Autumn In Kent
Manga Swordsman

Mike and his father were talking about Mike's placement in Europe when Mike's phone rang. He glanced at the screen, saw McCroom's name. Mike asked his father's permission to answer the phone and rushed out of the library to the entertainment room located next to the library.

‘What's up, McCroom?’ mike asked whispering.

‘He already knows everything. Just now he came to my house and was raging,’ Billy McCroom replied frantically.

‘Who is he?’ Ask Mike. ‘I don't understand what you're talking about.’

‘Puti. Last night it turned out Puti heard your talk when you called me about Steve Carroll and Mrs. The Belmont. He's very angry.. He also gave me a check of over 5000 dollars to give back to you.’

‘You said Puti came to your house in Kent?’

‘Ya and she returned all the money she got from Mrs. Belmont.’

‘Where is Puti now?’

‘She's gone on a gray Audi ride and told me to stay away from her. I've never seen him that angry. He drove loudly and recklessly. I worry about him,’ Billy McCroom explains.

‘OK, I'll call him and I'll explain everything,’ said Mike calmly.

‘Then should I do this check?’

‘Please deposit back to Puti account. He has worked hard for that money.’

‘Oke, I'll deposit soon. Please let me know that Puti has arrived home safely. My feelings are not good.’ Billy McCroom closes the conversation.

As soon as his conversation with McCroom was over, Mike immediately dialed the Puti number. Sound of ringtones. But the phone wasn't picked up. He tried several times, the result was the same. The phone is not picked up. He wouldn't take a call from me, Mike thought as he walked into the living room.

Cathy and Nancy were discussing a list of invitations from the Gray family in the living room when Mike came in.

‘Will Puti attend the reception? Where should I sit him?’ I heard Cathy's question.

‘Mom, can you borrow a phone for a minute?’ Mike pretended not to hear Cathy's question.

‘You can borrow mine,’ Cathy offers while holding out her gap. Mike shook his head.

‘I need to call Mom to call Puti. He won't answer my phone,’ Mike replied as he was.

‘He was with his friend, may not hear his phone ringing.’ Nancy tried to calm down while extending her hape towards Mike.

‘He wasn't in Poland with his friend, Mom. He's out in Kent. I have to talk to him before he does silly things,’ said Mike before moving away. Nancy and Cathy looked confused.

Sometime later, Mike reappears returning his mother's phone.

‘You managed to contact Puti?’ Nancy asked. Mike shakes. His face looks wrinkled.

‘What's up?’ Ask Nancy. Mike is back.

☘️

It was late when Puti put his car in the yard. The Christmas lights installed near the window were already brightly lit.

Puti entered through the side door that went straight to the kitchen. Mike, who was making eggnog with Nancy and Cathy, was stirred up to him.

‘We're all worried about you,’ said Mike as he looked at Puti. And he froze looking at Puti's appearance. His long straight black hair past his shoulders was gone. Cut extra short with an irregularly pointed pixie style. With such a hairstyle, his dark round eyes so prominent behind his clear glasses. He came back like a teenager. It was like five years ago when I first came to America. When Mike first met her and fell in love.

His face, which had been glum for a few days, returned radiant. There was not a hint of sadness on that face. He looks like a manga swordsman in Japanese comics. Confident and ready to bulldoze his enemies.

‘Hai, Mike,’ greet Puti while landing a warm kiss on Mike's cheek that is still frozen in front of him. Puti walked past Mike to the kitchen. There was Nancy and Cathy there who were also looking at and judging her new appearance.

‘Sorry, Mom, I didn't help in the kitchen today,’ Puti said.

‘Cathy has helped me well,’ replied Nancy with a big smile.

‘Thanks, Cathy,’ Puti said sincerely while developing her sweet smile.

‘Not too short?’ Tanya Puti while holding her hair.

‘Same as no. You are exactly a Japanese comic. Young and fresh,’ replied his mother. Mike who heard his mother's opinion smiled. The same opinion as his.

‘Mana Dad?’ Ask Puti.

‘In the shower,’ replied Nancy.

‘Oh, I should take a shower first,’ Puti said as she walked out of the kitchen.

‘Dinner in an hour and a half,’ cried his mother reminded.

☘️

Christmas dinner at the Gray family was peaceful and light. The conversation at the dinner table was sweet and warm. Even Puti participated without the need to be fished first. Dinner was almost perfect. Almost. Because when everyone was ready to leave the dining table to move into the living room, Mike made a mistake.

‘Puti, can I talk to you for a minute in the library?’ Mike Pinta.

‘Speaking about what?’ tanya Puti refused.

‘Tell in library,’ replied Mike.

‘We better talk about it here. I think Mom, Dad and Cathy want to know what you want to talk about.’

‘This has nothing to do with them. It concerns both of us. Personal.’

‘Nothing personal between us, Mike. Whatever concerns me, mom-dad can know. And who holds me you, I think Cathy, deserves to know,’ Puti's reason. Mike considered.

‘Nothing, if you really do not want,’ said Mike short.

‘Not want. I want you to talk here. Let everything be clear. Let everything open. Do not let me be accused if I have lost to compete and now try to block you,’ said Puti calmly without emotion.

‘No one accuses you,’ refute Mike. Nancy, William and Cathy began to feel that something was coming and waited without commenting.

‘Last night, I was still sitting in the living room finishing my knit, Mom was sitting next to me, when you and Cathy were arguing in the kitchen. Even if you speak slowly, but I can clearly hear what you are discussing. I think Mom heard it too,’ Puti still maintained her self-control perfectly. Cathy who from earlier was acting unconcerned, looked shocked. William and Nancy were waiting patiently.

‘You, Mike, are still trying to keep my pride. But Cathy was right when she said that life is a continuous competition. If I can't keep your love, it's not Cathy's fault that she took you from me. And I must let you go, must not be hurt, after all this is just competition.’.

‘Puti, you misunderstood..’ Cathy tried to argue. Puti shook her head confidently.

‘To avoid misunderstandings, let us discuss here, what Mike wants to talk to me both in the library.’ Reply Puti steady. Cathy looked at Mike to make him talk. Mike seemed to be considering his options.

‘Do you want to explain to me about Mrs. Belmont?’ Puti returned to talk while waiting for Mike, but it seems Mike did not intend to discuss it in front of his family. Mike nodded.

‘Let me explain to everyone... Mrs. Belmont is the owner of the store in Kent where I worked for 3 months. It turned out that all this time Mrs. Belmont didn't pay me, Mike secretly paid my salary. Right like that, Mike?’

‘I mean to explain to you why I did it.’ Mike said no less calm. Then he began to explain what Billy McCroom described earlier this afternoon.

‘So when Mrs. Belmont refused to hire me, you feel that I won't be able to work anywhere else?’ Chase Puti. ‘Lantas you offer to pay my wages?’

‘Sorry, Put, that time I felt it was the most appropriate decision. I don't mean to underestimate your abilities. I'm sure you can work anywhere,’ replied Mike.

‘Keep what else do you want to talk about?’ Puti decided not to continue the conversation about Mrs. Belmont

‘Nothing,’ answered Mike quickly.

‘You sure?’

‘Ya.’ Answer Mike.

‘How about Steve Carrol?’ Challenge Puti.