Autumn In Kent
Smart Stick

‘Who is Steve Carroll?’ Nancy and William asked at the same time.

‘Sister Emma Walden. Mike asked my college friend, Billy McCroom, to investigate Steve,’ Puti replied calmly.

‘What?!’ Nancy and William cried out at the same time. Mike surprised. He did not expect that Puti would dare to talk about Steve in front of his parents. But it seems Puti is abstaining from retreating. Mike who was sitting right across from Puti looked at him to gauge the seriousness of Puti. Puti looked back at him with her clear eyes. The shady eyes. There was no sign of anger in his eyes. Mike felt that his patience was being tested.

‘I have good reason to investigate Steve, but I don't intend to reveal it here,’ Mike said quietly.

‘What is your business with Steve? You don't know each other,’ Puti argued. Then he moved his eyes towards Cathy sitting to Mike's left, William at the head of the table and Nancy sitting to his right to engage them in his conversation with Mike. ‘This few weeks, I'm familiar with Steve. We spent a lot of time together. A lot of people think I'm dating Steve. A lot of people were against our closeness, because Steve had a lot of girls. Why is it that I'm close to Steve harming others?’

‘Steve's only child and heir John Stuart Carroll,’ Mike says. ‘Industrian John Stuart Carroll from Cleveland,’. Puti realized that everyone at the dinner table was no stranger to the name called Mike.

‘You said she's Emma's sister?’ Nancy asked Puti.

‘Sister step,’ replied Puti fix. ‘Emma and Steve have the same mother,’

‘Lantas? If he's an industrialist kid can't be friends with me who's nobody?’ Challenge the Leave to Mike.

‘John Stuart Carroll has never married since his divorce from Emma's mother. He's a rich widower who changes girls as often as he changes clothes. Movie stars, singers, models, politicians, old, young even those under the age he is dating,’ Mike explained. ‘I heard Steve did too. That's why I asked Billy to find information, not investigate, what Steve's intention is to approach you,’ continued Mike. Puti shook her head.

‘Why is Steve's intention so important to you? I just live it no matter,’ asked Puti.

‘It's precisely because you don't care, I decided to intervene,’ Mike replied. ‘Steve was just playing you. Steve is a player who is not as good as you. Easily he can use you.’

‘Wow, look at us,’ exclamation Puti. ‘You are not a player, your intensity towards me is good, but in fact you can and can leave me without any reason.’

‘That’s not fair!’ Cathy who had been silent suddenly interjected. Puti looked at him sharply. From the corner of his eyes Puti saw his father and mother looking at him in awe. While in front of him, Mike was momentarily stunned. At all he did not expect that Puti would be as open and clear as that.

‘I'm just talking facts. Surely Mike had his reasons, but he never told me why. Know-how he has made plans to marry you,’ said Puti. ‘If now he is worried about Steve, who is a player and outside my league approaches me, how should I respond to him?’

‘Preciate him because he still cares about you,’ Cathy replied confidently as she looked at Puti triumphantly.

‘Thank you, Mike,’ said Puti sneered while smiling extra sweetly at Mike. ‘But I read it another. You expect me to move on, Mike. Expecting me to let you go. But once I get close to someone else, you act. I don't think you yourself have moved on. You still love me.’

‘Of course I still love you. Will always love you,’ said Mike automatically. Suddenly the room became quiet. Cathy looked pale and tense. William and Nancy did not dare to expect anything.

‘Love a brother to his sister,’ Puti breaks the silence and tries to neutralize Mike's speech. ‘But if you still interfere in my personal affairs, I will assume that you are jealous. If you still want to know about Steve or other guys close to me, I'll assume that in fact you still want to come back to me,’ ultimatum Puti to Mike.

‘And, Cathy.’ Puti switched to Cathy. ‘Don't worry I'll take Mike back. I've let him go completely. I burned all the bridges behind me. I can only walk forward. I'm not your rival in the fight over Mike. I'm not interested,’ said Puti coldly and hit the heart, He did not consider the feelings of others at all. He let out his sharp tongue, as well as the Manga swordsman brandishing his silver sword.

☘️

Perhaps because of the relief that can reveal the uneg-uneg lodged in his heart, Puti can sleep soundly without burden. Waking up, the winter sun had already barged in through his windowpanes. It was past noon. Quickly she moved from her bed to the bathroom.

As she intends to get out of the room, she sees a Christmas present from Steve on her desk. Puti grabbed him and held him. Light-weight. Slowly Puti took off his ribbon while wondering what it contained. As soon as the wrapping paper opened, Puti's laughter exploded.

Steve's Christmas gift turned out to be a smart stick. Electronic walking stick for blind equipped with GPS so that it can lead at once to find the address. Inside the box was a greeting card and a black blindfold. On the card Steve wrote with his neat handwriting:

Since you don't want eye surgery, start learning to use this stick.

Who always admired you,

Steve

Puti smiles. The light wand was swung around for a moment, then he brought it downstairs with his manual. Puti intends to try it out in the spacious living room.

Downstairs Puti realized that the house was very quiet. Puti walked into the kitchen and saw a message from her mother stuck in the refrigerator stating that her father and mother went to church until the afternoon.

Turn back to the living room, sit on the sofa and start reading the manual for the use of the sophisticated looking stick. As he read, Mike appeared in the living room and sat down next to Puti. His smile grew warm, as if there were no problems between them.

‘Where to?’ Tanya Puti who realized that Mike was still wearing a jacket and still smelled the outside air.

‘Introducing Cathy to airport’ Mike replied.

‘Cathy is home?’ Tanya Puti couldn't believe it. ‘I thought he would be here until the new year.’

‘There's something to take care of in Maryland,’ Mike replied.

‘Mike, about last night ..I'm sorry if I put too much pressure on you and make Cathy feel uncomfortable. Makes all feel uncomfortable.’ Puti feels Cathy hastened to leave because she feels the need to apologize to Mike. ‘Usually I'm good at holding myself back, for some reason last night I spilled my frustration openly.’

‘You deserve to be upset, Put. My treatment of you is unforgivable. Leaving you for no reason, coming home as if nothing had happened, the appearance of Cathy without a plan, my knowledge of Mrs Belmont and Steve.. ‘

‘I already intend to forget it all and start living a new life,’ Cut Puti.

‘One day, Puti, when our wounds no longer hurt, when you can truly forgive me, when you have found a man who loves you, cherishes you and makes you happy, I will explain everything. Notnot now. I can't explain it now,’ Mike's promise seriously. Puti shook her head.

‘I don't want to know, Mike. Not now, not later. We're not fools. That'sthat's all. Let us live each of our lives. We cannot avoid each other forever. There are mom and dad who will bring us together from time to time.’

‘Jadi ... do we get along?’ Ask Mike. Puti. Mike develops his hand to hug Puti and Puti allows Mike to hug him as a symbol of peace between them. At the time of the hug Mike realized that there was something between him and Puti.

‘What is this?’ Ask while lifting a stick that rests on the sofa.

‘Gift from Steve,’ Reply Puti.

‘Tan blind stick?’ Mike asked in wonder.

‘Steve knew that if I made a mistake, he hoped this stick would lead me in the right direction,’ Puti replied deliberately disguising the reason Steve gave him the stick.

☘️

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