Chapter 11. Dot's memory (I)

- 12 years ago -

"Where are we going?" Dot asked his father, who was walking around with a piece of cloth he was not used to seeing him with.

"To the main hall" replied Dot's father, Irem. "Today is a holiday" he announced happily.

"What do you mean? What should we do?" asked Comat, Dot's brother.

"You don't have to do anything. It's not for children," their father explained.

"You will wait for me to finish. At the beginning of the building there is a corner full of games just for children your age. You can play as much as you want but you must not make noise and disturb the adults at the front of the building. This is not a normal day. There will be no one to watch over you not getting into trouble so you must be responsible. Do you understand me?" Irem asked.

"What?! Really?!" Dot asked excitedly.

"Yes, you can play with whatever you want." He announced with a smile, "But!" he immediately addressed Comat in a preachy tone.

"Play only with what's allowed! Don't touch any books, tables, or anything else that isn't meant for children! You stay there patiently until we're done. Do you understand me?" Irem asked seriously.

"Yes..." Comat answered with an irritated hands crossing gesture. "Why do you always have to talk to me like that..." he fumed with dissatisfaction.

"I'm talking to you this way because you have a tendency to test your limits beyond what you need to. Especially when you're around your friends. If I tell you this, believe me I know what I'm doing." Irem answered in an angry tone.

"He's only 6 years old and already such a troublemaker. I'm not looking forward puberty with great enthusiasm." Irem rolled his eyes thinking about Comat who was only two years older than Dot as he grabbed his face in despair.

"Will my friends be there too?" Comat asked in wonder.

"Yes. The whole town is coming. That's why I'm warning you again." He said at the entrance to the building as he greeted his friends.

"Is that him? That boy?" A question was heard from a woman near the corner packed with kids' toys.

"That kid. Right there." The other woman pointed for her friend at a boy sitting in the side of the colorful sponge floor. "Don't they have any shame? Why do they bring him here after what happened? They still dare to show their faces around here... It's unbelievable. I don't understand why nobody is doing something about it..." she said in the critical voice.

"That's your place, go on!" Irem called as he escorted them to the appointed corner.

"We are starting in a minute. Comat, keep an eye on Dot. Don't lose him!" Irem called as he advanced to the front of the building.

When Dot heard it, he held Comat's palm happily, so he won't lose him. Comat let go of his hand in disgust and embarrassment, as he greeted his three old friends. Children his own age, who adored him almost as much as Dot.

Full of pride, he advanced to the playground.

The corner was full of children playing with each other.

Between them, there was also another child. Holding an action figure while sitting on the dedicated sponge floor.

At a quick glance he looked strange to Comat since everyone else was playing with each other but only he was looking at them from the side.

Following them with his eyes, it was clear he wanted to approach but didn't.

Holding his doll, he wasn't interested in it but in the children playing around him.

A sly smile crept across Comat's face, a boy that when he was younger was even more reckless than Dot.

"Ha!" he exclaimed happily as he snatched the toy he was holding out of Loy's hand.

Loy looked at him and his group with wide eyes, excited by the new situation.

Comat took a few steps back and placed the doll beside him on the sponge floor as he stood over it, satisfied with folded hands.

He didn't play with it, he just kept it away from Loy. With his mischievous look, he examined his response.

"Why did you take it if you don't want to play with it?" Loy asked confused.

A question that annoyed Comat.

"He doesn't mind I take his game away from him if I play with it?" he asked in wonder. "Sit down." Comat ordered a little irritated. Dot, Comat and his friends sat on the floor in a circle around the doll.

"Sorry." Loy's voice was heard. "Sorry...hey..." he repeated.

"Ignore him." Comat commanded.

Looking at them and the doll next to them, Loy continued to call out to them several times, but they ignored him.

When he saw that everyone around him was playing with each other, lacking the experience to get to know other children, he invented another game to play with himself as long as the doll was not available.

"?!" Comat fumed as he saw Loy continue minding his own business.