You More than Anything in the World (Arissa)

That’s weird. I’ve been gone for so long, but they haven’t called me yet. Usually, they would be scrambling around to look for me already. Aren’t Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse worried about me at all?

With that thought, Jasper checked his phone, which resembled a watch.

Uh-oh. The battery died.

“Gavin, your food’s ready!” Edwin called out when he noticed Jasper as he was about to bring the food over to Gavin’s room.

“Okay!” Jasper responded as he ran to take his seat at the dining table.

Seeing that the table was full of delicious-looking dishes, he quickly grabbed a fork and happily dug in.

“Gavin, pace yourself. Please chew your food more slowly!” Edwin urged as the way Jasper ate shocked him. What’s going on? Usually, he would chew more slowly before swallowing.

“Mm-hmm!” The boy was beaming with delight as he ate. Oh my gosh! These are heavenly! Jesse would definitely love this!

Suddenly, Jasper slowed down as he felt guilty. Did Mommy, Zachary, Oliver, and Jesse eat yet?

“Mr. Whitley, these are really good!”

“Hehe! I was afraid that you’d get tired of eating the same thing every day! Have some more if you like it!” Edwin suggested as he put more food on his plate.

Jasper caught sight of Benjamin walking toward them and started to eat quietly.

“Mr. Graham!” Edwin quickly prepared cutlery for Benjamin while the latter took his seat to eat with Jasper.

His brows furrowed deeply when he saw Jasper swallowing the food without chewing.

“Chew for thirty times before swallowing!”

“B-But I’m hungry!” Jasper exclaimed in surprise. Thirty times? That’s too tiring!

“Don’t eat too quickly! No matter how hungry you are, you must chew your food thirty times before you swallow!” Did he not eat well while I was away?

days! Maybe he’s eating so quickly

Edwin. Jasper paced his chewing. What’s

few minutes, Benjamin would reprimand him whenever Jasper didn’t chew at least thirty times. This is

and locked the door. Once that was done, Jasper continued to search the room as he looked for clues or ways

Gavin. I’ll definitely be exposed if they do. No, I must find a

nowhere to be found. In that instant, he heard someone knocking on

Mr. Whitley?” he asked as he opened

if you

Mr. Whitley!” Jasper took the cotton candy merrily and took a bite. Yay! I

while?” he asked out of the blue when Edwin was about

phone in his pocket and passed it to Jasper without

it bigger for you!” Jasper tilted the phone to an angle where Edwin couldn’t look at the screen and quickly looked for Gavin’s number

had done the same thing before, Edwin smiled and waited patiently at the door without the

changed the font size before returning Edwin’s phone to him. Good thing Mr. Whitley doesn’t

Jasper exclaimed with a

brush your teeth before you

that! Good night, Mr. Whitley!” Jasper

looked in the direction of Gavin’s room before he went

to be fully charged. After that, he went to brush his teeth and took a bath. Once he was out, the indicator showed that it was fully charged, and he started composing a message on it to

with Mommy, or

texted him: Are

reached for his phone when he heard the familiar sound of an incoming message on his phone. When he read the message, his eyes

Jasper! He

a reply from Gavin. Gavin texted: Yeah. That’s me. Are

How does

know that? Where are you now?

Mommy. Daddy hasn’t found out about you yet,

quickly let out a breath of relief. So he really is with Mommy! That was quick. It

 Are

so? We look exactly the