"Come Jamie, stay close."

With his feet the toddler pushed himself forward on a red, blue and yellow tricycle, up the lawn, over the sidewalk. Not the street, because his mother had forbidden it. He didn't listen to her when she called him, so his mother, who was walking several feet behind him, had to repeat: "Jamie, come!"

Now the toddler obeyed, and he waited for her to catch up with him. As he waited, something small caught his attention. A bird. In one of the front yards a small robin was pottering around, looking for food. What kind of food he didn't know. Worms? Or seeds? His grandpa had once told him that birds didn't eat sweets or bread or pancakes but seeds and worms and insects and even spiders. Grandpa liked birds. He had lots of pictures, and dead birds that looked very very real and were very scary. Jamie also liked birds, they were funny. Sometimes he scared them away with his tricycle, and they would quickly fly away to another spot and he would chase after them. Ducks were also funny, each time he hunted ducks they'd quack at him and waggle away. Ducks can fly, too.

Marie, his mom, caught up with him, and he quickly speeded up to stay ahead of her.

She smiled fondly at the sight. Jamie was a curious kid, always wanting to learn new things. With his big, round, blue eyes he actively spied his environment, wherever he may be, whomever he may be with. He was almost four, and things never failed to bore him. That's what made him so fond of his grandfather, who was a scientist in the biology sector. Since he retired a couple of years ago he occasionally taught at the nearby high school as a guest lecturer. He was often frustrated about the lack of interest in his subject, and poured his knowledge on his three-year-old grandson instead. They would often go on a walk through his and Annie's large backyard, telling stories and pointing out different trees, plants, birds, small mammals and whatever more they would encounter, reciting interesting facts and myths. Little Jamie would walk alongside him and listen to his words with fascination. At times she would go with them, but most of the time she was either working or watching them together with her mother, while enjoying a cup of tea.

No such luck this time. One of her colleagues had become ill overnight and she had to step in for him this afternoon. Luckily her parents were home, and she could bring Jamie over for the rest of the day. As a single mom she could use the extra money, so there was no point in declining the offer of working more. Jamie didn't seem to mind, had had met the announcement with his ever-present enthusiasm. He was the main source of happiness in her life, and she would do anything to ensure his happiness. He was her everything.

They had just left the flat they lived in and were on their way to the outskirts where her parents lived. Compared to Seattle Tacoma wasn't that big, and it was only a few blocks away, so there was no need taking the car: walking is healthy after all.

The sky was overcast with white and light grey clouds, but the cold made everyone stay indoors so the streets were pretty much deserted. The toddler raced around as fast as his little feet could push him. A thick, dark blue winter coat held him warm, like an adorable marshmallow, and two small gloves dangled off the sleeves on strings.

Sweety.

Soon they neared series of cottages from around the 1920s, with a broad front porch and a small second floor tucked away in the attic, and white painted woodwork.

An elderly woman opened the front door. Her posture was slightly bent forward, and blonde dyed hair framed a wrinkled face. Two icy blue eyes looked Marie up and down.

"Hello mum."

A smile appeared on her face. "Oh, it's you! Come on in dear, come in." She opened the door further and took a step back.

Marie turned to the child. "Come Jamie! Leave your bike here outside."

"Yes, you can leave it there," the grandmother confirmed, speaking to Jamie, who left his tricycle on the grass and stormed inside. "Yes, come. It's cold outside, isn't it?"

Marie followed them inside and closed the door behind herself. The interior of the cottage matched the exterior – beige-painted wood on the walls, an equal coloured rug on the floor, and dark wood furniture.

Jamie ignored the statement, and instead struggled to take off his coat. "I saw a bird!" he exclaimed, and his grandmother nodded comprehensively as she helped him.

"Now did you? I reckon you should tell your grandpa that. Leave your jacket to me – he is in the living room."

She pointed to the door on the left, and Jamie stormed off to tell grandpa all about the bird he'd seen and what it ate.

Marie placed one hand on her hip with a smile on her face. "Thanks for wanting to watch over him on such a short notice."

Her mother waved it off. "No problem dear, you know we love to have you two over. It gives your father something to do, at the very least."

"Thanks," Marie repeated, and readjusted her grey scarf. "He's already had lunch, and I expect to be back around five so we can eat dinner at home."

"None of that," her mother said resolutely. "Why don't you join us tonight? I'm planning on preparing spaghetti with meatballs, and you know how much Jamie loves that. I always cook too much, and your father should eat less. He's gained four pounds in the last two weeks!" she whispered confidentially, as if her husband's mild overweight was something secret. As a matter of fact, he'd gained a beer belly from the moment he retired some twelve years ago.

"Alright mom, we'll stay over for dinner. Thank you. Bye Jamie!" she called out to her child in the next room, who at these words came running back to his mother to hug her. "Be nice okay?"

"Promise!" he told her, and let go. Off he was again within a matter of seconds. Boy, she could use his energy sometimes.

She turned to her mother. "Well then, see you mom."

"Have fun at work!" was the response.

Marie shook her head laughingly. "Mom, we don't 'have fun' at work, you know that." She stepped outside in the cold.

"Oh, but that depends on the workers," her mother assured her. "Bye honey!"

"Bye," Marie replied, and ventured out on the street while the door behind her closed.

WOMAN KILLED IN ANOTHER FREAK ACCIDENT

WEDNESDAY MARCH 2nd
After her three-day disappearance the body of the 27-year-old Marie Hayes was found in the Commencement Bay. Two sailors found the body washed ashore, some feet away from a small-sized speed boat. The mother of one had been missing since last Saturday, when she hadn't returned after hours of waiting her mother had alarmed the police. Specialists say that the cause of death was a blow on the head and several fatal wounds, caused by the boat screw. This is the third freak accident in the same region within three months, but so far there hasn't been found any link between the different accidents.