You are so cute! I want to take you home with me!
"Oh no, no! My daddy would not like that."
"Malik! Malik! Who are you talking to?”
"Daddy!" He bounds over to his father and jumps, wrapping his arms and legs around him. "I dunno. I didn’t see their face."
Nose wrinkling, the old tomb keeper glanced in suspicion down the halls. If any strangers had sneaked down, they would not be sneaking back up - or leaving at all.
"Humph! What have I told you about speaking to strange spirits?" he growled, setting the boy on his feet.
Malik look back and forth, mimicking his father. He wrapped his arms around his father’s leg. “But daddy! They were really nice. And they keep talking. I think they like me. They are berry nice. I don’t really get to play with a lot of peoples so can I talk to them, pleeeease?”
The tomb keeper growled again and said, “No! You do not know what kind of spirits might be addressing you. Surely, they might seem kind, but what if they are evil spirits, trying to lead you astray.”
Then he pried off his arms and took one of his hands.
"Now no more of this!" he snarled. "If you must keep company, do so with the living. Why do you not keep closer company with your sister?"
Malik pouted. These ideas were still hard for him to grasp. He held his father's hand looked toward the ground, whining. "Yes, daddy. B-but how do I know who is good or bad?"
He huffed a little sigh. "Ishizu is always doin' thingies like reading and I can't read yet. Cousins don't wanna play with me 'cus they tink that I'mma baby. But I'm noooot!" He stomped his little feet and whined.
