A Nightmare

Waxing Crescent Moon

As any other Friday, this one was also a dull one. Exhausted from the week, the pupils shuffled around in the corridors waiting impatiently for the school hours to pass. Every time Khajul saw someone in the corridor, he carefully avoided them and tried not to attract attention. In primary school he was bullied because he had no parents. He lived with his uncle after his parents had died in a car accident when he was very young. His uncle made ends meet by selling all sorts of goods in his small general store.

Khajul was approaching a group of laughing boys who were standing next to a window. As he walked past them, trying to make himself as small as possible, his gaze wandered through the window up to the sky. The crescent moon was already visible, a pale impression against a background of blue.

A finger tapping on his shoulder brought his focus back to the present. Hesitantly, he turned around to face a pair of sparkling dark brown eyes. They winked at him and seemed to absorb his entire existence. None other than Alain stood before him, again.

„Hey, Khajul how are you? Everything okay with the little tiger? I'm sorry but I haven't had time to look after him these past few days."

Khajul looked at him as if he had seen a ghost. What was this smart ass doing here in his school? Behind Alain, he could make out some older boys from the year above him, who seemed to be Alain's friends and now stared curiously over to Khajul. Great! Today he really hit the jackpot. With a short mumbled "everything's alright" he wanted to turn around and get away. But Alain was faster and grabbed his shoulder.

„Hey, what's wrong? Are you angry? I'll bring something tasty for the kitten next week, okay? Don't be angry! I'm happy!"

Khajul nodded briefly and replied: „I have to go! See you next week."

And before Alain got to say anything, Khajul left. Over his shoulder he could still hear a condescending «Do you know him?» before he was out of range.