remember much, but she does remember riding on the fun uncle’s shoulders as they roamed the busy streets. As an extreme sports enthusiast, Edward Howard fell in love with Priya Mehrotra, an Indian girl he met while rock climbing. Without consequence, she became his wife, and they ultimately had a son, Jeffery Howard. However, their joyous days did not last long. When the pair were skiing in the Alps a dozen years ago, they were unlucky enough to get caught in an avalanche, and not one survived.
Jeffery Howard had to say goodbye to both of his parents in the span of only one night. Even Vincent Rivers, who had flown to the United Kingdom to pick him up, was at a loss as to how to explain this tragedy to a youngster of that age.
Jeffery Howard, at that time, was clinging to Vincent Rivers and would only refer to him as "uncle." Although he had not completely grasped the concept of death, he was not one to moan or display signs of weakness. The Rivers family took him in, and he has been living in Little Ivywood ever since.
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