There were three kids playing previously with Willie; two boys of about six to seven years and a younger looking girl. But now, only the girl was left. The rest were nowhere in sight.
She hurried over to the little girl who smiled and covered her face. Was she shy? She wondered. "Hullo, sweetie."
The girl was muttering something to herself and she strained her ears to listen. "One ... two... three..." she was counting to ten.
"Can you listen to me, please?" she pleaded.
The girl opened her eyes and looked surprised to see her. "Are you talking to me?"
"Where is your new friend who came to play with you guys just now?"
"Our new friend? Willie? We are playing hide and seek, so they all went to hide."
She had a sinking feeling in her chest and her head seemed to swell. "Uhm... where are they hiding? I need to take her home now. We are leaving."
