Chapter 1761

chapter1761

Two weeks later, on a Sunny Saturday with a clear blue sky, Skylar and Joe decided to take Vivian on a hiking trip.

The weather had been gloomy recently, so the clear skies felt like a rare gift. They chose a mountain trail they had never explored before, driving over two hours to reach it. At the foot of the trail, Vivian spotted a stone wall nearby.

The wall, man-made and riddled with small holes, had signs explaining that these were homes for baby snakes.

"Mom, there are snakes in those holes," Vivian exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with curiosity as she leaned closer, hoping to spot one slithering out.

"They're probably resting inside. It's not their active time right now," Joe explained.

The hiking trail was lively, with families enjoying the sunny Saturday. The children, full of curiosity, gathered around the wall to peer into the holes.

Unfortunately, some children were overly mischievous, poking sticks into the holes while their parents looked on indifferently.

One child even shouted gleefully, "I'm going to kill these snakes!"

His parents chuckled but made no effort to stop him.

Vivian frowned, tugging at Skylar's sleeve. "Mom, they're being so rude. That's the baby snakes' home."

Before Skylar could respond, a staff member approached to intervene.

The boy's parents, however, were defensive. "They're just snakes. If they're kept here, they must be harmless and non-venomous. The kid's just playing around. He's not hurting them."

Their remarks drew disapproving looks from others nearby. Quietly, many parents guided their children away, unwilling to let them mimic such behavior.

Skylar and Joe exchanged glances and led Vivian away to continue their hike. The brief disruption didn't spoil their day.

The mountain air was fresh and invigorating. Though Vivian was only a kindergartner, her boundless energy and agility surprised them. She kept pace easily and never once complained about being tired.

Joe's backpack was filled with plenty of food and water. After climbing for a while, the three of them stopped to rest and snack, replenishing their energy.

Hiking was all about enjoying the journey, with its beautiful scenery and moments of discovery.

During their third break, Vivian

suddenly

pointed to a pavilion in the e and said, "Mom, Dad, look! s an old lady over there."

Then, she added, "She's the old lady from my dream."

Skylar and Joe froze, exchanging startled looks. They turned to the pavilion, but it was empty.

The area was sealed off with tape, likely due to disrepair, and no hikers ventured near it.

Joe's expression darkened slightly, but Skylar remained calm. Smiling at Vivian, she asked, "Did the old lady say anything to you?"

Vivian nodded earnestly. "She told

me

mounew from the top of t

is amazing and that

should keep going. I belt

her."

"The old lady is right. The view from the summit is the best. Let's work together to get there."

"Okay," Vivian said, her excitement renewed.

Joe's brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing.

Skylar whispered to him a few minutes later, "Don't worry." "Okay," he replied, though his expression remained serious.

Vl

They reached the summit in less than three hours. Although the mountain wasn't the tallest in the area the trail was well-maintained and relatively easy to hike.

There was also a cable car for the descent.

In fact, they could also take the cable car up, but that would diminish the enjoyment of hiking.

As the cable car descended, Vivian pressed her face against the window, her expression alight with joy. "It's so beautiful!"

Seeing Vivian's happiness filled Skylar and Joe with equal delight.

On the drive home, Vivian fell asleep.