One glorious August day, Manuel, Artemia, and little Charlotte Sambrano embarked on a week-long vacation to the island of Etteniram, seeking respite from the humdrum of everyday life. This island teemed with tourists, offering an array of activities and diversions: cinemas nestled within grand houses overlooking palm trees; performances by talking Maine Coon cats; journeys into the realm of anime; the ability to temporarily transform into a two-dimensional being; restaurants where dishes levitated, inviting families to partake in a delightful culinary adventure; the opportunity to converse with any celebrity in the world; and much more.
But the most captivating feature of the island was a unique ritual observed on the penultimate day of one's stay: each visitor received feedback on their conduct throughout their sojourn. This feedback was delivered by their very own personal angel-mentor. Etteniram was an extraordinary place where individuals had the chance to engage in face-to-face encounters with their celestial guides! This meeting took place in a special chamber on the island, where one had to enter in a state of complete purity for the angel to manifest.
Six days of relaxation passed, and the day of the angelic encounter arrived. Some visitors received positive feedback, while others fell short of their celestial mentor's expectations. Manuel and Artemia Sambrano, it turned out, were praised by their angels for their exemplary partnership in all aspects, for they cared deeply for each other and for their cherished daughter. Their angels were exceedingly pleased with them.
However, the same could not be said for little Charlotte, as her angel expressed only an 80% level of satisfaction. Here's why.
On the third day of their vacation, Charlotte and Lena, in their usual fashion, decided to play hide-and-seek with their parents. Each time Charlotte concealed herself in a different corner of their apartment, her mother and father easily found her, making the game all the more exhilarating. But now, they were on an island, a vast expanse! How could her parents possibly guess where their daughter had hidden herself? This crucial point, unfortunately, slipped Charlotte's mind. She ventured into the forest, discreetly concealed herself behind a thicket, and patiently awaited her parents' discovery. But twenty minutes passed, and Charlotte remained undiscovered. Artemia Sambrano began to worry. She realized that her daughter was playing hide-and-seek again, but how could she possibly search such a vast location? She called out for Manuel. He had been asleep, and awoke with a start, fearing that Charlotte had decided to hide underwater! After all, she was a child, capable of anything. Moreover, she had been missing for over half an hour! Terror gripped the parents, and they enlisted the aid of others to join the search for Charlotte.
A thorough search of the forest, the beach, all entertainment centers, every dwelling, and even a plunge into the depths of the water in case she had accidentally drowned, proved fruitless. The three-year-old girl was nowhere to be found. After an agonizing hour and a half, Charlotte reappeared and announced to everyone:
– Why is everyone so inattentive today? I was hiding behind the bushes, watching you all. I got bored because no one could find me properly. So many people, and none of you could play hide-and-seek correctly, – Charlotte said with a mournful face. Immediately, her parents rushed to her, enveloping her in a tight embrace. Artemia, overcome with joy and relief that, thank Allah, Charlotte was safe and sound, let out a sob of happiness. Charlotte could not fathom the fear she had instilled in everyone. She was so young that could not grasp the gravity of the situation. But it was on the sixth day of their vacation that Charlotte's angel-mentor explained that he was 20% dissatisfied with her due to the terror she had inflicted on her parents while engrossed in her game of hide-and-seek. The angel, of course, did not scold Charlotte but simply clarified the situation in a language she could comprehend.