As soon as I entered to Jake’s bedroom, carrying a plate of pancakes and a glass of orange juice, I realized something was wrong.
“Hey there, buddy, are you finished with your little temper tantrum? I made pancakes…!” I announced as I opened the door.
As soon as I saw the room, I froze, dropping the plate and glass, which shattered on the floor. The room was empty, and the window had been smashed open, glass lying on the floor. What the…
“Jake? JAKE!?! Jake, where are you? Oh God, oh God no.” I yelled desperately.
I tried not to panic, and attempted as hard as I could to remain calm. My mind flooded with questions. How hadn't I heard the window shattering? What should I do? Where the hell was Jake? I quickly raced out of the bedroom, and through the front door. Leaving the farmhouse, I sprinted into the driveway, and looked around. There was no one in sight, and there were no tire tracks in the mud. I glanced around desperately. The barn was still locked, the grassy fields that stretched on for miles were empty except for a few cows.
The woods! I turned to the left, seeing the thick woods in front of me. Without hesitation I sprinted into the trees.
“Jake! JAKE!” I screamed as I ran, desperately searching through the trees and leaves to see Jake. Tears streamed for my face as my mind raced through the worst possibilities. Then, thankfully, I saw him. He sat huddled next to a massive Oak tree, wearing his red rain jacket. He looked up at me, tears streaming from his face.
“JAKE! Oh, thank merciful God!” I said.
I quickly embraced him, squeezing him tightly so to never let him go. He sobbed into my shoulder pitifully, as I tried to calm him down.
“It’s OK. It’s OK. Let’s go home.”
“I… I want to see my mum and dad!” Jake sobbed.
“Oh, buddy. You know I can’t do that.” I said, picking him up.
“I miss my mum!” The child cried.
“No means no, mister.”
I carried Jake back towards the house as he let out another flood of tears.
“I want to go home.” Jake cried.
“Oh, we are going home. And this time, you’re not leaving. Let’s get your stuff moved down to the basement. We can’t have you breaking windows and trying to escape any more, can we?”
Jake let out another sniffle, but I hushed him. I’d have to move his stuff down to the basement, and get bars for the windows and a lock for the door, but that would be only an hour’s work at the most. And then, I’d have the whole day to play with my new buddy.