tic tac teeth: part 3

"Tell me about them," I say. "And this accident you mentioned."
Simon combs his fingers through his thick hair, trying to push it down. I watch him intently, waiting for him to answer me.
"Layla...now she was a strange one." He finally says, looking me in the eyes. He sighs, and seems uncomftorable, for he shifts and fidgets, straightens and restraightens his shirt. I reach out my hands and grasp his shoulders, keeping him still. He looks at me, suprised. When he starts to speak, I release him. "I almost never saw her, and when Arnold and Isabelle went out, Layla was never with them. At first I thought that of course they had someone watching her, but one day, while her parents were gone, who should come knocking at my door but Layla! I asked her what she wanted, and she told me that she was lonely, and wanted someone to play with. I was suprised that she was alone, but I let her into my apartment, and played games with her for the rest of the evening. Oh, we had a grand time, she was a great sport, and playing with her was challenging, yet pleasent at the same time. She was also very fun, and talkative. Around eight o'clock, she very suddenly told she had to go back to her apartment. I asked her if she was going to be fine, and she said she was. So I walked her to her room, and left. I had a snack, and then retired for the night. At about one o'clock, I heard frantic pounding on my door. I went to answer it, and Layla burst in. She was flushed, and out of breath. I tried to get her to drink something, but she refused. She wouldn't even sit down. Once she caught her breath, she told me that her parents had never come home, and that she was worried about them. I asked her when her parents usually came home, and she said they always came home at eleven, never later. I didn't think it was too serious a situation, but I told her I would contact the building manager and ask him to call if her parents came in. When I said this though, Layla did a very queer thing. She screamed and said that no, I could not tell anyone. I thought she was merrily playing with me, so I patted her back and told her it would be fine, that the manager would find her parents, and they would be safe and sound. She calmed down, and I went to dial Mr. Durmy, the manager at the time. After I had finished talking to him, I went back to my living room, to find Layla gone, and the front door wide open. I searched my entire apartment, all the time shouting for her to come out; she wasn't anywhere. I started to get frantic. Just think! A girl alone, roaming the halls, with her parents gone missing. I hurriedly put on my bathrobe and slippers, and skidded out the door. I scoured the halls, searching for the little, purple-eyed girl. I eventually brought my search to the lobby. My. Durmy was waiting at the desk, just like I had asked him to. I rushed to him and asked if he had seen Layla leave the building. He said "no" he had not seen Layla. I ran back upstairs, and to Layla's apartment. I pounded on the door, and heard sluggish footsteps approaching. My heart leaped, for I thought I had finally found Layla. Suddenly the door swung open, and who should be standing in the doorway, in rumpled pajamas, but Arnold himself!" Simon stops talking here, and takes a breath. "I need to get some water." He says, hurrying away. He dissapears through a doorway that I had not noticed before.