After joyous months spent nestled in the loving embrace of her parents, the year turned to 2005. On the 24th of May, Charlotte was ready to embark upon her third year, eager to unravel another layer of life's intricate tapestry. One cannot help but wonder, what inscription would grace Charlotte's flash drive this year? Let us venture onward to discover the answer!
CHAPTER III
The year was 2005, and summer had descended upon the land. One sunny day, a whimsical companion named Lena emerged in Charlotte's imagination. In her mind's eye, Lena was a spirit devoid of any human attributes; Charlotte could converse with her but could not behold her in any physical form. Lena would spend the day playing games with Charlotte, and when night fell, she would find solace within a large doll that Charlotte cherished. This doll was a blonde with tousled hair.
Charlotte adored playing hide-and-seek with Lena. It was a delightful pastime until it spiraled into an excess, a transgression of sorts, that transpired in a manner I must recount with due detail.
One glorious August day, Manuel, Artemia, and little Charlotte Sambrano embarked on a week-long vacation to the island of Etteniram, seeking respite from the humdrum of everyday life. This island teemed with tourists, offering an array of activities and diversions: cinemas nestled within grand houses overlooking palm trees; performances by talking Maine Coon cats; journeys into the realm of anime; the ability to temporarily transform into a two-dimensional being; restaurants where dishes levitated, inviting families to partake in a delightful culinary adventure; the opportunity to converse with any celebrity in the world; and much more.
But the most captivating feature of the island was a unique ritual observed on the penultimate day of one's stay: each visitor received feedback on their conduct throughout their sojourn. This feedback was delivered by their very own personal angel-mentor. Etteniram was an extraordinary place where individuals had the chance to engage in face-to-face encounters with their celestial guides! This meeting took place in a special chamber on the island, where one had to enter in a state of complete purity for the angel to manifest.
Six days of relaxation passed, and the day of the angelic encounter arrived. Some visitors received positive feedback, while others fell short of their celestial mentor's expectations. Manuel and Artemia Sambrano, it turned out, were praised by their angels for their exemplary partnership in all aspects, for they cared deeply for each other and for their cherished daughter. Their angels were exceedingly pleased with them.
However, the same could not be said for little Charlotte, as her angel expressed only an 80% level of satisfaction. Here's why.
On the third day of their vacation, Charlotte and Lena, in their usual fashion, decided to play hide-and-seek with their parents. Each time Charlotte concealed herself in a different corner of their apartment, her mother and father easily found her, making the game all the more exhilarating. But now, they were on an island, a vast expanse! How could her parents possibly guess where their daughter had hidden herself? This crucial point, unfortunately, slipped Charlotte's mind. She ventured into the forest, discreetly concealed herself behind a thicket, and patiently awaited her parents' discovery. But twenty minutes passed, and Charlotte remained undiscovered. Artemia Sambrano began to worry. She realized that her daughter was playing hide-and-seek again, but how could she possibly search such a vast location? She called out for Manuel. He had been asleep, and awoke with a start, fearing that Charlotte had decided to hide underwater! After all, she was a child, capable of anything. Moreover, she had been missing for over half an hour! Terror gripped the parents, and they enlisted the aid of others to join the search for Charlotte.
A thorough search of the forest, the beach, all entertainment centers, every dwelling, and even a plunge into the depths of the water in case she had accidentally drowned, proved fruitless. The three-year-old girl was nowhere to be found. After an agonizing hour and a half, Charlotte reappeared and announced to everyone:
– Why is everyone so inattentive today? I was hiding behind the bushes, watching you all. I got bored because no one could find me properly. So many people, and none of you could play hide-and-seek correctly, – Charlotte said with a mournful face. Immediately, her parents rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Artemia, overcome with joy and relief that, thank Allah, Charlotte was safe and sound, let out a sob of happiness. Charlotte could not fathom the fear she had instilled in everyone. She was so young that could not grasp the gravity of the situation. But it was on the sixth day of their vacation that Charlotte's angel-mentor explained that he was 20% dissatisfied with her due to the terror she had inflicted on her parents while engrossed in her game of hide-and-seek. The angel, of course, did not scold Charlotte but simply clarified the situation in a language she could comprehend.
Charlotte realized that day scaring her parents in such a manner was unacceptable. She also understood that it is essential to avoid getting carried away by any pursuit in life. These lessons, imparted by her angel-mentor, were forever etched in her memory. And so, on the seventh day of their trip, the Sambrano family took flight, returning to the city of Loyalty from the island of Etteniram. Though parents had been shaken by the incident, they were overjoyed to have their daughter back by their side, joyful and healthy. The vacation, despite the scare, had been an enriching experience.
The fall, winter of 2005, and spring of 2006 passed peacefully. Charlotte adhered to all the important rules without any significant transgressions. Therefore, on the 24th of May, 2006, as Charlotte's flash drive unfurled on her fourth birthday, the following lessons were inscribed in the same purple notebook:
"Dear Charlotte! This past summer, you learned how perilous it can be to become overly engrossed in hide-and-seek. Previously, you hid for a few minutes, making it easy for your parents to find you, and it was a joyful pastime. But this time, you hid for an hour and a half, frightening your parents terribly. And this applies to all aspects of life. For instance, consuming an adequate amount of food is beneficial and necessary for health. But overeating can lead to weight gain, which, conversely, poses health risks. A little fire keeps your home warm during winter. But just a smidgen more than needed, and the house could catch fire! Therefore, your first lesson for the years 2005-2006 revolves around the importance of maintaining a Golden Mean in absolutely everything you do!
Your second lesson emphasizes the importance of never doing anything that could deeply frighten your parents. Do you want them to live long, healthy, and happy lives? Then cherish them and avoid causing them such distress. Of course, not everything in life is within your control, but your actions do have a significant impact on the quality and longevity of your parents' lives. These are the takeaways for this year, Charlotte. Until your next birthday!"
And before us, dear readers, lies a world of new experiences. We trust that Charlotte will spend her fourth year in full enjoyment, acquiring yet another lesson, one that we shall soon unveil.
CHAPTER IV
Summer's warmth graced the year 2006. Since their daughter's birth, Artemia had devoted herself entirely to motherhood, cherishing every moment with little Charlotte. However, as she observed a hint of monotony creeping into her daughter's days, she decided to enroll Charlotte in a kindergarten, returning to her career. At the time, Manuel served as a distinguished agent for the National Security Service of Lafem, while Artemia shared her expertise as a neurosurgeon at a local clinic. Both were highly regarded in their respective fields, deriving immense satisfaction from their work.
