Description: This is part 2 of the short story Child Hero in which Alya discovers her parents are missing on her fourth birthday. It is up to her to rescue them!  Will she be up to the challenge?

     Alya stomps her foot as she throws a tantrum.

      "Mom, and Dad, come back!  You promised me pancakes!"

           "Child, open up."

         Alya runs to the door. She cannot see who it is. 

            "Be right there!" she calls out

            Alya grabs a stool from the kitchen and uses it to help her see out the peephole.

                  She sees the funny man with the Hawaiian shirt. 

                Alya unlocks the door and slowly opens it.

                   "Master Fu?"

                "Yes, child."

             Alya smiles and lets him inside.                  

              "Oh, is it your birthday?"  He asks. 

             "Yes," she says with a sad face now.

          "Whoa, why the long face now?"

         The girl shakes her head.

           "Do you know?"

         "Know what?"

         "My parents!  They are gone!"

      "Oh, I am sorry."

          Master Fu tries to console her.

           "Not like that. I mean they disappeared."

            "Disappeared you say?"

         Alya nods her head.

          "Hmm, it seems there is only one solution to this predicament."

          "Predicament, what is that?"

        " It means problem."

           "What is it?"

           "It is quite simple.  You see, you have to save them."

            "Me, but I am only a child."

          "See here now you are a hero."

        "Hero, I am no hero, Master Fu."

         "This is not funny."

         "I know it is a serious matter."

         "Then, quite playing games and help me."

             "I will Alya Cesaire."

           "How do you know my name?"

           "I heard your mother call you by name two days ago in the supermarket."

             "I see."

                Alya pouts. She cannot stand it. Master Fu says he will help, but so far he has been anything but helpful.

           "See that series of circles on the wall?"

           "Yes, what of it?" She sneers.

            "Place your hand on it so that you might discover where and when in time your parents are Alya."

              Alya places her hand on the funny mark on the wall. She almost screams when she feels the area beneath her hand grow hot. 

               "What is happening?"

                 "You will see."

               "Now slowly close your eyes as you remove your hand from the wall."

                "Yes, sir."

            Alya does as she is told. She is not sure why her eyes must be shut.  

             She finds she trusts this strange man.  It is almost as if her life depends on it.

              She hears a strange sound behind her.

                  "Ah, what is going on?  What is happening to me?"  She screams as she is being pulled into the time vortex.

                  "Alya see you when you return!  Have a good journey child!" 

                    Master Fu throws something through the open space, she catches it and fastens the object around her neck.

                     "Whoa, did you see that master?" Wayzz blurts out in amazement.

                    "I sure did, Wayzz."

          FInd out more as the story continues in Child Hero part  3

        bye-bye, little owlets!

     -Summer out!